#writephoto: Gondola.

..

Today our three time travels land in Florence but end up somewhere else completely! What’s going on?

This is part of K.L. Caley’s #writephoto: Gondola.


After checking into their rooms the three of them went to a little trattoria Merlin knew for coffee and a discussion about why they were there.
They sat dunking their biscotti in delicious coffee. Merlin opened his record bag and took out a folder… Some tickets fell out onto the table. “Oh!” Squealed Gail , “what are these?”
These are our tickets for the Cathedral, Duomo Museum, and Baptistery Tour. I have booked it for this afternoon.”
Gail was so excited , “are we going on a guided tour oh! wow Merlin you are spoiling us.”
Morgarna choked on her coffee,put her cup down and then lit a cigarette, “Calm down lady, Merlin never does anything without there being a reason!”
Gail looked at Morgarna and helped herself to one of her cigarettes and lit it….”Is that true Merlin do you have an ulterior motive?”
Merlin coughed and trying to change the subject said “Do you ladies have to smoke you know how much I hate the habit!”
Gail went to put her cigarette out but Morgarna stopped her, “Yes we bloody do, now what’s the catch here?” Morgarna scowled.
Merlin shifted in his seat looking uncomfortable then clearing his throat he said.
“Well yes there is a problem here , there are strange goings on at the Baptistery.”
“I knew it” Morgarna said raising an eyebrow brow at the waiter and requesting a bottle of Cabinet-Savenogn and three glasses.


While Morgarna and Gail did the tour Merlin slipped away from the others and walked the exterior walls checking for time fractures and space anomalies. It was a pleasant afternoon not too hot or crowded, and he was enjoying the beautiful decoration of the outside walls of the building. He was particularly interested in it’s three sets of artistically important bronze doors with relief sculptures. The south doors were created by Andrea Pisano and the north and east doors by Lorenzo Ghiberti. Michelangelo dubbed the east doors the Gates of Paradise. These were the doors he was particularly paying attention to.
After circling the building several times he found the tiniest of cracks in the space continueum. He checked and checked again and yes there was a tiny space portal …from the reading on his machine he could see it was small and no time was involved. It was definitely there though…. The second in a week, and it was growing.


When the tour was finished the ladies joined Merlin at the east doors .
Gail was full of the sights of the tour especially the dark, which is divided into a lower part with columns and pilasters and an upper part with a walkway. She could see that those who had built it spared neither trouble nor expense in decorating the baptistery. The walls were clad in dark green and white marble with inlaid geometrical patterns. The niches are separated by monolithic columns of Sardinian granite. The marble revetment of the interior was begun in the second half of the eleventh century. Gail was just besotted by it.
Morgarna and Merlin decided to let her talk herself out and decided to ake plans over dinner.


Sitting outside a very plush Ristaunté in one of the squares Merlin explained what he had found .
“Are you sure it’s a definite space portal it sounds so tiny…not like the one at the dig which was definitely a time and space portal.” Morgarna asked.
“Yup definitely it obviously won’t go far but we cannot let it stay there a child or even an adult could slip through the portal. So ladies if you are ready we need to go and deal with it now. “
Finishing her wine and stubbing out her cigarette Morgarna got up to go followed by Gail and Merlin.


When they got back to the Baptistry the place was dark and empty. Merlin led the way around the building to the East Door. He soon found the portal. He checked around the square to see that there was no one watching them when he was sure they were alone he said ” Right ladies through we go ” he said, for once actually leading the way.
They all had to bend down and almost crawl through the invisible rift..
“This isn’t like the one from the Dig to the Galleon” Gail said.
“Nor the one from the fort from summer to winter !” Replied Morgarna.
Merlin chimed in..”No it’s the smallest one I have ever seen!”


After what seemed Iike hours crawling through cobwebs, dust and huge drops on either side they finally arrived at a turning…in front of them they saw a crack of light. They all hurried towards the light.


With a collective sigh of relief they all emergered to the most unexpected sight.

