haiku

What I wouldn’t give

for a pair of wings to lift

me past the sunset!

Photo by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

55 Fiction Friday

Jessica decided there was only one way to deal with such a mistrusting child. Understanding him better than those who had known him all his life, she gave him the one thing no one ever had, the truth.

“Honestly,” she smiled, “I don’t really feel like a lady. Perhaps you would rather call me ‘Cousin.’”

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

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

[Osquer 42]

We lay out in a field under the starlit sky, quietly discussing all of the cosmic changes that were taking place in our lives. We considered the convergence of our orbits and how they would affect each other. "Look!" you suddenly cried out, "A shooting star! Quick! Make a wish!"

December 29, 2006 05:48 PM (20:48 EST)

haiku (for Jay)

It's such a kick to

find someone with whom I can

embrace life's whimsy!

Photo by: Osquer

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

[Osquer 42]

"We must be brave," he told his little sister as they crouched together in the linen cupboard, "and quiet." The five year old clutched her dolly to her chest and tried to stiffen her lip. She would be brave. Daddy would want her to be. They could hear the pirates below them, prowling through the inn. Their boots sounded so loud on the boards!

December 28, 2006 12:38 PM (15:38 EST)

haiku

I wrap my scarf tight

around my throat to protect

from the cold, dry air.

Photo by: Osquer

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

[Osquer 42]

There, leaning against the rusted gate, was the silver headed walking stick that had become so familiar to me. One of the ruby eyes of the dragon shaped handle was missing and the wood was scratched and chipped. Something had clearly happened to its owner, but what?

December 27, 2006 03:24 PM (18:24 EST)

haiku

Childhood memories

glow like keepsakes that can’t be

turned off with a switch.

Photo by: Osquer

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

[Osquer 42]

He put his ear to the ground but couldn't hear anything. "If their base is around here," he muttered, "It's well hidden. There's nothing visible for miles and I can't pick up any vibrations underground. Are you even listening to me?"

"I was, but I wasn't that interrested in what you were saying. Look up." High above us, suspended by heaven only knew what defiance of gravity, was the enemy's base of operations, miles above our heads.

December 26, 2006 03:08 PM (18:08 EST)

haiku (for Jay)

December raidrops

leave wet fingerprints on the

windshield as you drive.

Fibonacci Poem

Who

would

have thought

I would be

picking brussel sprouts

in my garden Christmas Day?

Photo by: Osquer

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

[Osquer 42]

"Alright!" he sputtered, "The gloves are coming off, now!"

"Well, sure," I replied, "Come on in and stand by the fire. You must be nuts to be out there trying to hang christmas lights in this weather. Not to mention the fact that they were pretty badly knotted to begin with. Have some cocoa and let me work on that tangle for you."

December 25, 2006 06:15 PM (21:15 EST)

haiku

Twinkling lights color

Christmas anticipation

with generous thoughts.

Photo by: Osquer

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

[Osquer 42]

She slipped her hand slowly into the elegant glove, using the time to think of a response. "I have not seen him, father." He had asked where her brother was. She knew the answer to his question, but her gamble paid off. He did not notice that she didn't answer the question he asked.

December 24, 2006 08:14 PM (23:14 EST)

haiku (Thank you for the pointsettia, my dear Jay.)

Leaves blush to petals

and whisper Christmas secrets

on Winter evenings.

Photo by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

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

[Osquer 42]

I looked out across the barren wasteland of the parking lot...Damn! I really should have paid more attention to where I parked instead of fishing for my shopping list. How was I going to find my little blue car among all these gigantic SUV's?

December 23, 2006 09:53 AM (12:53 EST)

haiku (What were they thinking?)

A product for kids

that features a man talking

to his smiling crotch?

Photos by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

55 Fiction Friday

Jessica was about to speak when unexpectedly someone else did from the doorway. “Is that her?” The speaker was a blond boy of about 10. Both his face and his voice were sullen.

“Archie,” answered the Duke, “This is your cousin, my daughter, Lady Jessica.”

