Hello people. Thank you for popping over. This week’s 55-word Flash Fiction challenge:
Image prompt is Phases of the Moon

Here is my take:
Dark as usual, I’m afraid. I welcome and would love to read your 55-word contributions.
Some guidelines:
1. Your contributions can be in prose or verse.
2. Please do make it count exactly 55 words (excluding the title, if any).
3. Your contribution does not have to include my title > The Watchman > rather, please draw off the Image, let your imagination float in the night sky.
If you can leave your contributions in the Comments below, I shall be happy to post them in a Gallery on 28 May, giving you full credit and with a link back to your blog.
Many thanks 🙂
Related links, if you are new here:
Previous 55-word Galleries:
Lioness & Cub and
How it all started – Blog Tips Page
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Tomorrow – A Poem
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Good morning, Eric. What a great prompt and photo! Here’s my go with them. Blessings, Peg:
Ebb and Flow
Life throbs
Breathe in breathe out
There is nothing static
About living full in the now
Just change
The moon’s
Phases mark time
The ebb and flow of tides
Upon the water testifies
Of change
And I?
Though I am free
I’m bound by nature’s law
That alters me in ebb and flow
Of change
Hello, Peg – there you are 🙂 I was wondering when you’ll be joining. Thank you for your continuing presence. Always a pleasure to have you here. Cheers, Eric
Thanks, Eric! I was super-challenged yesterday. I’ve been promoted at work and have been putting in ten-to-twelve hour days for the past week, straightening out the messes my predecessor left. (She was fired.) :0 I’ve also posted this in my blog. As always, thank you for your encouragement. Peg.
Beautiful words, Peg. I liked the cadence to your poem. It was a pleasure to read.
Paul
Thank you 🙂
Sharp shadowed and blue faced, the sleepless poetess sits behind the open window and ponders my ancient face; searching the thief who stole the quiet night just when I turned my back so briefly. But will she find that the silence that reflects in me is patiently waiting in the full moon of her eyes?
Welcome aboard and thank you for this contribution 🙂
Reblogged this on Bastet and Sekhmet and commented:
Almost missed this!!!!
Thank you, Georgia 🙂
The Watchman
You think you know me
Are you right
Do I mean something to you;
A light
Moving through the sky
At night
I’m much more than just some
Nocturnal kite
Without me what would be
Your plight
Did you know: life would never have
Taken flight
And Who placed me – Someone from
The Highest Height
Thanks Eric for doing this. Really appreciate it.
The Watchman
You think you know me; are you right
Do I mean something to you; a light
Moving through the sky at night
I am more than just some nocturnal kite
Without me what would be your plight
Did you know: life would never have taken flight
And Who placed me – Someone from the Highest Height
I think that layout is better! Thanks again.
Okay, got it – I’ll use this layout, Ben.
I also agree – since I use frames to display, this is better for me too – as “tall” posts mean smaller fonts.
Cheers, Eric
You’re welcome, Ben
Dear Eric,
Here is my contribution to The Watchman
Watchman, Watchman,
You, O Lord, are my Watchman.
You, alone, are the Watchman of those who fear You
Watchman, Watchman,
Please Watching over me
Watch over my soul
Watch over my heart
Watch over my mind
With Your beloved Words
The Bible
To continually be upon my
Mind,
Heart,
Soul
To keep me from evil.
What type of feelings does it strike to you?
God bless,
Yoshiko
Thank you for this contribution, Yoshiko
Your inimitable style 🙂
Peace, Eric
Welcome, Eric.
Please if you don’t mind I would like to contribute the second one
Watchman, Watchman,
You, O Lord, are my Watchman.
You, alone, are the Watchman of those who fear You
Watchman, Watchman,
Please Watching over me
Watch over my soul
Watch over my heart
Watch over my mind
With Your beloved Words
The Bible
To continually be upon my
Mind,
Heart,
Soul
To keep me from evil.
Peace,
Yoshiko 🙂
No worries, Yoshiko, I’ll use this version instead of the earlier one. Cheers, Eric 🙂
Thank you, Eric.
Peace to you, Yoshiko 🙂
I’ve been sitting here,for about half an hour.. trying to come up with a poem. Eric, and this my effort…
The Watcher
The moon dressed in all her white glory,
stares far down with ever careless gaze,
at those who worship her stark beauty
by looking upwards, marking every phase
Her spectral light, it doth truly glisten
upon the restless, ever churning seas
as at every wax and waning she lives
tidal waves follow her focal symmetry…
many thanks for giving my grey cells a work out… 😉 xPenx
Considering you only took half an hour – this is well done 🙂
Thank you for the contribution, Penny G
All good wishes,
Eric
“Orb Spider”
You see one light while I see many, enough to light my path round and round. A trick of the eyes you see; instead of two I have eight. I know you are kind for you have not killed me; I ask now one favor, artist to artist: don’t destroy my creation, my beautiful web.
“…all the more to see you with, my dear…”
Thank you for this contribution 🙂
Seems the moon gets blamed or cursed, or praised or worshiped, depending on what one expects or wants from it. 🙂 I will try to see what I can come up for the prompt, too.
Absolutely, Joyce – all see the same, and each perceives different.
I usually hold the window open for 10 days – hopefully, it is sufficient. Would love to receive your contribution.
