Tag: New Beginnings

Love Always

On By buildingalifeofhopeIn Flash fiction13 Comments

Jackson Wedding

He had fallen in love with those dark tresses first, he thought. Something about the way she moved her body as she walked by him set his soul on fire. Her hair moved in rhythm with the sway of her hips.  Her skin alabaster white and her eyes endless black pools-lit with a life affirming force. And then she spoke. “I’m new to town and I was wondering if there was a bookstore nearby. My brain is thirsty for words!”

“It’s two blocks down on the right. I can walk you there since it is getting a little dark,” he replied.

They shared the literary world and each other from that moment on. Although friends old and new dismissed their whirlwind romance at first, they soon realized that they were witnessing a lifetime love. So today, on this day, vows and promises were exchanged along with the anticipation of a new life they created from the love and pure passion of one another.

This Friday’s post is brought to you by Kellie Elmore. 

#FWF Free Write Friday: Image Prompt

The Bad Penny

On By buildingalifeofhopeIn poetry8 Comments

credit: jellygator.hubpages.com

Sunday morning sunshine

Air alive with early morning briskness

My feet hit the pavement anxious with anticipation

for the quiet of a long run

My heart is bursting with excitement

as my legs move smoothly over the hills

At last at the crest of “The Killer”

I remove a layer

The heat of my arms basking in the high star

The finish is too soon, I think

Arriving home I hear the voices

of loved ones breaking the fast

We are renewing a childhood tradition

In a different incarnation

Grown-up, sharing the ritual

with the girls they love

We are filled with glee

Refreshed, we hit the road

But not before stopping for that cup of joe

And then the reverie is broken

He appears:

AN INTRUDER

INVADER,  INFIDEL

INFECTION, INFESTATION

Our blood was once on his hands

We grapple  with this infelicitous situation

My heart races and my hands shake

I move away yet stay put

My protectors keeping him at bay

Polite, they speak in superficial tones

Pretending to be mannered

All the while  seething at the reminder

of his emotional destructions

At last they come for me

surrounding me as we depart

We breathe deeply

Freed again

Delighted that the orchard awaits our pickings

Sipping and Singing and Celebrating

Moving onward and forward

Knowing our lives are full and empty of him

September Song

On By buildingalifeofhopeIn poetry21 Comments

credit: www.3ddigitalwallpapers.com

Stepping out into the last of an August day, I hold onto the season

Darkness descends earlier now, but a few summer sounds remain

The delightful din of the peepers, the cheerful chirping of the crickets

Families roughhousing outside

     Laughter and whooping lighting up the dusk

The sound of the Red Sox on the radio from the house next door

The lingering humidity, a heated quiet that is slowly giving way

To the rumble of school busses and children dressed in sweaters and sweatshirts

Amber sunsets which promise cool nights and mornings blessed with a chill

Wicker baskets ready for apple picking under brilliant foliage

Reminding us of the gifts from the changing of the seasons

The autumn aroma of crisp air and nighttime bonfires

        Crackle, sizzle, roar  

We ease the chill with cocoa for the young ones    

And something that brings a glow to the cheeks

And fire to the belly for the older imbibers

We rejoice this ninth month as it births its third season

In all its wondrous glory and new beginnings

Inspired by Kellie Elmore’s Free Write Friday: 

#FWF Free Write Friday: Fall Word Bank

foliage – amber – wicker – aroma – sweater – cocoa

free write friday kellie elmore

August Blues

On By buildingalifeofhopeIn poetry26 Comments

Photo credit: wermsgarden.com

The sun makes one last valiant effort to shine through the mist, and for a few seconds, everything steams, yellow and gray. Then the rain sweeps in and everything is gone.

A trip back in time when this month’s beginning was her world’s ending

Bracing for the inevitable

As the storm’s clouds raged in the distance

And when it came, her body crumpled in defeat

Nights sleepless, Days motionless, Tears endless

Rifling through papers

Reading

The Destruction

The Anger

 The Deceit

      She

Collects

Gathers

Tosses

Burns

  Returns them to the Earth

 Dissipating Disintegrating Disappearing

Extinguished and Extinct

#FWF Free Write Friday: Famous Last Words

This week’s prompt from Kellie invited us to take the last few lines of a memorable book or poem and create a story or poem based on it. This quote is from the last two lines of  “Those Who Save US” by Jenna Blum (her first novel- I highly recommend reading it).

August is not a favorite month of mine and I have been thinking of ways to write about some jumbled up feelings that this month represents for me.   Kellie’s Karmic Connection has helped me sort them out a bit!

WordPress Family Award

On By buildingalifeofhopeIn AwardsLeave a comment

wordpress-family-award

Hello my friends- Once again, I would like to thank Colline at Colline’s Blog (http://collinesblog.wordpress.com/) for nominating me for another WordPress Award!

This award acknowledges the bloggers who have had an impact on a blogger’s WordPress blogging  experience.

When I started blogging a year ago this month, I had no idea where this creative journey would take me. I knew that I was committed to the process and writing personal essays was certainly something that came easily to me. I wrote weekly and was satisfied that I had a tiny following. Then one Friday in March, I realized that I wasn’t sure of what my Sunday post would be about. So there I was poking around on WordPress  when I came across Kellie Elmore’s Free Write Friday prompt!  Because of Kellie’s large audience, I received new followers and great feedback as well for my piece.