“She doesn’t look like a lady.” the boy replied rudely.

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

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

[Osquer 42]

She lay back in the field, staring up at the clouds and trying to find shapes in their forms. They were too nebulous to really suggest anything, so she decided to make a wheat angel instead. She began scissoring her arms and legs smiling to feel the seed heads tickle her face as the fell around her. Crop circles? Ha! Maybe she'd make a whole circle of angels!

December 22, 2006 07:58 PM (22:58)

haiku (for Jay)

I hid between my

hair and your chest, trying to

keep my ghosts at bay.

haiku

Tiny white lights, like

sugar frosting roses, make

a sweet Christmas Tree.

Photo by: Osquer
Tree by: Osquer's dad and mom

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

[Osquer 42]

"You've got a heart of gold!" he gasped. I peered down over the top of the x-ray machine.

"I know," I replied, "My father was a brilliant surgeon and inventor. He created a new artificial heart which also let him keep my mother from getting his money when they divorced. It's heavy as hell, though."

December 21, 2006 07:01 PM (22:01 EST)

haiku (for Chris Rubin)

Ornament your home

with friends. Mere baubles cannot

sparkle as brightly.

Photo by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

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

[Osquer 42]

I ran my eye over the prisoner manifest but could not see anything amiss. Then I suddenly realized that all the names were anagrams of famous characters from Dickens. The names were all fake! All 800 of them. So who were these people, really? And didn't they know that "Toliver Swit" would be a dead givaway?

December 20, 2006 05:56 PM (20:56 EST)

haiku

Will global warming

replace winter wonder with

artificial snow?

Photo by: Osquer

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

[Osquer 42]

“That's the truth, pure and simple.”

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

“Who were you quoting there?”

“I'm not sure. Oscar Wilde, I think.”

“How come everything clever is always attributed to Oscar Wilde?”

“Maybe because he's the one who said, 'Everybody is clever nowadays…I wish to goodness we had a few fools left.'"

December 19, 2006 06:28 PM (21:28 EST)

Magnetic Haiku (for Jay)

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

[Osquer 42]

With an abundant but muffled stream of curses, he backed out of the gap in the hedge. I could not see his face, but I'm sure it would have been even less pleasant to behold if it were not still covered by the beehive he'd accidentally stuck it into.

December 18, 2006 06:19 PM (21:19 EST)

haiku

Decorations glow,

winter fireworks to warm cold

thoughts and light dark nights.

Photo by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

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

[Osquer 42]

"But you!" he sputtered, spittle flying from his lips, "You, with your heart like an icicle, can't even see when one of your people is dying of your neglect!"

"Enough!" she thundered, "Guards, take him away." She turned to the chancellor, "The child he was speaking of, see that she gets everything that she needs. He's right. Her life must be saved if it can be."

December 17, 2006 03:46 PM (18:46 EST)

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

[Osquer 42]

"Who are you trying to fool?" he sneared.

"Um, there's only one fool that I can see." I replied, peeling his fingers off my wrist.

"We both know that you won't get halfway home before you start to crave my company unbearably. You'll turn around and come crawling back."

"Yeah, you go ahead and wait up for me," I called back over my shoulder. I went home and slept like a baby.

December 16, 2006 04:25 PM (19:25)

haiku

Artist has a brush

with a brick wall and transforms

it from mere support.

Photo by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

haiku

Clouds gather around

the setting sun to paint on

their evening faces.

Photo by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

55 Fiction Friday

“It has become apparent that Miss Iris Applegate is not going to keep her appointed interview for the position of young Master Archibald’s tutor.” intoned Andrews as though there was nothing at all odd about the fact that Jessica had entered the house under that guise or that the missing heiress should suddenly be home.

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

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

[Osquer 42]

"Don't tempt me," he cautioned, holding me upside down by my ankle. He lowered me slowly into the crevace and I strained to reach the treasure lying at the bottom.

"Well, you're the one who dropped it down here in the first place. Why'd you take it out of the vault in the first place?"

