Patriotism

“Job completed as per instructions. Flag raised to the recommended height, and set to fly at the stipulated time…” This is another routine report the Admin Head checks every day at work. But today is different. The employee who executed the task has been sacked, and his own job is at stake. “What the hell … Continue reading Patriotism

Alien

their hollowness fears strength of my free will power they fear redundance - my completeness – alien to sellers of protection https://frankjtassone.com/2019/06/29/haikai-challenge-92-6-29-19-independence-haiku-senryu-haibun-tanka-haiga-renga/

The Bloody Carousel

Somehow, I like the place. It has a strange sense of familiarity – is this what we call déjà vu? I wonder why the inhabitants don’t seem to like me, though they look like old friends or acquaintances. I focus on the tilted architecture, which could easily be the ninth wonder of the world (the … Continue reading The Bloody Carousel

Embers

The flood raged over the entire village. She wondered if nature was mimicking her fury, or trying to pour water on it. The rage hadn’t helped, but had refused to die down either. It resembled embers of a slow-burning fire that was consuming her, rather than a raging flood. She closed her eyes and entered … Continue reading Embers

Reena’s Exploration Challenge #93

Welcome back to this exploratory space! PROMPT I normally link a word to a picture for the prompts, but not this week. The picture is so intriguing that I dare not superimpose my thoughts and influence another’s imagination. Let the prompt take you wherever it goes. Reena's Exploration Challenge #93 Please remember to credit the … Continue reading Reena’s Exploration Challenge #93

Presentations

“Presentations should be idiot-proof”, said an ex-boss I don’t remember too fondly. I couldn’t get why we needed to start every story from the alphabet. “Don’t insult the viewer’s intelligence,” said another glib talker who delighted in spewing management jargon, “they already know all this.” I agreed partially, while thinking silently that the terminology should … Continue reading Presentations

Thresholds

“I’ve been here before.” “Are you crazy? You have not travelled alone, and we’ve got you here for the first time,” hissed the mother to her teenage daughter. “There is a brown trunk in the last room. There are gold coins and jewels in that.” We walked ahead to check. There was a trunk, but … Continue reading Thresholds

Potluck

Her cooking was no match for the culinary talent on the potluck table. Embarrassed, she tried to pull out the white bowl and hide it somewhere. An interested pair of eyes met her gaze, as the strong, masculine hands took the bowl from her hand, “Hey, what do you have there?” A decade later, they … Continue reading Potluck

Stardust

The star of yesteryears walks into a movie theatre, breaths in the ambience for three hours and walks out – unrecognized. He has done a cameo in the latest release. Box-office collections and publicity campaigns have gone digital. He doesn’t even have a social media account. He was uncomfortable about participating in promos. An artist … Continue reading Stardust

Sunbathing

suffused with slow warmth inner glaciers start melting whole being renewed https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2019/06/26/heeding-haiku-with-chevrefeuille-june-26th-2019-sun-bathing/