On On Off (c) T Strutz
Every Friday writers worldwide gather round the virtual fireside of Rochelle Wisoff and share stories of 100 words, prompted by a common photograph, and exchange constructive criticism.
You don’t have to write to read. Click on the blue frog at the end of my story to access all the other stories written to this week’s prompt. Readers’ comments are welcome.
This week’s photo has been provided by Ted Strutz. Thanks, Ted. Your photo inspired the following story, which this week, is in poem-form.
If a gypsy fortune teller had ever told me that one day I’d write a poem about an electric power point I’d have asked for my silver coin back.
Bloodtide Sunday
on (drill) off
on (drill) off
on (drill) off
on (drill) off
morning noon eventide
monday tuesday wednesday thursday
suntide moontide springtime sunday
On (bang) off
on (bang) off
On (bang) off
on (bang) off
morning noon eventide
friday saturday teatime everyday
suntide moontide summertime sunday
On (slam) off
On (shout) off
On (slam) off
On (shout) off
morning noon eventide
friday saturday teatime everyday
suntide moontide autumtime sunday
On (shout) off
On (slam) off
On (shout) off
On (slam) off
morning noon eventide
monday tuesday wednesday thursday
suntide moontide snowtime sunday
snipetime snaptime bloodtide sunday
Ann Isik
97 words
Poetic Mapping: Walking Into Art 
The days roll by, the seasons roll by, and the work goes on – noisy, repetitive work – until ‘snaptime’ and that’s when it gets violent. Wonderful. I could hear the machines, feel the frustration of the people whose lives are in bondage to them. I love the rhythm and sounds of this.
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Thank you, Margaret. I’m glad you managed to fathom something from my peculiar little poem. Odd, but I recommended to another reader that they ‘clog’ dance to my poem. A tongue in cheek throwaway remark, but clog dancing has its origins in the Lancashire mills and the dancing mimicked the sounds and rhythms of the machines.
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Dear Ann,
I wish I could say I was the only one who got it, but I’m in the dark as much as anyone. Bloodtide threw me. There is a rhythm to it that’s nice.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well, I’m happy if what I wrote made you want to dance. Electricity can do that to people.
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Actually poetry is about the words.. the shape the way they roll of the tongue, and the on-off switch has a musical element .. and that element of a week of routine from the power-switch.. It would have been fun to hear it read, this could work as slam-poetry
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Well, I’d not heard of slam poetry. I sounds like it might be painful. I like what you write otherwise. Thoughtful. Insightful. As only a poet can be. Thank you. Yes, poetry is the closest of the arts to music. 🙂
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Sounds a bit like life at home when I was a kid. 😉
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We must come from similar backgrounds. 🙂
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A wriddle wrapped in an enigma…
I love this.
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Thank you! Artwise I am into bundling things at present. It must be rubbing off onto my written work.
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I don’t get it! But I sense a lot of aggression hidden in that! It would be good to hear it read out as you mean it to be.
I googled Bloodtide and now have another book to read. Damn!
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And I thought I’ve invented the word. Sigh. Will I ever achieve originality?
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A bit of OCD maybe??
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Well, maybe the outcome of it – a tide of blood (on a Sunday). 🙂
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Was it telling about genocide?
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Well, now …
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Yes, genocide. The Jews?
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Well, not that, but I can see where you’re getting that from.
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You have me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out the puzzle. LOL!
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It really isn’t a puzzle, though perhaps all poetry is a puzzle. It’s in the words, the shape of the poem on the page – think ‘tide’ – bloodtide? – the rhythm, the repetition. Enjoy it. Clog dance to it. 🙂
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That gives me an image of blood red water coming into shore.
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🙂
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Thanks! I don’t dance but I will think of it as something nice enough to dance to?
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🙂
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scenes from a couple on their honeymoon in the process of really getting to know each. that’s what i imagine. the good and the bad.
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That’s interesting. I suppose the ‘on off’ might suggest that. Thanks for reading.
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Dear Ann, Your poem is interesting – but honestly, I don’t get it. Sorry, I’m not that smart. If you could tell me more perhaps? Nan 🙂
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Well, there’s the caption to the photo prompt. Then it’s in the words, really. Thanks for reading though. 🙂
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