Sometimes writing prompts are a single word. Or a photo. Or both. You can alter the prompt to suit your mood. For example, today’s prompt could be container or containers. Or just look at the photo and write whatever comes up for you.
Today’s Prompt: Container
Join a variety of authors and bloggers for our St. Patrick’s Day Blog Hop. Francis H. Powell is our awesome host. If you click on Blog Hop, you will end up at his Landing Page. Click on a blogger’s name and, like magic, you will end up in a different realm. Bloggers: Tiffany Apan, Cheryllynn Dyess, Angela Chrysler, Roma Gray, Francis H. Powell and Marlene Cullen. We love visitors!
James Seamarsh
People tell me my heart is huge. Then why does it overflow so quickly? I cannot hold all the suffering I see. So I give it away, to Grandfather, before I drown in compassion. It is not a matter of being a coward, or an ostrich, but rather my own survival. Maybe I am a coward, afraid to die of compassion. I quiet my heart by shielding it, and lose all feeling, becoming a cold shell, unable to communicate with loved ones.
mcullen Post author
In the Jumpstart writing workshops that I facilitate, we treat all work (writing) as fiction. This helps us keep our comments on the writing, so we can refrain from commenting something like, “Poor Dear, I’m sorry that happened to you.” And when we keep the comments on the writing, it can help the writer listen to the comments with some distance and objectivity. With that in mind, here are my comments. I LOVE this opening line. Draws me right in. I want to hear more. The second sentence is so unexpected. . . and like a bird following bread crumbs, I want more. “I cannot hold all the suffering I see.” Now, I’m in league with this narrator. I can relate. I understand. So, we have the opening lines, the build-up and the crescendo. . . like waves crashing against rocks, the spray/words rise and take control. Their power is masterful and that’s what I think about this writer. . . masterful! Thank you for posting.
Copper Penny
Containers:
Boxes, cans, baskets
All containers
Skin, bone, cells
All containers
Brain, memories, heart
All containers
Laughter, anger, sorrow
All containers
Hate, violence, attitude
All containers
Church, School, Airplanes
All containers
Fur, fabric, feathers
All containers
Thoughts, stories, words
All containers
Ink pen, gel pen, crayon
All containers
Childhood, adulthood, death
All containers
Journals, books, papers
All containers
Cupboard, trunk, bag
All containers.
closet, drawer, box
All containers
Encapsulate
Keep
cups for water
buckets for dirt
seeds for plants
oceans for fish,
skies for birds
flowers for bees.
Hospitals for birth and death
Funerals for
urns, coffins, guilt.
Pockets for pennies, hands,
and hidden treasures.
Coffee pots, tea pots, bottles
A myriad of containers
for the soul, for the life
for the individual
Families, tribes, nations
big and small . . .
We got ’em all
Containers containing contents.
mcullen Post author
Very cool, Copper Penny. Brilliant writing. Great concept. I especially love: . . . Wait! I can’t pick out one line or two or twenty. I love every line! Good work.
karen53
Copper Penny – Reading this was like listening to music …. it has a pulse, a rhythm. It also has the feeling of “nesting dolls” – every sentence fitting snuggly between those over and under it. This piece was a beautifully executed idea within an idea within an idea. Loved it!
mcullen Post author
Copper Penny, I agree with karen53. . fun and thought-full piece. Inspires me to think about these things.