Gondola

They had been crawling through the night and now in the light of dawn the had arrived in Venice! Standing there they saw gondolas anchored outside some beautiful but old buildings surrounded by green water.
Gail rubbed her back and asked, “Why couldn’t we have used the Anomaly and jumped it would of been much quicker?”
“Because ” said Merlin ” we had to go through the rift to seal it!”
“Oh! I see” said Gail sighing and not seeing at all.
Morgarna said “okay who’s for breakfast I am starving and I need a ciggie! We can sort all this out later. Merlin what have you forgotten? “
Merlin thought then with a wave of his hand he sealed the rift from this side.
“Right let’s have breakfast and a break before anything else happens”.

Ronovan Writes SIJO Wednesday Poetry Challenge #64. Use COMPLETION as your inspiration this week.

Photo by Jordan Benton on Pexels.com

There is always a deadline, be it real or imagined.
Whether it’s the day you are born on or the day you will die the clock never stops ticking.
Nature measures the new seasons by the completion of the old ones.

Ronovan Writes Sijo Challenge Image

THIS IS PART OF RONOVANWRITE’S WEEKLY SIJO CHALLENGE.

#writephoto: Geometric.

..

Last week in K.L. Caley’s #write photo we lef the ladies in the brigg of a Galleon surrounded by superstitious sailors and a bemused Captain and a rift in time to seal. Let’s see what happens next.

The Galleon.

At about 3am a storm hit and the ship started to roll and pitch violently. Gail woke up feeling sick and needing to pee! Morgarna was fast asleep and Gail hesitated to wake her up! But as the ship was being thrown about so violently she decided to wake her anyway. ” Morgarna” she said “I’m scared and I need to pee”
“There’s a bucket over in the corner use that” Morgarna did not sound best pleased to be woken but Gail decided her need to pee was greater than Morgarna’s temper.
“I can’t see a thing ” Gail moaned feeling around for the bucket. With a sigh Morgarna took a torch out of her bag and shone it over to the corner. Gail shot across and grabbed it , hoisting up her dress she quickly relived herself… Oh! Thank goodness she thought to herself that better now I need to sick… She promptly was all over the floor.


As the night went on the storm got worse and the sailors were struggling to keep the ship afloat. The men were getting fearful for their lives and superstitious as they were they decided that the storm was the fault of the two female stowaways below in the brigg.
As the time approached 4.30am there was still no sign of the storm abaiting in fact it was worsening.
The men were getting ugly and the captain decided that he’d have to do something before the men took matters into their own hands and he’d lose face.
“Mr Smith” he shouted above the noise of the wind, waves and creaking ship, “Mr Smith, bring those two witches up here and be quick about it, the bow is taking a real battering”
“Aye Captain” Smith shouted as he headed down below.
Morgarna was ready and waiting for Smith she had her bag one of her shoulder and she had hold of a deshevelled and grubby Gail with her free hand.


Back up on deck by the flickering flames of the torches Gail was looking decidedly green. More ghostly than she had ever looked as a real ghost. Morgarna who had applied some make up while waiting for Mr Smith was looking absolutely ravishing.
The men were by now getting more and more scared of the storm and their imaginations were running riot, they were baying for blood.
They wanted Gail thrown into the sea and for Morgarna to be stripped and tied to the main mast as appeasement to the sea gods who were whipping up this storm.
Morgarna hissed in Gail’s ear…. I know you feel rough but just follow my lead and all will be well.


The Captain raised his voice above the storm and the men’s shouting.” “Hold fast all of ye!” He bellowed, pulling himself up to his full size, ” we will sort this out , but first make sure everything is battern down and stop the noise I can’t think “
Gail was feeling wretched and scared looking over to Morgarna who winked at her and said telepathically, so only Gail could hear, “it’s fine trust me! ” “Okay” Gail replied trying not to scream out, as frienzied hands ripped her clothes off leaving her naked.
The Captain cut the ropes around Morgarna’s wrists and said …are you ready to be strapped to the mast, my beauty?”
Morgarna looked him in the eye… He melted to her will just look at me she said …turning to the others who were now ripping the clothes from her back. She again said “look into my eyes”…. There was a silence and all the sailors were frozen in time.
Morgarna raised her hand and pointed to the barrels where she, Gail and the sailors had entered the ship. Chanting in an ancient tongue she sealed the time rift. Once sure the rift was sealed she moved across to Gail and took her hand …” Right leave all your clothes on the deck , here next to mine. Picking up her skimpy designer knickers she threw them up at the mast were they stuck tight. “That will give them something to ponder! ” She laughed, even Gail saw the funny side. They stood there for a second or two both stark naked, apart from Morgarna’s bag they had nothing to cover their modesty.


