A 55 Word Flash Poem

The Seamstress

She's the seamstress
for our small town
She works so hard
during the day
Her seams are straight
with knots so tight

The sewing part
there's no complaints
Her work is fine
but stress she has
Her stress relief
the folks complain

A tavern hit
She has become
Her play at night
You go figure
 _ _ _

 - Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved
 - I'm linked with Kerry O'Connor in the Imaginary Garden at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2019/09/art-flash-55.html?m=1

 - This is a 55 Word Flash Poem, not counting the title, honoring the Toad's prompt, "The Seamstress." You can check this and find links to others who wrote at the link above.
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A Poem for International Literacy Day

International Literacy Day is 8 September 8th.  Media: Djibril Kebe, UNESCO Media Section, d.kebe@unesco.org

Do you remember when

when you learned to read

Do you remember when

when did you have

a book of your own

or was it one

that Grandma owned

What were the tools for that

helped you to learn

Try to remember when

When how and what

Tell me yours and

I'll tell you mine

Somewhere in my line of books

came Three Billy Goats Gruff

my mother would

read it to me

My favorite part

was when The Troll

would boldly come out

from under the bridge

Scared the pants off

the boys and the girls 
But not our Goat 

After that part reading

might would end

Sleep play or do chores

would be next

I know there were others before

or to come after like your true love

Love those books I did

though fickle some--Shirley Temple

reigned supreme for a year or two

(I kept my Shirely Temple scrapbook)

Somewhere in line came school

Try to remember yours

I dont remember my first day 

Nor do I remember learning ABC's

Mom probably taught at home, I hope

Next in my memory line was learn

to read about Dick and Jane

"Dick 
See Dick 
See Dick run 
...
See Dick and Jane run"

Followed by Sambo Geography History

Literature Math Biology Chemistry

Algebra thru and beyond Calculus

and a whole lot more

I had gotten too tired to tell 
we all are bored with even these

In high school I would go to

the Library in Study Hall time

There inside my text was

my Zane Grey paperback novel

Got yours all thought up now?

It's your time to tell

International Literacy Day

is this Sunday

Say a prayer

We should think of and for them

those learning to read or

those who should be but can't 
Perhaps though late they will

UNESCO is leading the way

our local libraries follow 
Visit soon 
Check out a book or two 

Donations appreciated as well

_ _ _

- Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved
- I'm linked with Susan who is leading Poets United Midweek Motiff --Literacy at http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2019/09/poets-united-midweek-motif-literacy.html?m=1
 - GO there. READ about Literacy Day and find other poems to read at the link above.  TELL ME in my comments here and OTHERS where you TELL.
 - I am also linked with Sherry Blue Sky who is hosting this week's Poetry Pantry with Poets United at http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2019/09/poetry-pantry-492.html?m=1

 - "Three Billy Goats Gruff" is a Norwegian fairy tale collected by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe in their Norske Folkeeventyr, first published between 1841 and 1844. It has an "eat-me-when-I'm-fatter" plot." Wikipedia
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A Story Poem for Monday

source

Ruins of a castle, 

the ghosts of times long past 

They'll haunt you going in 

their ancestors will growl 

And it'll be sad there 

You'll wish you hadn't gone 

I was in there one time  

sickened by what I found 

Mummified in his chair 

Uncle Nick bound in chains 

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Jailed man picture: Nicolas Fouquet and replica prison cell in the

Vaux-le-Vicomte Castle cellar.  (click on picture to enlarge) 

My photo, 2009.  Read about it,

Click here 

 _ _ _ _ 

- Photo and Poem Copyright,  Jimmiehov 2011 and 2019, All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked with Sherry Blue Sky in the Imaginary Garden at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2019/09/wordy-monday-with-wild-woman-castle.html?m=1

A Gothic Fiction Short Story for the Prose Pantry

Why was this lake house cottage renting for so cheap

We all loved the little cottage by the lake. And we got it so cheap, the Landlord has ducked my question why such a bargain. A bit of worry, he responded, "the basement's wet, don't go down there." 
 
We fed the kids hot dogs that night. The neighbor girl, Neiva, and our daughter, Cloie, turned in early for their first night. We all follow after the News.

But I can't sleep, I'd heard a noise a bit earlier. Maybe. But it stopped soon and I didn't go down until now.

Nothing down here, all like we left it. I put my ear to the basement door and hear swishing there. I easily jimmy the lock, open the door slowly and turn on the light.

I see the curtains waving, someone or somebody had just left through the window. Worse though are the bodies floating in waist deep water. Kids, all kids and teen girls.

Closer I look. There was one lady, half naked with her arms torn off. Then I see her face, bloody and scratched, it was my wife.

Call the sheriff, call the sheriff!!! My cell phone had no coverage.

Just then I see the landlord coming through the basement door. With a hand half covering his eyes he comes toward me. But something is wrong, he looks more like a bear than a man.

His front two teeth are six inches long. But sickening to me those teeth are holding the teens, Cloie and Neiva. They are limp and crying.

With strength I never knew I had I grab him by the throat and hold tight until he collapses.

Neiva ran upstairs to call the sheriff, Cloie was still crying, and I puke. 

Now I know why the low priced rent.

 _ _ _ _

 - Prose Story Copyright, Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved
 - I am linked with Magaly Guerrero in the Pantry of Prose at http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2019/09/telling-tales-with-magaly-guerrero.html?m=1

 - Magaly wants us to write a Gothic Fiction Short Story having 313 words or less.  Mine with the title has 304 words. What is Gothic Fiction?  Read around my Google Search, click here.