The Unicorn Challenge.
A magical new weekly writing opportunity from her – Jenne Gray – and me.
Visit her blog every Friday to see the photo prompt, and post your amazing story in her comments section.
Or on your own blog, and stick the link down in her comments.
The rules are:
Maximum of 250 words.
Based on photo prompt.
That’s it.
To hear me read my story, just click here:
Secret Garden
there are three paths
all very different
snaking through
the Secret Garden
a place of marvel
mystery
and perhaps
magic
the most picturesque trail
wanders through a series
of pergolas
each heavily bedecked
with white- and pink-flowered climbing plants
providing a heady scent
and an air of tranquillity
here time passes slowly
a secondary track
spins off to the east
sided by rough terrain
supporting only shrubs
and passes beneath a sheer cliff-face
clothed in different plants
darker green with fierce red blooms
giving the fragrance of danger
and an air of menace
here time moves quickly
but the main route
and the most direct
runs almost straight
through the heart of the garden
where one may encounter other travellers
not necessarily from the same land
or world
and where time
sometimes
stands still
I love the idea that the main path is where time ‘sometimes stands still’. And not only travellers from other lands but also from other worlds. Time’s a slippery thing, for sure, and never seems to be going at the pace we’d like it to. The central path definitely sounds the most intriguing. Lovely.
Thanks for kind words, Margaret, glad you enjoyed the poem.
Apologies for late response due to Covid and travel fatigue.
Oh, that’s no good. Keep well.
Second successive summer trip to Scotland where I’ve caught Covid. Change of plan next year!
Good idea.
I enjoyed this beautiful wander through your secret garden, C.E. 💗 (It’s lovely listening to the story).
Thanks, Lesley, kind words much appreciated.
Apologies for late response due to Covid and travel fatigue.
Sorry to hear you’ve had Covid. It ain’t funny, I know. Was it the latest version?
Hope you’re a lot better now 💗
This is a wonderful story, CE. I liked the old song too!
Thanks, Chris, glad you enjoyed.
Apologies for late response due to Covid and travel fatigue!
Oh dear. I hope you’re okay.
Getting there, Chris.
Second successive summer trip to Scotland where I’ve caught Covid, and I’m getting too old for this nonsense!
💝
A lovely little flight of fancy and mystical meanderings.
I wonder which route you will choose, CE.
Happy you enjoyed, Nancy.
I’ve travelled them all, not always intentionally…
I like this very much. Many paths we might follow. But why choose the main route? Why the straight and narrow?
An encounter with a traveler from a different land (bringing mystery and magic) is the one I’d choose.
Straight and narrow has rarely been my chosen route either, dear Lady.
I’m more of a meanderer, a I-wonder-where-that-goes sort of dude.
Maybe one day we’ll meet down that quiet lane, hmm?
Hey, dude, I wonder why you would want to wander down and meet in that quiet lane which would surely spoil a nice friendship. You are much too much like a Wayward Wind! 🙁
But a compromise is acceptable. We might share some creative links. Years ago I made some – many – tons – of pps just for fun that you might enjoy. I hesitate leaving a link here as they aren’t for the public. This one is from my Western Collection.
https://pcloscloud.com/index.php/s/LLae7sXgZ3FFAi6
Snakes and Gardens. Hope we’re not on the Eve of destruction in this seemingly blissful spot. 🙂 Well imagined. Loved this:
‘darker green with fierce red blooms
giving the fragrance of danger
and an air of menace’
Thanks, Doug.
I am Adamant that I had no thoughts of Phil Collins’ band when I wrote this!
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Poetic magic!
The words, the images, the form, snaking, like the paths in the garden, to the perfect climax of the last three lines.
I hope you have a chapeau in reserve for yourself!.
Thanks, Jenne, the Garden has a special place in my life.