Written for Tanka Tuesday where our host,
Melissa, has asked us to write a poem of our
choosing inspired by the art of Romare Bearden.
Hereβs where the prompt took me.
Tag: Art
Inspired By Art
Written for dVerse Poets Pub β Exploring the Art of
Gerard Sekoto. Our host, Melissa, has asked us to
choose one of the featured paintings and write a poem
based on it. Hereβs my response to the challenge.
Pretty In Pink: A SenHai
Written for SenHai Saturday where our
host Susi asks us to write a senryu and a
haiku using the image shown below as
inspiration. Hereβs my response.
RDP Tuesday: enigma
Written for RDP, where Martha asks us
Β to get creative with the word βenigmaβ.
Thanks, Martha! Hereβs where the prompt took me.
Desert Sky
Written for The New, Unofficial, On-Line Writerβs Guild.
This week the three prompts for OLWG #368 – We Both Know
are (1) an old Patti Smith song, (2) need more blue in the shadows
and (3) when I left El Paso. Here is my first story for OLWG.
Jenna pulled off the long empty stretch of highway and killed the engine. The view of the desert skyline was too stunning for words. She stepped out of the car and leaned against the door, the hot sun beating down on her face and shoulders. The late afternoon sky was intense, deeply saturated with shades of cerulean, and Jenna smiled. As a fledgling artist, she always found fault with her own artwork, declaring the colors βlacklusterβ; she was more at home with a camera than a paint brush. Natureβs palette didnβt need more blue in the shadows cast by the sun or more green in the desert grass. It was perfection.
Easing her way back into the driverβs seat, Jenna caught a glimpse of herself in the rearview. The delicate gold chain with the heart from Miguel was dazzling in the desert sun. Jenna lifted the heart to lips and closed her eyes.
Reaching for her cell phone, Jenna snapped a photo of the desert and sent it to Miguel; then she called him. After three rings, her call went to voice mail. Jenna didnβt care; the time was right. She left a message:
βHey, babe! Can you guess where I am from the photo I sent? In an hour Iβll be home. Home. Just saying the word fills my heart with joy. When I left El Paso, I had no idea the photo shoot would keep me away so long. I miss you so much, mi amor. I canβt wait to be in your arms once again! I love you, papi.β
Jenna pushed the engine button and started heading home. About ten minutes into her drive, she hear the familiar strains of an old Patti Smith song coming from her phone β¦ Miguelβs personal ringtone. She pulled over to read the message:
βJenna, mi amor! Iβve waited this long. Whatβs another hour? Te amo!β
Smiling at the sight of the desert sky in her rearview, Jenna hurried home β¦ home to Miguel.
NARΒ©2024
This is βDancing Barefootβ by Patti Smith
All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantβs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not to be used without permission. NARΒ©2017-present.
MONSTROID
It’s time once again for
The Unicorn Challenge.
Our mission: to write
a story in 250 words or less
in response to the photo prompt.
This is my story and I’m sticking to it.
π¦βπβπ¦
When our son was still in elementary school, he demonstrated a great ability and clever imagination for art. He had a penchant for cartoon characters of his own creation which he drew on his book covers and all over his school notebooks.
My husband and I encouraged his artwork and we kept him well-stocked in supplies, including a drafting table, paints and copious amounts of drawing pads. His main character was a T-rex called βMonstroidβ β¦. a Jurassic lawman who was not above getting down and dirty.
When our son was about twelve years old, he asked permission to paint Monstroid on his bedroom wall. I had no problem with that; Iβd rather he paint his own wall than someone elseβs. Thirty-something years ago, graffiti was considered vandalism, not the street art it has become today.
The story of Monstroid grew in my sonβs head, along with other dinosaurs, friend and foe alike. It got to the point where every wall in his room was covered with his creations; dinosaurs grazed on one wall while epic prehistoric battle scenes appeared on another wall. I didnβt mind; the boy was hurting no one and I would never suppress his natural ability for art β¦. just as I would never squash our other sonβs talent for music.
Our son is now a television cameraman β another form of art. However, he never lost his love of painting and Monstroid is alive and well on the bedroom walls of each of his three kids.
NAR Β© 2023
250 Words
This is Bob Brown with “Santa, Bring Me A Dinosaur”
This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantβs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and not for use by anyone, unless with permission. NAR Β© 2017-present.
The Elephant's Trunk 