Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge presented by my old friend Al Forbes.
The idea is to write a short story (200 word max) inspired by what you see in his picture (below).
And I have an apology now.
The piece I submit today is not fiction, and it is not an original piece.
For reasons best known to my subconscious, Al’s photo took me back to San Francisco, and a piece one of my alter egos wrote as a Haibun three years ago.
When the Muse speaks, I just listen.
After all, she is a woman!
This experience, and the people involved, live forever in my heart.
Click on this link to enter your tale, and to see what others have written.
Copyright Al Forbes
Click here to hear me read this 100-second piece:
San Francisco
The hippy kid arrives in San Francisco at last, forty-five years later.
He has a gnawing fear, unfounded, that he is too late.
The city is everything he expects, everything he dreams of and believes in.
He breakfasts in Union Square, rides a cable car all the way to the stars, has conversations with the concierge, with an artist, and with his server.
He is immediately at home and at peace.
He walks the famous bridge, and is enthralled by its majesty.
He takes a boat ride round the bay, and visits the notorious Rock.
He is thrilled by all of it.
He takes her hand as they walk through the park at Fort Mason.
They have their picture taken on Marina Boulevard with the Golden Gate as backdrop.
But the Exploratorium takes him completely by surprise.
The Greek-style architecture is amazing, the statues wonderful and the lakeside setting breath-taking.
She smiles gently at his confusion, at his mild embarrassment at being so unaware of this masterpiece of Ancient Europe in the heart of Modern America.
beauty and dreams
never die
make love not war
Very different. Sorry to be redundant. I enjoyed it. I’ve been to SF twice. Once during a heat wave in May and then in July when I almost froze. Loved both times.
Good piece, C.E. I never made it to San Francisco but some relatives and friends have. I’ve always heard good things about it. Good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne
Thank you, Suzanne, glad you enjoyed.
And happy that I communicated some of the magic of a fabulous city.
Somewhere I very much want to visit a time or two soon. I have read about the history. I liked your take on the picture, such awe and such a feeling inspiration being there with such history.
Hugs
It is a magical city, do not miss it, just go.
Hugs to you, Amanda
Thank you CE
Great post, thank you so much for nice sharing
kisses
Thank you, Voulaah, for your lovely comment.
Hugs
you are very welcome
kisses
I read this first then listened… I played the tracks your followers/ poster friends put up and the combination had me walking just behind you. I watch your fingers reach for hers. Sighing at the emories captured in word and unlocked by a glimps of a photograph. Nicely placed.😇.
Thank you for reading and listening, Ellen.
Actually I put up the tracks, they seemed appropriate to the comments.
I am touched at your appreciation of the detail in my writing.
Thank you.
We all learn by others reading. 😇
Great story! I spend most of my week in San Francisco and I think you’ve captured it very well.
Thank you, two visits, too short, but loved it, breathed it, tried to absorb it.
I can almost taste and smell the Wharf. I’m lucky to live just over the summit from San Fransisco. Lovely
Tracey
Thank you, Tracey.
SF is in my top 3 or 4 favourite cities in the world.
And packed with happy memories.
A wonderful haibun. It reads as well as it did the first time. The words, the emotions and the experience. Of course San Francisco is difficult to forget (Tony Bennett sang of this so well). Like Anja, I miss the haibun days, among others. And I too have many memories of my own last time in San Francisco. SF slips dreams into one’s coffee and hopes into one’s happy days where for a short period of time love reigns supreme. But then San Francisco will always be that way, I think.
Ah, Penny, do you have any idea how delighted I am to see you here again?
Your words of dreams and happiness re SF coincide remarkably with my own.
I remember Casablanca, when Mr B says We’ll always have Paris.
Here’s looking at you, kid.
A refreshing change as others have said, and quite different from your usual work. Equally as good though. Nicely done.
Thank you, Iain, as I said below, I was unsure about this, but it was what the prompt said to me.
I almost never recycle, so I am relieved and happy that this worked.
This was lovely indeed (and a refreshing change to your usual death and gore 🙂 )
Thanks, dear Dale, I am surprised at how positive the reaction has been, I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea.
But when the Muse speaks, I listen.
It truly is a lovely piece, mon ami!
I like it. Glad you brought it out of the mothballs.
Thank you.
The response means that I am too.
Dear CE,
I for one haven’t read this before, so I’m glad you recycled it. The Haiku impacts the rest of the story. Perhaps it’s because I’m one of those aging hippies. 😉 Elegantly written and, as always, made better by your own voice.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, my lady.
I wrote Haibun for a while, a very different thought process from writing flash fiction.
The Haiku, as you say, has a powerful impact.
I am happy it worked for you, both written and spoken.
If we aging hippies had met 45 years ago…
That brings some memories back.
Visiting San Francisco is on my bucket list. You’ve given me another reason to go!
Go.
No excuses, just go.
A sweet and lovely memory, C and one that’s clearly stuck with you very clearly through the years. Great tale 🙂
Thank you, Lynn, not quite my usual gorefest!
Well, I do love the thrill of a gorefest. But sweet memories of good times are nice too 🙂
‘the thrill of a gorefest’!
Not really a typical sweet English rose, are you, Lynn?
Haha! I was saying to my son yesterday, I think I have a female gene missing! Nah, not an English rose. 🙂
Pity you are not a Scot, you’d make a great thistle!
That’s so funny – I was going to call myself but thought it inappropriate without a Celtic lineage. Mind you, once article 50 goes through I may be emigrating, so …
I suspect that you are prickly enough to be an honorary Scot.
A wee touch of red in your hair and you are all set!
Well, it’s not clear in the Gravatar pic, but there is a red tone to my hair and according to my cousin’s genealogy search, there’s a bit of Scots way back, German and French too. What mongrels we are 🙂
And I’ll take prickly thistle over English rose any day!
Welcome tae oor wee world, bonnie lassie!
Haha! Thanks, C. If I moved now, how long would it take an English woman to become an honorary Scot? 🙂
Awwww how I miss the haibun days.
You can just write your own, Anja, you have the talent.
Thank you. I do recall writing many before. Maybe something will inspire me today?
As I recall your writing, you find inspiration most days.
Not always. Sometimes help is needed.
Clever and so well-written as usual. Hmm, next stop for me could be San Francisco!
Thank you, Mary Ruth.
I strongly recommend San Francisco, it is heart-warming, vibrant and picturesque, and populated with Beautiful People.
I think I remember this piece, and know of who you speak. It is an excellent piece Monsieur C.
Well, we are all encouraged to recycle!
Glad you enjoyed it again, and yes, you know she has her own special corner of my heart.