VisDare 7 - Secret

This is not a follow-up to last week's effort.  Just a simple little stand-alone in 149 words.

Surprise - the lock made no sound when I turned the bulky key.

Nor was there a screech from the hinges as the ancient door swung effortlessly open.

The moonlight streaming through the open doorway was all I needed to survey the vast riches in this crypt.

A jeweled brooch.

A golden cup.

A Mithril dagger worth more than even I could imagine.

They all went silently into my pouch.

The residents here had no more need of them.

Soon I would be like a King – one of these ancient Kings, whose crypts are supposedly protected by powerful curses.

What’s this?  Aha - a purse of gold coins.

There was no sound but the slight whisper of the wind, like an old lover’s sigh.

Then it caught the door, and slammed it shut with a crash that would wake the dead.

Oh great gods  .  .  .  the DEAD.

~  :  ~  :  ~   

As a haiku

 Stealing from the dead
Risky business any time
Then an ill wind blows

VisDare 7

Sensational Haiku Wednesday - CRISIS

New crisis each day
Manufactured for headlines
A crisis crisis

~  : ~

Oh my what to do
Maybe I should just panic
 My hair is on fire

~  : ~ 

Another crisis
Yet another comment lost
Hazel's spam filter

SHW is powered by Jenn

Carpe Diem #121 -- Greed; Plus 3WW CCCXVI

Our three words are
Cumbersome
Morbid
Rampage

Our Carpe Diem prompt is Greed - one of the 7 deadly sins

Image found here

 Cumbersome this load
I acquired in my rampage
Morbid I still yearn

 $$  :  $$

Root of all evil
Acquisitive by nature
Moral dilemma

$$  :  $$

STUFF - what's mine is mine
I love THINGS like Smaug loves GOLD
[What's yours is mine too]

$$  :  $$

How much do I need?
A question for the ages
How much stuff is there?

$$  :  $$

Money and power
Fungible if you have them
While most go hungry

$$  :  $$

I'll have another
More - I'm still not satisfied
So I'm taking yours

$$  :  $$

Greed for chocolate
There's only one morsel left
Would I share with you?

$$  :  $$

Some say greed is good
As Moose ponders his next move
Goose lays Golden Egg

$$  :  $$

Carpe Diem #121 

Greedy for even more greed?   Click here.

Carpe Diem #120 - Vanity

Image Source [though I can't find it there]

We have a similar - but not identical - piece in our bedroom

A hand-me-down from my lovely wife's grandmother

A triple mirror
To see my best from all sides
Lovely furniture

~  :  ~

At her vanity
She asks, "Who is the fairest?"
In her vanity

~  :  ~

Among all people
I like me - who do you like?
Of course it's "me too"

~  :  ~

Who else could love me
As well as I love myself
Vain love not in vain

~  :  ~  :  ~  :  ~

In triple mirror
Moose admires his own fine rack
Goose preens like pin up

~  :  ~  :  ~  :  ~

Carpe Diem #120

Carpe Diem #119 - Windmill

Dutch Windmill in Sakura, Japan

Wikipedia Commons




 Windmill waves to me
Across a field of tulips
Every day a grind

~  :  ~

On a windy day
While frolickers fly their kites
Windmill plies its trade

~  :  ~
  
Blind date at windmill
Not terribly romantic
Plus they're going Dutch

~  :  ~

Moose tilts at windmill
Antlers raking through the sails
Wise Goose ducks his head

 ~  :  ~

Carpe Diem #119

Carpe Diem # 118 - Stork

It seems that only a few places in North America are home to storks.  But we still have the legend of storks bringing babies.  I suppose that traveled over from Europe with our ancestors.  Or maybe the stork brought it.

