Month: November 2023

TankaTuesday#7

Hello and welcome to my second post of the day. A rarity I assure you but the thing is I thought I had posted my entry for Collen’s #TankaTuesday challenge but apparently I had just thought about it. But thankfully, the unexpected rains washed away the pollution daze and I am double posting before it is too late. The rules are to to write in any of the 24 syllabic forms of Japanese poetry using a kigo or season word as an inspiration. While there are 24 seasons in Japan, we are allowed to use season words as per our region.

Here’s my tanka for the challenge:

jobless

browsing the internet for

Diwali deals

buying clothes for

the summer

As you may have guessed, the Indian or dare I say the global festival of lights, Diwali is the kigo word here. Wishing everyone a very Happy and Prosperous Diwali. May all the darkness be banished, evil vanquished and peace reign supreme.

FOTD: Marigold

Here’s my entry to Cee’s Flower of the Day of the challenge

Marigolds from my mom’s garden 🙂 Marigold are believed to symbolize purity, divinity, and the connection between life and death. Marigold is the most commonly offered flower in several religious ceremonies. But did you know that it’s Lord Ganesha’s favorite flower? Well I didnt. Apparently this is an edible plant with medicinal properties. I remember once as a child I had cut myself and it was pouring blood (in my memory at least) and mom just crushed some marigold leaves and instantly it stopped bleeding.

That’s it from me, for now. Wishing everyone a Happy Dhanteras!

FF: Stuff of Dreams

Hello and welcome to another edition of Friday Fictioneers with Rochelle leading the way, this time with a photo from David Stewart for a story in 100 words. If you want to join in, click here. Thank you Rochelle and David.

FF: The Stuff of Dreams

Words 100

A cheer broke out from the crowd as Parul arrived. She had just won the gold in the 5000m after yesterday’s silver in steeplechase.

“Quite a journey from running in sugarcane fields, training with boys, overcoming societal pressures to the top of the victory stand. Congratulations!”

Still out of breath, Parul smiled. “Thank you.”

“What a thrilling finish!  Throughout you were trailing and whoosh – in the last 20 m you overtook the lead. How did that happen?”

 “It’s been my dream to join the police. It popped into my head that a DSP post is  guaranteed for gold medallists.”   

***

Inspired by a true story of Parul Chaudhary, the first Indian woman to win gold at the 5000m race, Asian Games 2023.  Click to watch her thrilling win!

FF: Child’s Play

Hello and welcome to another edition of Rochelle’s weekly challenge of a story in 100 words – Friday Fictioneers – based on the marvelous photo prompt kindly provided by Dale. I had so many threads running for this one that I just kept vacillating between them. Anyway ultimately settled on the first one. Hope you like 🙂 If you like you may click here to read and add your own story. See you there!

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

FF: Child’s Play

Words 100

“Your pills darling.” Rekha hugged her new husband, “Thanks for fixing the lights and my favorite pink roses.”

“But,” Jim frowned, “I didn’t fix the lights or send roses. Don’t you prefer red?”

“Who could it be in this deserted place? Stalker? Ghost?”

“Don’t…”

The lights flickered and a disembodied voice spoke. “Shaina my love….”

“Wh…who…” Jim quavered gripping Rekha.

“Get away from my wife…”

“She’s my wife.”  

“She’s mine. Leave her or you’re dead…”

“Nooooo!” Jim screamed and collapsed at Rekha’s feet.

“Well that was easy.” Rohit emerged from the shadows.

“I told you he was terrified of ghosts.”

***

Thanks for visiting. Looking forward to hearing from you as well. Have a grand weekend.

CFFC: Fun with Sticks & Stones

Hello, hello ready for some fun with sticks and stones? The virtual kind are the best and thanks to Cee I never thought I would ever be fearlessly playing this game. This week the topic is either Sticks and Stones. As usual Cee gives wings to sticks and stones as well and we are allowed to be creative and have fun with this challenge. How could I resist eh? 😉

Off we go…

Some serious contemplation of sticks. Perhaps they too have a challenge that they need to participate in 😉

When sticks stick to the ground…

Sticks and stones – big ones. 😉

This one evokes envy – one can only dream of the peace and contentment in his life 😀

No pebbles here but it’s made of stone – a contemplative stone 😀

I used to love reading books in this pose, once upon a time – do you/did you?

Time for a break on a sticky stand 🙂 Love the bilingual message 😀 We all do deserve one break at least!

Here’s the break time complete with stick spoons 🙂 Yes it was delicious

One of my favorite notices that I found at a hotel in Goa and so apt for the times we live in. It was on a stick type frame, just in case you were wondering.

Thank you for dropping by and do leave me a note – they make my day! Cheers

TankaTuesday#6

It’s time for Colleens #TankaTuesday the weekly challenge (October 22 – November 6). The rules are to to write in any of the 24 syllabic forms of Japanese poetry using a kigo or season word as an inspiration. While there are 24 seasons in Japan, we are allowed to use season words as per our region.

Here’s my tanka for the challenge:

hazy morning

jogging before

Diwali

deciding to wear

a sari

Although Diwali could be the kigo word but since this year it is on 12th of November I thought perhaps it may be too early to use it. Yet it may be noted, everything is geared around Diwali now, particularly shopping. But anyway I have used ‘hazy morning’ as the kigo word as this time of the year is notorious for pollution haze, particularly in Delhi region due to a variety of factors which apparently are beyond correction. I am presuming that most, if not all, will be familiar with Diwali the festival of lights when Lord Rama returned home after spending 14 years in the wilderness and defeating the evil King Ravan. A sari is the traditional unstitched garment that is 6 yards (5.5 meters) long. I am hoping the advantages of opting for such an apparel would be self-evident 😉

Thanks for visiting. Cheers

Last on the Card – October 2023

Posting this for Bushboy’s photo challenge. Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 30th October or whenever your last photo was taken. No explanations are needed just the photo will do. Despite good intentions I couldnt resist jabbering and attempted a haiku as well. Something to kickstart November. This is also for Cee’s FOTD challenge.

bee sips

from the orange hibiscus

does it sting?   

If you are here, do say a word or two – just a hello will do 🙂

PS: For those who may have visited my earlier post – CMMC: Photos with a P please note that this is a different hibiscus 🙂 She is blooming gorgeous blooms. Touch wood!!!!

Happy November!