Grandma’s Tears

Chel Owens

The sun-warmed beach felt wet and warm
To tiny feet through after-storm;
A woven bowl within her hands,
A flutt’ring hope within the sands.
Searching, searching patiently;
Seeking out a memory.
A glint! A glare! She shouted, skipped!
She danced in young explorer bliss.
For, bit by shining bit, she found
Crystal shards strewn over ground.
And, ducking leaping dancing low
They came to fill her basket-bowl.
Look, Gram, she told the sunshaft sky;
Laughing, she lofted basket high,
I fin’lly found your present, here;
I fin’lly found your star-shed tears.
Clouding sunset smiles played:
Snug’ling, warming, happy rays.

back-view-backlit-beach-1535244

 

Beach-combed for Carrot Ranch‘s writing prompt.

January 24, 2019, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about shards. You can write about the pieces, the item they once were, or who picks them up and why. Go where the prompt leads.

Respond by January 29, 2019. Use the comment section below to share, read and be social. You may leave a link, pingback or story in the comments. If you want to be published in the weekly collection, please use the form.  Rules & Guidelines.

31 thoughts on “Grandma’s Tears”

  2. TanGental January 28, 2019 / 1:24 am

    Now that is pretty neat. Poetry too. Chapeau to that. Just as well you don’t enter your own competition.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Violet Lentz January 28, 2019 / 3:33 am

    I read this delightful verse first thing this morning and couldn’t resist the prompt word shards.. It was only after I wrote and was preparing to post my response that I saw that the call was for flash fiction.. oh well.. Never having been one to follow rules implicitly, I posted it anyways.. Thanks for the hook up on yet another prompt site…

    Liked by 1 person

    • Chelsea Owens January 28, 2019 / 6:47 am

      😀 I follow the word count, but not always the flash fiction part. Charli’s not picky.

      Liked by 2 people

      • Violet Lentz January 28, 2019 / 7:29 am

        Good, cuz I left a comment pleading my case and I was kind of hoping I could slide through with what I have this week. Again, thanks for the hookup.

        Liked by 1 person

    • Chelsea Owens January 28, 2019 / 8:20 am

      Thanks for the complimentary comment. I’m aiming for more smiles. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  7. pedometergeek January 28, 2019 / 7:25 pm

    A beautiful poem. It reminds me of looking for lake glass/sea glass.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Chelsea Owens January 28, 2019 / 9:33 pm

      I thought of that as well, with a little fantastical element to it.

      Like

  8. Liz H January 29, 2019 / 9:49 am

    Beautiful! Your poetry dances light across the sand~~

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Charli Mills January 30, 2019 / 8:56 pm

    Chelsea, what a joyous romp you bring to the page. I love the dance of explorer’s bliss!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Chelsea Owens January 30, 2019 / 9:19 pm

      Thank you, Charli. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on a thousand responses to your prompt every week. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      • Charli Mills January 31, 2019 / 2:58 pm

        Oh, it’s just a few hundred, lol! Seriously, this is my joy — finding willing writers to explore literary art every week 99 words at a time. I find the energy vibrant and insightful and inspiring. *glowing*

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Pingback: Shards « Carrot Ranch Literary Community
  13. Norah February 3, 2019 / 5:25 am

    What a beautiful sentiment, beautifully expressed. I enjoyed your poem, Chelsea.

    Liked by 1 person

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