DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: NEVER FORGET

((c) Monte Wolverton)

 

weeping liberty 1

 

democracy

Tried all day to write something for the Fourth. Just couldn’t. Started several little stories full of parades, beer, and fireworks. Every one seemed too frothy. Started an essay about freedom in a country that jails BABIES because they had the bad fortune to have parents fleeing violence and poverty, looking for a better life for those babies. I couldn’t focus my thoughts today. On this Independence Day I was too overwhelmed at the all-encompassing assault on the democracy we have fought so hard for over the past 240-odd years. An assault led by our commander-in-chief, our Congress, and their financial backers. Other people have better expressed my thoughts today.

Peace out.

In response to the Word-A-Day Blog Challenge prompt: Cope
and to the Word of the Day Challenge prompt: Independence
and to Fandango's One Word Challenge prompt: Fireworks
and to The Haunted Wordsmith's 3TC prompts: Declaration, Freedom, Fireworks
and to Word-A-Day Blog Challenge prompt: Poverty

Oceans of Prompts

The day I decided to actually blog on this ol’ blog o’ mine three years after its birth, I did so because I had some words in my head that were calling to me. Really nagging me. Once I started typing, those words practically poured out, in the uncharted genre of poetry, no less. It was a strange sensation. Whenever I’ve written for work or school, while I’ve liked the end result, the writing process itself was like pulling teeth. What’s more, rather than the extensive editing I’ve usually done, I needed only minor edits before I felt confident in publishing that first post.

I figured, piece of cake; I can be a blogger. Had no idea what direction I wanted to go in or what style of writing I’d use (or try to use). Would anyone even want to read what I write? What I did know with certainty, however, was that the poem was a fluke. I’m not creative. Oh, I’d like to be creative, but I knew, realistically, I wouldn’t be writing any poems or fiction. After a lifetime of writing school essays and papers, sales proposals and reports, legal motions and briefs, I expected to primarily write opinion pieces about current events or music or books I like.

Then a strange thing happened. People started “liking” my first post and poem. Encouraging me. Following me! While reading, liking, and following their posts, I discovered the wonderful world of prompts. I responded to one and published my second post — another poem! Reading another follower’s posts, I was introduced to six-word story prompts and discovered that I can write little creative stories. Other prompts have inspired me to write a couple of flash fiction pieces. Fiction! Maybe I’m a little creative, after all.

Who knew so many prompts and challenge choices existed? For the past few days I’ve been trying to come up with a manageable system of keeping track of them all; trying to decide which ones I want to attempt and which ones I want to continue with. In the midst of it all, Fandango published his daily one word challenge prompt, “continue.” Not only did he publish the prompt, he also responded to it in a blog asking whether he should continue his dip into the sea of one word challenge hosts. That sly dog now has two posts today that people are commenting on and pinging back to, all while themselves using today’s “continue” prompt.

Well done, Fandango, well done. You should definitely continue hosting a daily challenge. This is only the second one I’ve responded to, but I’ve already decided yours is one I want to follow. Even if I never respond to another one, I enjoy reading the responses your prompts inspire. Plus, I love your sense of humor.

Response to https://fivedotoh.com/2018/06/30/fowc-with-fandango-continue/ 
 and to https://fivedotoh.com/2018/06/30/fowc-too-much-of-a-good-thing/

Song Lyric Sunday — “A Dream Away” — The Cars

I just can’t get this particular challenge and this past Sunday’s prompt, dream, out of my mind. Don’t get me wrong: I love ELP’s “I’ll Be Watching Over You” that I chose as my response. But I debated with myself for quite a while, weighing that one against The Cars’ “A Dream Away”. In the end, my choice was based on two factors. First, ELP’s song seemed “dreamier”, whereas The Cars’ contender seemed, well, not exactly nightmarish but like it would produce more of a restless night, belying its title. Second, I love Greg Lake’s voice; Ric Ocasek’s, not so much.

When it comes right down to it, though, it’s The Cars’ song that I haven’t been able to get out of my mind. Usually whether or not I like a Cars song depends almost entirely on whether or not Benjamin Orr’s rich, melodious voice is the one I’ll be hearing. Surprisingly, however, Ocasek’s vocals aren’t as brusque as usual. In fact, singing the thought-provoking lyrics he wrote, he has an almost Orr-like sensual delivery. Ocasek’s lyrics tend to be cryptic yet vivid, as many dreams are. Orr’s pulsing bass line kicks in at around 00:30 to generate a sense of urgency in this dreamworld. You may not get a restful night, but you won’t soon forget the dreamscape Ocasek paints.

“A Dream Away”
Five in the morning, all alone in your room
Door locked tight, private moon
No faces to face, no one to blame
Nonexistent inside this frame

You better
Take it on the run
Take it on the run
Yeah

There’s a cheetah walking high
Liquid whispers, dragonfly
Charleston booties, painted toes
Drop the knot, ivory soul

You better
Take it on the run
Take it on the run
Yeah

The good life is just a dream away
I said, The good life is just a dream away

Choke emotion, lose control
Chicken counters, fill your bowls
The lonely crowd, is decomposed
Lost obsession, future froze

Well, take it on the run
Take it on the run
Take it on the run
Take it on the run
Take it on the run

The good life is just a dream away
I said, the good life is just a dream away

Response #2 to Song Lyric Sunday - Dream
Response to FOWC - Nightmare