Ronovan Writes #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge 361 HOME and Weep.

This week I have chosen a Tanka for Ronovanwrite’s Weekly Haiku Challenge.

Swifts

Photo by Harry Cooke on Pexels.com

come September Swifts
dancing in the sky leave home
set for hotter climes
weaving patterns of farewell
my heart weeps and waves.

WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 227, #THEMEPROMPT

Go where this month’s prompt leads you

It Tuesday and time for Colleen’s Tuesday Tanka Challenge. It’s the fourth week of the month! Are you ready for a theme prompt? Colleen didn’t hear from Padre whose turn it was to select the theme… so, Colleen has picked the theme prompt for us.

Travel/Journeys.

I was seventeen when we married, 19years when the first boy arrived and 30years when the third and last boy appeared. Well now they had all grown and flown. It is now our time. So we renewed our passports and set off on our travels. The pandemic put a stop to that but we are on life’s journey, we are travelling together.

Following life’s road
We have traversed fifty years.
We’ve grown together.
Boy and girl, man and woman.
Three generations of love.

Sofia and Nadia.

Nadia 

Nadia was tired her bones ached her feet were swollen and the pain in her chest that had been bothering her for days now was tiring her out. Just a she as she bent down to take the evening meal out of the oven the door flew open and her eldest great,great, granddaughter rushed in. “Nana is coming, Nana is coming up the hill” Nadia felt the rush of warmth and sighed as all the aches and pains left her body Sofia was coming , all will be well.

Watching Sofia striding up the hill towards the house she marvelled at her strength of stride and how though aged she looked the same as she did when they had first met. All those years ago when her mother had died and Sofia had stepped in and made things right. Things seemed clearer after that terrible afternoon when they had  left Jerusalem. Never, never would the the vision of the poor man on the cross fade from her mind. His face was with her constantly but recently the vision was more a comfort than a fear provoking.

Walking out of the door Nadia told the child to go and fetch her mother and grandmother. Then with a newly found strength in her old bones she strode towards Sofia.

Nadia was in her 99th year which made Sofia..how old? It was a mystery Sofia never seemed to age she just went on and on never changing. She looked the same now as she did the day they had finally left their home land after Mary had died. They had packed up and gone to Cyprus. Nadia would never forget when they left. How none of the captain’s of the boats wanted to take them. Sofia had just decided which boat looked the sturdiest and looked the captain in the eye and said “You will take the child and I to Cyprus” and he had.

That was 90 years ago. Sofia had set up a home, they had built the house, tended the land and farmed goats, fruit, honey and olives. Nadia had been taught to read and write, grown married, had children, lost children and now has two generations of descendants.

The two women greeted eachother with a hug and then turned back toward the farm house. Nadia never felt her age when Sofia was at her side. ” I am so glad you are here tonight ” Nadia said, “The whole family is coming for a meal.” Sofia smiled.

Later after the meal with her whole family around her Nadia died peacefully and gently in Sofia’s arms. The family were destraught at her death . No body noticed Sofia leave, as she opened the door she said to them all, grieve for Nadia now, remember me as one who you once knew.

None of the family saw the two figures walking towards the sunset. One child looking out of window thought she did, but went she mentioned it she was told not to be silly, so she said no more.

Nadia and Sofia walked awhile together happy in their companionship. Then Sofia saw the angel waiting for Nadia and she told her to go with him. Nadia protested but Sofia said she had to journey on , she kissed Nadia and when she saw she was safe with the angel she walked on.

Sofia felt the pain of loss. She knew she now had to travel on, on her own, what next she wandered.

***********

Thursday photo prompt: Journey #writephoto

For visually challenged writers, the image shows a green hill against a misty, grey sky. Across the top of the hill strides a strangely proportioned figure. His head is bowed and he is carrying a staff.

Journey

So the sons of men marched into the unknown. To meet the the Elves and the Dwarves who were gathering in the west. Their journey had begun.

All day they they traveled, the men singing songs of war to keep their spirits high.

Rachel had resumed her wolf form and joined the scouts as they rode ahead to get the lay of the land. She had stopped at a stream to drink from the refreshing water when a cry went up.”Giant on the hill” “No” cried another “It’s Death”

Rachel howled in irrigation and raced up the hill to see what these cretins were making all the noise about. At the top hill she saw the lone figure striding against the wind, striding but not moving.

