Our Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “if.” Start your post with the word “If.” Enjoy!
If only I’d made more time To travel to your door If only we been closer Or I’d known what I know now before. If only I had told you how much I really care If only I could touch you, If only you were here.
My dear and beautiful second eldest sister died in October 2015 . She was a nursing sister all her working life and she touched so many lives. She died a horrible and painful death due to a drug resistant bug.
Last moments
The machines murmured and slowly stopped their pings
As her soul, finally at peace, was released and found it’s wings.
After months of pain and strain she was free to run and laugh again.
I hope you are back with your true love and dancing to a sweet refrain.
For visually challenged writers, the image shows bright pinkish-red trumpet-shaped plants
Poisonous Plants – Image by KL Caley
“Ouch! That’s exactly what I hate about these medieval shoes!” Merlin winged as he landed. “No sympathy hun, you insisted on being authentic” Morgana laughed making little quote marks in his face. “Personally I find my old Doc Martin’s serve me well, even in medieval times. If anyone asks why they are so strange I just say they are made in France.” “Damn that hurts ” Merlin had stepped on another stone. Losing her temper Morgana snapped at him “Will you man up, you baby! It’s your own vanity’s fault that you are walking round in what is basically fancy leather socks! “
They had landed in a long and dank passage with earth floors. They checked Merlin’s notes and after checking their barings they head towards a set of steps. Morgana took two torches out of her bag and handed one to Merlin. As they reached the top steps they checked to see if they were still alone. “Okay” said Morgana “torches out and remember who you are” “Yes I am a Lord Failin and you my little pretty are my harlot” Merlin replied pinching Morgan’s bottom ” Smiling she looked Merlin in the eye stamped firmly on his foot. “Watch where you put your hand hun ” Merlin bitterly regretted only having soft leather shoes on.
Merlin and Morgana made their way through the castle it was very odd, no guards or servants anywhere . “It’s like the Marie Celeste” said Morgana ” and I would know because I was on that ship.” Merlin cleared his throat and said “Right we need to find the Queen’s appartment she is the one seeking our help.” Morgana delved into her bag again and took out a map of the castle. “Ah!” She said here we are up a floor first on the left just as I remember”
As they entered the Queen’s chamber they were shocked to see a terrified Guinevere hiding behind a chair by the fire. “Who are you sir and why do you dare to enter my chambers?” Asked the Guinevere . “I am Lord Failin your majesty and I am here to help you. Now I have been told that all the servants and soldiers are either intoxicated or ill.” Said Merlin giving her a flourishing bow as he did. “You both look familiar have we met before? ” Asked Guinevere. Morgana smiled at her and replied, “Maybe my queen but in another life” “Hush harlot don’t confuse matters, hush now my queen sleep” Guinevere fell into a gentle sleep immediately. “Not lost your touch yet” muttered Morgana.
As they left the Queen’s chambers the smell of vomit and diarrhea suddenly become stronger, as they advanced they found servants, guards, nobles and ladies in varying stages of sickness …some were not sick but so drunk that they were incapable of speach or standing up! “I think I know what this is ” Morgana announced “We need to check the kitchen right now.”
The kitchen was the same as everwhere else, sleeping bodies, drunk and confused children and a lot of mess. Merlin looked around and saw himself asleep in the corner….what a good-looking chap I am he thought to himself! Morgana made him jump coming in from the kitchen garden “I have found the culprit, *Rododendrom as we know the nectar is posionious!” “Indeed” replied Merlin “But who has done this, I don’t remember any sneak attacks undertaken when the castle was …..err… under the influence do you?”… “No but I do remember you mentioning you had got annoyed with Arthur and decided to spice things up a tad…. Looking at your former self there in the corner you must of tried tad too much of the mead! “ Merlin looked on sheepishly….”Don’t just stand there Hun you’ve got a lot of cleaning up to do before day break and this lot awake to the mother of all hangovers! “ Looking horrified Merlin asked, “And what are you going to do” Morgana sat on a near by stool and lit a cigarette. ” After this hun I am going to find some wine….. certainly not mead and have a catch up with Guinevere.” She replied throwing a handy mop in his direction!
*The toxins responsible for the poisonous effects of Rhododendron are grayanotoxins. These are highly oxygentated diterpenoids that have been presumed to be produced elsewhere in the plant as a natural chemical defence against insects.
Azalea/Rhododendron: (Rhododendron spp) Highly poisonous to cats and dogsand cows even if just a few leaves are eaten. Daffodil: (Narcissus) All parts of the daffodil are harmful. Dogs sometimes eat the bulbs, but even a small bite can kill a small animal.
Effects. Rhododendron toxicity is rarely fatal to humans, and symptoms usually last no more than 24 hours. It results in short-term gastrointestinal and cardiac problems, and the severity depends on the amount of honey or nectar ingested.
