Author: Dahlia
Email me at mysilverstreaks@gmail.com or tweet me @mysilverstreaks
The Rock Climber
“When life brings you mountains, you don’t waste your time asking why; you spend your time climbing over them.” ― A.J. Darkholme, Rise of the Morningstar
Linked to Becca’s Sunday Trees
Apologies for the cropped photo. There was a very ugly signboard below and I didnt know well enough to capture over and above it. Hopefully I have learned something….
WPC: When Silence Speaks
What does silence look like asks Cheri at the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge this week. And interesting and tricky question for depending upon the situation and mood, silence can be oppressive, suffocating and a scream of despair. Yet it can also be full of warmth, unspoken yet clearly felt emotions, a comforting blanket, a time to ponder, reflect and just be.
“We went down into the silent garden. Dawn is the time when nothing breathes, the hour of silence. Everything is transfixed, only the light moves.” ― Leonora Carrington
“I have never heard a more eloquent silence.” ― Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak
The silent wail of the ghosts of slaughtered trees and their mourning relatives waiting for the axe to fall…
“Does not everything depend on our interpretation of the silence around us?” ― Lawrence Durrell, Justine
This section of the fort was once the Ladies Apartments (zenani deorhi) where all the kings concubines lived with secret passageways from the King room. A stage set for palace intrigues, high voltage drama, tinkle of bangles, rustle of silks swirling with perfume, silence forever. What do you hear – the a happy contented peacefulness or rife with strife, gloom and melancholy?
“As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
What can one say over and above that?
“I have always loved the desert. One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams…” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
Thus it has been for me with still waters, mountains and trees…
“It’s so stupid because all I wanted was space and now that I have it, there’s this part of me that’s achingly lonely I could die.” ― Hannah Harrington, Saving June
Far from the madding crowd, looking down in greedy disdain…
“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.” ― Ansel Adams
“He who does not understand your silence will probably not understand your words.” ― Elbert Hubbard
I grew up looking at these mountains and this river the holy Ganga. The mountains were always like this – strong towering, silent only the colors changed with the season and time of day. But the Ganga was never like this. She was bright, clear clean green, sparkling and gurgling as She tripped over stones and boulders, gushing and frothing as she danced on her way down from the mountains, singing us to sleep. Each and every day. Without fail.
And then one day, she fell silent. Enchained and enslaved, forever silenced to serve the needs of others, bloated with detritus, armed with fortitude and restraint, she renounced her carefree days of song and dance.
Yet, can you not hear her scream through the deafening silence?
Well, what does silence mean to you? Speak up, be not silenced, ever…
COB: A Sound Nap
Cee’s oddball photo challenge is back and so am I 🙂 A couple of months ago I was at the New Delhi Railway station to catch an early morning train. It was a sleepy morning with few passengers on the platform (although all the seats were taken!
And then I saw him.
Fast asleep on his burden! (Doesnt the station look clean?)
I tried a close up wary of going too close for fear of waking him up
The train rushed in with an ear-splitting whistle and a massive mighty gush of clatter. But did he wake up? Nah. He clearly doesn’t let anything weigh him down 🙂
And a bonus photo – not mine though.
Look what my sister sent me from Ireland 😀 Why just 50%? You can have 100 % off on Dahlia’s stories and photos. If only you could be bothered to click here or here.
Thanks for visiting and have a great day.
SPF: Not Like Us
Not Like Us
Words 200
“Go back inside!”
“Please Mamma, just for a little bit…”
“No! They are dangerous creatures…”
“But Mamma, they are so far away! And there’s a net…”
“That net is so thin and flimsy. And you never know with them, what if they climb over it?”
“Mamma you are overcautious! Nobody has ever crossed…”
“And you would know! How old are you exactly?”
“I find them fascinating Mamma! I want to talk to them, play with them…”
“Enough! Go play with your siblings while I arrange lunch.”
“I don’t like playing with them! They tease me so.”
“Don’t take it personally dear, it’s their kind of fun. If you interact with them you’ll learn a lot.”
“What will I learn? They just like to paw me and chase me all over the place.”
“That’s wonderful! By the time you grow up, you’ll be the fastest. Just like your father.”
“I like their games.”
“How’d you know?”
“I’ve seen them from the tree.”
“I am warning you, don’t you dare sneak off to play with them.”
“Why not?”
“They may hurt you.”
“I’ll go only after they’ve eaten.
“But they’re creatures who kill, hurt and maim even if their bellies are full.”
***
Written for the Sunday Photo Fiction – A story in 200 words or less. Thanks to Alistair Forbes for hosting the challenge and the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this photo prompt, click here. And just in case you would like to read any of my previous Sunday Photo Fictions click here
Thanks for visiting!
Live your Life
“Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.” ― Ernest Hemingway
Linked to Becca’s Sunday Trees
PS: Just a quick note to brag that I finally did what my blog had been crying out for months, okay years. I reorganized and updated my index making it easier to browse and check out earlier posts with snippets (but I’m still working on the blurbs). If you are free and so inclined how about browsing through the index of Short Stories or Photo posts? Feedback and suggestions most welcome!
Will You Walk into My Parlor?
Will You Walk into My Parlor?
Words 100
“No.” She refused.
The ring clattered to the floor. “I thought you wanted us to marry!”
“I did. Before…”
“Before?”
“Before my parents got to know about us living together.”
“But they still want you to…”
“Are you proposing to me out of concern for my parents or yours?”
“We can’t always live like this!”
