haiku

...but when I called and

asked them to deliver me

a slice, they hung up.

Photo by: Osquer

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [indigence]

She wanted desperately to take her father up in a hot air balloon for his birthday, but her indigence prevented anything so extravagant. So, she got a helium balloon at the dollar store and made a little paper basket to hang underneath it. Then she made two paper dolls that looked remarkably like herself and her father. She floated the whole thing over his desk while he was working late into the night and the laughter it caused did him no end of good.

haiku

Spent the afternoon

creating a foster home

for young violets.

Photo and flower bed by: Osquer

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [grace]

I tried to move with some grace through the yard but the combination of wet grass and the effort to balance a tray of tiny plants was nearly my undoing. It was only luck and quick reaction that kept me from landing on my butt. As is my wobbling efforts to remain upright must have looked less than ladylike.

haiku

Happy as a worm,

up to my elbows in mud,

I planted basil.

Photo by: Osquer

55 Fiction Friday

Only a slight elevation of Andrews’ left eyebrow gave any indication of his surprise at Lady Jessica’s request, “How may I be of service, your ladyship?”

“That’s just it. It’s not as my father’s servant I beg your assistance but as a man of honor and charity to a woman in need of your help.”

[FIRST] [PREVIOUS] (to be continued...)

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [sweat]

The sweat seemed to pool in my temples before running into my eyes. I wiped my face on my shoulder as my hands and arms were too muddy to do any good. I thrust the garden claw into the soil once more and gave it a clockwise heave. The tines tore through the earth, uprooting weeds and worms. I shook the mud from the roots, dislodging the worms back into the garden. I had to be quick. I had only so much time before the next rainstorm.

haiku

Cloud horse and cloud bull

charge at each other in front

of sunrise angel.

Photo by: Osquer

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [unprotected] (for Jay)

When I went out there I didn’t intend to leave my heart unprotected. I planned on meeting lots of people and getting to know several before trusting anyone. Then you spoke to me and my heart proved itself to be not only unprotected from your charms but perfectly willing to fall under them.

magnetic haiku

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [tangle]

I sat on the floor surrounded by a vast tangle of yarn. I was frustrated but resigned to slowly and methodically sorting it out. The worst part was that in order to sort out a fairly small knot properly I had to spread the yarn into an almost unimaginable mess. It seems like anything looks worse halfway through getting it cleaned up.

haiku

I grow impatient

for tiny impatiens to

grow and fill their beds.

Photo by: Osquer

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [circimspect]

"Well, you could have been more circumspect in your choice of roomates."

"How was I supposed to know she was a vampire?"

"Oh I don't know...the fact that she never goes out during the day, the fact that she doesn't own a mirror, the fact that she can't stand garlic. Then there's that hickey she gave you the night you met..."

"Oh yeah...that..."

haiku

A helicopter

is hovering over the

spent cherry blossoms.

Photo by: Osquer

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [legendary]

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, a legendary performer who needs no introduction..." With that the M.C. walked off the stage leaving the confused audience murmuring to each other.

"Quick!" I hissed, to the new comedian, "Get your butt out there." Of course the audience had never heard of him, but they would certainly be paying attention. This was his big chance!

haiku

Turn your face to the

sun and feel its warmth as you

grow bright in its light.

Photo by: Osquer

haiku

His very posture

was a question my point of

view could not answer.

Photo by: Osquer

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [damaged]

I stood with one hand shielding my eyes and surveyed the damage. The engine steamed and sputtered but would not run properly ever again. I was stranded. Suddenly I heard a motor approacing. It was him. "Damn!" I hissed, "the last person I wanted to be indebted to..."

squirrel in cherry tree

Photos by: Osquer

haiku

The hawk's call hushes

songbird chatter. They know the

headmaster's watching.

Photo by: Osquer

haiku

Now this is why I

hid you under a bushel

when the frost was here.

Photo by: Osquer

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [vibrate]

I pushed the engine until it began to vibrate and groan, then I backed it off just a little. I had to make up as much time as possible if I wanted to have a chance of even finishing the race alive let alone winning. I needed to find water and soon, not for myself but for my justly complaining engine.

