Hello, beautiful readers! The first full week of school is officially behind me. I'm still adjusting to waking up at 5am every weekday morning, but I'm going to bed earlier to make sure I'm getting the right amount of sleep. I wasn't able to get to the beach this weekend, but I did manage to hang out with my circle of friends, which was stress-releasing, especially since we went to watch Spa Weekend and then have dinner. If you get a chance, watch that movie. It's hilarious! I haven't laughed like that in a while.
With the week being so busy, I haven't had much time to write (other than my one haiku a day), so today I'm combining two prompts. The first comes from We'ave Written Weekly (W3) Prompt #225, where Judy Dykstra-Brown creates the following scenario:
An old woman blows out 78 candles on her birthday cake, but one refuses to go out, no matter how hard she blows. It burns with a blue flame and whispers a name she hasn't heard in 40 years. Your poem is her conversation with that candle. What does she decide to do: let it keep burning, or pinch it out?
The other prompt is from #TankaTuesday where I was the host. I challenged everyone to write a poem about trepidation. W3's poem seems to blend well with this idea, so I'm putting them together (especially since I don't have much time to write).
For these challenges, I decided to write an experimental haibun that focuses on story-telling more than expository prose.
Last Birthday
Edith placed the cake she bought for herself on her dining table. There was no birthday song sung or any friends or family present. She had long ago secluded herself in her cabin from their toxicity. She blew the 78 candles with her labored breath until all but one candle was extinguished. Try as she might, it burned with a blue flame. She stared into its alluring flickering dance and gasped when she heard it whisper, "Edith."
She leaned closer, not trusting her eyes or ears. "Edith, my love," it whispered. "Come to me. I'm waiting for you."
Her heart began to race as her shaking hand reached toward the candle. Tears ran down her face as her husband's voice caressed her heart. She had not heard his voice since a car accident had stolen him from her forty years ago. She had missed him every day since then. She longed to feel his arms around her again.
Was her mind playing tricks on her? Could she let go of her lonely life, not knowing what, if anything, awaited her on the other side? Closing her eyes, she made her final wish and blew out that last candle with her dying breath.
a love gone too soon
memories fade with time
heart never forgets
Would you like to write a poem for either of these prompts? Click the links below:
Oh my goodness, this is such a great story! I love the story AND the poem. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jan! I appreciate your visit. :-)
DeleteYvette, I am so moved by how you turned the last candle into an invitation from Edith’s lost love, making her final breath feel both sad and peaceful.
ReplyDeleteMuch love,
David
SkepticsKaddish.com
Thank you, David! I'm happy I was able to make time to participate. Thanks for stopping by! :-)
DeleteYvette, such an appropriate ending for that candle.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Judy! I appreciate you visiting. :-)
DeleteAww. Got me all teary eyed. Lovely. Xo, Selma
ReplyDeleteSorry about that, Selma! Lol! Thanks for visiting! :-)
DeleteA very moving haibun Yevette.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Paul! I appreciate your visit. :-)
DeleteA lovely response to the prompt
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rall! I appreciate you visiting! :-)
DeleteMy mother's name was Edith. Which is, of course, irrelevant. But thank you for your poem. Edith did indeed wait and want to hear from the dead throughout her life.
ReplyDeleteAw! Thank you for sharing that with me! I appreciate your visit. :-)
DeleteThis is beautiful and poignant. Robbie
ReplyDeleteThank you, Robbie! I appreciate you stopping by. :-)
DeleteI loved this, Yvette. So happy they were reunited!
ReplyDeleteSo am I, Denise! It felt like the perfect ending. Thanks for visiting! :-)
Deletehi, Yvette❣️
ReplyDeleteJust wanna let you know that this week's W3, hosted by our beloved Michelle, is now live until Monday, August 31st:
W3
Much love,
David
SkepticsKaddish.com
Thank you, David! I'll try to work on it this week. :-)
DeleteThere are some couples that are able to grow old together and seem to leave this earthly plane within days of each other. And others through health or accident seem to wait a long time to join their loved one...
ReplyDeleteNice story. I hope Edith found her hubby waiting with open arms.