A to Z and Back Again #atozchallenge

As so many, I am writing a succinct reflection on the 2015 A to Z Challenge.

Each year I have a different focus: this year’s primary focus was to high- light several friends who (I think) are gifted writers. I also wanted to share about a poetry book (A Song for Liberia) that will be published this summer with all the proceeds going to children orphaned by Ebola.

Each year,  I want to  support Arlee Bird who had the vision for the A to Z Challenge and is a fantastic human being.

I like meeting fantastic writers and this year was no exception.

My final observation is that those who gained from the A to Z Challenge were those who took the time to make not only thoughtful posts but took the time to visit and COMMENT on fellow A to Zer’s blogs. Afterall the Blogging community of writers thrives because people support each other.

I have met many fantastic people over the years and this year I am grateful again for some friendships (or is that blogships) that will continue.

2015 A to Z Challenge is a wrap!

Advertisement

Zilch, Zophiel, Zero… #atozchallenge

Zilch, is all’s I ever got. My wife, the harpy, continually nags me to take her places.

I thought, “Peru is some place.”

The Inca ruins were breathtaking.

All I heard was, “The mountains are freezing.

So I bought Marjorie a coat made from  mountain goat’s wool.

Later that day, we climbed to Machu Picchu.

We were standing on a cliff enjoying the magnificent view when a Harpy Eagle swooped down and seized her.

Soaring into a canyon, he dropped her on the jagged rocks.

He thought she looked like a tasty goat.

Now how’s that for ironic?

A Harpy eating a harpy.

***

Many thanks to my friend Steve Slack who pulled off not only a great “Z” for the end of the A to Z Challenge, but he did it in less than 100 words – Bravo Steve.

And here’s a tantalizing tidbit from Matt Harrill’s new serial The ARC Legacy that will be coming in 2016

***

His hands balled in fists, Zophiel dropped to his knees, his robes spreading about him.

Tears of purest light streamed down his face, glistening like the first rays of dawn on the morning of the first day. His head hung low.

“Metatron, my brother, is dead…” The whisper came from clenched teeth.

The lips peeled back as his shoulders trembled, the feathers on his enormous wings starting to shake as grief very evidently became rage. Those nearby took a step back.

“They did this.” His eyes opened, and the crystal blue had been replaced with irises of darkest night. “Release Nibiru,” he growled. “Unleash the host.”

“Zophiel, no,” Ioviel gasped. “The world will end.”

“The world has ended.”

***

And one final visit to the dark streets of New Cago…

“Luz, we are down to Zero!” Sam’s hands grew numb as he held a lifeless hand.

It was true the last of his friends (and hers) were dead.

Sam was all that was left, strangely he was more driven.

“Our blood gives you the best chance to succeed, Sam.”

“All my friends are dead and I’m supposed to be comforted?”

“No time for tears, Sam.” A woman who was wearing one pink slipper whispered.

****

“Zeek,  today is your lucky day!”

Sam held a list. He gladly put a line through the last name – in blood.

Many thanks to the A to Z crew for another great year. I would like to put in one more mention for the Fill the Cracks program for children Orphaned by Ebola. We appreciate any support – reblogs, tweets…

Spoiler Alert!!!

The writers are loose

Never Together by Leslie Moon #atozchallenge

Today is the N for A to Z challenge. This week I am stepping into the writer’s circle and writing a week long serial set in the metropolis of NewCago. Its a bit of noir, crime and even some fiction. Though this is a serial, I do understand some of you will be dropping by via A to Z so you can read each day as stand alone microfiction.

The first of the NewCago series – “Missed”

I remember the first time we saw each other – We hadn’t seen each other since we were kids out in the country.

Then everything went haywire. Caesar took what he wanted including the lives of my parents.

At 17, I fled – their night screams chased me for years.

I was entranced by New Cago; she beckoned with her dazzling lights and her rich satins. I didn’t know about the slime underneath until it owned me.

Sam didn’t know how I was making it, I didn’t have the heart to tell him.

 When I wrote,  I told him I had a job and my own place.

Yeah, some call  it a job. The men liked my blue eyes ‘that girl has spirit!’

 But what the hell there was money and a bunk.  I wasn’t locked up in someone’s vault and the temple goons stayed away.

Caesar was murdered and we all celebrated in fountains of bubbly. Within days, the gangs took over and I learned to shoot a gun.

A gang lord wanted to claim me as “property rights.”

Sam showed up just when they were forging my personal chain.

Sam  always could look straight down to my heart. He knew but never said a word.

Sam was something those gangsters were not and they feared him.

Evil never sleeps though and on my birthday someone took a lucky shot.

Dog gone, I’ve pulled Sam into this rotten city and now I’m dead.