Grayanotoxins are produced by Rhododendron species and other plants in the family Ericaceae. Honey made from the nectar and so containing pollen of these plants also contains grayanotoxins and is commonly referred to as mad honey.
Caution this is not a fun blog post but it’s a true one from my heart.
Maggie is our hostess this week as she alternates with Lauren for the Throwback Thursday/ I Remember When series. This week’s prompt is: School Memories – Take this prompt wherever it leads you. Here are some suggestions to consider.
Who was your favorite teacher? What about your worst? Were you a member of any clubs? Did you attend homecoming or the prom? What was your favorite subject? Were you the perfect student or a troublemaker? What clothes were in style when you were in school? How did you get to school? Bus, walk, drive? Any extracurricular activities? What did you do for lunch? Did you attend football games or other sports? Did you attend school when corporal punishment was applied? Have a school photo you wish to share?
I wrote this poem on abuse at school by piers and teachers, in 2012. It is personal and I am not afraid to say so. My school days were among the worst days of my life. I was lucky in a way as there was no internet in my day, once I was home I was more or less safe.
It can be even worse these days as there is now cyber bullying so the poor victim cannot get away from it unless they cut themselves off completely from the modern appliances. In fact some people are Tolled after their death and so it is their family that carry on receiving the bullying.
It is abuse it should be stopped but the schools do not seem to be able to stop it !
It’s nothing less than abuse.
Rounded shoulders head hung down
Rounded shoulders head hung down why do they all make fun of me I am not a clown. Sitting in the row spiteful girls stick their pens in my legs. Teacher at the front she must never know, she wouldn’t help she treats me like dregs.
Following me nearly home, calling me mean names,in the playground I always stand alone they don’t pick me for their games. Opening my desk finding it’s been trashed , my text book been drawn in and my favourite doll has been smashed.
Mum tried her hardest but being the youngest of six my things did not get replaced they just got fixed. My plimsolls were the wrong colour they were black instead of white , I was hauled up on the stage, lectured in front of the school then had to stay on late that night. I just could not make it I could not win with staff and girls against me all I could do was just give in.
I met my boyfriend, and his friends did not like me because I spoke differently, I was from the posh school. They though I was rich, I was not I was just like them it would of made no difference if I’d let them know. When we were out or at a party they were pleasant to my face but if my guy was not there and behind my back the things they said were just a disgrace. They joined the line of teachers and my piers it makes me wonder now how I stood it for all those years.
I am not saying I no friends, no that would not be true. I did have friends and they were good but they were the very few. I always felt so ugly, too fat and too short and if anyone was nice to me I could not believe it. What do they want was my first thought.
Things got better when I started work I seemed to come out of my shell like a little butterfly I changed and put aside my days of living hell. They tell you, you don’t realize that school days are the best days of your life , thank God I never listened or I would of ended mine with a knife.
Thank God I grew away from all the pain but sometimes I see a face hear a voice or a name and it all floods back again. I am older now and have all that I could ask for, family and friends but sometimes my calm deserts me and confidence takes flight, fear and dark descends and I feel lost in the night. I ask the question now why children’s jibes and actions can be so mean and cruel. The worse days of my life were my years at school. I cry each time I read or hear on the news how children can hurt each other IT NOTHING LESS THAN ABUSE.
Today would of been Sue Vincent’s birthday. Sue was a wonderful person, mother, mystic, friend, teacher. Generous in every sense of the word and many things to many people.
For visually challenged writers, the image shows a red and white Vertical Lift Bridgecrossing an expanse of water.
