Happy Halloween 55

for Imaginary Garden With Real Toads

Flash 55 Plus

Black cats and witches

grave yards and ghosts

vampire bats and goblins

all stand to make a toast

Give the beggars sweet cakes

so they will pray for your soul

many main traditions

began so very long ago

Don't be scared

but hold your breath

we have fun giving life

to a celebration of death

No matter how you celebrate,

or if you do at all,

Remember, to wrap your fun in safety

and hope you have  a ball.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

How They Met Themselves

Ink and wash on paper by Rossetti

Meeting the challenge for Flash 55 Plus at Imaginary Garden With Real Toads

55 words exactly with the inspiration of another of Rossetti's art pieces

How They Met Themselves

On a fine day a couple strayed

To walk among the trees

Imagine their delight

What a sight

When they met their mirrored mes

Manners held their course

Doppelgangers indeed

Someone watching

Could not tell which was real

Or which was thee

Sitting upon the ground

Had a lively luncheon

While all were in town

Love, Toads and Whirligig

For Sunday's Whirligig

and Imaginary Garden With Real Toads

Flash 55 Plus

BrainyQuote inspiration:

To live is like to love - all reason is against it, and all healthy instinct for it.  Samuel Butler

In this valley of springs 
Touching
You kiss the salt
From my brow
Things will be okay
The aches and pains
Sap our strength
But doesn't shake our trust
In the length of the land
In the breadth of our love
We heal the stain
On the lands
Calling no fault
But that of time

Land of Our Own

Row after row, 

turning, plowing, and planting

growing, cutting and harvesting

opening the land

of milk and honey

We tire of battling

the elements dressed

in thin simple clothes

but we store our tears

until darkness falls

The dinner bell rings

calling us home

in level tones

grateful for freedom 

we speak Latin no more

Without intending this became a double prompt for Sunday's Whirligig and Flash 55 Plus at Imaginary Garden With Real Toads.  I used the words with the picture for inspiration while finishing with 55 words exactly.  I forgot the touch of Zen but some reach that moment working with the land.

Flash 55 Plus A Stranger

A stranger stopped to help change my flat tire. I was jumping up and down on the four way tire iron without success. He made short work of it and refused money I pressed into his palm.  He said, “When you see my wife or daughter needing help, stop and help them. That's payment enough.”

For Imaginary Garden With Real Toads