The octogenarian stood on the edge of the swamp, sporting his usual dress, worn out dungarees from his youth. The noodles were splaying out from the restaurant box thrown into the lake above. Everything drifted down into the swamp sooner or later, especially these bargain priced containers most restaurants used. Fascination sated, the man walked back to his place in the clinic line.
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Can You Tell A Story In…
Kymber Hawke is our host and you can join in HERE.
Round #72:
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Legal
I’ve seen Lou’s carvings in his blog posts, and he definitely doesn’t stumble using those dangerous tools!
Defeat
Disable hope
Dismantle proven facts
Discourage the new ideas
Destroy
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Cinquain Poetry Prompt 34: DEFEAT is your inspiration.
You know how it is, you’re already feeling old, decrepit, ready to just crawl back into the bed you’re trying to make with new sheets. So you’ve got one hand trapped between the wall and the headboard and the other hand is trying to get the corner of a fitted sheet down underneath so it will stay there when you try to put on the other three corners.
So you think maybe a little music would be fun and you turn on the music and of course there’s an ad right away and the ad says “Women – your skin doesn’t feel the same. Your body feels heavy, blah blah blah blah – I stopped listening right there. All I wanted was some upbeat music so I could make this bed and be done with it but I get an ad telling me that I’m old, my skin is sagging, I’ve gained weight and I’m a woman. I should expect this, being a woman??? but there’s something I can do about it. I only have to pay a few thousand dollars and I’ll feel great.
I just told the guy to shut up and I turned on the music I was going to listen to which was this;
I was going to choose a Neil Diamond song who I’ve always loved but apparently my daughter hates him and I think she’s coming to see me today.
The things we suffer for our children.
From the discarded, on the edge of the sea, shows us the absurd and the beautiful. A tableau of life in a vast watery ecosystem known as an ocean. I wonder if the animals swim by to observe the art created by themselves unknowingly, or from some careless human walking by. Someone, probably a child, planted a plastic stemmed spray of sparkly bubbles. It is an artful companion to the natural weed clusters and phytoplankton that add color but not brightness to the vision. Bright green mossy seaweed gathering in clumps adds drama. I see such beauty in natural things.
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9 January 2026
red beacon
the day has begun
welcome sun
—
little scavengers
picking at the rocky shore
looking for treasure
not the gold or silver type
but slimy squiggly bugs
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Crimson’s Creative Challenge #068
There’s more haters that I know
Who detest falling snow
They ski, snowboard and use it for fun
But asked if they like it? The answer is “some”.
If I met Mother Nature I’d try to thank it
Personally I love the soft white blanket
Living in a windy dry climate here
It’s rare to see any snow to cheer
“Once in a blue moon”, as my mom used to say
We are blessed with white flakes coming our way
It doesn’t last, and the wind blows it away!
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Writing Prompts
It was the perfect place to lounge
Tired musicians from last night’s gig
Labeled ashtrays and glasses you could scrounge
One old drummer playing his twigs
The jukebox was full of jazz
Some played along but no real pizzazz
It was ten in the morning, smoke filled the air
Lungs complained but nobody cared
Some little boys from the neighborhood
Would sneak in to listen but knew they shouldn’t
Smaller fingers pretend to play
Dreaming that maybe one day
After a rousing night, they’d be found
Lazily sitting at the Dewdrop Lounge.
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This Week’s Writer’s Workshop Prompts: January 6, 2026
Joe was extremely excited to be on the force, since police work was his dream since a child. His grandfather and father were cops and he wanted to walk the line with them. Joe’s first patrol took him to a street where drug activity was rampant, a testing ground for rookies. Suddenly Joe was on the sidewalk alone, his partner was inside a shop, hopefully watching. “Fresh meat here”, remarked a thug who walked by slowly, observing Joe. Joe’s partner came out of the shop and stood by Joe while the dangerous boys walked away.
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It’s Thursday’s Six Sentence Story Blog Hop
The Bag Lady 
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