Though Moloch wants a sacrifice
don’t let his dreams for you come true.
Don’t do what he says you must do.
Beware his smile. He isn’t nice.
He’s betting that you’ll pay his price
so pumps you up with hopeless fear.
Protect your children. Keep them near.
Your baby’s ready. Time for birth.
Life only is upon this earth.
That’s why those demons wander here.
Ronovan Hester offers the rhyme word “birth” to be used in a D line of a décima having rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC for this week’s challenge.
Eventually Bill stopped giving Rafael excuses and entered the revival tent hoping his doubts wouldn’t dampen the effervescent joy in others should a miracle occur. He stood at the back where he met a missionary who had scars across her cheeks, lips, ears and nose. She explained that the militia overpowering her town a decade ago carried off the pretty girls for prostitution and mutilated the ugly ones or killed them, like her sister, to demoralize the surrounding communities.
Bill went back often and at one point disclosed to her as a warning that his work was dangerous. In turn she reminded him that she was one of the ugly ones.
She loved it when he called her Rose and they were married under the revival tent.
Denise offers the word “effervescent” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories. Continued from Filter – Six Sentence Story. Next: Pawn – Six Sentence Story.
Dale offers the theme “in the big, wide, open spaces” for this week’s Cosmic Photo Challenge.
I wrote this poem in the comments section of Linda Kruschke’s Paint Chip narrative poetry challenge.
The Night of the Jack-O’-Lantern
The jack-o’-lantern’s hollow nose
turned darkly down on Antique Rose.
Its scornful eyes pierced Mistletoe.
Its toothy mouth warned them to go:
“It’s easy peasy in the street
Where greens and pinks and yellows meet.”
But pleasure wasn’t why they came.
No morbid magic, flashing flame
Could substitute for righteous light.
They stood their ground, prepared to fight.
The jack-o’-lantern burnt all night.
Its pride at dawn collapsed within.
Mistletoe knew they would win
And so did joyful Antique Rose.
Their faith like Mustard Seed’s still grows.
Mary Hood (tqhousecat) at mehflowers linked to MercyMe’s song I Can Only Imagine in her post, Wake Up Dreaming, contrasting it with John Lennon’s Imagine. What a contrast! I can’t even imagine what must have been going through Lennon’s mind when he wrote what he did.
This beautiful song has been around for some time, but it is the first time I’ve heard it. I am grateful to Mary for sharing it. I may never have heard it otherwise.
The water’s face reflects the sky, but this requires light.
It’s not too late to leave the cave before the dusk and night.
Eugenia offers this week the prompt “reflections”.
Celia’s boyfriend, Derek, with two of his friends helping, removed his things from her apartment the morning she met her father, Rafael, at the café. How did her father know Derek could not be trusted? Since the arguments with her mother she had not spoken to either of them. How did her father even know there was a Derek?
Rafael remained in the café for some time after Celia ran off and then decided to walk by the ocean before going home. He was wondering what their next move should be and how he would tell his wife that his meeting with their daughter failed when he heard footsteps running from behind and Celia shouting, “Dad, wait!”
Denise offers the prompt word “walk” for this week’s Six Sentence Stories. Continues from Service – Six Sentence Stories.
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I didn’t think I was the prey
when I went hunting Willful Dream,
but things aren’t always as they seem.
I failed. That’s why I’m here today.
That dream’s a Worm in painful play,
but I was eager for the chase.
Sound Sanity I wouldn’t face.
I knew that it would tell me, “No.
Beware the Hook. It’s sharp. Go slow.”
I tripped and fell, was saved by Grace.
Ronovan Hester offers the rhyme word “chase” to be used in a C line for this week’s Décima Challenge.
I participated in the morning session of the Heart Beats Contributing Authors Poetry Readings. I am grateful to Lisa Tomey for hosting these readings and organizing the Heart Beats anthology.
Dale offers the prompt “giving it the old collage try” for this week’s Cosmic Photo Challenge. Here are two collages from recent photos.
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εγγισατε τω θεω και εγγιει υμιν καθαρισατε χειρας αμαρτωλοι και αγνισατε καρδιας διψυχοι
James 4:8 Textus Receptus with various translations
The King James Version translates the last word, διψυχοι, as “double minded” which suggests to me a feel-good spirituality without repentance. Avoiding repentance is a sign that one hasn’t experienced the joy that such change provides when grounded on forgiveness. No amount of substitute sentiment can compare with that.
I suspect the devil needs only half a heart to drag us all the way down. King David wanted nothing less than a newly created, clean heart when he almost lost it all with Bathsheba.
לב טהור ברא לי אלהים ורוח נכון חדשׁ בקרבי
Psalm 51:10 Masoretic Text with various translation
Being double minded is also like lighting a candle and putting it under a basket. Oneta Hayes tells us what will happen if we do that: the fire goes out.
I playfully watch butterflies
and blossoms yellow, blue.
Forgiveness came with joyful cries
and life turned bright and true.
Eugenia offers this week the prompt “playful”.
Poetry, Short Prose and Walking 