Wrapping Up September’s Smitten Book Title Prompt Challenge

A new month, new challenges

Brave & Reckless

Another month is drawing to a close and it time to say goodbye to the Smitten Book Title Challenge.   My sincere thanks to everyone who participated in the writing challenge on WordPress, Facebook, and Instagram.  It has truly been an honor to publish your stunning writing and to get to know you a little bit better.  The writing submitted has been so good that my co-editors and I at Indie Blu(e) are considering a chapbook of our favorite response pieces.  Stay tuned over the coming months for more details.

Still feeling inspired by September’s prompts?

I will accept response pieces inspired by any of the prompts through Sunday, October 13th at her.red.pen.wordsmithing@gmail.com.

If you submitted a piece for publication through email and did not hear back from me, please let me know in the comments below!

Gmail can be a little wonky and I want to make sure that…

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Featured Post: Kissing the Witch – Deanna Raymond

Deanna Raymond – Kiss me, kiss the Witch

Brave & Reckless

I am ancestor
my bones hum with her fury
“Witch” they spat at her
for daring
to be outspoken
too loud
too much
widowed
“Witch” they chided
as they poked and prodded
tried and convicted
hanged
She- unrelenting in her innocence
until her last strangled breath
She surges through my veins
and I will always sing
her legacy
So know
that when you kiss me
you are kissing the Witch
can’t you feel your sweet blood
rise to meet mine
as we join?
Our ancestral Feminine
glorifying all
that is wild, bold
unbroken
each deep aching breath
a testament
of power reclaimed.

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I am a single Mom of two teenage boys, a massage therapist and physical therapy assistant living in New England.  I have been writing poetry and journaling stream of thought since I was a young girl.  Writing has always been therapeutic and at times life saving for me. …

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Perils of Social Media – Pallavi

Pallavi – The space between poisoned

Brave & Reckless

The space between us has gotten wider
Our disapproval for each other scarier
The eco-system of social media was supposed to balk distances
To bring people closer and fuse differences
But then labels and hashtags of divisiveness took over
Intolerance and impatience permeated behind shields of full disclosure
I unfriend you for your religious beliefs are different than mine
You block me for my idea on politics according to you are not too fine
Gone are those days when we could agree to disagree
Respectfully partake in discussions without losing sanity
Now this radioactive malicious wedge
is driving relations off the ledge
If creating a bubble with only “my” views is the solution
Then bidding adieu to progress with be the only conclusion.

Photo by Tracy Le Blanc from Pexels

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Things which get my endorphins pumping – my kids (mom of two), coffee (green tea just doesn’t do), writing (find…

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Truth Hurts – Padre

Padre – Two truths – one hurts, the other not

Brave & Reckless

John sat quietly at the table trying to work up his nerve.  Arlene knew something was up, but gave him the time he needed.

Abruptly he said, “Arly, I have something to tell you,” tears welling in his eyes.

She sat stoically waiting for what she knew was going to be bad news.  My God, please not an affair, she thought bracing herself.

“They are cutting shifts at the plant,” he said.  “And I agreed to take a third cut in hours and pay in order to keep the job,” he sniffed.

Before she could say anything, he continued.  “I am so sorry, Arly.  I know you were looking forward to the holiday, but truth is I have had to cancel it.  It’s going to be so hard to even keep up with the mortgage.  Truth is that this is killing me, I can’t stand letting you down.  I can…

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The Space Between – Taylor Grace

Taylor Grace – Closing the space

Brave & Reckless

Heaven and hell
You and me
Air thick with lust and greed
Temporary pleasures
Forever memories
I choose you
Come closer
Feel me breathe
Your chest heavy
Mine pressing in firmly
Closing the gap
Passion and ecstasy
Rhythmically enticing me
The space between
Love and fantasy

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Some days a domestic goddess, and other days a lost woman that still hasn’t bothered to brush her hair. My journey is full of life’s whimsical tales, love, laughter, heartache, trauma, passion, fantasy and everything in between.   My writing is raw, sometimes too raw but I write it anyways, it’s my truth, my voice and I will share it. I’ve been described as honest, even complicated and have a whole lot of sassy undertones, so things get interesting,  even comical at times.  You can read more of my writing at The Broken Inside Me 