Immediately she recognised what this was. Laughing inside her head at the ignorance of these scouts she ran down the hill to join them .

Pulling the cloak from the youngest of the men she shifted in to human form and deftly covered herself. “That is neither a giant nor Death ” she said calmly to the scouts as they looked on in awe at the stark figure on the brow of the hill. ” This is a warning mark , my kind erect, these figures to alert any pack of Werewolves that men who hunt us are in this area. We build the figure of a man striding the land with staff in hand, head down following our scent.

The scouts where stunned, then one ventured to ask, “There are men who hunt Werewolves? They actually hunt you, kill your kind?” Rachel looked serious and her eyes flashed, “Yes” she replied taking a deep breath. “These men hunt us but they catch only the weakest , youngest and oldest of us, they do not ever attack any of us that are healthy and strong” Flashing her eyes amber at them she added, “They are cowards.”

The men were stunned by this revelation and ashamed too. “Come said the head scout let’s return to camp my stomach thinks my throat has been cut” So they mounted up and headed back to join the army of the sons of men. The youngest man picked up his cloak from where Rachel had dropped it as she had changed back to her wolf form. As he did he reached out and ran his hand along her back. Rachel froze and was about to turn on him when his words stopped her in her tracks. ” I am sorry for my kind” he whispered, “I could never attack, the young, weak or old of any race.” Rachel spoke to him gently straight from her mind. “I believe you, you have learned a a good lesson today. One word of wisdom, never afford those feelings to a Vampire they are never vulnerable however so they appear”

The young man nodded, and mounted his horse. They all rode back in silent thought, Rachel reading their thoughts satisfied that these men at least we’re on a good journey.

**********

To be continued.

If you wish to read Lisa’s and Rachel’s story up to this point you can find it here.

This is part of Sue Vincent’s Thursday Photo Challenge.

Muted Monday: Night Journey

EvDaDaDec : Nativity

He  burned  bright  he burned high

His  arrival en-blazoned  in the sky.

He had but  a short time on this earth

For  some  reason  he decided mankind  had worth

 

She  was  modest she was pure

http://media.lonelyplanet.com/lpi/26046/26046-4/681×454.jpg

All who knew her of  this were sure.

She  was gentle and she was fair

Where ere she walk  goodness filled  the air

 

The quiet  young man at  her  side

Had  believed her  when she  had cried.

The  stranger  who  he  had met on his way

Had  convinced him of her truth that day.

 

To Nazareth for the census count

The girl pregnant with a donkey  for her mount.

In  those  days  you not ring  ahead

So not one inn had  for them a bed.

 

Finally  as her time grew near

An innkeeper  took pity on Our lady  dear.

No room  but  the stable dark  and damp

His  wife  found  blankets and a lamp.

 

I wander if the good wife  stayed

To  help   help the tired  and frightened maid

I’d  like to think  so, so  the young  couple  were not alone

For it would of been very  scary unaided  so far from home.

 

http://www.bible-lands.net/images/stories/bible/cities/Nazarethlinks/film_nativity_scene.jpg

There was love and magic and light from somewhere, all around

Birth though a natural act is tough but somehow in it a miracle can  be found.

The light  draws people in  to see the new born child

There in a manger swaddled  tight,  loved  by  his mother mild.

 

He  burned  bright  he burned high

His  arrival en-blazoned  in the sky.

He had but  a short time on this earth

For  some  reason  he decided mankind  had worth

 

 

 

 

 

 

EvDaDaDec : 15/12/20 Little Mae and Polar Bear

http://ppcdn.500px.org/258310/5609b99834457477325ba0b320dac1e7f37c471e/5.jpg

And so  the dawn  creeps up relieving   the night of her  dark shroud .

The  sky looked as barren and empty  as  the land not  a fleck of cloud!

From out of  nowhere  came  two  visitors so beautiful  were they.

Horses  stallion and mare . They had come  to greet and  from here  to carry  the child  and Mae.

 

Polar Bear was pleased  to meet them, the Winter Queen  knew  them of old.

Mae and  the child  both  mounted  the mare  Mae  cuddled  her brother  against  the cold.

The  Winter  Queen  took to the Stallion who she rode  with pride

Her Polar  Bears unjealous trotted at  her side !

 

So they travelled across the  frozen wasteland

That was once  her home  the child with eyes  wide held tight  to her  hand.

