Haikus of June

All pictures and prompts are from http://picturespoetryprose.blogspot.com/



Prompt: A Little Luck - It brought with it a bit of luck ...



Harbinger of Luck,
land on tired hands and get
me out of this rut!


Cynthia Smallwood
June 1, 2009




Prompt: The Crane - Offer a poem for a crane ...


Crane's Roost is flooded
Fly away and bring back news
Of happier days...


Cynthia Smallwood
June 2, 2009




Prompt: The Gathering - They waited for ...



The Gathering birds
They waited for their breakfast
In wet soil below


Cynthia Smallwood
June 3, 2009




Prompt: The Line Up - Use this wonderful photograph in any creative way you are inspired for today's writing ...



Can you see inside?
Are they opening the store?
I want my SIMS 3!!


Cynthia Smallwood
June 4, 2009




Prompt: Pretty in Pink - A poem for a flower ...


Baby pink ball
bouncing joyful in the wind.
Ah, the smell of Spring!


Cynthia Smallwood
June 5, 2009




Prompt: Canal - Standing at the edge of the canal I was where I belonged ...





The greatest artist
could never paint the way that
this place makes me feel





Cynthia Smallwood
June 6, 2009




Prompt: Summer Rain - Include this line anywhere in your writing ... 'and the rain fell gently ...'


Earth felt cold and dry
She cried, 'Summer come soon!' and
the rain fell gently...


Cynthia Smallwood
June 7, 2009




Prompt: Golden - Use the beautiful image to inspire your writing today ...


Beauty from Defeat
Harmony from Destruction
Balance is Golden


Cynthia Smallwood
June 8, 2009




Prompt: Shimmering Prayers - Write poetically using this image ...



Where desire flickers
Like the flame of a candle
Love and lust are one

Cynthia Smallwood
June 9, 2009




Prompt: Sweet - Write a poem with a chocolate theme ...



Rich, creamy, smooth, sweet,
So many ways to describe
what I call yummy!


Cynthia Smallwood
June 10, 2009




Prompt: Gone Fishin' - Write about going fishing ...



My Big Fish Story:
Went fishing and caught a fish.
It was big. The end.


Cynthia Smallwood
June 11, 2009




Prompt: Laughter - Use this expressive image in any creative way you are inspired to write today ...


Old world black and white
You have been brought to new life
with childrens' laughter


Cynthia Smallwood
June 12, 2009




Prompt: Outside - Outside waited his/her destiny ...



Sighing, chin in palm,
Wistfully daydreaming of
coming destiny...

Cynthia Smallwood
June 13, 2009




Prompt: Stony Conversations - Share a story that includes their dialog ...



If statues could speak
Would they say anything that
differs from our words?

Cynthia Smallwood
June 14, 2009




Prompt: Two Faces - Use this intriguing image to inspire your writing today ...







Do not judge by looks,
for behind every stone face
there's a wild spirit





Cynthia Smallwood
June 15, 2009




Prompt: Holding Safe - Offer a poem for this image ...






A world in peril
Sleep safe, babe of peace, it will
all be over soon




Cynthia Smallwood
June 16, 2009




Prompt: Duck - Give her a name and give her a story or poem. Jemima Puddleduck?






Coming this summer...
Jemima Puddleduck is...
Kate Pond - Secret Spy!




Cynthia Smallwood
June 17, 2009




Prompt: Letter - Dear ____, I wanted to write you this letter to explain ...



Dearest Mom and Dad,
I can explain everything...
Love, your daughter, Jan


Cynthia Smallwood
June 18, 2009




Prompt: Behind the Door - There is a story behind that door... write it ...






A picture is worth
one thousand words, but a door
is worth a million






Cynthia Smallwood
June 19, 2009




Prompt: School Days - Write creatively using a memory from your elementary school days ...



Helicopter leaves
dance past descending inch worms
as buses line up


(I was a walker in Elementary school, but this was my favorite thing about second recess at the end of the day in Kindergarden!)