The rest is the present. There is no doubt in my mind that Kellie ( Kellie Elmore) was the tipping point for my blog’s growth.  Kellie is a solid supporter of my writing and it is through her weekly prompts that I have developed my writer’s voice.  She is an amazing woman and writer with a heart of gold. Because of her, the following people have been the keeper’s of my flame:

Charlene @ Brighterdays Blog

Maria @ xxculture

Neens @ awritersfountain

Colline @ Colline’s Blog

These women possess their own creative talents and they consistently support my writing. I cannot thank them enough. They keep me motivated and inspired.

I know there are more of you out there! So I send my heart felt thanks to you as well for your support! 🙂 🙂

Underground Hope

On By buildingalifeofhopeIn Flash fiction27 Comments

photo credit: gorilla-ink.deviantart.com

They had prepared well.  Jack was a Plan C man and he had paid attention to the changes in the government. He knew it would only be a matter of time before they came for his wife and made her into one of their breeding vessels. The Restitution Party had slowly taken over the country. In  its quest for power and plan for adherence to the strict rules of  Spiritual Law, they had “disappeared”  the “undesirable” elements of the population.

There had been armed revolts with loss of life on both sides. During a lull, Jack had built a bunker for his family and friends. His engineering skills provided them with a state of the art shelter. Over time, they had stocked it with arms, food, clothes, books and seeds for planting. It would keep his family safe for years.  He gathered friends from the “undesirable” elements of the population and aided them in their protection efforts. Each person brought special skills to the group that would help them rebuild their nation.
Soon they were ready for what was to come.  When the violence commenced, they dropped into blackness. And waited.  And then it happened.  Jack and the leaders in the other bunkers flipped the switch.  One explosion after another lit the sky above them. What followed was an eerie quiet. Then the sound of birds.

Slowly, the bunker doors opened. Before them lay destruction. In the distance a white flag.  It was time for The Renewal. A place where all were free.

 

Kellie Elmore’s Free Write Friday Prompt for July 19th, 2013. Check out what others have written @ http://kellieelmore.com/2013/07/19/fwf-free-write-friday-time-place-scenario-6/

Flash Fiction Frenzy

On By buildingalifeofhopeIn Uncategorized3 Comments

photo credit:  www.dailypainters.com

I am calling on my fellow bloggers, followers and more seasoned writers of fictional pieces for feedback on my recent foray into fiction. This is my first go ’round in the genre and I am trying not to panic and lose confidence in my developing ability for quality writing.

The initial installment of Geographical Escape was born out of Kellie Elmore’s weekly Free Write Friday Prompt. As with all of Kellie’s fine ideas, it took me to an unexpected place! A character was born and his story is still being told.

I am completely wrapped up and obsessed with writing this week. My heart is nearly constantly racing, I run hot and cold and I cannot slake my thirst! I know it is connected to the story and not to anything like this horrible heat and humidity, my vigorous exercise routine or perimenopause!

I want a story that is not too predictable, a character who is flawed-gray, not black and white. I want minimal dialogue so the reader is inside his head. In fact, I am not sure I even want him speaking out loud yet!

So there you have it.  Three installments published. A fourth ready for tomorrow and # 5 for Friday ( I hope).

In the meantime, I will break away every now and then to read your posts and comment on them.  Your writing fills me up!

Thanks for your help! 🙂

Purple Haze

On By buildingalifeofhopeIn Love, Lovers, poetry16 Comments

photo credit:  www.mymodernmet.com

Lavender: her favorite scent

    Soft, sensual, soothing

     When first they met

 he offered her its sweet gift

       A small token

He became heir apparent

  to her lifelong affection

Their affair is like a willow

        Easily bent

But with strong, long roots

His love for her plays like a flute

Tender, calming and gentle

     Almost like a whisper

For the first time and forever

She can bask in the warm glow

      of a healing heart

Another great Free Write Friday prompt from Kellie Elmore! This week we had a word bank: lavender, willow, sweet, bask, flute and heir.  http://kellieelmore.com/2013/05/31/fwf-free-write-friday-word-bank-7/

Commence, Beloved.

On By buildingalifeofhopeIn poetry, Reblogs4 Comments

Hi fellow bloggers!

Yesterday my oldest graduated from college. It was a beautiful spring Saturday full of life-long memories. We enjoyed a large party at the house with friends and family after the event. Festivities lasted until late in the night!

While we were waiting for graduation ceremony to start, his lovely girlfriend share a poem that she posted on her blog: JenniferAlyce.wordpress.com. The post, of course is about my son and it is an example of true love and just plain outstanding writing!

Please read it and try not to weep!

Old Words, New Words*

On By buildingalifeofhopeIn abuse, poetry11 Comments

The young woman with big brown eyes

Born with a glint in her eyes

Always looking

Always questioning

Always laughing

The sun seemed never ending

She was full of romantic notions

and innocence about love

Presented with a trinket

betrothed and full of hope

The older woman with big brown eyes

Always scared

Always questioned

Always somber

She was full of anxiety

and suspicion about love

The rain seemed never-ending

Days, weeks and months

filled with the static of lies and abuse

The free woman

living with a new perspective in her eyes

Always smiling

Always present

Always embracing

Life to its fullest

Many thanks to Kellie Elmore for the Free Write Friday inspiration!

http://kellieelmore.com/2013/05/03/fwf-free-write-friday-word-bank-6/