The anomaly arrived and they jumped. The second they did the sailors all awoke and the storm ceased .
The captain and the men all stared around, they were becalmed, the witches were gone all that was left were two piles of clothes and a something rather pretty but scanty stuck to the mast. And what had looked like two rather pert bottoms disappearing from view. ….


Morgarna and Gail landed with a gentle bump…. Merlin had for once taken the precaution of preparing a soft landing for them and also provided towels.
“Hot baths prepared for you both and dinner is in the oven” Merlin said making a show of averting his eyes as the ladies wrapped themselves up in towels.


Sitting round the table later clean and smelling sweet Morgarna and Gail were finishing their meals when as he filled their glasses Merlin announced ” We’re going on an Italian trip ladies how do you fancy Florence?”
Morgarna pushed her empty plate away and lit a cigarette “When ” she asked eyeing him suspiciously.
“Tomorrow morning?” He replied.
“And you’re coming too Merlin” Gail intervened .
“Yes I am coming too”
He took a file off of the chair next to him and opened it up revealing photos and notes , one photo stood out it was of a building bin front of a church whose exterior walls are all geometric black and white patterns.

Geometric


“Ah! The Baptistery of St John’s” said Morgarna flicking her ash on her plate.
“I wish you would not do that ” Merlin started then stopped her face brooked no nagging.
“Look Gail , Florence, have you been it’s beautiful you’ll love it.”
” Woow ! No I haven’t it looks ace! ” She replied finishing her wine.
“Anyone for pudding?” Merlin asked.


Early the next morning they all stood in the garden Gail had a suitcase.
“What’s that for” asked Merlin.
“Well ” Gail replied ” I want to look the part of a tourist and you won’t let me have one of those tardis bags so I have packed a small case”
Morgarna and Merlin looked at eachother both had the hint of a smile on their faces .
Merlin pressed a button on his mobile and the anomaly appeared and they were off .


They landed in the garden of a nice hotel in Florence…”Are you ready ladies I’ve booked us rooms ?” Smiled Merlin as he lead the way to the hotel reception….

Dan The Owl Man.

A blogger I much admire, Dan Antion of No Facilities, told me he’d like to take the quiz on Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday Challenge. I encouraged him to have a go and said I would write a Tricube or two for him .

It turns out he is an Owl. Which apparently makes him :

A loner, the owl spirit animal represents vision, freedom, and independence. The owl can inspire you to unlock your full potential and discover your unique talents. If the owl resonates with you, it is likely you enjoy working on your own and value your independence

The Owl

Carpenter
Using hands
You create

Stand alone
You inspire
And you teach

Your hands are
Your best tools
No one’s fool


You see life
And beauty
In dead wood

Your inner
Eye sees all
Carving out

So unique
Those hands can
Craft words too.

#TankaTuesday Weekly #Poetry Challenge No. 322, 5/30/2023: Spirit Animal Poetry. Hummingbird.

WELCOME TO #TANKATUESDAY.

短歌 火曜日

This week’s challenge is to find your Spirit AnimalTake the quiz at Colleen’s blog. HERE

Well I took the Quiz and I am a Humming bird.

Appartently:

“In most cases, the hummingbird spirit animal is a messenger of joy, love, and good luck. This mighty little bird is also a symbol of beauty, playfulness, and resilience. Those with the hummingbird as their spirit animal tend to be happy. They’re joyful people who love life and all of its challenges”

So if I am to write about the humming bird and it’s spirit I will need a delicate for so I have chosen to write to Tricubes.
Here are the rules of Tricubes:

  • Each line contains three syllables.
  • Each stanza contains three lines.
  • Each poem contains three stanzas.

So we’re talking cubes in mathematical terms (to the third power). No rules for rhymes, meter, etc. Just three, three, and three.

