Those Who Live in Grass Houses

Mar 13, 2025 at 1:15am
In response to "Darling!"

Ah, you know me too well!

jaya

Mar 13, 2025 at 1:11am
In response to "Darling!"

I like the anticlimax at the end, Just like Beholden.

Jayne

Jan 24, 2025 at 5:54pm
In response to "Mechanical Sympathy"

Nicely done!

Apr 15, 2024 at 9:54pm
In response to "Return"

Oh, interesting comment! I hadn't looked at it like that but I see what you mean. To me, it seemed one of those prompts that tells the story for you and I was just attempting to subvert that by taking an unusual line. They addressed me as the father, so I thought about how I'd feel as the father and expressed that, at the same time avoiding having to continue a story in which the punchline has already been stolen by the prompt.

As regards mystery, that comes of having only one half of a conversation - we never hear what the daughter is saying and have to work that out for ourselves. ;)

H❀pe

Apr 15, 2024 at 9:45pm
In response to "Return"

I wish I'd not read the prompt, I really enjoyed the mystery you maintained here in your poem.

H❀pe

Apr 14, 2024 at 6:38pm
In response to "Rago's Diet"

Finally the anatomy of a dragon explained, it all makes such sense now

Apr 14, 2024 at 12:46pm
In response to "A Slight Adjustment"

LOL, Blueyez, I can't deny the thought of WDC crossed my mind as I was writing this. But typos are sent to plague me. No matter how many times I edit, there's always at least one that slips through.

ßlυҽყҽʐ 🤍

Apr 14, 2024 at 12:26pm
In response to "A Slight Adjustment"

"(Thern) he brightened and said ..." typo?

Good story. I really like your characters.

After I finished reading, the thought crossed my mind that perhaps stars mean nothing at all in the end. Much like many things here in WDC land.

Apr 14, 2024 at 11:06am
In response to "A Slight Adjustment"

Thank you, Angel.

Disgruntled Cheapskate

Apr 14, 2024 at 10:58am
In response to "A Slight Adjustment"

Oh, that was classy. I was afraid there would be a brawl. Well done.

March 8, 2025 at 3:24pm

#1085024

Garcia Reports

Garcia Reports

“Psst, Garcia, are you ready to unload?”

“I have it, boss, but it’s in code.”

“And can we read it, is it broken?”

“In places yes, but just a token.”

“Well, leave it in the litter bin -
I’ll work on it until I’m in.”

“It’s done already, waiting now.”

“Good work, Garcia, you’ve kept your vow.”

“Thanks, boss, until I see you next.”

“You’re welcome - now go get some rest.
While I will wrestle with the trash
through burgers bad and ice cold mash
to find your message and decipher
the work I do and none the wiser.”

Line count: 14
Free verse
For Cards Against Authors, Week Nine Prompt
Prompt Card: Write a poem where you remain secretive or vague about the main subject.

March 8, 2025 at 2:49pm

#1085022

Of Upper Lips

Of Upper Lips

Now at last the worst has happened,
disaster swoops, my will to sap and
drain me of all hope to win;
so low am I my head’s aspin.

Yet my mood is not downhearted,
I feel better than when I started,
my burdens fade and fall away,
much brighter now the coming day.

You see as I have reached the nadir,
ill fortune serves to make me hardier
and I rejoice, am certain sure,
tomorrow brings my wondrous cure.

For now that I have reached the deepest
and may indeed seem done and weakest,
directional choice I have but one
and that is upward - and I shall run!

Line count: 16
Rhymed quatrains aabb
For PromptMaster! Week 1 Task Prompt
Prompt: Write about disappointment or sadness that reads strangely cheerful or upbeat.

March 8, 2025 at 9:16am

#1085011

Instruction Manual

Instruction Manual

Way back in the mists of time
software came in boxes,
marvellous things with opening tricks
to tease anticipation,
amazing with invention,
pull out these flaps
and bend this leaf,
extract the hidden lip
and box within a box,
the treasure’s slow revealed.

A floppy disk (remember those?)
or later a CDj
but more, oh joy and boundless glee,
a manual we see,
a solid tome, a pristine brick,
a slab of arcane knowledge;
‘tis all the weight and glory of
anticipation’s boon.

Now at pinnacle of expectation’s guile,
we riffle through the hallowed leaves,
brand new, untouched, and prime,
the smell, the feel, the bounty spread,
immersed we are and worshippers
of program’s vestibule.

No thought of loading digitalic discs
invades our blissful trance;
with reverent hands we lift the tome
and place it on the shelf,
amidst its fellows proudly tiered,
untouched, unread, but evidence
of honour new acquired.

And so we turn at last away,
excitement thus fulfilled,
and thoughts descend
to application loading
and binary life unfolding.

Line count: 36
Free verse
For PromptMaster! March Week 1 Prize Prompt
Prompt: The most exciting thing to find in an instruction manual.

March 2, 2025 at 10:34am

#1084643

Loser's Lament

Loser’s Lament

“Just my luck,” is oft my cry,
I hardly need to tell you why,
for life it sees me as a joke;
it’s true that I’m that kind of bloke.

For instance if I had a brolly,
for some that would be awful jolly,
but then the rain would turn to drought
and wind would blow my brolly out.

The other day I fell for you
and I just had to tell you true;
I should have known my words so sweet
would send you running down the street.

So now I’m here and all alone,
my love for you has only grown;
for “limerence,” that is the word.
to hope for more is just absurd.

Line count: 16
Quatrains rhymed aabb
For Cards Against Authors, Week Eight Prompt
Prompt Card: The wind blew your umbrella inside out.
Word Cards: Limerence, Locket (You only need to use ONE of the word cards)
Wild Card: Mood: Monachopsis - n. the subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place.

March 1, 2025 at 5:49pm

#1084598

Oh Twisted Fate

Oh Twisted Fate

It being the appointed day
and my refusal to look decays,
‘tis the time of my undoing
so wasted all of my pooh-poohing.

Now the heavens mock my being
while darkness cloaks what I am seeing,
the glory of the world is brass,
all happiness is faded fast.

But fate decrees and I am bound
with falt’ring step towards the ground
where too familiar the sight
of Nemesis enshrines my plight.

And I am drawn by forces strong
to enter where I don’t belong,
humiliation’s vilest pedestal
and my perennial medical.

Line count: 16
Quatrains rhymed aabb
For PromptMaster! Feb Week 4 Task Prompt
Use hyperbole to write a poem about a minor inconvenience. Make it an epic struggle worthy of legend.