In Keith’s words.
“Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm on Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here.
Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next time.”
The photo.
A Walk by John W. Howell © 2022
“Look at the beautiful flowers.”
“I see them. Daisies are my favorite too.”
“I like them as well.”
“Why are we walking on this path, Mama?”
“We need to get some fresh air and look for a nice spot to rest.”
“What was wrong with our old spot?”
“Didn’t you hear all that noise?”
“Yes, but we have heard it before.”
“This was different. There were saws and big machines.”
“What does that mean, Mama?”
“That the world as we know it is changing.”
“Why does it change?”
“I don’t have a good answer. People call it progress.”
“But why did we leave, and are we going back?”
“We left my child, so you can grow up big and strong with fresh air and good food.”
“What about going back?”
“That is impossible, I’m afraid. Those saws and machines destroyed our forest, so we have nothing back there.”
“What about Papa?”
“He’s going to meet us at the new place.”
“That’s good to hear, Mama. How about my friends?”
“The herd decided to move as well. So all the does and fawns will be there too.”
“You mean it? That’s swell.”
“So it will be a new life for us all. Look, baby. There’s a butterfly.”
Fiction Favorites 
aahhh… love it John.. hugsx
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Thank you, Sally. It is fawn season here and the story was inspired by all the little ones jumping and running around.
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How lovely to see them.. hugsx
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They are the cutest.
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Beautiful perspective on change, John. We often don’t think of the consequences of “progress”. 💚
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So true, Gwen. More attention needs to be given to those consequences. Thank you.
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Aw…this was sad, yet so beautiful, John. xo
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Thank you, Jill. Look a hummingbird. 😊
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What a deer little story that was, John.
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Thanks, Keith. 😊
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Well that was a switch. A sad and poignant tale, John. Beautifully done.
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Thank you, Dale. ❤️
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💞
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Kind of a sad story this time.
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A little. But there was a butterfly.
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A large dose of reality from the refugee perspective.
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And so you got the metaphor. Thanks, Craig.
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I won’t even try to to compete with that, John!! It’s sad and oh so true!!
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Thank you, GP.
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Well done, John. Pleasant and disturbing at the same time. More disturbing than pleasant when I think of wildlife displaced by “progress.”
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And people by war. Thanks, Tim.
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Gosh. Hadn’t even thought of that. Thanks for waking me up. 🙂
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Ha ha ha. You know I have a subtle touch. 😊
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Yeah, “progress” should imply good things, shouldn’t it? Shame it doesn’t always. Great work, John.
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Thank you, Staci. Glad you liked it. 😊
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I’m glad this had a happy ending, John. We are taking away too much habitat up here. A lot of animals have nowhere to go.
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So true. Thanks, Dan.
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That was beautiful and poignant! I loved the ending distraction. Who doesn’t get love a butterfly distraction!
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Always a way to divert a tear for sure. Thanks, Deborah.
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😀
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This was different, and sadly honest to the ways of our ever expanding world. Progress is often times a narrow minded beast. And we lose the things we take for granted in the process. The things we really can’t afford to be losing.
Thanks for the reminder Boss
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It was also a riff on the tragedy in Ukraine but either way we need to pay more attention. Look a VooDoo Ranger,
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No doubt about it.
Drink up young man.
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It’s not easy to pull up stakes and move, but sometimes it’s for the best. Glad things are looking up for this bunch!
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Yes it looks like things are going to improve. Thanks, Debbie.
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So heartwarming, with a bit of a twist at the end! All too true, I’m afraid.
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Yes, all too true. Thanks.
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My pleasure, John!
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😊
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Theyvare so cute. We have a lot this year.
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😁
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Bittersweet, John. It’s sad how humans encroach on wildlife who have lived in an area peacefully for generations, and are forced to leave their homes.
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Also think Putin and the Ukrainians. Thanks, Jacquie.
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Your story immediately brought to mind Ukranians forced from their homes. I was moved by it.
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I had that thought when I wrote it, Liz.
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Sadly too true, John. And it’s everywhere. Soon there will be no ground untainted. Great response to the prompt.
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Thank you, Jan
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Isn’t it curious how we do all this stuff to “move forward,” then spend the rest of the time reminiscing about “the way things used to be?”
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Deer me, I’m stag-gered.
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That was beautiful, John.
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Thank you, Jennie.
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You’re welcome, John.
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really liked it John, thanks for a good wee tale (lol or tail in this case).
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Thank you, Ray. Tail it is.
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