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There is just love

TheFeatheredSleep – All Love

TheFeatheredSleep

Among the strange hinterlands of neither young nor old

lies many adrift woman

mistaken for 28 by gum-chewing taxi driver

feeling ancient climbing steps, taking two at once

age is a permutation moving through blood and time

without oxygen it holds no discernible value

she could be your lover with her handfuls of thick hair held up by gravity of want

she could be your mother, stooping to ensure your coat is buttoned

her soft hands can be conductor, nurturer, passionate or flat for querying

why she must be contained at all in any type of jar or bottle

sent out to sea in glass of blue and green she sees all there is

and upon her return announces

she will thus forth be no age, no ones claim

but her own, velvet centered self

delirious of less nouns to describe her

she is neither straight, octagonal nor completely curved

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If You Could Be Mine – CE Wing

CE Wing – Oh, if only one day

Brave & Reckless

I think I’m smitten
I know I’m intrigued
Captivated
But
If you could be mine
One day
Then I know
My dark forest
Would be bright again
But
If you could be mine
One day
I would be inspired
To write mesmerizing poetry
And epic tales
But
If you could be mine
One day
You would have my loyalty and honesty
Passion and desire
A true partner
But
If you could be mine
One day
Oh what a journey we could have
To travel through forests and mountains
And explore inter realms
But only
One day
If you could be mine

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CE Wing is a Connecticut Yankee living in the Queen City. A writer and poet. She has dreamed of being a writer since she was a little girl. Her dream was pushed aside for a time but through her journey of self-discovery, she rekindled her passion for writing. She…

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Featured Post: The Truth That Never Hurts – M.A. Morris

M.A. Morris – Truth with no pain?

Brave & Reckless

Is there a truth that never hurts?
The truth of a garden?
Of the Texas sky?
Of a home?
Or an empty house?

Is there a truth that never hurts?
The truth of a love?
Of the human heart?
Of a parent?
Of a child?
Of a dog?
Or even God?

When did the truth
Contained in each
Contain no pain?
No hurt?
Not a scrap?
Not a speck?

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I am a retired teacher, enjoying said retirement.  I have been active in the gay and lesbian community since I threw away my Ken doll at the age of four.

You can read more of my writing at Hearing The Mermaids Sing

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Featured Post: If You Could Be Mine – M.A. Morris

M.A. Morris – Too young to be mine

Brave & Reckless

Friends surprise with a birthday dinner.
Then out to the bar for a few drinks.
They laugh and wink
When a tiny little thing
With long, dark shining hair
That looks so velvety soft
That to touch it would be
To fall up into a rural night sky
Of inky black laced
With the light of
A thousand stars,
Smiles at me,
And with the encouragement of her friends,
Asks me for a dance.
But she is young,
Much too young for me.

But I like the way she moves as if just for me.
I think I could do this just like I used to in my youth.
Something stirs within as if of old muscle memory
Of how to divorce the physical from the spiritual.
Yes, just like in my youth.
I could take her home,
Whisper things like,
“If you could be mine….”
And really go to…

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Vicarious Atonement – Pallavi

Pallavi – Recalcitrant Words

Brave & Reckless

As I waddle through troves of treasured but arbitrary musings
I yearn for words to express my feelings
But they are being skittish and out of blitz
Unrelenting to my request to form a sentence
Evading emotions that are peering through my glass soul
Waiting to be put forth and across
Words oh words, only if you could be mine, I would create wonders
and the world would admire the splendor
Alas! I am under your subjugation, an accomplice to your crimes
Beset by your blasphemy and still acting sublime
Maybe tomorrow you can present your apology
or compensate for your treachery
Until then
I will vicariously atone for your sins

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Things which get my endorphins pumping – my kids (mom of two), coffee (green tea just doesn’t do), writing (find it a cathartic release), dancing (absolutely, first love it remains), reading (with or without coffee), working out (with my…

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