© willowdot21

Hummingbird

Fluttering
Wings busy
I bring luck

Delicate
Yet so fast
Hovering

Peacefulness
And beauty
Giving strength.

******

So tiny
Mighty yet
So gentle

Always fleet
Catch the eye
Never caught

Happily
Spreading joy
Willow Wisp.

******

Ronovan Writes #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge 464 CREATURE and Happy.

Just as the earth spins
A creature of habit I
Rejoice with the season’s turns

Haiku Challenge
Ronovanwrite’s .

THIS IS PART OF RONOVANWRITE’S WEEKLY HAIKU CHALLENGE.

A river runs through lest we forget.

My home city London

all photos © willowdot21

We celebrate our war heroes in November but we know and respect Memorial Day.

The Bloody Tower.

Pouring out of Poppies
Tower of London 2014 © willowdot21

On realizing my eyes opened wide

Each poppy was a soldier that had died.

I was so  shocked to see

The pouring out of red running into a sea.

Rows and rows  growing into a river

Tumbling  from the window pouring on forever.

Each one was a mother’s son, a  husband or a brother

Such sacrifice displayed for all to see , cousin, uncle even lover.

I humbly prayed for God  bless them all

Each soul represented  by a red poppy growing tall.

Such a sacrifice for  what gain

They  said  a war like that  would not come again.

Sadly  now we know the great They lied.

For  along came world war 2  and more people died.

War goes on and never stops, no matter how we try

It will always raise it’s ugly  head and more men and women will die.

This is part of Terri Webster Schrandts Sunday Stills.

Song Lyric Sunday: Hip Hop Rap.

Jim Adams.

This week our host Jim Adams has asked us to sample some Hip Hop Rap for Song Lyric Sunday.... Well I do have eclectic tastes but today is one of my least favourite genres. That is not to say I dislike it but I can live with it or without it. So what is Hip Hop Rap?

Hip hop music or hip-hop music, also known as rap music and formerly known as disco rap, is a genre of popular music that originated in the Bronx borough of New York City in the early 1970s by African Americans, and it had been around for years prior before mainstream discovery. This genre of music originated as anti-drug and anti-violence, while consisting of stylized rhythmic music (usually built around drum beats) that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted. According to the professor Asante of African American studies at Temple University, “hip hop is something that blacks can unequivocally claim as their own “. It was developed as part of hip hop culture, a subculture defined by four key stylistic elements: MCing/rapping, DJing/scratching with turntablesbreak dancing, and graffiti art. Other elements include sampling beats or bass lines from records (or synthesized beats and sounds), and rhythmic beatboxing. While often used to refer solely to rapping, “hip hop” more properly denotes the practice of the entire subculture. The term hip hop music is sometimes used synonymously with the term rap music, though rapping is not a required component of hip hop music; the genre may also incorporate other elements of hip hop culture, including DJingturntablismscratchingbeatboxing, and instrumental tracks.

So lets go back to the late eighties and Salt and Pepa….. They made great dance music and although lyrics are my first love dancing does come a close second . So first choice is Push it !

Push It” is a song by American hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa, who originated in Queens. It was released as the B-side of the “Tramp” single in 1987. It peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1988 and, after initially peaking at number 41 in the UK, it re-entered the charts after the group performed the track at Nelson Mandela‘s 70th birthday concert, eventually peaking at number two in the UK in July 1988. The song has also been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song is ranked number 446 on Rolling Stone‘s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and was ranked number nine on VH1‘s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.

The song quotes a line from “You Really Got Me” by The Kinks, with the word “girl” replaced with “boy”: “Boy, you really got me goin’/You got me so I don’t know what I’m doin’.” (For this, Ray Davies received a songwriting credit for “Push It.”) It also quotes “Pick up on this” from “I’m a Greedy Man” and “There it is” from “There It Is“, both by James Brown. The whispered “Push it” is sampled from a 1977 recording called “Keep on Pushin'” by the band Coal Kitchen. This song is written in the key of A minor.

