#vss365
Hands of evil
Rise
In brutal triumph
As we
Unknowing
Do tender
Grasp at
Nettles
Or
Ride with Nero into
The raging fire
We can play it
Satan's way-
A game of
Risk
Our lives
No offence
We prefer
Pretence
Or stand for good+
Watch
As evil's slimy trail
#Slithers
to an end.
@_Irene_Dreams_
#vss365a
Twists twist away, dreams like snow fall, drift, melt to nowhere, characters scream as plots fall from cliffs, and lady walks, the clever heat bouncing up to blend sweat with tears. Her writer's
#regime
must change or die.
#FromOneLine
#vss365
Linger a little longer
Be late
Like summer
Unwilling to turn
But bursting now
With harvest
From sun-bright
Care
And nights of sultry
Air
#Tear
yourself away
When you must
I'll not turn to rust
Without you
Meantime
Whisper me
Love
In sad and
Dwindling
Light.
#vss365
The day we walked
Along the shore
Breeze made tears
Ospreys soared,
Remember?
You jumped from rocks
And ran around
You gave me a shell
That you'd found
Remember?
Now war has claimed you
Oh the living can tell
But here in my
#pocket
The little blue shell,
Not forgotten.
Hello to you scribes out there!
This time round I'm looking at famous folk linked some way with June and I start with Colleen McCullough, b. 1 June 1937. Not her best selling work but the one with the best title: 'Bittersweet'
Prompt = bittersweet
#vss365
#prompt
#bittersweet
#vss365
I'm familiar with this pain
That grips in vagrant vice
Or cresting wave
All sudden turns to ice
As
#midnight
winter
Of Northern skies
I fear the day
Darkened with your lies
This crushing hurt
A brand on brain
But breathe, I urge myself,
You're familiar with this pain.
#vss365
Just arrived in Roman province + time for quick note..
Dear writers all, you've taken me to amazing places
Every day I've surfed on waves of love
joy
pain loss fear
rage, regret hope
I've laughed
Wept
Gasped
At your fun, sadness, strength
I am
#moonstruck
By you!
💖✍️💖
Born this day in 1811 is Harriet Beecher Stowe. And she followed in the footsteps of Alfred the Great by saying something v similar to him - that all of us ‘who can speak a word for freedom and humanity is bound to speak’
Prompt = speak
#vss365
#prompt
#speak
For all your own wondrous writes, thank you. It’s been a delight and an honour.
To say goodbye, actress Olympia Dukakis, June 1931, for she was simply fabulous and a shining star amongst shining stars in the wonderful Moonstruck
Prompt = moonstruck
#vss365
#prompt
#moonstruck
Born on this day in 1929, let’s never forget Anne Frank. And if you find yourself in Amsterdam, you might like to visit the house and Annex. And to the young, if you want to be a writer – keep a Diary.
Prompt = diary
#vss365
#prompt
#diary
Wednesday 29th December
As I'm coming to the end of my fortnight I just want to say how wonderful it is to read all your vss!
Today's word is bundle.
#vss365
#prompt
#bundle
Born on this day 1840, a must-be-on-this-list, it’s no less than the great Thomas Hardy.
Madding would have been such a word but to give more scope I’ve gone instead for Crowd
Prompt = crowd
#vss365
#prompt
#crowd
Born in June, 1880, I bring you Helen Keller. She said her life was like living ‘at sea in a dense fog’ – and showed how the power of spirit can overcome immense vulnerability. She became the first deaf blind woman to achieve a BA.
Prompt = achieve
#vss365
#prompt
#achieve
It’s great being prompt host – you get to talk about your faves! Another of mine was born this day in 1865, WB Yeats, and of all of his that’s glorious I’ve selected this line ‘And live alone in the bee-loud glade’
Prompt = glade
#vss365
#prompt
#glade
For all you sci-fi buffs here’s Octavia E Butler, born June 1947, first science fiction written by a black woman, a cornerstone, fabulous author of ‘Kindred’
Prompt = kindred
#vss365
#prompt
#kindred
Thursday 30th December
Today is Rudyard Kipling's birthday and he gave us this delicious quote:
'Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.'
Now that's something to reward ourselves with!
Today's word is reward.
#vss365
#prompt
#reward
Back in 1572 now + birthdays not always logged, so John Donne was born sometime Jan - June! It’ll do, for he’s on my top 10 list of most moving quotes: 'No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace As I have seen in one autumnal face'
Prompt = autumnal
#vss365
#prompt
#autumnal
To Dear
#WritingCommunity
😘 + anyone who likes a bit of social history.. Telling Vonnie's story
'Monday Monday' is out now!
