A Dark Flash~

"A poet is a nightingale, who sits in darkness and sings to cheer its own solitude with sweet sounds. "

 ~  Percy Bysshe Shelley

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Just the other day while stumbling around on the world wide web I fell over a website called 
"Lily Child's Feardom" and her Friday Challenge of writing Flash Fiction from a gift of words.. the Rules were simple enough... use one hundred or less words and use all three of the words given.. 
The gifted words for this weeks Lily's Friday Prediction were...  Pharaoh... Fair.. and Sweep

Though dark flash fiction is not something I have done before.. I decided to give it a try.. I am always wiling to try new things in writing.. 



The Plague


Looking out over the valley of kings... the young Pharaoh's eyes crawled across the throngs of workers below.... His man walked slowly through the pitiful horde of human flesh...stopping here and there near a fair maid that he thought might tempt his master.... Finally arriving at a feisty young minx.. threatening ruffians with a sweep of her broom..

With one slight nod, her fate was sealed...

Watching her wrestle with his man.. sweet shivers crept along his spine..exciting his spirit... Anticipation rising.. he headed for his chambers.. The night would be long.. and he so enjoyed a fighter...


Written By: Patricia Sawyer
9-5-2011


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Thanks for stopping by My blog today.. I hope you enjoyed your visit.. though I don't often write about darkness I think it exist in each of us.. and I do enjoy trying new things.. I welcome both comments and followers... Have a great day!
Patsy

Happy Columbus Day.. No Mail.. NO Bills.. Oh Happy Day!?!

"One of the hardest things to teach a child is that the truth is more important than the consequences." ~ Eddie Rickenbacker

"If you can spend a perfectly useless afternoon in a perfectly useless manner, you have learned how to live." ~ Lin Yutang

"You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
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Micro-Fiction Monday~ #52

trained to always be on time-
Grandma grabbed her bags and ran
to meet the morning train- she ran right
by the trainers and the trainees

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~ Moody Monday~ Rural-

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Sometimes I feel a little moody.. a little dark..
today has been one of those days.. days when nothing seems right..
and yet nothing exactly is wrong.. dark days..

Darkness-

I listen to troubles
not my own...

I cry for your sorrows
woes begone..

this too shall pass
I pray is true..

for you.. for you
for me.. for you..

darkness fades
you smile in the light..

begone darkness
for me.. not quite..

phone rings and smiles
you hear in my voice..

for I am me
and I have no choice..

so never think me
just mad or mean

I too have darkness
and no where to lean...

Written By: Patricia Sawyer
10-11-2010

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Haiku Heights-

The Blemish

no mark upon her
no blemish upon her skin~
chalk outline remains

Written By: Patricia Sawyer
10-11-2010

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Thanks for stopping by my blog today.. I welcome both comments and followers..
have a wonderful day!
Patsy

Early Saturday Morning!

“Write without pay until somebody offers to pay” ~ Mark Twain

“Writing is thinking on paper.” ~ William Zinsser

"All of us learn to write in the second grade. Most of us go on to greater things." ~ Bobby Knight


Good Morning friends.. I won't hold you here long.. just a quick hello and a post for Weekend Wordsmith.. I had a hard time thinking of a way to write about Pallid.. I know what it means.. pale and washed out.. wan.. like the face of a very sick person.. or maybe a frightened child.. sometimes it isn't enough to know what a word means.. sometimes you have to know what it feels like too.. I know someone out there is scratching his or her head and saying.. "well there she goes with that crazy talk again.." But I have felt shaken and weak.. pale many times after a fright or after a nightmare.. Let me know what you think of my offering for the weekend wordsmith word Pallid.. ( it is acrostic as well.. Pallid spelled down the left side!)
Have a great day!
Patsy


A Nightmare

pale moon rises in vermilion skies
ashes and screams erupt from the pyre
lusterless eyes beseech me to join their throng
lifeless hands stretch forth from the fire
imploring me to cast off my innocence
daylight rips me from the delusion ~ pallid and afraid

written By: Patricia Sawyer
9-12-2009

Whoa! It's weird Wednesday again!

"Bride, n. A woman with a fine prospect of happiness behind her."

"Coward, n. One who in a perilous emergency thinks with his legs."

"Imagination, n. A warehouse of facts with a poet and liar in joint ownership."

