Dale offers the prompt “other people’s houses” for this week’s Cosmic Photo Challenge.
These are scenes from near Miami, Florida.
They are close to where we are currently staying, but not where we normally live.
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Some of my poetry was recently published in The Short of It. I am grateful to the editor for accepting them.
With the sounds of battle coming from the enemy’s gates the sergeant told Philippe, “Write down every miracle.”
Philippe told him that he couldn’t think of a single one.
The sergeant responded, “Then open your eyes.”
Philippe told him that his eyes were open, but there were no miracles to be seen.
The sergeant knew Philippe wasn’t ready to be launched like a rock against the gates of hell, but with the battle raging the sergeant had time only for a brief deliverance or mini exorcism – words of command given to the demonic mountain to move – before he turned to the next soldier.
But that was all Philippe needed for the grays to wash clean with brand new bright light.
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Denise offers the prompt word “brand” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories.
After writing this story a different interpretation of Matthew 16:18 became more compelling for me.
Dale offers the prompt “minimalism” for this week’s Cosmic Photo Challenge.
Some of these may be more cluttered than a true minimalist would find acceptable.
Except perhaps for the last one.
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All of these limericks were originally posted to either Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick or her Writing Prompts during the month of January 2026.
Curly Curls
Well, I don’t think I have much to say
about curls that girls display.
When each curl is true,
then the girl is, too –
so I thought – and still do – come what may.
Prompt word: “curl” January 5, 2026
White Snow
When the trees are all white, there is snow.
It is bright in the light. I will go
out to play in the stuff
till enough is enough,
go inside where I’ll hide from the snow.
Prompt word: “snow” January 7, 2025 (modified)
Farm
There’s a farm in the valley that’s fine.
You can buy there fresh veggies and wine.
There are eggs there as well.
Though some critters may smell,
when there’s sun, then the sun loves to shine.
Prompt word: “farm” January 12, 2026
Lovely Light, Bright and True
Whether red, maybe blue, lovely green,
it is light. It is bright and serene,
but I wonder if you
know that light can be true?
Well, I do and it’s true. I have seen.
Prompt word: “red” January 14, 2026
The Crime Of Rhymeless Rhyme
Though some thought that it should be a crime
and it was, more or less, for the time
when dark poems with words
like loud ravenous birds
made no sense and much worse didn’t rhyme.
Prompt word: “crime” January 19, 2026
The Rhymeless Rhymer Makes His Defense
I have heard it’s absurd. It’s a crime
to be running one’s mouth all the time.
Still, mine’s running so well
even whiners can tell
it’s all nonsense but nonsense with rhyme.
Light and Night Rhymes with Fright
Though the light said it’s day, it was night.
I could see. What a horrible sight!
There were monsters out there.
There were goons everywhere,
but in peace I slept on through their fright.
Prompt word: “night” January 26, 2026
The Games Of Feud
“All the same you are just playing games.”
Well, at least I am not calling names.
At least now I am not.
When the feuding gets hot,
who knows what we will use for our flames?
Prompt word: “games” January 28, 2026
Once upon a time, much like today, there lived a lad who was happy.
He was happy the next year and the next and he was even happy the year after that. One almost wondered if he would ever have a sad year, but even when it seemed like he should be having a sad year, he was happy.
People asked him why he was so happy wondering if they could be happy as well, but worried that there might be a catch or some odd requirement that would disqualify them.
He told them that a happy heart is a wonderful remedy but a broken spirit dries the bones which puzzled many figuring he really didn’t tell them anything useful, but some, even some of the puzzled ones, decided to just live happily ever after since what harm could it do? By doing so they might even witlessly check off all the requirements, if there were any, and live happily ever after.
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Denise offers the prompt word “check” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories.
Once upon a time there lived a critter, a fish out of water, whom no one could figure out. We all knew he had problems, but he didn’t think there was anything wrong with himself, at least, nothing worth the bother of fixing.
Although he reassured us that he was fine – “just following a different drummer”, he lamely explained – how could we convince him otherwise without a proper diagnosis? So, we diagnosed him ourselves yelling: YOU’RE NUTS!
That should have solved the problem, but all it did was isolate the critter further while we went off to our regular therapy sessions and he let his problems go from bad to worse. Even after all of us went to our just deserts none of us could figure out why he kept living happily ever after.
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Denise offers the prompt word “fish” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories.
Dale offers the prompt “morning light” for this week’s Cosmic Photo Challenge.
These photos are from the past, but they are all of morning light over the Atlantic Ocean.
It is great to get up early and go to the beach to watch the birds and the sun.
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Poetry, Short Prose and Walking 