Bridge – Image by KL Caley
“Where the hell have you been?” Merlin was not looking his calm self. “What is it honey, did you miss me?” Morgana sighed reaching for a cigarette. “No not at all but as it happens we have a situation, while you’ve been off playing Merry Maidens with the guy in green tights…by the way what are you wearing? No don’t answer that we have a problem.” Morgana exhaled filling the car with smoke and held her hand up. “Hold your horses Merl ” she actually shouted making him jump. ” You invite me out for posh afternoon tea , send me off without a ‘by my leave’ or even a scone dump me in a dangerous drop zone, I break my hip, nearly get murdered, you don’t send the anomaly as arranged and I get whisked through a portal back in time” she stopped to take another drag on her cigarette, then stubbing it out on the expensive dashboard she looked Merlin in the eye and said “I want a F###ing drink” Merlin pulled in the carpark of the nearest pub and slammed to a halt just missing a low wall in his temper. “Look what you’ve done to my lovely car ” he whined but he was talking to himself, he looked up to see the criss cross back of Morgan’s green velvet gown disappearing into the pub. They had a couple of drinks and a meal in silence then Morgana went outside to smoke Merlin paid the bill and joined her. “You certainly got some funny looks in there” Merlin said, “we need to get back to the lab, we need to get you into normal clothes quick sharp as you don’t want to stand out where you are going.” Morgarna’s eyes flashed, “I am not going anywhere, I have had a shit time and it’s all your fault! ” There was just a hint of a tear in her eyes. “No honestly” Merlin said, “we really need to do this one” “F##k you” Morgana snapped, “it’s not us, it’s always me” with that she stubbed her cigarette out on Merlin’s leather passenger seat. They drove back to the lab in silence. Four am the next morning they arrived in Middlesbrough. They were headed for the Tees Newport Bridge. The second it came into view Morgana broke the silence. “I know this bridge I had a large hand in designing it, back in the early thirties, I helped Mott, Hay and Anderson design it, ha! they’d of made a real pills of it else! ” Merlin chuckled, ” ever modest Morgana” “Well they weren’t quite there vision wise” Morgana replied hitting Merlin hard! She continued, ” I believe it was built by local company Dorman Long, and was inaugurated by Prince Albert, Duke of York (later King George VI) and opened to traffic on 28 February 1934.” She ended, lighting a cigarette. ” Use the ashtray ” Merlin pleaded! They walked on to the bridge at exactly five thirty am. “Here are your instructions” Merlin said handing her a piece of paper which she slipped into her bag. The sun began to dawn and the anomaly appeared. “Good luck” Merlin said and went to kiss her . Morgana shoved him away, “Get off me you two-faced…..” Her last words disappeared as she leapt into the anomaly. Merlin turned back towards his car and muttered ” it will cost a pretty penny to fix my poor baby”
It’s twenty years today since 9/11, we can’t forget today or this week because the media will not let us. Sadly there have been so many incidents before and since, it never stops. There are people all over the world living with war and terrorism every day. We must never forget any of this and all that went on before 9/11 because if we do there is no hope. No we must not forget but we can’t stop there we must change, we must change.
Where. Where in the world is there peace. Where in the world do the oppressed get relief. Where in the world is there no evil Where do harsh words and deeds not spill From the mouths of leaders who’s talk is cheap They set the rules while others reap Children die and parents weep. Yet we have the answers in our reach The wherewithal is here use it I beseech.
It’s Thursday and time for K.L. Caley’s #writephoto. The question this week from K.L. is: “Will this little prompt provide music to your ears?”
I am running so late this week I am too late for this prompt but as I have written it I shall submit it anyway.
For visually challenged writers, the image shows a green bandstand in a park. Nearby is a long building with windows overlooking the bandstand
Band Stand Image by KL Caley
It was raining quite heavily and it was late at night when Morgarna open her eyes. Really, she thought I had only closed my eyes for a second. To her relief she was warm and cosy for the first time in days, her black dress was draped over a pole in the middle of the hut, to the side of a roaring fire. Looking down she saw she was dressed in a warm dry robe of Lincoln green. Not a bad cut she mused and quite stylish. Just then the curtain across the door opened and there was familiar face carrying a bowl of food . “Marion” Morgarna was on her feet and smiling, “it’s so lovely to see you here and safe” Marion hugged her and gave her the food! “I am so pleased to see you again. You disappeared so quickly after saving Robin’s and my neck from that evil sherrif! “ Morgana smiled as she remembered the day that she had “dropped” in on their execution in the sheriff’s courtyard! It had certainly caused consternation as she had cut the ropes around their necks and whisked them away from under the sherrif’s nose. He and everyone else in the area had been caught in a time lock spell. “So” asked Marion, “why are you here my friend.” In-between mouthfuls of her much needed supper Morgana replied. “That’s the thing Marion, I am not here officially as I did not come here with any instructions, infact I didn’t even come by the anomaly, I just slipped through a portal! “ “I see” replied Marion, a smile on her face, her mind racing, there she goes again rambling, whatever portals and anomalies are? Just then Robin and Gamble Gold joined them. They spent the night eating and chatting….well they had lot to catch up on. The next day Morgana and Marion were out gathering wood to cook dinner, when they got separated, Morgana turned a corner and there it was the anomaly, damn she thought and I was so enjoying this break from work and Merlin! Sadly she had no choice so she jumped! As she fell she passed through a roof and landed on a wooden floor. A band stand , she thought, looking down she met the eyes and wagging tail of a happy but surprised Labrador! “Hello beautiful ” she said giving the Lab a cuddle. As she look up she noticed a stunned young man in the corner of the bandstand. “Where on earth did you come from ” he asked . “Only up the way ” Morgana smiled. Just then the lad was joined by his mates all carrying instruments. Morgana watched them set up their band . Then she was off and running towards the road and a smart looking BMV.
