Home Fire

 

Fingertips touching, never leaving, they dance.

Round the circle ringed with stones, embers glowing, wind blowing, they move.

Hair whipping, voices crackling, they sing.

Calling for the flames to grow, fire curling, stars fading, they twirl.

Towering bonfire casting shadows…shifting…

Faces alight, flickering rust and gold…features rearranging…

They are ancient. Forgotten. Lifeless.

They are born. Pulsing. Alive.

On the damp beach, atop the cliff, in the forest, the desert, the mountains, marshes, plains, valleys…

They are everywhere and nowhere. They are here.

Summoned.

To this place. Our home.

Beasts.

Fingertips touching. Dancing on our bones. Frolicking through the ruins.

 

 

Flash Fiction Challenge over at Carrot Ranch

November 17, 2016 prompt: Fire – In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that is told around a campfire. It can be a bonfire, burning trash can, a fire pit, something flaming outdoors. Who is gathered and listening?

 

 

Lover’s Waltz

 

We danced in moonlight

Amber autumn leaves twirling

Cool breezes rush in

Laughter fades as we see loss

In time, winter takes our dance

 

 

Here’s another attempt at Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday challenge. As I’ve said, poetry is not my thing. But I do love a challenge and this week is writing a Tanka poem (5/7/5/7/7) with the words ‘time’ & ‘laughter’ in it.

 

Dryads

 

The trees remember.

They think about when their sisters covered the valley, standing tall and proud.

Glossy, green foliage waving in summer breezes. Bare trunks frosted in winter snow. Branches reaching out, grasping hands, dancing in moonlight.

Now the few who remain nod to each other across empty fields studded with stumps of their sisters.

Their shadows stretch along barren land, soil cracked and dry.

Tufts of brown-tinged grass pretend they are a lush carpet of healthy green, turning from the truth.

The trees know better.

They are wise and no longer hold on to hope for the earth.

 

 

Flash Fiction Challenge over at Carrot Ranch

November 9, 2016 prompt: The End – In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about an ending.