September Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Shadows” —

What will be missed walking out the door — On the last day under the early evening stormy sky sweeping over tall pines beyond the fence, I walked out and wondered what will I miss? No longing or doubt no tears or emotions burned the back of my throat. No sorrow or sadness for work left undone work yet to do for lads left to fend and fight…

…we carry on — Unwittingly lean up against a black wall chalkboard paint where a dusty, colorful HOPE is written Jump away turning to see what transferred HOPE pink and white puffs of a word float away under the cheerful slaps hands of friends upon your back We breath HOPE chalkdust visible in the air around us…

editing brings our thousand word army to its knees — Am I built for this world? I must carve my own words from my heart again and again Am I built for this world? We invite others to slay our words Dreams built in the stardust of our imagination shattered, the void envelopes us again and again Truth we are…

where a lifetime of connections takes us — I’m sitting in my living room, surrounded by the artifacts of my mother-in-law’s life. Embraced by the pungent smell of cedar. A reminder of the chest in which things were lovingly stored. Afghans knit by her hands, silver, and copper household items collected in travels around the world. …

…and that was okay…but I’m back for more. — This month marks my Medium 2nd anniversary. I joined on the cusp of the 100 followers needed by December 30th for the paid program, so it felt like a scramble toward that goal. I thought I’d retired earlier in the year and could now devote time to write, and Medium…

what you have made for me — I like this self-portrait you have made for me in your looking glass. As my years gather like moss upon the stones of my weathered path, you make me feel I could still fight dragons with these rickety legs. Your blue eyes sparkle in the sun, sharpen to steel grey in…

finding happiness in memories — I went for a walk today upon a path where we last tread in daydreams before your demise. A coward I feared returning where a bursting broken heart would leave shards upon the glistening tarmac as if all the tears shed gather there still. I feared the familiar route bound in…

pulses with life connected — Hazel eyes green burnished in warm brown flecks of gold a halo of pale blue. Glas or uaine, green in nature or artificial fluorescent lime neon chartreuse. Cool as a cucumber, pale lichen and spongy moss lounge on trees bequeathing oxygen to us all. On a sunny summer afternoon mint leaves, muddled, spice…