Sand
and water
on my feet
tide going out
coming in again
as I walk a shell line
or wade in knee deep
caught in a clouded sky
between heaven and earth
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dVerse prompt on place. I think the beach will always be my place.
Diani Beach
Nature
Kilimanjaro
In space in time I sit thousands of feet above the sea May Sarton
There are many who have come to my three peaks. Shira is my easiest at 13,140 feet, Kibo my highest at 19,340 (highest peak in Africa) and Mawenzi at 16,893. It is not a technical climb but rather a feat of endurance and determination. Do not get altitude sickness or you will fail.
Hemingway camped at my feet. His interest was in hunting and taking trophy, not in climbing me. Hans Meyer and Ludwig Purtscheller were the first Europeans to my summit in 1889. Yohani Kinyala Lauwo, a native, and declared member of this summit party, did my summit three times before WWI, once without shoes.
On a clear day you can see my snows from miles away. Come and see my mountain of whiteness. Come and strive for my highest summit Uhuru Peak, Freedom Peak in Kiswahili.
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dVerse prompt to use May Sarton quote in flash fiction. This is flash historical fiction with Kilimanjaro speaking.
Safari
I went to Mombasa
I did not see rain
there is drought in Amboseli
elephants are dying
wildebeests zebras Maasai giraffe
🦒🐘🦒🐘🦒🐘🦒🐘🦒🐘🦒🐘
I went to Maasai land
I did not see a bow
only spears and panga
arrows used to kill
when the loins attack
🐆🐆🐆🐆🐆🐆🐆🐆🐆🐆🐆
I went to Maasai Mara
to see the wildlife
thunderstorms on the horizon
got wet in the landrover
viewed a perfect rainbow
🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈
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dVerse prompt to use a threesome. My choice is rain, bow and rainbow.
Swimming
I went out into the sea
ready to die
waves crashing at my knees
salt water lifted me
I was made alive
beach walk brought me home
sand sucked my toes
sun on skin
and out on the horizon
the boatman comes
Baobab
I stopped by the side of the road
witness to a baobab
mighty in age and stature—
to behold such a tree
leaves me gasping
as some have been uprooted
for export
left caged in Kilifi
subject now to law
please protect the baobabs
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dVerse quadrille using the word gasp. I have wanted to see a baobab and this one was fine. In November 2022 export of eight huge baobabs was stopped by the Kenyan government. Now they wait in cages.
Enjoy Life
Do you enjoy your job?
Life is a job and I enjoy my life. It is a paid position of sunny days, sounds of nature and God’s presence.
Say the Word
I went out to the garden
looking for spelling bees
there were many beside me—
a bumble bee entered foxglove’s bell
it was not the one I seek
then one buzzed my head
anxious at my presence
to say the word
say the word
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dVerse prompt for a quadrille using the word spell
The Magpies
When just a boy
his Aunt Eva sat at table
playing cards with her friends
they called themselves The Magpies
and he crawled beneath
among their sequoia legs
while over head the squawking
of the birds
At the internment of this aunt
one lone magpie
flew into the small cemetery
as if to say
I am here
I am here
remember me
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dVerse prompt to write a corvid poem
Maid of Earth Day
Out of the mist
in silver glow
comes a voice
I did not know
This earth is mine
tend it well
all firs and the pine
cedars too
A breath for me
and a breath for you
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NaPoWriMo Day 25 prompt to write an aisling
Come Into the Garden
Come
into the garden
at dawn
before
dew dries
from the dragonfly
Come
as the sun
filters
through cedars
to glow
on the rippled
waters of pond
Come
with trowel and seed
energy
to last all day
pluck a weed
don’t forget
to feed
hungry peonies
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NaPoWriMo Day 19 prompt to write a command poem. This is my garden commanding me to get to work.
wordshophop 