December 15, 2006 05:58 PM (20:58 EST)

Fibonacci Poem

Thoughts

form

smooth walls.

Time erodes

layers, exposing

buried uneven memories.

Photo by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

haiku (for Jay)

Did you know that just

the thought of you is enough

to make me look smug?

www.oneword.com - one word, so little time [give}

[Osquer 42]

"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the pride of our city, the glory of our county, this state's favorite son and our country's best hope for the future!" The speaker waved his arm enthusiastically toward the spotlighted and unexpectedly empty left-hand portion of the stage. "Where'd he go?"

December 14, 2006 01:48 PM (16:48 EST)

haiku (for Jay)

The scars across my

heart may give it texture, but

you give it softness.

Photo by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

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

[Osquer 42]

For four days we were technically homeless. We had closed on the old house and arrived at the new one only to discover that some wiring was not finished. Due to housing regulations, the builder could not legally let us move in until the wiring was completed. We had to stay in a motel until the house passed inspection. They put us up at the Knight's Inn. I don't recommend it.

December 13, 2006 05:45 PM (20:45)

haiku

I hold onto the

sun's warmth. Twilight gathers to

keep me company.

Photo by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

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

[Osquer 42]

"Don't panic," said the voice in my head.

"Easy for you to say. You're back home at base. I'm the one out here putting my arse on the line."

"True," replied my controller. "Still, the mental implant seems to be working perfectly."

"That doesn't make me feel any better about it's being inside my head."

December 12, 2006 05:17 PM (20:17 EST)

haiku (for Jay)

You light my little

corner of the world with deep

and magical fire!

Photo by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

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

[Osquer 42]

Contrary to the popularly held belief that we are alone in the universe, a real life alien stood right in front of me. Unfortunately, it looked just like anyone else. I only had its assurance, and the fact that it had landed right in front of me out of the clear blue sky, that it was not of this world.

December 11, 2006 06:03 PM (21:03)

haiku

Shadows segment my

thoughts, carry me in pieces

to my journey’s end.

Photo by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

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

[Osquer 42]

I tried to make a graceful exit, but my hem caught on the leg of the table holding the flaming baked Alaska, causing the need to overturn the fish tank on it to put it out. The serving staff managed to gather up the fish and drop them into nearby water goblets thus averting a tragedy. The only real casualty was my dignity.

December 10, 2006 06:11 PM (21:11 EST)

haiku

What's going on at

Save-A-Lot that the birds know

about and I don't?

Photo by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

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

[Osquer 42]

I approached the dealer with trepidation. I was nearly shaking I was so nervous. I'd never tried this sort of thing before. I didn't even know if I'd brought enough money. Finally I squared my shoulders, took a deep breath and sat down at the table. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," smiled the croupier to the eager table, "the game is blackjack."

December 9, 2006 04:36 PM (19:36 EST)

55 Fiction Friday

Andrews regained his composure with a rapidity of which only English butlers seem capable. He schooled his features into their customary imperturbable coolness and strode into the room. “Good afternoon, Your Grace,” he nodded to the duke, “Your Ladyship.” Jessica was startled to be addressed so naturally by the title she had not yet reclaimed.

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

haiku

The ink patterns traced

across the page have nothing

to do with my thoughts.

Photo by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

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

[Osquer 42]

She was just a little whisp of a thing and she flitted around the edges of the dance floor like a leaf on the wind. She kissed everyone, her innocence beautiful to watch. It was that innocence that kept him from reaching out his hand and claiming her.

December 8, 2006 04:46 PM (19:44 EST)

haiku

Thoughts drift like snowflakes,

now soft and light, now small and

hard, sometimes sideways.

tanka (for Luke)

Seventeen years shaped

your life before I met you.

Now I find myself

wondering what you were like

when this place was your playground.

Photo by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

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

[Osquer 42]

I tried an alternate route back to my table from the ladies' room, but he intercepted me between the dance floor and the bar. Just as I was trying to think of a better excuse than I couldn't pay my phone bill, so they cut off my service, my cousin came to the rescue and pulled me into the Hokey-Pokey circle.

