Crafting Poetry One Syllable at a Time
storm erupts with feral song
dawn shifts into grey
clouds swell like waves in the sea
pale brume hovering
above the fray, the rainbow—
redeems the silence
all forgiven in a day
©2020 Colleen M. Chesebro
Jess ran. She couldn’t miss this bus, or Grammy would worry at her late arrival.
She stumbled into the queue as a woman towing a wheeled suitcase pushed past her. Jess swerved to miss it, whacking the woman’s elbow with her own. She stepped out of the way and bumped into the man in front of her.
“Sorry,” Jess muttered.
“Ouch! Who’s there?” asked the woman.
“It wasn’t me,” said the man.
Then, Jess remembered. They couldn’t see or hear her, only feel her ghostly touch. She didn’t need to ride the bus to visit Grammy – she flew.
© 2018 Colleen M. Chesebro
November 2017
https://carrotranch.com/2017/11/14/winner-of-flash-fiction-rodeo-contest-2/
(The Winning Entry)
In 1971, I was a sergeant in the U. S. Air Force, stationed at Korat Air Force Base, Thailand. The Vietnam War raged around me.
Each morning I took the bus to the base. The voices of my military superiors echoed, reminding me to be careful. Saboteurs were everywhere. The Viet Cong traveled freely between the borders. Last week a sergeant had been stabbed on his way home. I trusted no one.
I strolled into the bus stop like I owned it. Crouched in the shadows, was an old man. He stared at me and our eyes locked. He spoke in Thai, “Sawadi ton chaw.”
My fear erupted. I said defiantly in English, “Fuck you, old man!” I gave him “the finger,” my feeble American attempt to intimidate him. The old man stared at me with razor-sharp eyes.
I worked with Thai civilians and knew they would help me. I explained the incident to a group of my friends. The workers exchanged glances as their eyes creased in laughter, saying, “The old man said good morning to you.”
Now, I understood. I knew if I was to survive I had to learn the language and the customs of the people.
“It is Thai custom to show proper respect for our elders,” they chorused. “When you see the old man again, bow and say the same thing to him that he said to you.”
The next morning at 0500 hours, I set out. I was guarded but kept my wits about me. There in the shadowy recesses of the bus stop, crouched the old man.
I approached him with a smile and bowed, saying, “Sawadi ton chaw.”
The old man regarded me with those sharp eyes I had noticed the day before. In the clearest English I had ever heard, he said, “FUCK YOU,” and gave me the finger!
© 2017 Colleen M. Chesebro
***
You are so loved 😀 Keep at it 🙂
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Thank you. 😊💖
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I’m so pleased to have met you via Mark’s Inspiring Blogger award! Your blog is so dense…so full of life! I look forward to reading more.
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Thank you. Your kind comments have made my day. Thank you!
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interesting page I am considering starting one just like this, and i really didnt want to put that award free blog sign.. but it gets rather tedious responding to each and every award then running out of nominees lol.
cheers
~B
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Hi Be a ton. Please fell free to use my page as an example for your own. 💗💗💗
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awesome stuff ^_^
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💖💖💖 Sorry my spell checker butcher your name. 😦
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I was wondering about that lol no stress though and please call me B.
~B
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Thanks, B. Great to meet you. 💖
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Likewise a pleasure ❤
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I’m not completely silver…
Thanks for following my daily short verse site.
The fiction for the Carrot Ranch is here:
https://julesinflashyfiction.wordpress.com/
It’s my attempt to stay organized, having three sites…one daily, one longer verse and one for fiction
But sometimes they overlap…
Continues success with writing! Jules
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I’m new, Jules. Do I post my stories on your site? Thanks, my friend. ❤
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No – You post the link to your prompt at Carrot Ranch. Though in October there is going to be something different. Some contests – no entry fee, a small prize. November will return to the 99 word prompts.
Welcome 🙂
Some folks just visit Carrot ranch and leave comments there – others go to the link of the writer and post comments on the blog of the contributor – It just depends on what you want to do. There are no rules in that regard.
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Thank you. I’m looking forward to more writing. ❤
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If you like writing there is another prompt site you might like – They have a new prompt everyday – but I pick and choose those I want to participate in:
https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/
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Thanks, Jules for the information. ❤
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