Tag: Suzanne Burke

FICTION IN A FLASH CHALLENGE #22 @pursoot #Writing Community #IARTG #ASMSG

karenringalls14 Comments

Each week, award-winning author Suzanne Burke provides a photo prompt from which we are invited to write a one-liner, short story, or poem. Everyone is welcome to participate.

This week I wrote a Tanka poem, which is a Japanese form of poetry with 5, 7, 5, 7, 7 syllables. I hope you enjoy this week’s entry.

THE BINDER IS OLD
JUST AS I AM ALSO OLD
WE ARE BOTH WORN OUT
TATTERED, TIRED YET EMBRACED
BY STRAPS OR YOUR LOVING ARMS.
 
OUR SKINS ARE WRINKLED
TORN, FRAGILE, SCARRED, YET HOLDING
US TOGETHER WHILE
HIDING SECRETS, LIES, AND DREAMS
NEVER REVEALED TO OTHERS.
 
NOW THAT I HAVE PASSED,
ONLY GOD’S JUDGEMENT MATTERS
BUT I PRAY YOU WILL
LOVE ME WITHOUT CONDITION
ACCEPTING MY HUMANNESS.
 
READ THE WORN PAGES
KNOWING THEY COME FROM MY HEART
WHILE BARING MY SOUL
     SO YOU WILL KNOW WHO I WAS
STILL LOVING, ACCEPTING ME.
 
WHEN YOU CREMATE ME,
DO THE SAME TO THE BINDER
PUTTING OUR ASHES
 IN THE GROUND OF THE OAK TREE
TOGETHER, FOREVER MORE.

If you have not yet visited Suzanne Burke’s website and purchased one of her books, I encourage you to do so. One of my favorite books are “Empty Chairs” written under the pseudonym of Stacy Danson. https://sooozburkeauthor.wordpress.com/

Thank you for visiting my blog today. I appreciate any and all comments. And, if you are not yet a follower, I invite you to become one by simply clicking on the box in the upper right corner.

FICTION IN A FLASH CHALLENGE #21. @pursoot #Writing Community #IARTG #ASMSG

karenringalls16 Comments

Award-winning author, Suzanne Burke, provides a photo prompt and challenges us to write a short story, poem, or one-liner inspired by a photo prompt. Everyone is invited to join in on the fun.

I tried to write a Haiku poem incorporating the last or first names of those authors who have actively contributed to each week’s Fiction in a Flash Challenge. I hope you enjoy this special tribute to Suzanne Burke and the authors who support her.

   A HAUNTED HOUSE FOR AUTHORS
 
THE WOLVES HOWELLED ONE NIGHT
WHILE THE PSIKEICS WERE EATON
IN PLANO SITE WITHOUT
KARENG OR JOANING OTHERS
 
THE AUTHORS AWOKE,
FROM THEIR NIGHT’S SNOOZ WITH CLAIR MINDS
FINNALLY READY
TO JUMP WRITER’S BLOCK HURDLE.
 
THE GHOSTS OF AUTHORS
FILLED THE HALLS WITH HARMONY
ENLIGHTENING THEIR MINDS
TO BIGGAR AND BETTER WORKS.
 
PHOTO PROMPTS INSPIRED
EACH AUTHOR TO WRITE A POEM,
STORY, SHORT OR LONG,
THANKS TO THEIR LEADER, SOOOZ BURKE.
 
 

Thank you for stopping by today and reading this blog. I invite you to go to Suzanne Burke’s website and become a follower. Her books are amazing and I have personally enjoyed each and every one of them. https://sooozburkeauthor.wordpress.com/

Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.

THE PARK BENCH–FLASH FICTION

karenringalls18 Comments

Here is my short story in response to the Flash-Fiction photo prompt provided by award-winning author, Suzanne Burke this week.

The Park Bench

The wooden slats creaked when Jim sat down on the park bench. He held a bouquet of red chrysanthemums. The cool air, warm sun, and the smell of autumn leaves brought peace to his tired body.

It was October 18, 2019, which marked the 30th year of meeting Julie Henderson every Friday afternoon at 1:00 pm.

“Hello, darling.”

In 1989, they were strangers sitting next to one another on this same bench. Julie was reading a book and Jim was eating a sandwich. They glanced at one another and soon struck up a conversation discovering similar interests and histories. They were both divorced, each had three children and careers. Julie was a nurse and Jim was caught up in the corporate world but had dreams to open up his own restaurant.

Jim looked up to see Julie standing there as beautiful as the first time they met. He gave her the bouquet saying, “Happy anniversary, my love.”

After an hour, Julie stood up. “Oh, my goodness. I must leave and get to the hospital for the evening shift. It was nice to meet you.”

“Wait. Do you come here often? I am being presumptuous, but I would like to see you again,” Jim stammered.

Trusting her instincts, she smiled and said, “I am here every Friday at one in the afternoon. I like to come here and enjoy nature, the quiet, and to gaze at the beautiful oak tree across from this bench.”

“Perhaps we could meet here next Friday. By the way, my name is Jim Agen.” He extended his hand.

Julie took his hand and replied, “I am Julie Henderson. I’ll be here.”

They both felt a special energy sweep through them when their hands touched.

For several months, they met each Friday, same time and place. The park bench knew when they held hands for the first time, each embrace and kiss, and heard their words of affection.

When the weather changed to winter, they just swept the snow off the bench and enjoyed the wintry beauty. In the spring, they breathed in the fragrant smells from the cherry blossoms. On a hot summer day, Jim proposed to Julie. They got married on October 19, 1990, standing in front of their favorite bench decorated with red chrysanthemums and red leaves from the oak tree. It had been a part of their lives from that first meeting and was proud to be at the center of the ceremony.

Over the first months of marriage, Julie encouraged her husband. “Follow your dream of having your own restaurant. Don’t let naysayers stop you.”

With his wife’s help, Jim opened his restaurant Autumn, serving soups, sandwiches, and homemade desserts. It was a successful business and soon he opened two more restaurants naming them Autumn Leaves and Autumn Waltz. The couple filled one wall of each restaurant with books available for the customers to enjoy. Soothing music playing Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, an orchestral rendition of Autumn Waltz, or Nat King Cole singing Autumn Leaves completed the ambiance. Julie quit her job at the hospital and became the manager of all the restaurants.

Despite their busy schedules and were married, they continued to spend every Friday afternoon together on the park bench. They talked about their week, hopes and dreams, growing family, and love for each other. Julie loved to say, “I think the angels were tripping over each other to find a way for us to meet. I am grateful that you decided to have lunch in the park that Friday.”

The years passed by, and one Friday only Julie came to the park. Once again, the board creaked as she sat down, letting out a sorrowful sigh. She spent her time talking out loud as if Jim were there. A tear fell on one wooden slat and Julie thought she heard a moaning sound.

Six months later, the October sky was cloudy and the last of the oak’s leaves had fallen. It was Friday, but the park bench was empty. It missed Jim and Julie who never sat on the park bench again.

The End

I hope you enjoyed my short story and I welcome your comments. Writing in a flash-fiction format is fun and challenging at the same time. If you would like to participate in this or any future Flash-Fiction opportunity, please click on this link https://sooozburkeauthor.com

Suzanne Burke is an outstanding and creative author.