Answer It! #RDP

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I felt like life was knocking me down,

Like the carefree days wouldn’t be back around

It seemed old age was knocking, knocking

Always getting holes in my stockings…

But no, “being old” is not for me yet;

I’m a fun, young dinosaur, you bet!

Change keeps coming, it’s a knocking.

Time for action, no more talking…

I shouldn’t fear what may come next

I always handle things, doing my best.

Yes, change keeps knocking on my door,

No time for me to fear what’s in store.

Through the threshold, I shall go

It’s the only way I’ll ever know.

***Inspired by the one word prompt shared daily at RDP. Today’s is found at https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2022/07/29/rdp-friday-knocking/

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You Do You. #RDP

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They sit in the toy box, long abandoned

or they are hidden in the closet

broken arm or leg half-falling off,

victims of overuse or of long ago boredom.

They are often discarded, or to the lucky soul,

handed down to a new generation.

We see them as disposable,

for they are ours to use.

We love them, but not like

we love our dog.

Yet, they are tiny little works of art,

an expression of the heart of mankind

at any given time.

And so, to the girl who wants to preserve

its porcelain face and velvet dress,

You do that; it’s a piece of culture.

To the little boy who has many

adventures with the dirt-faced Hulk doll

and/or princess Leia with missing hand,

You do that; they’ve fueled your imagination.

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All those little toys. Where are they now?

One or Two, All Together. #RDP #poetry

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(c) 2021, by Pamela Schloesser Canepa

They say the loneliest number is one,

but when all is said and done

Together can become empty, and you ask why?

Sometimes there’s a point, they no longer look you in the eye.

******

Sometimes, when you are just one

reaching out to many, you feel more whole

because when trying to stay together,

you denied and shuttered areas of your soul.

*****

You may be blessed to stay together,

or as one, you can still withstand the weather

You be you; as one or part of two, neither one is better.

***

***Subscribe to the Ragtag Daily Word Prompt; join in one day and see what comes out in words. See today’s Word Challenge prompt at https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2021/06/09/rdp-wednesday-together/

Subscribe to their blog for daily word prompts at https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com

Yada, yada, yada #RDP #amwriting

Monday. I’ve got this!

I woke up and ate breakfast.

Not once did I worry.

Even though I started to get ready, yada, yada, yada, I took my time.

Ever since I got to work, yada, yada, yada.

Dropping papers, yada, yada, yada…

This too shall pass.

Other than that, Monday is passing.

Right now, I’m cheerful

Even though it’s Monday.

Look, we can do this,

Alright?

X Marks the spot. Sign in. Yada, yada, yada.

**Posted in response to the Seinfeld-ish word prompt found at https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/09/14/rdp-monday-yada-yada-yada/

(This was fun)!

Don’t Disturb #flashfiction #RDP

(C) Pamela Schloesser Canepa

Every day the magnificent creature would bask in a patch of sun by the creek as Fredericka passed by on her way home from school. The forest looked magical in this spot. She wished she could plop down right beside it and rest, but there was still quite a way to go.

“I want to tickle it, ” her brother James whispered. “Look at that cute little potbelly!”

“No, don’t disturb it. You’ll make him wake up. He’s probably strong, you know.”

“What? Are you afraid, you scaredy cat?”

Fredericka sighed. James could be immature. “It’s called respect, James.”

“Yeah right.”

As the creature stirred and its eyelids fluttered, Fredericka guided James away.

“Why, Fred?” James whined.

“Isn’t it enough that we got to see this rare thing?” she asked as they had found their way out of the woods. “If you mess with it, we may never see that dragon again.”

By Design #RDP #poetry

“By Design”, (c) 2020 by Pamela Schloesser Canepa

 

You are here by design,

But your every move defines.

 

You might make a million

Or live in a cardboard box

Eating Ramen with holes in your socks

Maybe you’re stuck to the eternal college life

Or settled down with a home and a wife

You may be untethered and wandering free

You may have chosen to simplify and just be

You’re the life of the party or the one serving drinks

To the guy smiling at you, with a nod and a wink

Because he knows…that we are all trapped on this rotating star

We’re happy or lonesome, but together we are

Tasked with burning or nurturing our Earth.

Tasked to choose either death or rebirth,

To watch the fall of each other

Or to reach out and weather this together.