All by: Ambrose Bierce ( from his satiric "dictionary"; known as "The Devil's Dictionary" published in 1911)

Bierce who was born on this day in 1842 wrote his definitions as comic satire in columns for several different newspapers before finally publishing the collection. I chose his quotes today because they are so delightfully weird. I have read a great many of them and find most of them to be very accurate... I am often thought by others to be satirical myself... I just state the facts as I see them.. For some weird reason a lot of people don't like it when one does that! For more weird definitions you can search for "The Devil's Dictionary".. I might just be weird but I quiet enjoyed reading over the examples I found on-line! I know it's weird but I'd love to have a copy of that book! Maybe I'll find one in an antique book store somewhere; sometimes!

Now on to the weird questions for today!

Wednesday Weirdness #60
Questions By: Anonymous

1.) To you, what makes the perfect body the perfect body? ~ Well, you can call me weird, but I actually don't think anyone has a perfect body. I am really more of an eye person myself. There are parts of people's bodies that I have found to be near perfect.. I'd have to cut up all the men I ever new and stick parts together to have a man with a perfect body.. ( I am assuming that you meant for me to think in terms of a man!) then he would look all weird and the parts might not fit good.. so .. Yea.. I'm more of an eye person myself.. I like beards too.. but the eyes have to speak to me or the body never gets a glance.. I know three men with beautiful blue eyes.. (besides My sons and brothers! I can't say they have sexy eyes ~ that would make me weird!)
I really like green or greenish eyes the best.. Sometimes Dave's are green sometimes they are almost gold. I like his eyes when he laughs.. He used to walk over at night with his hair in a pony tail.... eyes sparkling.. STOP!!!!! Nope I can't go any where with that.. it would be too weird for my kids!

2.) What part of your body do you obsess about the most? ~ I don't obsess about my body.. Maybe I should.. I do want my hair long and fixed though.. and yes My hair is too fixed.. it's brushed a few times a day and braided back or put back up.... it's long it's hot.. It's mine and I like the way it's fixed.. you wear your hair like you wanna don't you? I wouldn't say I like my body type exactly but I work with what the Lord gave me.. we are getting along pretty good my old tired body and me..

3.) What makes a house a warm, welcoming, comfortable home? ~ This is easy.. It's the people who live with-in.. Call me weird if you want too.. A house can be huge and have fancy things inside and be the place of every night parties and events but Love has to live there for it to feel warm and safe and secure to me. My own house is filled to the brim with stuff.. my own stuff and Dave's stuff and the stuff the kids left here and stuff we are keeping for people and stuff; stuff and more stuff.. Once a guy friend of Dave's was here and he was looking around with his eyes wide and I apologized to him.. saying "I know I have a lot of junk here.."~ He smiled and said.. "never ever change a thing.. it feels like coming home!" I was so tickled.. I didn't even feel weird about all my stuff any more! He later told me that for us to find even the tiniest baby shoes worth keeping and the children's books and the blending of all our stuff on shelves and in every nook and cranny made him feel as if he could almost imagine the happy times we have had here.

4.) What fabric feels sexiest against bare skin?~ Well I could say bare skin but I guess that isn't fabric huh? Well unless you're a weirdo.. If it's sheets you're talking about I want flannel.. satin slides off the bed.. Flannel is soft and soothing and I like them.. If it's fabric that someone is wearing then why are only one of us Bare? Who is bare me or him? Who decided which of us was going to be bare.. can we take turns being bare? Can we afford some silk... I want real silk not that fake stuff... Or am I being weird and you just meant my bare hand? then I don't care... it all feels the same to me.. my hand doesn't care either it's weird like that!

5.) What is the lamest lie you have heard in the last month?~ "I forgot to tell them you worked here!" Yep!! My job didn't pay me one week till the following Monday because they forgot to tell the accountant that I worked there.. Now mind you I have been there several months and always got paid before.. I couldn't decide which was weirder, that they thought I would buy that, or that they couldn't make up a better story than that.. I had a lot of hours that week.. I am told that they wanted to go out of town that week end.. What ever!! I finally got my money on Monday... I Like my job or at least I like parts of it.. I love talking to the people that come in for the breakfast and I kinda like seeing who rents rooms.. It's kinda weird though when someone from Church rents a room with his girlfriend.... I don't even mind doing laundry and I love the housekeepers.. But I hope next time they wanna go out of town they just say they will pay me Monday.. It is way too weird when they forget I work there!!! I ask you~ If I worked for you could you forget me????? I thought NOT!