Thank you Twitter friends for your amazing support
And for US/Canada/+? Tweeters this is the link
The one living writer on my list - Ian McEwan, b in June 1948. Too much to say, so I’ve simply picked out for you - Atonement
Prompt = atonement
#vss365
#prompt
#atonement
New Year's Eve 2021
In fond farewell I give you RL Stevenson's quote - ".... to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end in life."
Today's word is
#becoming
#vss365
#prompt
#becoming
Love and hugs to all 💖💖💖
And welcome to
@Nina7Infinity
first host of 2022!
Friday 24th Dec
Today I flashback to 10th December - Emily Dickinson's birthday, author of one of my very favourite quotes:
'I am out with lanterns, looking for myself.'
#vss365
#prompt
#flashback
Today's word is flashback.
Dear Santa, can I have a book of her poems pls?
Walt Whitman was born 31 May 1819, but can’t leave him out! If you know Dead Poets Society you'll know this quote ‘I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world’
This wonderful word is prompt for today = yawp
#vss365
#prompt
#yawp
Sunday 26th December
Today's the birthday of no less than Henry Miller and here's a quote of his:
'One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.'
Would love to be a passenger on his trips.
Today's word is passenger.
#vss365
#prompt
#passenger
Born in June 1892 is the amazing Pearl Buck. She won a Pulitzer Prize in 1932 for ‘The Good Earth’ and a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1938.
So in honour of her, the prompt today = prize
#vss365
#prompt
#prize
Born this day 1891 is writer and musician, Cole Porter. His list of wondrous songs is endless but I’ve picked for you this one – ‘Don’t fence me in’
Prompt = fence
#vss365
#prompt
#fence
Our writer for today has been called a ‘chronicler of culture’ – to me that would be a tremendous honour all by itself. He is George Orwell, b June 1903.
Prompt = chronicler
#vss365
#prompt
#chronicler
Dorothy Parker is the one person on here not born in or nearly in June – she died this day, 7 June 1967. Astonishing wit and undying talent, boss of the wisecrack
Prompt = wisecrack
#vss365
#prompt
#wisecrack
#vss365
Sun rising
On golden bay
Present
#beauty
On happy duty
Each watchful day
But storms grow strong
Hope dies in surging pain
As hatred in our world
Unfurls
Its flag again
Shall good just
#wither
fast
In helplessness
Shall evil glory
After all
Shall these days be our
#last
?
#vss365
Hello vss writers!
#Yawp
has already called up such powerful + compelling poetry that I thought I'd just say how much you move me with your heartfelt words. But apologies for minimal quantity-reaching feedback.
#Yawps
of agony
Stir the air
And far away
A spirit weeps
#vss365
The blades of hell
Draw blood
Their stains deny
Wash of flood,
Screaming flesh
In demon's grip
Yellow jowls
Drool to rip,
Would eat me
Whole
Ransack
My soul,
But wait
A voice is clear
Take the hand
Help is near,
Inviting path
I sudden see
One simple step
To
#becoming
me.
@shaunwalker7
Not enough acceptable words to express my anger at this quote.
I'm reminded tho of an older lady on TV after being liberated this week. She said she asked a Rus soldier why he was there.
He - To rid Ukraine of Nazis
She - Have you seen any?
He - No
She - Me neither.
@IAPonomarenko
I was born right after WW2 and it was always 'Lest we forget'
We forgot
Then we were naive, greedy, misguided etc
Now Ukraine takes the brunt of what the free world should have tackled decades ago
We should beg 🇺🇦 for forgiveness and finally do the very most we can do.
One day left + I begin my goodbyes with grateful thanks to mentor
@Alva1206
- a comfort + strength ensuring all goes smoothly! For Alva👏💖👏
More later but profound thanks now to you, the fabulous writers of
#vss365
who dare to dream and love to write.
I'm honoured to know you.
#vss365
Oh sweet welcome
Wisecrack
Covering
My tender back
Hiding
Poor mascara eyes
Distracting
Listeners
From your lies
Protecting
You from them
And then
Again
Me from you
Pretending
Truth
That all is well
When really
#Love
Has been
An earthly hell.
#vss365
Only two more days to go for me... that means it's time to introduce your next
#vss365
#prompt
host!
It's the fabulous
@MettaMike
!
Find him, follow him, but be sure not to miss his prompts - starting this Friday, 16th. He'll let you know timings...
Enjoy all ✍️✍️✍️!!