 

 

Fortune Cookie, Psych Profile #FOWC

At one with the stars

She opened the cookie

And peered into her mind

Unscrolling her secrets, her dreams, her life

How did they know her?

“You are prone to flights of fancy,” it read.

“Visions of fairies and stars in your head

Imagination and dreams rule you, yet some things fill you with dread

And you scream inwardly at your own imperfections

Oftentimes, you compromise and change direction

 

Your brain is, at once, playground and haunted house

Befriend the ghosts. Thank them for the growth they have aroused. “

 

Maverick. #lightandshadow

Welcome to the weekend!  How about some speculative flash-fiction to combat the effects of a stressful week?  Thanks for reading!

Maverick, by Pamela Schloesser Canepa

Maverick didn’t like being followed.  Having once been a soldier in the Gulf War, he was always very aware and at times, hyper-alert.

No one knew the beings were here on earth, until Maverick discovered his shadow was not the only one following him.  Who would have suspected that our first alien invasion would be orchestrated by invisible beings?  Pretty much no one but Maverick looked up from their cell phone while walking.

All I know is, one day they were not here, and then one day, they were.  Look for a shadow with no human partner.  It may be following you, or just standing on a corner.  Maverick said these beings probably don’t get much sunlight (or any equivalent) on their home planet.  Do they like the sun?  Who knows.  When you see an unpaired shadow, perhaps it is an alien just standing and soaking up the rays.  Or maybe they are watching you, observing.  Maverick says it’s the latter.

Meanwhile, the government is making cell phones even cheaper, and requiring each family to have one for every person over age six.  They struck a deal with the aliens.  Be aware.

Maverick and I always leave our cell phones at home.  You might want to consider that too.  Be aware!

**This is my entry for the Rag Tag Daily word prompt, shared each day at http://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com

Check them out, follow them, and join the daily writing fun!

**The above photo is my own, taken on an innocent family walk in North Carolina where the beauty of fall is apparent and colorful.  No aliens were harmed in the taking of this photo. 🙂

April. #RDP #shortreads

(C) by 2019 Pamela Schloesser Canepa

The wind was howling and we needed to take a break from our cliff hike.  Mike spotted a cave ahead in the distance.  “Let’s stop there,” he suggested.

The height was already making my breath come in short spurts; the wind made me feel like I’d be toppled over any minute, but with one foot in front of the other, we made it to the cave.

“Further in, so the wind won’t blow dust at us,” Mike said.

It sounded reasonable to me.  Further into the cave, I saw a huge blanket on the ground.  Mike and I look at each other warily.

In my peripheral vision, I spotted something moving.

“Stop right there!”  Mike wielded a pistol.

“Really, Mike?”  I was disgusted.

“You wouldn’t be so judgmental if it was a bear,” he argued.

The moving object was much too thin to be a bear.  As it came closer, I could see it was human in shape, with its hands up.

“No harm here, it’s just me,” the small form said.  A small form with the voice of a man.  He seemed taller as he slowly came closer.

Unthreatened, Mike put his pistol away.

“Do you live here?”  I asked.

“Oh, no.  I was camping with my girl.  She wondered off; I’ve been looking for her, well, until the wind picked up.”

“Shouldn’t there be a search party?”

“Not anymore.  It’s just me now.  I’ve been at this for a few weeks.  Haven’t gone home since I last saw her.”

“When exactly was that?”

“The end of April,” the man replied.

“Did you know it’s September now?”  I asked.

“September?”  He chuckled.  “That’s not funny.”  His face grew worried and withdrawn.

“When the wind dies down, we’ll take you into town for a coffee and steak, my treat,” Mike offered, probably feeling badly for having been so defensive.

The man just nodded, eyes wide open as saucers. Exiting the cave, he sang softy:

“April came and went. 

Its beauty fleeting, its energy spent. 

But my love is all but gone.

And all I have left is this sad song.”

MIke and I exchanged nervous glances, wondering what we’d gotten ourselves into.  I patted the man on the back.  “That’s Mike, and I’m April,” I said.

 

***Thank you to the Ragtag Community.  Visit them for other takes on the prompt and to join the daily writing inspiration at Ragtag Community on WordPress

**Both the poem and story are written by yours truly.  Thanks for stopping by.  Your comments are also much appreciated!