Frosting, by DA Whittam

May 23, 2023May 22, 2023Chel Owens 16 Comments

Contract,
Lengthen, cyclic persuasion
Gorging on random thoughts
Crystalizing perspective, before
Spin, spin, spinning
Sun dappled leaves
A wilderness of
Technicolour wings
Softly unfurl, reveal
A homage to vividness
In metamorphosis
Butterflies

D R E A M

Eyelids flutter
Flash of colour
The mirror reflects
The abyss of her reality
Painted red lips
Brash with uncertainty
Lacking vibrancy of butterfly wings
She watches, waiting
For the other to take flight
Envy insidiously creeping into her mind
She is bound in the rich tapestry
Of a creation which does not absolve

©DA Whittam
Visual Verse, Vol. 9, Chapter 4

A Letter A Week -D for Not Pam

April 26, 2022April 27, 2022Chel Owens 15 Comments

Deborah Dimple dabbled in drawing; drafting densely down damask. Dashing darks and daring dusks: daisies, dingoes, ducks and dik-diks.

In answer to Not Pam’s prompt.

Okay, I Wrote a Mystery

February 23, 2021Chel Owens 22 Comments

Charlene loved Mysteries, but nothing mysterious ever happened.

She walked past men robbing banks, and sighed.

Her eyes glazed over yet another discarded jewelry pile by a guttered body.

Sorting through inheritance letters from unknown relatives, she decided -maybe- to consider Romances.

There you go, Deb. (For her 42 Words prompt, Mystery.)

Wherein Lies the Crime?

February 14, 2021Chel Owens 19 Comments

The air lay still and putrid, festering beneath a boiling sky.

No one breathed.

No one was left to breathe.

Who, then, would ever determine if the break-in was illegal;
or, if the existence of a biological warfare facility was?

No one.

In response to Deb’s 42 Words #6: Crime.

Misfire

January 30, 2021January 30, 2021Chel Owens 43 Comments

Anticipation is tangible, even from flickering television to sunken sofa.

“Why don’t you ever talk to me, Jesse?”

Taught, strong limbs swing shadows across the track.

“All you do is watch those runners. You’re not a runner no more; you know that, right?”

Athletes stalk to their blocks; praying, kicking, crouching; poised. Waiting.

“I’m getting sick of it. Sick of it! D’ya hear me, Jesse?”

Set.

“You turn around right now, Jesse Wellesley, or ..or ..I’ll shoot!”

*POP*

“And that, officer, was when he grabbed the pistol from me and fired it into the couch. I ain’t seen him since.”

100 Words, written for Deb’s 50 Word Prompt.

Image by Michaił Nowa from Pixabay

Love and War

January 10, 2021Chel Owens 28 Comments

Stuie made one good decision: Sadje.

Smoking, drinking, and sneaking into radioactive facilities were not good decisions.

Worst was writing Sadje out of the will.

“All’s fair in love and…” He died.

Sadje tore the will; took the trailer. She loved it.

I blame Deb, and her 42 Words prompt for this week: WAR.

The Ends

December 20, 2020Chel Owens 31 Comments

It wasn’t much, the new addition; just a bit of pipe and connector and some clever diverting on Jim’s part. Where he’d learnt that, she’d never know.

Still, when The End of Times came, Deb counted that bidet as a true asset.

In answer to Deb’s 42-word prompt, apocalyptic.

Thriller and Suspense: Deb’s 42 Words

November 2, 2020Chel Owens 20 Comments

She had little to go on:
sparkly jacket by the wall,
black loafers here
and there,
a single
white
glove.

“Well, Annie,” a voice cooed, “Are ya okay? Are ya okay, Annie?”

She ran, certain she’d been hit by a smooth criminal.

Written in response to Deb’s 42 Words prompt: Thriller and Suspense. Sorry, Deb. 🙂

A Surprising Escape

October 11, 2020Chel Owens 14 Comments

The calloused feet came first; followed by child-bearing hips, a muffin top, an ample bosom, and a graying haircut.

“Mom??”

“Charlie??”

Neither could say who was more surprised to see the other, nor who had better reason to run away from home.

Photo by **tom balabaud** from **Pexels**

In response to Deb’s 42-word story prompt, which was my pick?

It’s time to sharpen your wits, gather up your lock picking tools and put your head down for this week’s theme is …

ESCAPE.

What are you escaping from? Where, when, how? This is all for you to decide, the only requirement is that you fit it all in the 42 word limit.

Carl’s Popularity Problem

September 29, 2020Chel Owens 23 Comments

Carl liked people. That wasn’t his problem.

Carl liked puppies. That wasn’t his problem, either.

Carl liked kittens, too. That also wasn’t his problem.

Carl liked people, puppies, and kittens -best of all- when they were cadavers. Yes, that was Carl’s problem.

Written for Deb’s 42-word prompt, inspired by Charlescot: Zombie.

Chel Owens

A Wife, My Verse, and Every Little Thing

Tag Deb Whittam