6.) What always makes you feel better when you're upset?~ chocolate doesn't hurt, nor does a good warm hug.. But KUM BA YAH always works.... When Cooper was little he would see me upset and he would say.."Mommy KUM BA YAH!" If he was scared or couldn't go to sleep or for whatever weird reason kids can come up with I would have to sing to him and no other song would ever work. We sang KUM BA YAH in the cancer clinic and while we fished for supper.. We sang KUM BA YAH laying in bed and swinging on swings at the park... Dave's Kids and Dave too later learned KUM BA YAH and sang with us... I find myself singing it sometimes as I dig in the garden or even while I'm just doing all the things wives do.. I even sing it to myself at the hotel.. I bet they would think I was weird if I sang it out loud in the laundry huh? I don't care.. I feel better right now just singing it here by myself.. You should try it.. You might feel better too..

~ For those of you who don't know.. KUM BA YAH is an African-American spiritual song first sung by slaves. KUM BA YAH meaning Come by here.. a prayer song asking that God Come by Here.. The song has always been soothing to me and to my children.. You should try singing it yourself.. If you don't like it; Just quit singing! It isn't weird.. just try a few verses.. I have even put the lyrics on here for you.. Me and my kids always added a few others to the list we made ours up as we went sometimes.. Cooper even once sang "someone is drawing" Lord.. Kum BA Yah... I guess he thought he needed a little help with his picture!

LYRICS:

(chorus)~ sing first and then between every other verse and at the end; when you are tired of singing!
Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah!
Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah!
Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah!
O Lord, kum ba yah!

Someone's laughing, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone's laughing, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone's laughing, Lord, kum ba yah!
O Lord, kum ba yah!

Someone's crying, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone's crying, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone's crying, Lord, kum ba yah!
O Lord, kum ba yah!

Someone's singing, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone's singing, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone's singing, Lord, kum ba yah!
O Lord, kum ba yah!

And those are the weird questions for today.. They weren't even too Racy for me to answer. I managed to answer every one of them.. I guess that is a little weird for me.... Hopefully a few of you will get a laugh from my answers.. I know people think I'm weird.. I even think I am a little weird.. But I like me anyway.. Now I'm going to eat me a bite or two of chocolate and swing in my swinging chair and sing KUM BAH YA while I contemplate all the weird mysteries of life.. Have a wonderfully weird Wednesday..
Patsy

Flowers

"People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us."
- Iris Murdoch

"The mind I love must have wild places, a tangled orchard where dark damsons drop in the heavy grass, an overgrown little wood, the chance of a snake or two, a pool that nobody's fathomed the depth of, and paths threaded with flowers planted by the mind."
- Katherine Mansfield

"Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food, and medicine to the soul."
- Luther Burbank

"Why always, 'not yet'? Do flowers in spring say, 'not yet'?"
- George Norman Douglas

"Wildflowers don't care where they grow."
- Dolly Parton


On this day in 1513, Ponce de Leon discovered Florida. The name ~ Florida~ means "full of flowers" in Spanish. April 8th that year was Easter, which in Spanish is "Pascua Florida" or the "Flowering of Passover." Although we have had several cold nights with breezy cold days it is once again Easter time and the first flowers of Spring are blooming. I have red, white and pink azalea's bursting forth with bright blooms. I have what we call Bridal wreath blooming out by the ditch and just this morning I saw a clump of the tiny white bells I call Easter bells blooming beneath the sticks of a Hydrangea. The beautiful red birds were out in force today each trying his hardest to steal a bite of corn or even laying mash from the clucking hens. Their bright feathers just reminded me even more of the Easter Sundays past. I always wanted a red Easter dress. Grandma Morris was dead set against it. She said ; "You let that child have a red dress and she will become a fast woman!" I was eight. I didn't want to become a fast woman. I was still hoping to become a boy so I could shoot and fish with the men. I didn't expect I'd get a red dress after her declaration But I hoped and prayed they wouldn't make me wear something that looked like a powder puff. Was I ever surprised when I got a beautiful Navy blue dress with a long body and - an almost ruffle like- skirt with tiny pleats at the bottom. It also had a pretty, white jacket and a RED neck tie. Grandma Morris made it. I always wanted to ask her why she made it with Red, but I wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Besides. I knew if I asked She would make me set on the steps to think about the answer. I loved that dress.

When we got to Sunday school that morning all the girls were wrapped in layers of pink and pale yellow or lavender fluff and lace. I was so glad I didn't look like a powder puff. I remember a few of the girls said how much they liked my dress. One girl cried all through class because her tiny white Bonnet was so tight that her head hurt. Mama had brushed my hair till she had all the tangles out ( even those that would hide under my neck when she sent me to brush it myself!) and had put red barrettes in my hair one on each side. I didn't look like a pale flower blossom.
If I was a flower that year I was surely a wild flower.

