Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

YOUR SERVE

YOUR SERVE.

The umpire’s ruling rang in my ears as it triggers an endless overlapping loop in my mind: I am in control, this is why I practice, treasure this moment, unless you blow it, I won’t, you might, I can’t, gratitude, I need to channel gratitude, this is my chance, someday I’ll tell stories about this moment, I’ve got to shoot my shot, I won’t blow it, I will not blow it.

The whistle blows time and I swallow my last chug of Gatorade.

It tastes slightly medicinal or maybe that’s just the bitter edge of my nerves as I step onto the court and take my shot.

Boy oh boy, that serve had some extra spice on it folks, but was it in or out?

YOUR SERVE.  

Photo by Julia Kuzenkov on Pexels.com

 

Thanks to FOWC (RANG), Sunday’ Six Sentence Story (SPICE), and the Sunday Whirl (SEE BELOW) for some great words that inspired me to show off my lack of tennis (or pickle ball?) knowledge.

 

Haiku & Other Poetry, tutto e niente

W3-Hay(na)ku Poetry

First Love

momentarily 

holding space

we breathe together

 

Brotherly Love

memories

fighting words

partners in crime

 

Learning to Love Myself

rejection

internalized antipathy 

acceptance at last

 

Not Love

starstruck

stood up

it’s not you

 

Endless Love

together

holding space

a timeless moment

Photo by Loe Moshkovska on Pexels.com

 

Inspired by Michelle’s poem, this week’s W3 challenge (in short): Write 5 separate Hay(na)ku poems, each about a different aspect of love, including (but not limited to) the following:

  • Romantic love
  • Familial love
  • Self-love
  • Unrequited love
  • Enduring/timeless love

Each poem should stand alone but together create a layered meditation on love.

Form: Hay(na)ku poetry series

Invented by: Filipino poet Eileen Tabios (2003). Structure (per poem):

  • Line 1 → 1 word
  • Line 2 → 2 words
  • Line 3 → 3 words

No rules for rhyme, rhythm, or subject beyond the word count.

Check out Michelle’s poem and more detailed instructions below.

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

talking to the monkey in the mirror

Quit staring at me! You’re starting to give me a complex!

Don’t blame me if people are looking at you. What do you expect!?

I expect people to mind their own damn business!

But seriously Sue, what’s with the monkey face?

closeup photo of primate
Photo by Andre Mouton on Pexels.com

These 41 words of sheer fictional genius (ha ha) were inspired by Sammi’s Scribbles challenge to use the word “complex” and by my own occasional inner dialogue.

Haiku & Other Poetry, Random Rants, tutto e niente

Metaphorically Speaking …

thick skin, hard to peel

sweet and juicy underneath

am I an orange?

orange lemon fruit vitamins
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I’m currently in research mode, so the book on my desk is Raymond Arsenault’s St. Petersburg and the Florida Dream. Following Linda’s  directions, I closed my eyes, flipped it open, and pointed. I landed on the description of a photo from circa 1917: “transporting crates of oranges.” Thus, this deeply probing look at my interior life 😉

Plus consider this, my Wear Orange for Gun Safety contribution.

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