#vss365
The word
#breath
Makes me think
About death
And life
How much left
And what will I do
To be
True
To self
To family
To honour
But before I storm
Those doors
My pen, the sword
Held high
To stop
The march of evil
I must
Just mop
The kitchen floor...
#vss365
Old lady
Young soldier
Stand
On their land
Both fight
From
#resilient
depth
Strive
To stay alive
Kindness
And comfort
Float on
Humanity and hope
🌻🌻🌻
Thrilled to be your prompt host again - will LOVE catching up with you!
There's no theme for my actual words, but their sources link to the month of June somehow..
+A li'l rhyme for
#vss365
Been on the
#scurry
To find words for you
Hope they truly prompt
And please you too!
💖
@CherylWroteIt
@elicalebon
Yes she has a voice and a ton of fighting charisma. You have the same charisma Cheryl, plus you are our 'vade mecum' on Israel, our compass, our guide. And your pen is a mighty mighty sword.
✍️⚔️💙🇮🇱🤍
#vss365
A non-political poem
#Escape
with
Me
Let's watch the shore to
See
The swirly tide
A-being
Let's talk of
We
And wonder as the gulls in
Glee
Swoop in joy
A-soaring
We'll breathe good air
In gentle dream
Of joysome days
When work is done
And gone
And
You come
Away
With Me
#vss365
A quick-speak to let you know that after the
#prompt
tomorrow, and a thank-you post or 2, I may be a bit quiet -
I won't have gone away -
just busy all day washing finds at a Roman dig...
So will pick up around 6pm BST
And I'll spend my final prompt-host hours here 😁💖
#FromOneLine
#vss365
As one year rolls
Into the next
Flame-coloured skies
Greet foggy eyes
Awakening
Birds scream
Trees shiver
Wary dolphins leap
From turquoise deep
A-fearing
#Solar
winds strike
In gleeful screech
But Hands unseen
Keep safe our dreams
But only if we're asking
#vss365
On the edge
Slippery ledge,
Forces would pull her
Into the
#chasm
Cold sweat of fear
Evil draws near,
Her weapon is faith
A-striding
Warning sounds
Heart pounds,
She sees them now
Her saviours
So she'll stand and fight
As old lady might,
Finding the tough
Inside her.
#vss365
It's
#becoming
2022
So I bid thee farewell.
It's been a distinct pleasure to be prompter and I offer heartfelt thanks to all who -
'liked'
retweeted
wrote vss to prompt
gave me kind support
and encouragement!
Happy New Year lovelies!
And a warm hello to
@Nina7Infinity
#vss365
Wondrous Emily Dickinson:
"I am out with lanterns looking for myself"
Now
Half the world
Steeps
In hideous hate
+
We're out
With
#lanterns
Looking
Finding
Souls
Of murdered
Dead
Their blood all shed
For us
Still out
Still looking
For
Traces of
Ourselves
In the sand.
#vss365
So
#Demon
They say your greatest trick
Was sick
But never so clever
In telling us you don't exist.
Believe it or not
Humans got
Played.
Could this actually be
The era of 'Good v evil'
The apocalyptic fight?
If so there's no might
About it..
Above the din
Good
Must
Win.
#vss365
Cherish the
#passion
Of grownup folk
Loving misted fells
+ Sunday's bells
French baguettes
And smoky cheese
Keto lunches
Bacon brunches
Grandchild's laughter
Daffodil scent
Writing painting
Making stuff
Knowing right from wrong
And where your heart belongs.
🌻💗🌻
#vss365
Growing up
Learning to
#be
Little girl
Bit like me
Strangers said smile
Be very
#sweet
Don't speak up
Now bind your feet
Try for servile
Worth it in the end
Folk may like you
If you don't offend
But then her voice
Forced its true way
Raging for self
Thru each new day.
#vss365
When
#nonsense
turns to lies
And truth can find
No ground
To stand
When harvest
#plum
is sour
And bread of life
Is burned
In hate
When tomorrow shakes
In few brave hands
No help
A-coming
What will free world say
When children ask
Where were
You?
On this day?
Today?
#vss365
So far in my prompt time I've found two things above all -
The word
#quiet
evokes great sadness..
and the word
#reason
a tidal wave of love.
Love to you all dear tweethearts
Thank you 💖
And whether you celebrate or just enjoy, I wish you a wonderful Christmas!
