Friday Flash 55 & 3WW CCLII - "A New Fragrance" & "Zealous Bells for Imaginary Garden

A New Fragrance

Fervent resolutions
quiver upon my lips
affirmations eager to be sworn,

toasted with bubbly
"To a kinder, healthier, more organized me!"

soon to be transformed
with subterfuge

into excuses.

If only the zeal at the eve
of every New Year

could be bottled
and dispensed sparingly

not demolished
by the end of the first week!

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, December 30, 2011

This is for Mr. KnowItAll's "Friday Flash 55" a story in 55 words... no more, no less!   And for "Three Word Wednesday CCLII".  This week's words were Demolish, Resolution, Transform.

AND...

for Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's "Mary's Mixed Bag" challenge, I have "re-mixed" the above a bit and the poem is below.  The theme is "Ring out the Old, ring in the New".  Go see what the fun is all about by clicking on the "Garden's" link!

Zealous Bells

Ring out, zealous bells, ring out!
Swing, sway and flash your silver
as I toast and count on you to deliver
affirmations eagerly sworn as I spout

from fervent lips, resolutions declared
to the beat of your to and fro.  A frenzy of sorts,
as enthusiasm and eagerness cavort!
Tolling bells, ring in the New Year.  I am prepared!

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, December 30, 2011

Three Word Wednesday "Past & Present" Old Salem, continuted.

Past & Present

Eyes glazed, shoulders distraught, alone,

immobile and dazed he stood.  He almost moaned.

Without his Ipad, TV, and DS, he was paralyzed,

surrounded by games he didn't recognize,

music he'd never heard.  His mother said, "What a treat!"

A bow glided upon strings of music so sweet,

little men upon a table stood, with horses so bold.

The proximity of days gone by hovered, took hold,

and he played, intrigued with the past,

his smile ever widening, his imagination vast

as triangles and squares became ships!

Thirty minutes of activity; when asked to leave, a guilt trip

he gave his mother, a fine retribution you see,

as the gift shop she truly wanted to proceed,

but the lure of the past was strong.  The child

played on as mother gave in, smiled,

as the bow still sweetly played, kindred

spirits of past & present dancing together, joyfully indeed.

* * * * *

This is for Three Word Wednesday #250 (3WW CCL)  This week's words are:  Immobile, Proximity, and Retribution.   I invite you to join in the fun - the link is open for a full week.

This is a continuation at a look at my day trip to "Old Salem", a small "living museum" in Winston-Salem, NC.

* * * * *

And below are photos for Watery Wednesday #165  The Heritage Bridge of Old Salem connects the Visitor's Center to the Historic District.

A Puddle Reflection

"Heritage Bridge (1999) built to resemble historic bridges of the 19th century"

In Tandem #10 - "The Yellowstone River"

Art courtesy of Jinsky from "In Tandem"

The Yellowstone River

With ease she meanders
amongst ridges and bends,
lace-like swirls dancing
backward and forward,
her crystal blue veneer reflecting
eternal emerald, sage, and jade.

Frolicking towards sandstone bluffs,
does she anticipate
the excitement ahead?

Abandoning caution,
she recklessly plunges
over the precipice.

Through stratified rock
resurrected she rises,
her initials omitted
from the travertine.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, September 14, 2011

* * * * *

I got productive this evening and killed three birds with one stone.  I am submitting this to "In Tandem #10" a fun writing prompt using the image above, and "Three Word Wednesday" - the words are backward, ease, and omission (which I changed to omitted - I hope that is OK!) and to Mr. Know-it-All's "Friday Flash 55" which I will link up to on Friday.

I also linked this post to dVerse's "Meeting the Bar- Critique & Craft".  I am so thankful that this blog is here for the poets and poet-want-to-be's ... the second one is me :)  Check it out... the creativity will astound you.  

Magpie Tales #81 "The Crossroads"

Photo provided by Tess Kincaid for Magpie Tales

The Crossroads

Decades of irascible memories

previously tucked away and hidden

now tentatively observed 

before this once intrepid heart.

Eroded yesterdays brushed off

in this final, last ditch effort

to make the past shine.  

Exhausted,

my iron will of denial gives in 

as life's spinning motion

sinks

forcing me to stop at the crossroads

where mortal and immortal meet.

My heart yearns to change the past

to give a "valid" accounting

but I find excuses

outweigh answers

so I plead and finally

pray

hoping His grace
outweighs my sins.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, September 9, 2011, 

This if for Magpie Tales #81 and "Three Word Wednesday CCLVII" (Erode, Heart, Observe)

Friday Flash 55 & Three Word Wednesday "The Red Dress"

Photo provided by Tess Kincaid for "Magpie Tales"

"The Red Dress"

Smoke clouded his view of the door,
clouded his search for an
Oscar de la Renta.

Her sexy voice had penetrated his brain.
Sexy, she said she would look
dressed in red.

He waited for a vision of perfection.
Waited and wept inside.  Outwardly
he mumbled:

"I prefer bohemian anyway" and
dragged his loneliness home

Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, August 31, 2011

* * * * *

This is for Three Word Wednesday CCLVI.  This week's words are Drag, Mumble, and Penetrate.  I hope it is ok to use different tenses.

I originally wrote this as a short story for Magpie Tales #80 entitled "Goin' Home with B. B. King" (click if you want to read it - and listen to an awesome video of "Everyday I Have the Blues")

I also wanted to play with a version for Friday Flash 55 (a story in 55 words) hosted by "The G Man".  I think it lost a bit of whimsy and detail, but it was a fun "condensing" writing exercise.

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Many of you know that I have purchased a horse.   His name is Oberon and he is a Buckskin Quarter Horse.  My daughters and I are learning (and I am re-learning) horses through "Natural Horsemanship".  What is that, you ask?  Well, I invite you to visit my "Just Horses" blog and find out.  The following two photos I took the first day we got him - he came to us all the way from Northern Michigan.  The am participating with the first photo in "The Creative Exchange, hosted by Lisa Gordon.   She has a nice post today about finding her style along with a big linky with participating photographers.