December 7, 2006 05:11 PM (20:11 EST)

magnetic letter haiku (for Jay)

haiku

How long before the

trees turn the man-made cliff back

into a hillside?

Photo by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

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

[Osquer 42]

"I am fluent in frontier gibberish," he whispered in an aside to me, "let me handle this."

"Speaking of handle," I replied, "duck!"

He did, and the handle of the broom that The Old Woman Of The Mountain swung at his head missed, whistling past his ear with purpose.

December 6, 2006 01:42 PM

haiku

As any kid knows

brussels sprouts are the hardest

veggie to vanquish.

Photo by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

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

[Osquer 42]

Not only did I run over him, but I put it in reverse, backed up, and drove over him again.

"See," he said, sitting up, "Nothing."

"I'll be damned! I wonder what other effects there were when you were bitten by that mutated jackalope just when they set off the atomic bomb during that total eclipse of the sun."

December 5, 2006 04:17 PM (19:17 EST)

haiku

The white birch and her

shadow raise twined fingers to

empty winter sky.

Photo by: Osquer
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

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

[Osquer 42]

Both my fingers and my mind felt as if they were made of clay. I couldn't focus on a thought. Each time I reached for one it felt like plunging my hands into barely thawed spring soil where the seeds were not quite ready to germinate.

December 4, 2006 07:00 PM (22:00 EST)

haiku

Old Man Winter’s breath

frosts my windshield. Wish I could

hand him the scraper.

tanka (for Jay)

Photo by: Osquer

Your gift lifts my heart!

I feel like Camilla in

The Muppet Movie

going ga-ga for Gonzo’s

flight by big bunch of balloons!

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

[Osquer 42]

He had to find something special to win her attention. He had to give her something none of the other suitors would be able to top. No ordinary ornament, no simple stone or mediocre melody. He must craft something of surpassing beauty to turn her thoughts not only to romance, but to him.

December 3, 2006 06:24 PM (21:24 EST)

haiku

I find an indoor

rainforest better than no

rainforest at all.

Photos by: Osquer, November 25, 2006
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

haiku

Whimsical dinos

greeted us as well as their

fossilized cousins.


Photos by: Osquer
(Click on photos to enlarge.)

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

[Osquer 42]

I looked at the crystal tears shimmering in the corners of his eyes and realized that they reflected in their iridescent surface the same tears, there for the same reason, sparkling in my own eyes. I leaned forward and kissed him, "I love you, too."

December 2, 2006 12:56 PM (15:56 EST)

The Determined Pointsettia Returns

Some of you may remember this post from May 30, 2006:

"I give you "The Determined Pointsettia!" Would you believe I've had this thing since November? (2005!) I usually can't get them to live past December! What can I say! Go Miracle Grow! This thing has been baking in the loft and it seems happy as anything even though I keep forgetting to water it! "

* * * * * * *

It was the first photo I ever posted to my blog.

Well, here's what The Determined Pointsettia looks like today:

And believe it or not, it's actually trying to bloom again!

Photos by: Osquer
(Click on photos to enlarge.)

haiku

November storms flash

rapidly into the first

sky of December.

55 Fiction Friday

Andrews stood in the doorway with his mouth agape, an expression unfamiliar to his face. He could hardly be blamed when before him was the image of a once familiar tableau. Then he realized, with hardly less wonder, that it was not the ghost of his former mistress talking with His Grace, but her daughter.

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

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

[Osquer 42]

I slid the blade under the skin and began slicing it away. It fell in coarse folds on the table. I pressed further into the flesh and cut away a section of the tangelo. What is a tangelo? How can it be a cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit? Where does the "lo" part come from? Anyone?

December 1, 2006 05:30 PM (20:30 EST)

tanka (for Jay)

Raindrops meander

down the window glass like your

fingers caressing

my freshly shower moistened

skin. What a lucky window!