55 Fiction Friday

Jessica sat across from Andrews on the drive back to the manor house. She had little time to make up her mind about who to trust in her father’s household. She realized that the butler would be a goldmine of information. “Mr. Andrews,” she began, “I wonder if I could ask a favor of you…”

[FIRST] [PREVIOUS] (to be continued...)

haiku

Max says, “If you can

do naught else for your elders,

offer a cushion.”

Photo by: Osquer

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [dance]

I watched the motes of dust dance through the air and slowly settle to the floor before being swept up again as the Max, under the influence of catnip, tumbled through the room once more. I really don't think we should keep catnip in the house when we're doing home improvement projects. It tends to turn the newspaper covered floor into an amusement park for kitties!

haiku

“Pay no attention

to the goldfinch behind the

branch! Oz has spoken!”

Photo by: Osquer

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [cheeks]

I pinched my cheeks to bring out the roses in them like they used to do in the olden days. I remember Scarlet O'Hara doing it to impress Rhett. I remember my grandmother suggesting rubbing my cheeks with a stiff brush to color them up.

haiku (for Jay)

In our life’s bustle,

you find moments to thrill me

with love’s surprises!

Photo by: Osquer

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [pickle]

"It seems we're in quite a pickle here," he sputtered.

"Not funny," I grumbled, treading vinegar as I looked for a way out of the large vat into which we'd been pushed. "This is the last time I take a job with you staking out the Vlasic factory!"

haiku (for Mom)

Your clever gift to

neighbors inspires delicious

possibilities.

Photo by: Osquer
Texas Sheet Cake by: Osquer’s Mom

Happy 7th Birthday today, Julia!

Happy 12th Birthday Monday, Jana!

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [burn]

By the time I could see that my skin was beginning to burn it was too late to take shelter. Even applying additional sunscreen was very little help. If my skin was turning pink while it was still daylight, I would be blistered by bedtime. I sighed and slathered on the sunscreen anyway. At least I could take steps to start healing. My mantra for the next few days would be "Moisturize! Moisturize! Moisturize!" and "Don't touch me!"

haiku

baking odors

congregate on the landing

spicy conversation

photo and muffins by: Osquer

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [bubble]

My brain was full of ideas that played off of each other like chemical reactions. They began to bubble and fizz, frothing over into the excited motions of my pen as I tried to gather them all before they flitted away like so many soap bubbles on the whimsical breeze of my mood.

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [congested]

The freeway was quite congested and I was in more of a hurry than usual. If I didn't get the results of this experiment to the University in time The Professor and I would never get it stabilized before it reverted to its component forms. A cross between a shih tzu and a slug is a hard thing to keep together.

haiku

With a bucket to

protect you from the frost, we

may yet see you bloom.

Photo by: Osquer

haiku (for Jay)

Your Valentine's heart

has more stamina than I

would have expected.

Photo by: Osquer

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [alter]

"Well, we can alter the hem and tighten the bodice, but there's not much more we can do with the material on hand. I'll have to send the boys to find some accessories." She nodded over her shoulder at her two brothers. The two male mice scrambled past Cindarella's feet through a hole in the wall in search of ornaments for her ball gown.

There's only one good thing about being stuck in traffic on the West End Bridge...

55 Fiction Friday

Jessica snapped her suitcase firmly shut and took one last look around the room. Her father had offered to send someone to collect her things but Jessica, unused to living with servants, had preferred to do her own packing. He had, however, insisted on sending Andrews with her to settle her bill at the inn.

[FIRST] [PREVIOUS] (to be continued...)

haiku

I did not notice

how silent Winter was ‘til

I heard Spring birdsong.

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [lush]

The warm spell had brought out a lush new growth of leaves, but the sudden cold snap had stunted many if not outright killing them. The cherry blossoms had been cut off before their prime and I didn't hold out much hope for many of the remaing buds to open. I was thrilled, however, to discover that my trick of putting a bucket over the single tulip in the yard seemed to have saved it's single bud from a premature demise.

haiku pair

Each pansy turned its

puppy-in-the-window face

in my direction.


I’m glad the one I

brought home turned out to have a

healthy root system.

Photos by: Osquer

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [hello]

"Hello, I love you. Won't you tell me your name..." Jim Morrison echoed from some doorway at an unspecified distance down the shadowy corridor. I walked cautiously through the broken glass and detritus of tenement life. My profession certainly led me into some interesting places.