This is my entry for Sue Vincent‘s Thursday photo prompt Flame. #writephoto.
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Flame The Haiku
Look into the flame
Hopes and dreams exposed the same
Turned to ash by morn.
Flame The Story
After a long vigil by the brazier, Cain found his mind wandering . The hopes he held for his family, the dreams he kept close to his heart were mingling in the glow of the flame.
Through the cold night he kept watch as the rest of the hamlet slept. Silence surrounded him like a cloak. It numbed him and he felt the cold and the worry slipping away from his shoulders. Just before dawn he fell into an uneasy sleep, filled with wolves and raiders.
Waking with a start he found the fire had died and the brazier was full of ashes. His head was swimming and he was full of guilt for drifting off. He looked back at the hamlet, it still stood smoke curling from the chimneys of the line of houses.
He saw his wife approaching with a hot drink. He shrugged off the fears of the night and greeted her with a smile.
Author: willowdot21
Female, wife, full time mother and Grandmother. I am not as happy go lucky as I used to be but I am still bubbling along on simmer! I have three handsome sons all grown and flown.The youngest married with a beautiful wife and two sons of his own. Back in 2010 I was working, running a home, driving and socializing then bang in a split second all that was gone. I had an accident at home. I broke my back, not for the first time, I had broken it 10 years previously as well. Unfortunately this time I had broken it really badly and it was truly messed up so I had to have two operations. I was told before each operation that the outcome could mean I spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair. Still as some guy once wrote "I am still standing " yes "better than I ever was " I no longer use the walking stick . I had lots of friends before the accident but when things like this happen, you loose most of them. Their lives move on and mine stood still and so they left me behind ...I know that is just the way life is but it hurt and always will. Then I looked around and saw those who were still there for me, these friends are the roses in my garden they need to be tended well. They are the diamonds in the dust. I will of been married 53yrs this comming year. I have found different ways to approach life, use my pain befriend it almost...yer right , well that is what they tell me at the pain clinic ROFLMAO ...... if only I could! I have found an outlet for my fears, frustrations and night terrors . I have started writing poetry if that name can be applied to my writing. I hope I do not come over as a moaning winger. I hope I am past all that. I also hope that you might see how the poetry is moving from very dark through the grey and hopefully in to light.
My back is no longer straight it is C shaped because of the injury and I have lost two and a half inches in height but my Pilates and Core teachers have helped me to stand up as straight and be as strong as possible. Pain and depression are still hanging on my arm but I have weapons to use against them and if I say so myself I cope well.
I have made lots of new friends, real diamonds. I am also very grateful for all the support and help I have encountered here on Wordpress. Hugs and welcome to everyone who visits.
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Lovely response Willow a brazier it is….Those late night/early morning patrols must have been hard to stay awake through…
Yes they must of and the responsibility of being the first line of defense for your people! 😱💖
I love the story and the photos. Real talent came out here.
Thanks again 🤗
Feels like a long, cold night full of worry and reverie. Lovely, Willow. 🙂
A wonderful entry Willow ❤
Thanks Ritu it seemed to write itself 💖
I think the best pieces come about like that!
Yes indeed 🙂
It must have been a hard task, yet one that brought the people closer by placing sch responsibility on their shoulders.
Yes I agree, in our modern pampered lives, at least where we are, we have lost that feeling!
Sadly, yes, we do appear to ave done so.
We hide behind our doors!
We do… barricaded by security.
Yes! 💝
Well done Willow!!! 🙂
Thanks Judy 😨💗
Once again you nailled the prompt with descriptive feelings . I found myself lifting my collar against the chill. Well done.
Thank you for reading, it was a cold night 😉
Story so matched the flames — the hopes and fears resting upon his shoulders, and within his heart. Vigils can become hard to keep.
Yes so heavily weighs the responsibility of the all night vigil !
Nice–a happy ending. There’s nothing quite like a hot cuppa after you’ve been out in the cold for hours. 🙂
Definitely, and a hot drink is key!