Cynthia Smallwood
June 20, 2009

Perspectives of Hope

A writing exercise from http://picturespoetryprose.blogspot.com/

Use this inspiring image to write of hope today.



When it first happened, we made sure to keep track of the days. We still celebrated Christmas, Halloween, and especially our birthdays. Another year surviving, that was something to celebrate.

I can't remember how old I am now. I don't know what day of the week it is. Hell, I don't even know what season it's supposed to be. It's been dark and cold for so long. We've grown accustomed to it now. This is the norm; not having anything to look forward to. No family vacations, no summer barbecues, no crooked snow men and Christmas carols.

The only thing that keeps me going is my daughter, Ana. The hope she has inside her little heart is enough for both of us. The hope that her mother will come back in some form and restore happiness to our lives.

But until a miracle happens, I'll have to continue my 7 day work schedule, and Ana will have to get herself to school, and I'll have to keep trudging through a life in which circumstance has trapped me. 

I miss my wife. I loved the future that played in my head when she was here. I hate cancer.


Cynthia Smallwood
May 13th, 2009

In Moments Before Death

The Square

a writing exercise from http://picturespoetryprose.blogspot.com/
and how I feel right now...



I stood in the square alone. The other people passed by. Other people with their dreams, their fears, their memories. I felt so separated. I had dreams, and fears and memories, but they seemed surreal to me at that moment. I felt as if I was on the brim of waking from a long and confusing dream. All the tension left me. All the thoughts floated from my mind. Nothing was left but a grin on my face. I could do anything I wanted at that moment. I felt that I had wings. I could walk through walls. I could breathe under water. I could fly. I walked myself straight out of the square and saw the glow of light on the horizon. Too late for sunset, and too early for sunrise, I wondered only briefly what it was. I steadied my pace, my hands in my pockets, my smile just as large. I could smile like this forever, and forever I would. Suddenly, I stopped and looked up. The world spun and the lights became lines that swirled around me. The sky became darker. I could hear footsteps and voices, but they seemed far away. As far away as my cares. You could say I fell asleep, but for me, it was as if I had woken up.


Cynthia Smallwood
April 25th, 2009

After the Funeral...

Johnny stepped from the tattoo shop and knew...

a writing exercise from http://picturespoetryprose.blogspot.com/





Johnny stepped from the tattoo shop
and knew what she would think.
The most important woman in his life
on his arm in permanent ink.

He sighed and sat on his bike,
the pain fresh in his mind.
The rose which he gave her that morning
now on his body to remind.

The night wind gently blew his hair
as he put his helmet on.
He'd have to ride towards a different life
but he'd never forget his MOM.


Cynthia Smallwood
April 11th, 2009

Abandoned...

A writing exercise from http://picturespoetryprose.blogspot.com/ 

 

Glistening cheeks cradle 
eyes of red 
A young woman out of 
tears to shed 
Blankly stare at the key 
turn the knob 
Dehydrated and starved 
break down, sob 

He called when he clocked in 
one more week 
Until Wedding, Honeymoon 
on the beach 
Made some coffee; drink, sit, 
plan the day 
She turned on the tv and 
saw the plane 

Grabbing her shoes, forgot 
her hot drink 
Didn't know where to go, 
what to think 
Stepping inside now to 
see this morn 
Sunrise so hopeful, but 
sunset torn 

Never ever forget 
why he died 
Why you are now alone 
not a Bride 
Because war needs a push, 
not a win, 
Till the Federal Reserve's 
profits come in... 



Cynthia Smallwood 
April 8th, 2009

The Mini Cooper

This one is for Zac, who gave me the prompt, and Holly, who told me that the grass isn't greener on the other side, it's just different grass.



