Friday Fictioneers.
Look at a photo.
Craft 100 words to tell the story that inspires you.
Share it with others and share your thoughts on their stories.
Repeat weekly.
Learn. Enjoy. Hone your craft.
Wednesday’s a travel day again, a day that will transport me from balmy mid-70’s to single digits or below, but also a day that takes me home to my husband, a trade well-worth it! So be patient with me. I’ll be reading and commenting as soon as possible. In the meantime, enjoy.
copyright Björn Rudberg
For Want…
Years spent in marriage-building Careful construction Stone upon stone Time spent together in Love and laughter Work and play Shared interests and activities Busy-ness and leisure Sickness and health Rain waters. Growth occurs. Beauty flowers. Seasons pass. Betrayal one hot summer night “It just happened once. You’re all that matters.” Roots of distrust grow slowly Pushing apart Stone by stone Dirt thrust aside Gaps open Structural weakness Rain erodes. Walls crumble. Only ruins. Forever winter. For want of a nail the shoe was lost; The horse… The battle… The kingdom was lost. All for the want of a horse-shoe nail.
………………..
Read stories by other Fictioneers by clicking below.
This, that and the other thing 
‘Marriage-building’ I like that. It is something that needs to be worked at; something which should be fun to work at. A wonderful story to remind us of that. I hope it’s only written from your imagination…
Completely from my imagination, Claire. 🙂
janet
Good construction here, Janet–building a relationship on the same “stones” that later pushed apart as it crumbled. Effective use of form, too. Well done.
Thanks very much, vb. I just got home, so I’m looking forward to slowly getting at everyone’s stories. This story/poem came together really fast. The most difficult thing was getting enough of the poem in at the end to keep the sense, yet stay within 100 words.
janet
I love the formatting of this. Very effective when telling such a story as this.
Thank you, Adam.
janet
That was great! Wish sometimes I could see the things your way.
🙂 That’s a lovely compliment. Thanks.
janet
Beautifully constructed… It’s so hard to write on your own pictures…
I really liked the photo, Bjorn, and I’m sure you’ll have a good story. I’ll find out tomorrow. 🙂
janet
Wow, not much else I can say really, lol 🙂
I’ll simply say thanks to that so-nice compliment, Helen.
janet
Beautiful thoughts and words! Thank you!
My pleasure, Amy. Thanks for reading!
janet
Irony of life:-) Excellent writing!
Thanks very much.
janet
🙂
Very nice Janet.
Glad you liked it.
janet
I enjoyed the way you built up the relationship just like the house – and then tore it down. I love the way you set this out on the page, too!
I find the setting up of poetry on the basic WordPress to be very annoying, as it will only format correctly with the dark background. I’ve finally figured out, though, how to do all the rest of it in the normal way. 🙂
janet
Janet love the format and the message.Have to say my fav section was from betrayal to structural weakness. It flipped the entire piece on its head and dropped it deep. Well written.
Poetry worked so well for trying to get this much story into 100 words. I’m happy you liked it.
janet
I like the way you create such an ominous atmosphere by playing with structure
I had to use structure to get my complete story in and I’m glad it worked. Thanks.
janet
Hitting far to close to home, here’s hoping that winter isn’t nearly as forever as first thought, Janet. Beautifully done, as always.
Good morning, Troy. I think betrayal would be very difficult to get over, even with the best of will. It would be difficult to ever be sure you weren’t being fooled again. I really think that if someone is unfaithful and then decides to stop, it’s best never to let the other partner know. I think it’s just trying to get rid of guilt while badly damaging the relationship and the other person.
janet
Yup and that about sums it up.
Dear Janet,
Welcome back from your travels.
It only takes once. I’ll echo what others have said…nice construction. Gently hard-hitting verse that pulls no punches. Let him who has ears…
Shalom,
Rochelle
It’s nice to be back, although the “to-do” list looks rather daunting. Oh, well, a step at a time, a story or two… As for the story, even strong relationships can be gradually undermined as well as felled with one blow. They’re worth working on!
janet
This is so gracefully and eloquently written. The emotions involved- the love, the pain, the heartbreak- they moved me. Thank you for such a brilliant piece of writing 🙂
Your comments are very much appreciated. Touching the emotions of a reader is the highest compliment for a writer. Thanks so much for stopping by.
janet
Wonderful Janet, nothing more to say.
Liebe Grüße
Carmen
Vielen dank, Carmen.
janet
Really profound and beautifully written. How things can go so badly wrong! (It seems almost Shakespearian. Is there a parallel play?)
No parallel play that comes to mind, Patrick, although I greatly appreciate the comparison! I just wanted to show the importance of building relationships and how easily they can be shattered.
janet
Absolutely beautiful!
Thank you so much, Zainab. I enjoyed yours, too.
janet
Janet, from previous stories, I know how much you love your life and your husband, which makes this work of fiction, and its rhythm, all the more impressive!
‘Tis true, I do. 🙂 However, my imagination sometimes works overtime. I’m glad it worked to good effect.
janet
If only our imaginations were paid for overtime! 😉 Safe travels, Janet.
I’m safely home now and starting on the stories…as well as laundry, cleaning, stacks of mail, etc. 🙂
poignant, but beautiful. i would have wished a happy ending.
That’s what I usually go for, but sometimes that doesn’t happen.
janet
A sad, but not unrealistic, story. A beautiful poem. Welcome back!
Thanks, Jan. It’s good to be back, although after two weeks of only an hour or so of internet a day, it’s a bit overwhelming. 🙂
janet
This reminds me of a fable or parable. Lovely marriage analogy. Once distrust gets in, things start falling apart quite quickly.
You’re so right, Russ. One good reason to be open, honest and faithful in a relationship!
janet
Wonderful imagery. This photo also made me want to put a poem to it, but I chickened out. This was excellent, jan.
Glad you liked it. Don’t be afraid to try a poem. It’s fun. And if it doesn’t work, you can always substitute a story.
janet
that was excellent. wonderfully constructed. and i’m happy to read that it was only written from your imagination 🙂
🙂
Marriage can crumble over time and overnight. This was so eloquent, Janet. A really strong piece!
Marriage is always a work in progress, one direction or the other. I think it behooves those of us who are married to put our best efforts in to that progress. So pleased you liked the story.
janet
Very well constructed indeed. That last line sums it up.
Thanks for the visit and comment.
janet
Very well written. For me it was gripping.
Good! Enjoy your weekend.
janet
A very poignant story.
Thanks very much, Steve.
janet
You knocked it out of the park, Janet! Good structure and everything else all around. Marvelous!
Thanks, Kent. Looking forward to seeing you in February.
janet
the frailty of life…we work so hard to build something good and in a blink, it’s gone. i enjoyed this very much.
Thanks so much, Sun. I appreciate you dropping by to read and comment.
janet
Great poem! I really liked how used the layout to literalise the building of emotion.
Thanks very much. Can’t believe it’s Wednesday again and time for another story. My, how time flies!! 🙂
janet