 My real name is Lucerne which means ‘Life.’  My blood is a type of antidote Medicago they call it. That’s why when the bullet passed through me and into Sam he didn’t die.

Sam, do what you’ve gotta do – my blood will keep you alive.

 

 

 

Image attribution:”75 Medicago sativa L” by Amédée Masclef – Atlas des plantes de France. 1891. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons – http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:75_Medicago_sativa_L.jpg#/media/File:75_Medicago_sativa_L.jpg

Did you know there are more than 10,000 children orphaned by Ebola in West Africa? Many of these children have nothing and are stigmatized by their communities (and extended family). We are trying to find a way to raise funds to help. More info here.

Enjoy these A to Z participants today:

621. Words from Sonobe	622. Mental Indigestion (WR)
623. AJ Blythe’s Cozies	624. A Life Examined
625. Life of a Woman	626. A Few Drops of Ink
627. New Author @ Supporting Writers and Authors	628. Freezerburned (WR)
629. Story Scavenger (WR)	630. Amazing Animals
631. A to Z of Rome	632. Binxyboo (WR)
633. Positively Ancypantz	634. About Myself, By Myself
635. A Love Like No Other (AC)	636. The Inner Workings of a Shared Mind
637. The Taggs (LI)	638. princessdeia
639. Varan-Bhaat (dedicated to PatharePrabhu cuisine)	640. Work By Writing
641. Leetah Begallie (WR)	642. Writing in Wonderland
643. Common Sense Experience	644. Life by Chocolate
645. Second Thoughts First (PR)	646. Musings of a Penniless Writer
647. The Magic of Words	648. Crafts and thoughts
649. Amybeads (CR)	650. Mom-ology
651. The Story of a Writer	652. Stephanie’s Studio
653. Sharon Hamilton romance writer	654. 2AM Writer
655. LIZY Writes	656. Zombie Flamingos
657. Thought on a Roll (CU)	658. Ben / Kat
659. His and Her Hobbies (TR)	660. Donna C. Keenan, Author (PR)
661. Anewperspectiveperhaps	662. Happenence (AR)
663. Clare Dugmore Writes (AC)	664. Karen’s Krafts and Other Krap
665. Nemo’s Lounge (GA)	666. the Hapless Henchman
667. Franglais with Tim	668. Mason Jar Mamas (LI)
669. Tips For New RVers	670. Author Melissa Ann Goodwin

Help Us Please #ebola #orphans

Oh Give me food to eat

I’m weary from disease

so many lives were lost

help us will you please…

This is part of a poem written for the Ebola orphans of  Liberia and a project we are trying to raise money for their care.

 

Poetry Submissions #poetry #charity #orphans

Call for Submission -FILL THE CRACKS POETRY PROJECT

Fill the Cracks is partnering with Visionary Press Collaborative to publish a book of poetry to raise money. This project’s sole purpose is to share the love with the children who are orphans from the Ebola epidemic in Liberia.

 Though this project/ book thematically  is open for interpretation,we would like you to consider how you  as a poet can write a “song” that conveys one of the following: sadness at the loss for these children left alone,  a message of hope to the children, and  a call to the community at large to remember these little lives as they forge ahead. This is meant to be a work of encouragement rather than a sounding board for political opinions.

More information is available at Fill the Cracks. The deadline for submission is June 1st. We still have room for more poetry, but the book is filling up quickly.

Frozen Spring #haiku #spring

 

Spring dreams

ballerina water dance

frozen in motion

 En pointe

hydrangea surrounds the stage

ballerina’s spray

This poem for Poetry Pantry at Poet’s United was written in the heart of winter. The ballerina in these haiku awaits the opening of spring’s curtain.

I am so grateful to Poet’s United for the interview about the poetry book for the orphans of Ebola in Liberia and to Kristjaan at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai. If you are unfamiliar with these two poetry communities, please check them out.

Submissions are open until June 1st.

The poems being submitted are a beautiful chorus that fit so well together.

Melancholia #haiku #photography

stirring my fingers

pool of liquid memory

filled with for nevers

Melancholy is the prompt at Carpe Diem. Many of us are melancholic wishing for spring to come.

I Wanted to share that submissions are now being accepted for the project for the children orphaned by Ebola. All poets and haiku poets welcome to share their voice. All the money raised from this book will go to the care of orphans in Liberia!

Dance with the Windmill #haiku #poetry

wind teases paddles

dizzy is the windmill dance

child’s dress billows

*

Don Quixote

a windmill joust

giggle in the breeze

There is something fanciful about the windmill as it plays with the wind. The prompt at Carpe Diem is Windmills.

I Wanted to share that submissions are now open for the project for the children orphaned by Ebola. All poets and haiku poets welcome to share their voice!