Once upon a time there was a little mini cooper. Her name was Fae and she was a beautiful plum color with dark grey interior. She sat in the lot day after day with all the other cars, watching the road and longing for the day she, too, would be out there with a proud owner. She dreamt often about the amazing sights she would see. She dreamt of the gravel roads of a mountain pass, and the white sand of the beach in her tires, and the starry skies peeking between snowy trees. 

But weeks had passed, and then months, and no one had even so much as taken a look at her. Fae slowly became more and more depressed and her daydreams became much more simple. She began to hate the cars that drove by on the busy road next to the dealership. She had stopped playing and joking with the other cars at night. When a salesman put a sign in her windshield, Fae no longer cared that she could not see the cars passing by on the road any longer. She didn't want to see them.

When people did pull into the dealership, Fae simply sighed. No one could afford her sun roof and her cd player and those who could would leave the dealership with green cars, or smart cars. Fae was neither. Fae was just a little luxury mini cooper that everyone overlooked.

It was just another day when a beat-up grayed impala entered the lot. Its front left bumper had been badly damaged and one of its lights didn't work. It rattled and squealed as it turned in. A man stepped out of it with his wife and baby girl and went immediately to Fae. They talked to the salesman a bit, but Fae wasn't listening. She just sighed and stared.

But, wait, what was that? Her door opened! An excited person had sat inside her! Suddenly all of the dreams rushed through the little car as her engine was turned on. She felt new and alive! She loved the tickle of the baby in the backseat, and the thrill of her oil being checked.

The man stepped out and ran his hand over her hood which made Fae giggle with glee. Was this it? Was this her ticket out of this boring old dealership! The people exchanged paper! Oh, it was! FInally, Fae revved joyfully and danced her way out of the lot and onto the black paved road. It felt so wonderful to be out and about! The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and Fae couldn't be more excited!

She wondered where they were headed to! Someplace exotic, she was sure of it. Oh, she couldn't wait to see the miles of cornfields and giant blue mountains and curvy roads she had dreamt of all her life!

But after only a ten minute ride, Fae found herself making one turn on a straight road. Around her were houses that looked exactly the same, except for different colors, and landscaping placed as a bad attempt for individuality. This is not what Fae had in mind at all!

After less than a mile, Fae turned into the slightly sloped driveway that would be her new home. She drove to the same buildings day after day within the same 15 miles on the same busy roads surrounded by the same ugly concrete buildings. Over time, her beautiful plum color became spotted with tree sap and bird droppings. Her interior was stained with raspberry ice and ketchup and a plethora of baby juices. Her floors were littered with dead leaves, old socks, and paper fast-food bags filled with rotting french fries.

Sinking into the pavement below her, she realized, she wasn't built to go over rugged roads or in sandy beaches. She was a mini cooper, and her home was with this family. As she sat night after night, she wondered about her old friends in the dealership lot. She dreamt about her days when she could daydream about her future, when she was hopeful that she would someday have the smooth pavement under her tires and an exciting road in front of her. But the pavement isn't any smoother outside the lot, it's just different pavement.


-Cynthia Smallwood
March 27th, 2009

The Long Road

A writing exercise from http://picturespoetryprose.blogspot.com/

Driving:
You are driving away from something or towards something.
Tell me about it creatively.





This road goes on
On and on
And it rumbles 
And it grinds
As I drive over it in this machine I call a car.

Horizons tease
All around
The past behind
The future ahead unclear
And the present disappears with the trees that seem so far.

But the sunlight is shining
It's blinding in the windshield
And I just can't see a thing before my eyes.

I'm following the lines
Drawn out upon the pavement
That tell me where to go and how to drive.

But then
Without a warning
A loud pop!
and a bang!
Next thing I know I'm pulled over on the side of the road.

A flat tire
What bad luck!
Now I'm faced 
With the decision
Of how to get to whereever it is I need to go.

And as I squinted down that long road
I realized I never liked where it was leading
So I turned around with the road to my back

And there were those green trees
So beautiful and inviting
That I decided to just make my own path



Cynthia Smallwood
March 10, 2009