“Why not? Isn’t that what you said to me?”
“I…I was wrong. Society. Children…”
“No. You were right. We should adopt an orphan needing a home.”
“But…”
“Besides,” She paused, “I see no reason give up my independence just to keep track of your socks.”
***
Written for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and Victor and Sarah Potter for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt, click here.
PS: Just a quick note to brag that I finally did what my blog had been crying out for months, okay years. I reorganized and updated my index making it easier to browse and check out earlier posts with snippets (but I’m still working on the blurbs). If you are free and so inclined how about browsing through the index of Short Stories or Photo posts? Feedback and suggestions most welcome!
Thanks for reading 🙂
WPC: Weathered But Not Withered
The Daily Post invites us to post pictures of weathered – or our interpretation of it. And I haven’t done quotes in a while, let’s see if I can mix and match them up. Hope you like!
I have weathered many different storms and I know who I am and my friends know who I really am. Delta Goodrem
Caught on the way to office, this one gave a feeling of kinship 😀
“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” – Buddha
A 3rd Century red sandstone sculpture of Buddha. Doesnt the peace shine through the chipped cheek and the broken limbs?
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” ― Maya Angelou
I cannot believe that once upon a time the Virupakhsa temple at the backdrop was once just a stone. From the UNESCO Heritage Site the 14th century temple town at Hampi.
“Even
After
All this time
The Sun never says to the Earth,
“You owe me.”
Look
What happens
With a love like that,
It lights the whole sky.”
―
The 13th century CE Konark Sun temple dedicated to the Sun god Surya Dev by night
Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along. Rumi
Isn’t it fascinating to see that not only animals but also trees crave company, someone to call their own – even if it is a hard unyielding stone?
“I don’t want to be married just to be married. I can’t think of anything lonelier than spending the rest of my life with someone I can’t talk to, or worse, someone I can’t be silent with.” ― Mary Ann Shaffer,
“The Little Boy and the Old Man
Said the little boy, “Sometimes I drop my spoon.”
Said the old man, “I do that too.”
The little boy whispered, “I wet my pants.”
I do that too,” laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, “I often cry.”
The old man nodded, “So do I.”
But worst of all,” said the boy, “it seems
Grown-ups don’t pay attention to me.”
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
I know what you mean,” said the little old man.”
― Shel Silverstein
Doesn’t it look as if the fresh green trees have come to console and give company to a house that was once overrun with chatter, the pitter-patter, gurgles and chatter swirling with mouth-watering flavors and billowing saris drying in the sun?
“You’ll learn, as you get older, that rules are made to be broken. Be bold enough to live life on your terms, and never, ever apologize for it. Go against the grain, refuse to conform, take the road less traveled instead of the well-beaten path. Laugh in the face of adversity, and leap before you look. Dance as though EVERYBODY is watching. March to the beat of your own drummer. And stubbornly refuse to fit in.” ― Mandy Hale,
See anything you like? Do share your thoughts, don’t keep it bottled up! Thanks for visiting – have a great weekend.
CFFC: Just Becoz I O U
Yep! That’s Cee’s fun foto challenge this week – must have the letters O and U. A toughie but let me see what I can come up with…
A bright sunny day to perfectly show off those wispy clouds. That? Oh that’s the Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg Vienna 😀
Not even a picture of mountains is safe from the evil eye of the concrete jungle.
Let’s feast our eyes on some real mountains 🙂
The ghostly remnants of a building where ghouls freely roam about – day and night. Well at least I like to think so 😉
And look what I found – a tree snout! Looks hungry (and cute) doesn’t it?
Would you like to rest for a bit on the couch by the big black and white dog? Don’t worry it won’t bite 😉
Row row row your boat gently down the stream, merrily merrily merrily merrily for life is but a dream 😀
Thanks for visiting – have a super day!
SPF: Calling her Bluff
This week for the same setting and the same characters I ended up with two different stories and couldn’t choose between them. If you have the time and the inclination, I would appreciate if you would click here for the second version (which is actually the original version!) and do let me know your thoughts 🙂 From the comments, I thought it best to put the (edited) note right on top.
Calling her Bluff
Words 200
“Let’s go for a walk?” She looked with foreboding at his grim distant expression. She wished she were back home instead of at their honeymoon.
He shrugged. “Sure.”
Walking silently down the deserted streets, despair stole over her. He had seemed such a fun guy. Or was he too shy and nervous?
Suddenly, she doubled over.
“Saina!” Tarun supported her. “Are you okay?”
“I…I…know this place,” she gasped. She raised a shaking finger. “I was lynched by a mob…” she shivered and shook unable to speak more.
He froze. Had be been conned into marrying a mad woman?
He steadied. “Relax. Let’s go back. I think you’re overtired.”
“I can see it all so clearly.” She went on unheeding. “So many people and I alone. Suki…”
“Suki?”
“My love. We wanted to marry but I was older than him.”
“Was Suki also killed?”
“He ran away.” She pointed. “He used to live in that house.”
“Perhaps he still lives there? Let’s go and check?”
“No!”
“Why not? Perhaps Suki’s still waiting for you?” He stepped forward to ring the bell.
Horrified, she clutched his arm and dragged him back. “Are you crazy?” She yelled.
“No. Are you?” His lips twitched.
***
Written for the Sunday Photo Fiction – a story in 200 words or less. Thanks (and apologies for breaking any rules by a double post) to Alistair Forbes for hosting the challenge and the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this photo click here
Stories and more 