Peace, Eric
Yes, I will work on one and send it soon. 🙂
It travels the eternal sky, merely a crescent, adorning it like a sliver of silver, an enchanting jewel.
Slowly it blooms. A silver plate now, blinding and ravishing!
Let not the clouds cloud you, for the wonders are all within you–
Seen sometimes as a sliver and when the time comes: the blinding silver plate.
Truly the phases of the moon 🙂
Thank you for this lovely contribution.
I can’t see your blog and also don’t have your name – if you would supply this, I shall include in the Gallery. Otherwise, I’ll go with what I have and credit it as “Copyright @ Miles To Go”.
Do let me know if you prefer an alternative,
Eric
Hi Eric
I am surprised the blog is not showing up (http://gomiles.wordpress.com/). You can put me in as Nivedita Shori. I am honoured to be part of your artistic gallery!
Thank you for the reply – you are coming through with only your gmail address and nothing more. Perhaps it has to do with your “Setting”.
Anyway, I’ll fly with what you’ve provided.
Cheers, Eric
We’re All Phased
Phases of the moon,
Change from May thru June.
A full moon makes loons swoon,
It prompts grown men to croon.
It haunts the black baboons,
As branches they do prune.
Men stagger from saloons,
Whistling fragmented tunes.
The oceans stay attuned,
Tides fill and drain lagoons.
Moons do affect monsoons,
And surely some typhoons.
Hello, Ron
“We’re All Phased” – like the title too 🙂
Thank you for joining to make the Gallery fun filled – much appreciate this.
All good wishes, Eric
Happy to appear on your blog. Thanks again.
Eric, thanks again for the inspiration. Here is mine:
when I was a kid
you used to be cheese
then I grew up
and felt your eyes
moonlight magnetic
man in the moon—
mother earth’s
lover
watch him dance
in the sky for her
fishermen, sailors
women flow
ride the tides
crescent to full
the passionate pull
crazy moon—
you used to be cheese
Hello, Troy – you’re back with another one, great 🙂
Same guy – different eyes
All good wishes,
Eric
I’d like to make a contribution here for the first time.
It’s called The One who Watches:
Moon’s face speaks in phrases to men turning
Paces in frenzied chases while the moon walks
In calm circles across the sky.
Mountain’s dark shadow traces the eerie glow
Of the sun’s echo watching over the meadow
Too dark to see below except by the effervescence
Of the one who sees all things from above.
You’re very welcome, Nicole, and thank you for your contribution.
I’ll be happy to include your poem in th forthcoing Gallery.
All good wishes,
Eric
Dear Eric,
Great visuals to your poem. You managed to conjure quite a lot into such a compact format. Each line in itself could begin another tale. Nicely done!
Here’s my take on it, clocking in at 55 words, minus the title. It’s an acrostic poem as well.
The Moon Beams
Tethered in space,
Haloed in darkled skies,
Enigmatic is our sensuous Moon.
Magnificent celestial light cast
Over a blue whorled marble
Oft times shrouded—hidden—yet
Never too long so veiled.
Bathed again in its essence
Earth succumbs, its pull both
Alluring and hypnotic, mesmerizing all
Men who yearn to caress
Such ethereal feminine mystique.
Thank you for the great prompt, Eric. It, as always, inspired me.
Take care,
Paul
Dear Paul – Phases of the Moon does hold many meanings depending on the situation one is in. I tried to convey this and glad that you enjoyed it.
Thank you for your contribution – I left a comment in your post – “celestial” 🙂
Cheers, Eric
Thank you, Paul – you continue to highlight my blog and this is appreciated 🙂
Hi Eric, here’s mine:
My stride is slow and labored, knowing that each night draws me closer to a freedom and a curse that can only be ended with death. Freedom bringing invincibility, a curse that causes death for the unfortunate soul that crosses my path. While praying for the end of the full moon, to walk upright again.
I love this, Susan 🙂 this is hair raising
Thank you, these short flash fictions are fun and challenging trying to say something in very few words. Thank you for letting us contribute.
An exuberant topic and image! My favourite ! And here are the lines for it!
Within the realm of space a diadem shines far on the forehead
Emerging from the dust of the universe grows like a crescent
Until perfection is achieved in eternity, through the days and nights of maturity,
The magnificent , crowns the darkened sphere by its aura,
eventually and gradually
diminishing with the rhythmic pattern of destiny.
Your favourite? Well, it shows in this contribution, Soumya – truly, phases of the moon 🙂 Thank you for your presence, Eric
Moon paces out the months as she
Draws the oceans in ebb and flow
And gives us monthly regularity
We are linked together and yet,
Man’s “one small step” indelible on
Universal world vision completes our union.
Neil Armstrong takes his “giant leap”
Hello Houston, planet and moon,
Our union now in space and time.
This is simply marvellous, Jane – how you pulled several themes into a beautiful weave. Thank you for joining, Eric
Some say it’s lonely here and long for home. They long for safety and anonymous crowds and mother’s breast.
I say let them go.
Me and mine will craft a future. We’ll build a place where a man can be counted.
In ten generations this planet will be an Eden. What will they say then?
Thank you, Bill – much appreciate this. Have a great day ahead, Eric 🙂