Picture Source

What the stork brings

Can be a blessing from God

Or a rude surprise

~  :  ~

When the stork brought me

It was icy December

Dropped me on my head

~  :  ~

When the stork plays games

And parents are so flustered

The cuckoo gets blamed

~  :  ~

Stork in the arctic

Delivers a parrot egg

A Tern for the worse

~  :  ~  :  ~  :  ~

Goose flies with the stork

Moose broods beneath his antlers

What will come of this

~  :  ~  :  ~  :  ~

Carpe Diem #118

VisDare 6: Emerging

I've been away from VisDare and Marci's story for a while.  It was a combination of life getting in the way, other distractions, and perhaps a soupçon of negligence.   I had at least three different not-wholly-satisfactory ideas on what to do with this picture, and finally chose this route.  My first draft weighed in at exactly 150 words, so that is what you get.

Picture Source

Marci found the gilt-framed painting behind Great Uncle Albert's desk - another curious artifact.  The family resemblence was obvious, and she speculated that it might be her grandmother, as a young woman.  That would place it in the mid fifty's, though the hairstlye, dress and oil lantern were not of that era.

She hung it in her bedroom, and soon it became a familiar feature, easily overlooked.  At times, though, Marci thought she noticed a slight change in position or expression. But that seemed too weird, and how can you be sure about these things?

A few months later, when the full moon streamed through Marci's window at midnight, she woke to find the woman striding out of the picture frame.  She placed the lantern on a side table, sat on the edge of Marci's bed and stroked her hair.

"There is much I need to tell you," she said. 

~ : ~ : ~

As a hiaku


Mystery woman
Product of moonbeams and dreams
What is your message

 ~ : ~ : ~

Marci's Thread 

~ : ~ : ~

VisDare 6

Carpe Diem Imagination #2 - Morning Glory

Image Source

Morning Glories stretch
High above the picket fence
Greet the rising sun

~  :  ~

Glory of morning
Brightness of a dawning day
Blue petals smiling

~  :  ~  :  ~

Glorious morning
Moose stops to smell the flowers
Goose soars to the sun

~  :  ~  :  ~

Gloria's morning
First sight as my eyes wake up
Is my lovely wife

~  :  ~  :  ~

Carpe Diem Imagination #2

Carpe Diem # 117 - Sakura

Sweet song of cherries
Fragrant blossoms fill the air
Music fills my soul

 ~ : ~ : ~

Sakura drummers
Dancing with both hands and feet
Make a joyful noise

~ : ~ : ~

Exotic rhythms
Mallots flying through the air
Call me to the East

 ~ : ~ : ~

 Pink petals falling
On the just and the unjust
Sweet and sour cherries*

~ : ~ : ~

Goose draws with his quill
Emakimono of moose
Drumming with his hooves

~ : ~ : ~

Carpe Diem # 117

* Per Lolly's recommendation

Līgo Haībun Challenge -- Melt

Yer Pirate, and some other Wordpress Users -

If you should read this, I want you to know that I am unable to comment on any of your blog posts including the one for this challenge.  These comments must be stuck in your spam filter.  Please release them.

~ : ~ : ~

I saw this new challenge at KZ's blog and was inspired by what she wrote.  So much so that this is a direct response to it.  A failure of originality, perhaps, but you know what they say about imitation.  Anyway, here goes, at exactly 220 words.

 Picture Source

MELT

My Dearest Jocelyn -

The handkerchief you made for me is perfect. Would you be surprised that I still keep it close to my heart?   I do so admire your skill with needlepoint, your touch at the harpsichord, the beauty of your singing, your way with words, and the quiet confidence with which you handle the servants. My father bought his way into our social class, and you saw how I was never accepted there.  That by itself is enough to make our love impossible.

You know that I have always loved you, and certainly in a way that your husband never could.  But Willoughby's was so long ago.  Still, I remember that first kiss, the touch of your soft hands, and all else that we did that night.  The memory gives me such a warm glow.

My husband has been able to thaw me.  Or maybe I was never frozen.  But even now, with oceans between us when I am in his arms I think of you.  Perhaps it would help if you would think of me.

I memorized your beautiful letter before I burned it in the candle that you gave me.  You know what to do with this.

Sent with all my love,

Emilia

~ : ~ : ~

Love that never wanes

Though the candles are burned low

Nevermore to wax

 ~ : ~ : ~ 

  Līgo Haībun Challenge