Summer Writing Prompt #1

[Carol Clark]

It's unofficially the start of summer, and I thought I'd try to breathe some life back into Writer's Clique. I'll be posting a prompt each weekend throughout the summer.

So just sit back, grab your pen, and write whatever comes out of you. These are meant to be freewrites (15-20 min), so relax and share with us your creations. Let's get writing again...!

Here's Prompt #1: Touching the edge...


(from http://www.davidrm.com/thejournal/tjresources-exercises.php#poetry)

[Ang Monsoon]

loved the poem, Lin-Lin. I think it is full of power at its current length.

[Elle]

What a poem!

Really good.

[Carol Clark]

This is a fictional piece, but I suppose we disguise our own thoughts in those of others, in different forms. Thanks for reading...
Carol

Touching the Edge...

Touching the edge of the creased yellowed map, I know that it’s over. Years of studying, following, obsessing over these maps, and to no avail. I am never going to find Tom or his plane, six years after he went down. The Atlantic Ocean is too big a place for me to be squandering around in after all this time. I have to put an end to this, I’m only torturing myself by thinking he’s still alive.

So what was Tom like when he was here? Loving, caring, and full of life. He had this magical way of peering straight into someone’s soul that was almost divine. Tom, can you hear me…? I need to talk to you. I need to let you go. The tears come down my face as I hesitate to tell him more. There’s this man… he says he cares about me. He’ll never replace you, but you must understand I need life, not death. I smile a little. You’d like him, Tom. He’s strong, funny, and he knows how to make me laugh. He says he wants a life with me - a full one, not one with shattered fragments of me.

I’m happy again, Tom. You want that, don’t you? I think you do. I’ll never forget you, but I’m letting you go.

I hear my coffee is done brewing in the kitchen, and I stand and peer out the dining room window. I see it’s going to be a beautiful day. I slowly, carefully fold the marked-up maps, making sure not to rip them at their worn creases. I get my metal box for safekeeping, and pile them tenderly in there. I stand for a moment, contemplating what my life will be like without all the soreness, the aches, the longing for what really isn’t there. For a split second, I get a glimpse of joy, freedom, and I take off my wedding band and lay it on the maps. Goodbye, my love.

I can smell my coffee, and right now it smells richer and sweeter than I’ve ever smelled it. The sun is rising higher now, and I get out my day planner to see what’s on the agenda. I sip my morning coffee, and realize it’s going to be a good day.



Carol Clark
May 25, 2009

[Lin Neiswender]

She is giving new meaning to the phrase, "wake up and smell the coffee"! I like how you transition from the past to the present. Her placing the maps in the metal box for safekeeping says she honors the past while she moves forward to the future. You made me care about this woman, Carol. I wish her well.

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

Beautiful, Carol ... I can feel the release ... wow!

[Carol@Swallowcliffs]

Yay! I hope I can get into this.

[Nona]

Touching the edge of the Doctor's coat (she couldn't raise up), she looked at him and pleaded with her eyes. The ventilator kept her from being able to talk. He just stared down at her and gave her a bullshit smile as he said, "you really gave us a scare there, please don't do that again." He walked away as he said it and shook his head. Rage filled her head and gave the drugs in her veins a run for their money on her heart rate. 'As if I caused this shit!'. Her wrists moved against the restraints and the nurse at the ICU desk came over to her cubicle quickly. She had a pad with her and a pencil. 'What a perceptive angel', thought the woman in the bed. The nurse said, "I'll take those restraints off if you will be a 'good girl' and not pull your vent out." The woman with the mulitiple purple bruises all around her throat that were as wide as a baseball bat, moved her head side to side in response and the nurse took off the resraints. The bruised neck woman grabbed the pad and scribbled, "Thanks!" for the Nurse. The Nurse adjusted the vent and then sucked some saliva out of the side of the woman's mouth and went back tot her desk. 'Shit, I didn't realise I was drooling', she thought with disgust.
Then she looked around the ICU at the other patients there.

[Lin Neiswender]

Wow Nona, I want to know what caused her to be in the hospital in this dire situation....

[Elle]

I'm with Lin. Gimme More!

Bruised neck woman. The doctor's bullshit smile. Restraints. Didn't realise I was drooling.

This immediacy creates instant interest.