Salt-N-Pepa (sometimes stylized as Salt ‘N’ Pepa) is an American hip hop group formed in New York City in 1985, that comprised Salt (Cheryl James), Pepa (Sandra Denton), and DJ Spinderella (Deidra Roper). 

Salt-N-Pepa have sold over 15 million records worldwide, making them one of the best selling rap acts of all time. Their success in rap and hip hop culture has earned them the honorific title “The First Ladies of Rap”

more information here.

Ah, push it

Ah, push it

Ooh, baby, baby, baby, baby
Ooh, baby, baby, ba-baby, baby
Get up on this

Ah, push it
Ah, push it
Ah, push it
Get up on this
Ah, push it
Get up on this
Ow! Baby!

Salt-N-Pepa’s here
Salt, Salt-Salt, Salt-N-Pepa’s here
Salt-Salt-Salt-Salt, Salt-n-Pepa’s here
Salt-n-Pepa, Salt-n-Pepa, Salt-n-Pepa’s here
Salt-Salt-Salt, Salt-n-Pepa’s here

Now, now, now, wait a minute y’all
This dance ain’t for everybody
Only the sexy people
So all you fly mother’s, get on out there and dance
Dance, I said

Salt-n-Pepa’s here, and we’re in effect
Want you to push it back
Cooling by day, then at night, working up a sweat
C’mon girls, let’s go show the guys that we know
How to become number one in a hot party show
Now push it

push it good
(Ah, push it) push it real good
(Ah, push it) push it good
(Ah, push it) p-push it real good

Ow!
Push it good
Ooh, baby, baby, baby, baby
Ooh, baby, baby, ba-baby, baby

Push it good
Push it real good
Ah, push it

Ah, push it

Yo, yo, yo, yo, baby-pop
Yeah, you! Come here, gimme a kiss
Better make it fast or else I’m gonna get pissed
Can’t you hear the music pumping hard? Like I wish you would
Now push it

Push it good
Push it real good
Push it good
P-push it real good
Ah, push it

Get up on this
(Uh) get up on this
(Uh, uh) get up on this
(Ha) get up on this
(Hit it)

Boy, you really got me going
You got me so
I don’t know what I’m doing
Ah, push it
Ah, push it

Boy, you really got me going
You got me so
I don’t know what I’m doing
Ah, push it
Ah, push it

Ah
Ah, push it
Push-push-push-push it, push it
Push it
Push, push, push, push it, push it
Push it, push it
Push it, push it, pushit
Push it, push it
Push it, push it, push it

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Herby Azor / Raymond Davies

Push It! (TMW Remix) lyrics © Wb Music Corp., Sons Of K-oss Music Inc., Edward Kassner Music Co. Ltd, Sons Of K-oss Music Inc

Now as a contrast a favourite of mine by Fat Boy Slim who is a favourite of my eldest son. Weapon of choice!

Weapon of Choice” is a song by English big beat musician Fatboy Slim from his third studio album, Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars. It features American funk musician Bootsy Collins. It was released as a double A-side single with “Star 69” on 23 April 2001, as well as a standalone single release, and a 2010 re-release with remixes. The single peaked at No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart

I love: The music video, directed by Spike Jonze, features actor Christopher Walken dancing around a deserted hotel lobby. It won multiple awards at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards and won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Music Video.

The music video was filmed in the lobby of the Marriott Hotel (now the L.A. Grand Hotel Downtown) in Los Angeles in December 2000. Directed by Spike Jonze, it features actor Christopher Walken, who trained as a dancer in musical theatre before his acting career. Walken had asked Jonze to film his dancing, and Jonze suggested that he participate in the video. Fatboy Slim had originally been scheduled to have a cameo in the video, replacing Walken in the harness shots, but was unavailable that weekend because his wife was giving birth.

In the video, Walken is relaxing in a chair in a deserted hotel lobby, when he hears the song being played from a cleaning cart nearby. He begins to dance around the hotel, then gets in an elevator, leaps off the balcony, and flies around the mezzanine before returning to the chair and sitting back down.