I love flowers. I try my best to plant at least one new flower each year. I will plant a few that only last for one year but I really rather plant something that will grow and come back each year and hopefully will one day be able to be divided with a friend. I also plant a lot of seeds every year including wild flowers.

I was all set to plant a few things last week.. Something, although I don't quiet know what caused me to decide to wait. I only planted collard plans and dipper gourd seeds out near the chicken pens. I had other plants but decide to wait to plant them this week. I am glad I did since we had frost on the ground this morning. I will be planting seeds of many kinds Friday. It's supposed to bring good crops to plant on Good Friday. You can depend on it though that I will also be planting flowers.. For even though the body has to have food to survive, Flowers feed the eye with beauty and the heart with gladness. The world seems to be a little short on those lately.
Today I will share a little poem that I hope you enjoy. Please do your part to add beauty to our world. You can grow a single flower in a tin can sitting on your front step and add a little spot of color to the life of you and your neighbor. Leave the label on the can.. Get a gallon can even.. A gallon ketchup can with a patio tomato growing in it would be a great conversation starter.. If you can't grow a flower then at least notice the ones you come in contact with daily. Enjoy their beauty. Breath deeply of their wonderful scent. Have a great day!
Patsy


Easter Flowers

I:
Sitting carefully on the
tiny wooden Church chairs
each of you appear to be
a pale and delicate blossom.
Or a stiff and straight stem.

II:
Eggs in bright colors
nestle in the new green leaves.
Neon pink and lemon yellow blooms
their hiding places beneath the trees.
One Lavender with lime dots.

III:
Pony tails tied with colorful ribbons
Ball caps Bouncing as you run from place to place.
So excited as you spot one egg.
Never seeing the three resting on the watering can.
Old sand buckets find a new use today.

IV:
The tousled heads rest
atop snowy pillows.
Sunday school frills hung away.
Bright Eggs hidden and found.
Ball caps hung; Pony tails down.

V:
The Flowers of my Easter
Lay sleeping; peaceful and free
with the smears of egg yolk
and chocolate bunnies
across their rosy cherub cheeks.

written By: Patricia Sawyer
4-8-2009

Sometimes I feel a little Dark!

"Make it a rule of life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can't build on it; it's only for wallowing in." ~ Katherine Mansfield

"It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret."
~ Jackie Joyner-Kersee

"Never regret yesterday. Life is in you today, and you make your tomorrow."
~ L. Ron Hubbard

"Look at your past. Your past has determined where you are at this moment. What you do today will determine where you are tomorrow. Are you moving forward or standing still?" ~ Unknown


Each of us have gone through some dark times in our lives. I personally have at times wondered if I would ever see good times again. I have to tell you that even though we may go through dark times or what seems like very hard times; we will always come through them somehow and there is always a brighter day for us somewhere near. I think sometimes we have to look around at things other people are suffering through to appreciate our own "hard times"! Most days when I see what others are dealing with I feel very blessed not to have to contend with those particular troubles.

I have had a past that was often filled with issues. We moved a lot. Money was a rarity. I cried tears enough to drown an elephant. Trust was broken and lives fell apart. I survived and though I walked through some dark days I soon found a new Path into a new light! I regret nothing of my life. For even in those dark moments I was learning and growing. I am who I am today because of the tears I shed back then!

These two poems were written during very dark days of my life. I am sure that everyone knows we all have those dark days. It is how we come through those darkest of days that shapes the person we will become. If you feel that the world is a dreary place right now look around you.. somewhere there is a person who will allow you to see that their are others with worse problems.
Don't stand still! Move forward ~ even if an inch feels like a mile! I try to look for a blessing of some kind even if it is small every day. I am blessed in many ways but just as a sample ~ I have a roof over my head and food to eat.... I am wearing clothes and am warm... I have family... I am sane. ~ ( well I think I am sane - If I am not same I don't know it yet and so am still blessed!)
Have a great day!
Patsy





Stolen Emotions

What wickedness have you wrought?

A shadow of betrayal drowns us

as my perceptions shudder.

Once we drank of paradise;

Innocent and glad hearted.

But your heart perished...

A feverish vision of lies.

emotions follow pain,

pain follows memories

Love dissolved.

in a storm of bitterness

I condemn you.

By: Patricia Sawyer

1992

Torn Apart

The cloak of night falls

without a sound,

Cold and alone are we.

the understanding for which you pine

flares once, then dies.

swallowed by your obscessions

All hope must end.

Your heart desires no more.

how could YOU not understand?

Our dark emotions surround us,

crying....

Save us from ourselves.

By: Patricia Sawyer

1992