Category Archives: short story

#writephoto – A Fragrant Journey – #shortstory

05 Tuesday Feb 2019

Posted by in Poetry, short story, WritePhoto

≈ 20 Comments

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Beauty knows no certain path, it winds about and returns. I found myself lost in an almost labyrinth of roses and lavender, in full bloom, permeating my senses. The decadent scent left me feeling heady and light, at the same time. How I wished I could keep these feeling with me all the time.

Journeying, first to the right, then left, and finally ahead of me, if I turned around, I always found myself in the center. Perchance, is this exactly how my life was meant to be, always centered? Yet, the need to explore further beyond the garden, had me off kilter. A very odd feeling, one I didn’t quite understand. Yet.

Deciding to follow the left path beyond the marked ending of it, I walked into the brush of untamed branches, trees, who had been allowed to wander where they may. Yes, I thought, this is me, wandering where I may, with no one stopping me. And then I thought again, that leaves me with no end in sight. Not what I wanted, so I headed back.

Deciding to follow the right path, I found myself in a desolate part of the beautiful gardens. Here, things had been cut back, leaving only space for the few roses, the bushy lavenders to spread out a bit, but not too much as to overwhelm their surroundings. Not where I wanted to be, so back I went.

Deciding on the path in front of me, I found myself in the open air, no trees, no flowers, no nothing. It was just space. Behind me was a lush garden oasis, in front of me, desert like lands, incapable of sustaining any kind of life force. I definitely knew this was not where I wanted to be. So once again, I headed back, and that’s when it hit me.

No matter what path I took, if I turned about and headed back, I always wound up at the center of it all. A big beautiful rose tree was my foundation on this Earth. It allowed me to walk any path I wanted, but always made sure I found my way back. How delightful!

I guess you’re wondering about the path I came in on, the one behind me? I didn’t travel that one again. It would only lead to where I had already been. I knew, for sure,  that wasn’t where I wanted to go. Therefore, I took up residence in the middle of the garden paths, sat myself under the rose bush and blue sky, soaked in the rays of sunlight and breathed in the scents of the surrounding beauty. Perhaps, there really is a Heaven on Earth…

©2018 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved
Photo ©Sue Vincent – Fragrant

#writephoto – But for a Moment – #haibun #tanka

29 Tuesday Jan 2019

Posted by in Poetry, short story, WritePhoto

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As I look around me, I see white rain, insistent upon clinging to my limbs. I did not invite it to perch here, nor would I even consider it. It causes my world to turn gray, and I rather prefer a bit of color. Yet, year after year, it arrives in flocks to roost. You would think it could at least ask permission first. No, this annoyance is much like an entitled little demon, having no regard for the space around it. It falls where it may, and stays where it is unwelcome.

I suppose I shouldn’t complain all that much. Eventually, it tires and falls off of me,  landing on the ground and nourishing the meadows. Oh, but my poor friend, Rocky. This madness covers him to the point where, he looks like some sort of snow creature. A bit daunting, if you ask me.

Alas, I shall wait until the first of spring, when the grass will be green again, and Rocky will return to his hardened, old self. Then, at last, I can stretch my limbs and bask in the coming of the sun.

Winter, drab and gray

Steals the color from my eyes

But for a moment

Glistening, as morning breaks

With pristine beauty, beguiles

 

©2018 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved
Photo ©Sue Vincent – Snowfall

#writephoto – Liza’s Despair – #poetry

20 Sunday Jan 2019

Posted by in Poetry, short story, WritePhoto

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She blends with glass, stained and downtrodden

Roaming the sacred halls, with those, misbegotten

The face so hopeless, sadly, no smile on her lips

She, a ghostly figure, marked, for eternal unbliss

Brick covered walls, will keep her safely inside

Painted on flowers, create a scene, she confides

In her imagination, lets it take flight, in this place

She wants only to stay, as she longs for embrace

Yet, roaming about, she leaves no trace behind

She keeps to herself, in the hopes, she can find

The one thing she misses, in this ungodly world

But, afraid to find it, keeps her heart, tightly furled

Til, alas, she gives up, and gives in, such a shame

This pretty young maiden, they don’t know her name

For none claim to see her, even though she is there

Seems they only feel coldness, surely, tis Liza’s despair

 

©2018 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved
Photo ©Sue Vincent – Imagination

Beyond the Stones – #shortstory – #JanuaryWriting

06 Sunday Jan 2019

Posted by in January Writing, short story

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Beyond the forest glen, the realization struck her. She had been walking on the same stone path for what seemed like hours, and she was still in the place where she started. The air had changed, it was getting colder, and she had no jacket with her. Trying to decide whether she should turn around and go back or try one more time to get through the forest, she opted to go ahead.

Taking slow steps, she took note of how the path had changed. There was an iridescent glow to the stones that wasn’t there before. Even the trees looked strange, almost as if they were animated. She hesitated to go any further, but knew she couldn’t stop now. Night was falling, and soon the forest would sleep.

Several feet later, the stones, still glowing, ended. She couldn’t see around the bend, but the light was still there. Stepping as quietly as possible, she stopped where the stones ended and the densest part of the forest began. Surely she shouldn’t go into the forest. She had no flashlight, no lantern, and her phone was almost dead. She’d need that in case of an emergency. Thinking that over, she thought “This is an emergency!” Sighing loudly, then quickly covering her mouth, she saw she had no signal. The only choice she had was to keep walking in the woods, hoping she’d find the way out..

 

January Writing Prompt – Beyond the forest glen, the realization struck her – Day 6/31

©2019 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved
Photo via Pixabay CC0

The Wooden Door ~ #shortstory #DecemberWriting

16 Sunday Dec 2018

Posted by in December Writing, Poems, short story

≈ 15 Comments

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There was something about that house. Every day she walked by it, something was different. This time it was the front door, though she wasn’t quite sure what it was that caught her attention. She always admired the brass door frame, but the brown wooden door looked out of place there. Even the railings of the porch steps had touches of brass. Why not go for the extra, and make the door brass also?

Feeling a bit adventuresome, she decided to walk up the steps to get a closer look at the door. She hesitated at first, but didn’t think anything of it. As she got closer, she felt a strange warmth. Touching the door, she realized it wasn’t wood at all, but a rather strange looking metal.  And the heat she felt was emanating directly from it.  Suddenly, in front of her, the door began to melt against the brass frame, until it disappeared, and she with it…

 

December Writing Prompt – And suddenly the door began to melt against the brass frame – Day 16/31

©2018 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved
Photo via Pixabay CC0