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The Blacksmith’s Bell – Līgo Haībun Challenge

There are two topics to chose from this week in the  Līgo Haībun Challenge, Many thanks to hostess Nightlake for presenting this opportunity for writers to improve their writing skills. For more information click on the link. At the close of each challenge several of the entrees are chosen to receive “special mention”. A pleasant added goal to strive for. To all who enter the challenge, I wish you good writing. The topics are:

Bells

or

“Strike while the iron is hot” – Chaucer

~

blacksmith

~

My offering: The Blacksmith’s Bell

The sound reverberated as his hammer stuck metal again and again and yet again. His strokes, a rhythm of harmony in motion, striking precise spots in smoothing repetition. This was a critical stage; the shaping and molding of white hot metal. The fires from the forge flamed high, giving off much needed heat.

It was an honor to be chosen. He would not fail. No casting for this bell. It was being crafted from his hands to last forever and would ring with clarity, a pure rich song of vibration never heard before. He would insure this.

The slow uniform succession of strokes tolled as his bell would toll. His purpose, his design, his creation. Sweat pored freely down greatly reddened face and body as the fires flamed his desire to create. A transmuted configuration produced by him and only him. A work of art – the blacksmith’s bell.

pure essence of need

the crafting of creation

man’s driven desire

~*~

Thank you,

Penny

plh

 

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Alastairs Photo Fiction: The Writer’s Box of Inspiration

This weeks prompt for Alastair’s Photo Fiction presents many opportunities for interpretation and variety in the pursuit of crafting creative words. If you enjoy writing, do give Alastair’s writing challenge a try. Just click on the link to participate. With his photo prompt for this week, it seemed a natural thing to write about writers.

We are an interesting group of people aren’t we? The creative desire, no it’s stronger than that, the “need” to express ourselves through the use of the written word. But where does that muse come from anyway?

~

08-05-may-19th-2013

Photo by Alastair Forbes © copyright 2013

~

The box had arrived by mail from the law firm of Charles’ deceased great great grandfather. A hugely successful writer, his grandfather was known to have had an amazing gift with the written word. The accompanying letter said the box was to be passed on to the next true writer in the family.

“Ha,” Charles laughed. “Yeah, right”. He held the box in his hands. It seemed to vibrate. Well he did have quite a vivid imagination. Too bad his imagination wasn’t helping with his story. He laid his manuscript in the box and closed the lid. Perhaps he’d try again in a few days.

Meanwhile in another dimension and time,

“Look, look, more sheets with symbols have arrived in the box today, Gatto,” his assistant cried out.

Gatto peered into the sacred box of knowledge, located in the place of honor within the temple for longer than anyone knew. His job to care for, if not understand its purpose.

He pulled the sheets of paper out of the box and stared at the strange symbols that lay upon them. He knew there must be much meaning here.

He shook his head as to the mysteries of life, time to deliver this magic to the elders. They would be very excited. It had been a long time since they had communicated with the Gods.

 ~ * ~

Yes, I did exceed 150 words. But the story line was so much fun to explore, I just couldn’t help myself here. Hoping you still enjoyed a slightly longer flash fiction! And thank you Alastair for providing such an excellent photo to work with this week. Okay so time to put my latest offerings into my own box of inspiration (my pc connecting me to other amazing bloggers)!

Have a great day today!

~ Penny

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1 Comment

Posted by on May 19, 2013 in Why I love

 

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Pearls of Wisdom ~

There are so many quotes on wisdom, and although the words vary, the themes tend to stay the same. Here then are encapsulated versions of thousands of quotes on wisdom – their core meanings and essence!

~

pearls of wisdom

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Wise people continue to doubt themselves (and that’s part of what makes them wise).

*

Knowledge is one thing, wisdom quite another.

*

Wisdom happens more from mistakes and failures than success.

*

Wisdom is a function of time and experience.

*

Wise people are humble. There is no such thing as someone
who is both arrogant and wise.

*

Wisdom and it’s quest breed kindness and compassion.

*

Wisdom is mutually incompatible to fear. In fact
it’s what enables a person to overcome fear.

*

Wisdom is positively related to happiness.

~*~

And there you have it! A summation of “quoted words of wisdom” that “the many” have said in their own unique way over these many years, Hope you enjoyed!

~ Penny

plh

 

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Stand your Ground!

This is for YOU! And you know who you are! I shared this video and song with my followers last year. And just so you know. I watch it myself on the days that seem harder than other days and we all have those. I send this out today to remind you that You can do it! You can carry on. You can be strong and brave. You have it within you!

I believe in You after all, with all my heart and you (my blogger friends) know I mean the words I write. It is overwhelming out there, changes coming so fast, hard to cope with, loss, pain, loneliness, too much of too much, and in some cases feeling terribly alone and disconnected.

~

You are not disconnected here in blog-land! And I know (for a fact) that the bloggers “out there” believe these words too.

We are here for you during your struggles, just as you are here for us. It makes for a HUGE difference. So today, remember you are loved and STAND YOUR GROUND … you’re worth it, you know!

~ Penny

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The Conversation

 
Said the sky to the clouds
“Why do you not rain?”
Said the clouds to the skytree
“It’s just not the same.”

*

Said the sky to the winds
“why do you not blow?”
said the winds to the sky
“I’m not sure where to go.”

*

Said the sky to the trees
“Where is your shade?”
Said the trees to the sky
“I fear that I fade”.

*

Said the sun to the Earth
“what has changed, I can’t see?”
Said the Earth to the sun
“I’m no longer free.”

*

“I’m caught in between
man’s derision and strife,
From those I provide
I struggle for their lives.”green tree

*

Said the Sun to the Earth
“Please say it’s not so”,
Said the Earth to the sun
“Yes, I’m afraid so”.

*

“Very few listen
to that which I say,
They must all work together
There’s no other way”.

*

“But what can we do
To change what will be”,
“There’s naught”, said the Earth
“for the blind who won’t see!”

* * *

Penny L Howe, 2013
Written on behalf of the Planet we all live upon!
~
plh
 
 
38 Comments

Posted by on May 17, 2013 in Why I love

 

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In contemplation of Self

… and the importance of life.

Therefore a few posts expressing my ponderings in short verses.

Solitary contemplation of the kitten kind! While musing over the unfinished strings of life.

A kitten’s contemplation on the unfinished multi-colored mat of life. Note the dangling strings – to play or not to play with them is the contemplation.

~

Life – a privilege to nurture

The first to give honor
The second to share,
The third to be humble
and try to be there.

~

When making the difference,
in that which you do,
you make for a difference
the truth within you.
*

~ Penny L Howe, 2013

~*~

Thank you for your visit, have an excellent weekend!

~ Penny

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If I Be Poor in Spirit

I did publish this somewhere else but decided to share it with everyone here as well!

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If I be poor in spirit
may I be rich in deed,
If I be poor in doing
May I still plant a seed.

~

For all that I am not
may I be something more,
For all that I can be
Is what I’m striving for!
~

“It’s the doing of a thing, that makes it happen!”

~ Penny L Howe, 2013

~*~

 
19 Comments

Posted by on May 16, 2013 in Why I love

 
 
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