🐘 Nancy is a storyteller, music blogger, humorist, poet, curveballer, noir dreamer 🐘
⌘ Rest in Peace, Trent McDonald, Friday Fictioneers ⌘
Written for Friday Fictioneers, where our host Rochelle
encourages us to be creative by writing a story in
100 words or less using the photo prompt below.
Also for Esther’s Word Prompt which is ‘edge’.
Here’s where the photo prompt took me.
In a Pioneer Poem, the first words of each line
are the rhyming words. Lines must be 5 syllables
or less. The last 2 lines are the same as the first
2 lines, written in reverse. Written for Esther’s
Word Prompts with the prompt word ‘edge’,
this is my Pioneer Poem.
General Agricola was restless; for three nights he did not sleep. The Caledonians were plotting, of this he was certain. They were a pompous lot, thinking they could defeat his legions.
There was fire in his belly and he was determined to prove himself irreplaceable to the emperor, Vespasian.
Agricola summoned his first officer, Acilius. “I require the services of the scribe, Tertius. Depart immediately and bring him to me.”
Acilius did as commanded. The wizened scribe, Tertius, sat at the foot of Agricola, his calamus at the ready. He began the most crucial message of his life.
NAR © 2023
98 Words
This is Civil War doing “Rome Is Falling”
I search high, I look low.
Where did my damn glasses go?
They aren’t here or over there.
I can’t find them anywhere.
Not on the couch or near the stove.
I’ve been home, did not rove!
Not by the sink, under the bed.
Well look at that! They’re on my head!
NAR © 2023
52 WORDS
For M
This is “Keep Searchin'” by Del Shannon
Ooh! Keep the kiddies out of the room!
Someone’s doing a naughty two-fer!
🙈 🙉 🙊
Lil was always a rebel,
A renegade, if you will.
She liked to go commando;
It gave her such a thrill!
She loved that airy feeling
In her girly parts.
Proper folk would always say
“She’s one of those naughty tarts!”
Lil was just a free spirit,
Always looking for fun.
She was a wild child
With no panties on her bum.
Now don’t you dilly dally.
Don’t you ever forget.
Lil doesn’t approve of wasting time,
Especially in the toilet!
NAR © 2023
81 words
She lost her dearest friend last night.
Her friend did not die but their precious relationship did. What makes a solid friendship come crashing down like a sandcastle, a friendship we think will test the tides of time and prevail?
The vitriolic words from her friend’s mouth were like a slow-burning poison in her gut. Never had she been so verbally and needlessly attacked. It was shocking; she will never speak with her friend again. Anger of such magnitude reveals a person’s true colors.
What a selfish way to act. What an awful way for a friendship to die.
NAR © 2023
#99WordStories
Written for Carrot Ranch Challenge
Jim at Song Lyric Sunday has asked us today to name a song we’d like to have played at our funeral. Well, I don’t want a funeral – a small gathering after my cremation will suffice – but I’ve always had music in my life so why not in death?
Truth be told, I already have a playlist prepared when I “shuffle off this mortal coil”. It wasn’t easy to choose the songs – not because I was getting verklempt but because there are just too many songs I love. However, there’s one special song that has always meant a great deal to me and it only seems appropriate.
I’m talking about “In My Life” by The Beatles.
The song is said to be based on John Lennon’s life; he wrote most of the lyrics after writing his book “In His Own Write”. The lyrics about friends refer to Stu Sutcliffe, an early Beatle and great friend of John’s who died in 1962, and a school mate named Pete Shotton. John also thought of his Aunt Mimi (who raised him), his wife Cynthia and his mother Julia who in 1958 was knocked down and killed by a car driven by an off-duty policeman.
When The Beatles recorded the song, they left an opening in the middle for the instrumental break. Producer George Martin filled it in by playing a piano solo and speeding up the tape to make it sound like a harpsichord, giving the song a baroque feel and inspiring pop music producers to use harpsichords and other similar instruments in their future arrangements.
“In My Life” is found on The Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” album; it was voted the best song of all time by a panel of songwriters in a 2000 Mojo magazine poll. Rolling Stone magazine ranked “In My Life” number 23 on its 2004 list of “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” as well as fifth on its list of The Beatles’ “100 Greatest Songs”. The song placed second on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s “50 Tracks“. According to Acclaimed Music, as of 2020 it was the 194th most celebrated song in popular music history. Judy Collins, Ozzy Osbourne, James Taylor, Johnny Cash, Rod Stewart, Bette Midler, Diana Krall and Boyz II Men are among the many artists who have recorded covers.
“A little piece of artwork” was the way John referred to “In My Life”. I feel the same way; I have a framed copy of the lyrics in my bedroom – see my graphic above. There isn’t one word in that song that does not resonate profoundly with me. The musical accompaniment, in my opinion, could not be a better match. “In My Life” is just one more example of why The Beatles are and always will be the greatest musical group to ever grace this planet.
There’s a good chance you know all the words to this song; I certainly do – they are carved into my heart. I hope whoever is at my celebration of life will sing along with this touching and beautiful song.
NAR © 2023
IN MY LIFE
There are places I’ll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some have gone and some remain
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends, I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life, I’ve loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life, I’ll love you more
Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life, I’ll love you more.
In my life, I’ll love you more.
Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com
Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: October 18-22, 1965
Producer: George Margin
Engineer: Norman Smith
Released: December 3, 1965 (UK) December 6, 1965 (US)
Available on: Rubber Soul
PERSONNEL –
John Lennon: vocals, rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: harmony vocals, bass
George Harrison: harmony vocals, lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
George Martin: piano, tambourine
Did you ever lie on you back
on warm July grass and
watch the clouds change
from one glorious design
to another,
sun rays streaking through
like beams from heaven
while a hint of a rainbow appears
and you whisper in wonderstruck tones
“This is so ineffably awesome”?
Yeah, me too.
NAR © 2023
51 words
🪴 “Alone at last, lovely Fern.”
🌿 “I thought they’d never leave! Did you bring protection, Ficus?”
🪴 “Baby, I’m a rubber plant. No problemo, señorita!”
🌿 “Oh, I love it when you talk loamy. Plant one on me, lover!”
🌾 “Do you mind? My offshoots are right here!”
🪴 “Oh, bug off, Spidey! Why are you always hanging around?”
🍃 “Spidey’s right! Why don’t you two get a hothouse already!”
🌿 “Don’t mind him, Ficus. Phil’s jealous of your large, firm leaves.”
🍃 “So much for turning over a new leaf, Fern!”
🌵 “QUIET, EVERYONE! THEY’RE COMING BACK!”
🪴 “Damn! We’re gonna have to nip this in the bud, baby!”
NAR © 2023
100 Words
She was much too young, too ravishing to be a widow.
The essence of propriety, she sat on a chair at the foot of her husband’s coffin, graciously greeting those who came to pay their respects.
Her husband’s beloved Adagio in G Minor played softly in the background.
A tear escaped and she dabbed her eye with a lace handkerchief. Her stepson, her husband’s grown son, stood behind her, a conciliatory hand lightly on her shoulder.
His thumb discreetly caressed her velvet neck.
NAR © 2023
83 word requirement
The Elephant's Trunk 