The “Weapon of Choice” video won six awards at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards. Walken was awarded one of MTV’s “Moonmen” for Best Choreography. The clip was also ranked number one in a list of the top 100 videos of all time by VH1 in April 2002 compiled from a music industry survey. The Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt has also danced in a version of the video directed by Malik Bendjelloul. In 2012, British comedian and presenter Rowland Rivron also won charity TV show Let’s Dance for Sport Relief with his reenactment of the video’s choreography.

Walken has cited admiration for Jonze as one of his main reasons for appearing in the video, which he also welcomed as a chance to do “something different”. He also noted that as a trained tap dancer, dancing to electronic music suited him well. More information here.

You could blow with this
You could blow with that
You could blow with this
You could blow with that
You could blow with this
You could blow with that
You could blow with this
You could blow with that

You could blow with this
You could blow with that
You could blow with this
You could blow with that
You could blow with this
You could blow with that
You could blow with this
You could blow with that

(repeat twice more)

You could blow with this

That

This

That

You could blow with this
You could blow with that
You could blow with this
You could blow with that
You could blow with this
You could blow with that
You could blow with this
You could blow with that

(repeat five times more)

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Norman Cook / Andres Titus / Sylvester Stewart / Bootsy Collins / William Mclean / Ashley Slater

Weapon of Choice enhanced video lyrics © Polygram Music Publishing Ltd. Gb, Peep Bo Music, Mijac Music, Mashamug Music, Polygram Int. Publishing, Inc.

Happy Sunday Everyone 💜💜💜

New2Writing

KL CALEY

luna's on line

Writing and Stuff by Chris Hall - Storyteller and Accidental Blogger

Writing to be Read

Authors' Blog - Book Reviews, Author Profiles and Reflections on Writing

Second Wind Leisure Perspectives

Fun, Fitness & Photography

glyn40wilton

A mixed bag

Pacific Paratrooper

This WordPress.com site is Pacific War era information

A Teacher's Reflections

Thirty Years of Wonder

Butterfly Sand

Curiosity run amok . . .

Laura McHarrie @ The Hidden Edge

Another Way of Looking at Your Business

Shan Jeniah's Lovely Chaos

Finding Yessings and Blessings in Lifes Messings!

Gypsie’s Wonderful World of Words

Poetry, Flash Fiction, Stories, Musings, Photos

But I Smile Anyway...

Musings and memories, words and wisdom... of a working family woman

Ella Craig

Write here, write now.

Gary A Wilson Stories

A Dime of Time: Mostly 10 Minute Stories, Fiction and Memoirs

Therapy Bits

Living life with dissociative identity disorder and complex ptsd

LADY LEWIS

...what Lady A Lewis thinks about it...

No Facilities

Random thoughts, life lessons, hopes and dreams

pensitivity101

An onion has many layers. So have I!

theindieshe

The independent she who loves life

365 And Counting

there's plenty more where the first year came from

Ruth Blogs Here

Or not, depending on my mood

Expert In Managing Data Using Excel, Word, PDF

I am with 12 years of experience and ready to achieve any type of works such as, converting any form from JPG, PDF, ...etc into Excel,Word, PowerPoint and other editable forms, In addition to having a deep experience in inserting and managing data

The Art of M.

Life & The Artistic Creations of M. Snyder

France & Vincent

Writing Magic, Myth and Mystery

Sun in Gemini

SteveTanham - writing, mysticism, photography, poetry, friends

Hot Dogs and Marmalade

Salty like hot dogs (and tears). Sweet like marmalade (and life).

Two on a Rant

Rants, humor, sarcasm, and a haiku-like substance? It's hard to know what's going to come out of our minds next.

Ivor.Plumber/Poet

An Old Plumber, An Ex-Carer, An Amateur Poet, Words From The Heart

Trent's World (the Blog)

Random Ramblings and Reviews from Trent P. McDonald

Shelley Wilson Author

Multi-Genre Author of YA Fantasy and Non-Fiction Self-Help

Marsha Ingrao - Always Write

Having fun blogging with friends

Caramel

Learner at Love

Chel Owens

A Wife, My Verse, and Every Little Thing

Silver Moon Cove

Sacred Soulsongs

Mr. Ohh!'s Sideways View

For those of you who aren't me...and I've noticed a surprisingly large number of people who aren't.