Written for Sadjeโs โWhat Do You Seeโ #315
Hereโs where the photo prompt took me.
Tag: Desert
Desperation Calling
Written for Todayโs Writing Practice #2
where weโre given the image shown below
and todayโs prompt. Hereโs my take on things.
Desert Skies
Written for Susiโs SenHai Saturday #3.
The photo below is our inspiration;
we are to respond with one senryu
and one haiku. This is my take.
MARIE-ELENA
Written for The New, Unofficial, On-Line Writerโs Guild.
This week the three prompts from aooga at OLWG #392 are
1) a Texaco bathroom, 2) Gaucho, and 3) Chinese work songs.
This is my story.
Desert Sky
Written for The New, Unofficial, On-Line Writerโs 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 โlacklusterโ; she was more at home with a camera than a paint brush. Natureโs palette didnโt 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 driverโs 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 didnโt care; the time was right. She left a message:
โHey, babe! Can you guess where I am from the photo I sent? In an hour Iโll 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 canโt wait to be in your arms once again! I love you, papi.โ
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 โฆ Miguelโs personal ringtone. She pulled over to read the message:
โJenna, mi amor! Iโve waited this long. Whatโs another hour? Te amo!โ
Smiling at the sight of the desert sky in her rearview, Jenna hurried home โฆ home to Miguel.
NARยฉ2024
This is โDancing Barefootโ by Patti Smith
All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantโs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not to be used without permission. NARยฉ2017-present.