💖🎄💖
#vss365
In time
And gifted space
Half our
Human race
Hides
#Haunted
by a future
Forgetful of a past
Lets truth
In last gasp
Run
Down stream
Of rushing rain
Its honour
Glugging down the drain
But
Other half holds on
With aching fingers
Pointing to the light
Still lingering
Above
#vss365
Hard to enjoy
My blooming flowers
When,
From an ivory
Tower
Somewhere
In state of terror,
An order is made
And
The
#flower
Of a neighbour nation
Is targeted
And destroyed.
Just another
Genocidal act.
RF missile targeted on pizza shop, many injured, 10 dead inc children
#vss365
Oh let me walk
On sand-heaped shore
With ripple sea
A-twinkling
Where skies are big
And
#windmill
's sails
Turn gentle all
A-creaking
And I will walk
With you my love
As time's soft
Message from above
Foretells the end
And lifts my face
To hold me in sweet
Last embrace.
#vss365
I get many a
#Scrumptious
idea
Storming
Reforming
No fear
Ideas
Often borning
In a morning
Changing
Rearranging
Revolutionary
Rarely wary
Sweeping away
Stale choke
Of bespoke
Dysfunction
Before luncheon
But
By supper
Scuppered
Hero
At zero
I just
Rock
Myself
To sleep.
@DaveAtherton20
So
@JamesCleverly
@RishiSunak
and
@TomTugendhat
Are you seeing what we're seeing?
The intimidation of Mike Freer, so much so that he cannot carry on, is a huge threat to our democracy.
It seems we know the intimidators - we have security services - when are you going to act??
#vss365
Today we're free
To peer at beauty
Like the
#oleander
tree
But have a care
A threat hides there
Tender disguise
In colour bold
Brash it belies
The toxic truth
Forsooth
It's a killer
Page turning
Thriller
Oh metaphors galore
All in store
For you.
#vss365
I could listen
All day
To gulls a-calling
On the bay
To busy bees
+ Chirpy birds
To music
Oh
Sweet range
May sound
So strange
To you
And I could try
To be
#deaf
To agony cries
As cousins
So brave battle
With evil
As death rattles
And children scream
But
I cannot.
🇺🇦💔🇺🇦
#vss365
On lone
#raft
Of memories
Pain heaves
As surging whirlpool
Swirls
A-gulping
I go as force will
Throw me
Flailing
Fearful body
Drops
A-screaming
But then big sky
Gentle
Touching
Angel comfort
Comes
A-calling
Now on raft
Alone
Not lonely
I forward go
My way
A-finding
#vss365
'Twas a dream
That grows hazy
A farm with 8 acres
And a cow name of
#Daisy
,
Chickens
Two dogs
A range to bake bread
With crackling logs,
But age caught me up
There's days I'm just lazy
And that dream is surely
A little bit crazy,
But still
I will
Have reams
Of dreams.
#FromOneLine
#vss365
🇺🇦
I tripped over
In life
More than once
Ensconced
In illusions
Of safety
I got up
Over
And again
Multiplied by ten
Determined
To be
I learned
Stuff
Much
Of how to clutch
At frailty
Inside
Now
I make
#Examination
Of abomination
And weep
But I do not trip.
#vss365
Is it tomorrow yet
When wrong's made right +
Good wins the fight
For freedom?
Or is it yesterday
When rivers ran red
With blood of our dead
A-flooding?
What of today
When hopes are
#high
No innocents must die
For tyrant's lust?
Or
Will our tomorrow
Be more of yesterday?
#vss365
Here on the Bay
Weekend days
A stalwart chap
Without a map
Just a tractor
The safety factor
For all who like
To take a hike
Across sinking sand
To opposite land
Stopping the drownings
And the frownings
It's cut and dried
He's the famous Queen's
#Guide
!
#vss365
Ode to the
#sun
Majestic metaphor
Bringer
Of light
Of mighty
Never-ending
Power
To tiny flower
Or great desert's shifting
Drifts
Tender strong
Seen unseen
An unconditional
Grandparent
Ever giving
No batteries required
Just there
For you and me
See
From above
With love
#FromOneLine
#vss365
I ran towards the melodic humming
Feet a-stumbling
To find you,
Bloodied thorns
Beasts with horns
I'll find you!
#Memories
haunt
Task daunts
But I'll find you,
Now I'm here
Hums disappear
I can't find you,
I wake to face
Cold empty space
No trace..
Of you.
#vss365
All
#quiet
in the Andrew household..
...Santa's been!
Wishing all in the wonderful
#WritingCommunity
and especially to all of you who have responded to my prompts these 10 days
..it's been already a tremendous honour.. a thrilling journey.
Happy Christmas to all!