Polar  Bear  walked  silent  behind relieved  to be on the move again

He only had one wish to return  to his  human frame

http://americangallery.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/snow-princess.jpg

Poor Polar Bear  was once a man

He  was charged  by  his dying  king  to protect his daughter  the best he can.

The Evil  witch of the East turned him into a Polar Bear

He  very soon fell in  love  with Mae for her  he really cared.

He  spent  two years  protecting Mae before he realized his love was all for her.

 

 

EvDaDaDec : 13/12/2 Little Mae and Polar Bear

http://img0.liveinternet.ru/images/attach/c/6/93/396/93396384_large_Snow_Princess_Asleep.jpg

The child  suddenly  felt  the warmth of  love , it covered  him like the snow falling  from above.

He watched Mae  his  sister sleep , he  felt safe  enough to with Mae  and Polar  bear  keep.

He  heard  the Winter Queen’s bears gently  growling . He  felt love sing to him  through the winters  howling.

Comfy  nestled in Polar’s  fur  he felt  safe and without a care

Gently of a sudden  Mae  awoke  she smiled  and to the  lost child  spoke.

 

What is it little one ,you must know  what has  gone on.

Did  the Witch , you mother tell you what she had  done.

Did  she own to the killings  before  she up and fled and was gone.

You  have lost  your  father too,  do not fear I shall take care  of you.

 

Come  and  cuddle  me  and I shall sing  you a lullaby

Let us  be  happy together  no need for fear  no  need to cry.

And  so as all the others  slept Mae  sang  to her  little brother

The  two now bound in  great  sorrow  now  vowed  to help each other.

 

 

Until the morning we leave them  to sleep.

 

EvDaDaDec: Little Mae and Polar Bear

http://indulgy.net/a8/k4/cC/226024475018151955XH2ATscqc.jpg

The  child  too was  sleeping , dreaming of happier  days

Remembering his  mother,  the witch, and the happy games  they’d play.

His  father looking on  with love sparkling in his eyes

He felt  safe  and happy in his mothers  arms protected by his father, wise.

Sad feeling started  creeping in , fear washing  over his skin

His  mother and father were rowing  from his cot  he could hear the din.

She  screamed I did I banished your  daughters I killed  your  wife

I wanted  your love and  now I want  your life.

His father’s voice rose to a scream you killed  my wife the mother of my girls

Yes  she replied I wanted  you and  your power ,as her head turned her hair unfurled

There followed  a mighty fight the like of  which the palace  had  never seen

At once  all stood  still as the king died  all went grey, all colour devoid no blue  no green .

The palace gone the land devastated all gone . The Witch of  the East fled

The  child was left to wander  the no mans land . His mother gone and left him for dead.

The  child  awakes  with  a start  to find he feels  safe and cosy nestling  in Polar Bear’s  fur.

Looking  across he  see Mae  sleeping in the snow , he realizes  she is his sister  and reaches out to her

http://img0.liveinternet.ru/images/attach/c/6/93/396/93396384_large_Snow_Princess_Asleep.jpg

EvDaDaDec :9 Little Mae and Polar Bear.

http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/23300000/Snow-Princess-Dreams-daydreaming-23366565-1024-768.jpg

On through  the snow  they forged mile after  mile

Mae was distanced  eyes gleaming  mouth soft  in a smile.

Her  mind  drifted  back to the days before  she she and Polar  bear had to run,

Happy days  with her father  and her sister happy days full of  fun.

 

They had suffered so when mother died ,

Heart  broken they had  all cried.

Mae  has no idea  where  her sister  is

Whether  she is  dead or if  she lives.

 

All the while the child  sleeps

Polar Bear takes care of him , in  safety  keeps.

Travelling on they go

Through  the cold , the dark and the snow.

 

http://img0.liveinternet.ru/images/attach/c/6/93/396/93396384_large_Snow_Princess_Asleep.jpg

So for  now  lets  let Mae  sleep.

All her  dreams  and hopes inside  to keep.

Sleeping also in the land  of dreams  her little brother bound  to Mae  it seems.

 

Polar Bear is So  Good and kind  thoughts  of  Mae  fill his head .

The child  has  invaded  Polar Bear’s  mind , He now loves  the child  and forever he will treat him kind!

 

AND  SO WE LEAVE THEM ALL TO SLEEP  WE PRAY THE LORD THEIR SOULS TO KEEP.