💖💖💖
#vss365
All's safe on Morecambe Bay
Today
But many are glum
About the sum
Of drownings,
There's ghostly shouts
Hereabouts
From coach and four
And many more
All drowning,
But now there's hush
At tide's fierce rush
Sweet
#siren
saves
Us from the waves
And drowning.
#onegoodsiren
#FromOneLine
#vss365
Somewhere in the future
In a
#spirited
place
I'll live my next life
Behind a beautiful face,
I'll have a pad on the Park
And my glorious he
Will sit our girls
Upon his knee,
I'll play piano
Hear stories of his life
Such a happy place
My very next life.
#vss365
I wonder if the most avaricious, psychopathic
#pirate
in the world today sees himself as a handsome, tall, swashbuckling,
#adventurer
?
Well, many of his subjects do, because he's told them to.
Many of his subjects don't. And they're imprisoned, living in fear, or dead.
We walk sad paths, each bounded by bitter edges, longing eating inward till we, giving our very souls to hell, partake.
Help me, I cry.
Better without me,
You call.
But we fall
Together
For threads of death had us bound as one.
But now you're free,
And
You
#betray
me?
#vss365
#vss365
Hello tweethearts!
Just to say I have 3 days left + need to ensure that you know the prompt host on New Year's!
It's the wonderful
@Nina7Infinity
!
I'll check in on Friday to tell you how much I've loved prompting for you and reading your fabulous words.. 💖💖💖🙏💐
#vss365
When life was young
And began its unfurl
We ate our crusts
So our hair would curl
And a simple pimple
Could cause quite a whirl
But once every week
As if diamonds and pearls
Our
#Comics
were delivered
Fabbo Eagle and Girl
💖💖💖
#FromOneLine
#vss365
The box outside my door
Shook me to the core
Surprised me
Delighted me
A promise kept
The mission leapt
Into reality
Frailty
Gone
With a song
Now on I go
Taking each woe
My mind's made up
I'll take a cup
Drink from the fountain
Then climb my
#mountain
!
@RitchieJune
@DaveAtherton20
I have. He's right. Perhaps it's you who hasn't travelled much, and if you have - were your eyes/ears closed all the time?
#vss365
Oh
#cosy
life
No strife
Log fire
Look no wire
Cream n coffee
Choc n toffee
No nasty bug
In snuggly rug
Compare
If you dare
A nation under fire
Where life is dire
For brave hearts
Fighting to be part
Of world of the free
Like you + me
My pact
Is a fact-
I stand with them
#FromOneLine
#vss365
The water chilled her
Bonny bones
And stones pierced
Sweet
Tender feet
But strong arms met
And
In delicious
#duet
They dipped and rose
Till wrinkled toes
Were froze
Then sweet words
Could be heard
'By 'eck and skies above
Let's get that kettle on luv.'
#vss365
And the world
Turns dark
With pain as
Old scars crack
And burn
A-bleeding
Elephants pack
Their trunks
With memories
None may tell
As they hear the bell
A-tolling
But wait!
Avenging Angel
Strides fire
Thru bloody
Mire
To evil junk he says
Go on
#punk
Make
My day
⚔️🔥⚔️
#vss365
Love
Just love
Not lust
Not passion
Not possession
Or obsession
Not horror
Not sorrow
Not strife
Or life
Not riches
Not pitches
Not gain
Or pain
Only love
Just love
Is
#endless
❤️
#vss365
Steady
Slow
O
#picturesque
The lime of limes
Stands calm
Full in its perfect time
Lean in
Let me encircle you
In greening bower
Of velvet
I'll draw you near
Fear not
Be still and
Breathe
And then
I press my face upon
That mighty bark
And soft
We weep
The tree
And me.
#vss365
I wish upon that
Sequined
#starlight
Gaze at mystic moon
And with the swish
Of surging waves
I'm fain to
#breathe
in tune
I begged for peace
And to hide away
Have quiet times with you
But now it's time
For my life's great wish
And as I write it's coming true!
#newday
#vss365
And in her
#innocence
She watches the world
Unfurl before her
Aching to understand
The hurt
The sickening sights
Of cruelty and pain,
Storms of shock
Threaten her,
Still
Too young for choice
She, rocking, learns to
Sway in harsh gale force
And weeps
At such betrayal.
#vss365
#Damaged
Me
Damaged
You
Damaged
Them
Human
Psyche
Oceans
Countries
World
Ecosystem
Atmosphere
It's a physical
Temporal
Consequence
Of life
Look to the light
And
Let's minimise
And maximise
Let's get through
It
Together
For we can still
Feel
Love
💗🌻💗