Revival - A Two-Verse Dreamku

i was a wizard

who had a spell-working wand

in last night's grim dream

i stepped on a toad

and waved my magic baton

it came back to life

This is based on one of last night's dreams.  In the dream, I was a wizard with a magic wand.  I carried the wand on my back.  I accidentally stepped on a toad and killed it.  When I felt it, I lifted up my shoe to see the dead toad stuck to the bottom of it.  I felt terrible and very saddened and sickened by what had happened.  I pulled out my magic wand and moved it in circles above the toad while repeating, "Come back to life!" over and over again.  The toad returned to life once more.  I felt glad.

Fractal and dreamku ©2022 Stacey Guenther
All Rights Reserved

Survival - A Haiku

beautiful wildlife -

elephants are earth's giants

that must be guarded

 Fractal and haiku © Stacey Guenther

Heat - A Haiku

 a midsummer day -
without air conditioning
i'd be sorrowful

Fractal and haiku © Stacey Guenther

Frustration - A Dreamku

OH no!  Windows 12?

So soon after 11?

I just updated!

I wrote this today, July 13, 2022.  It's based on a dream I had on July 11, 2022.  In the dream, Windows 12 had just come out and I was upset because I had just updated all my computers to Windows 11.

Fractal and dreamku © Stacey Guenther

"Computers are like air conditioners. They work fine until you start opening windows." ~Anonymous

Frightened By Fireworks - A Flash Memoir

Photo by Dynamic Wang on Unsplash

When I was a child, my mother and father would take my younger sister and me to see fireworks for the Fourth of July celebrations.  I was not too fond of the loud noises because they startled me.  So, I would always cover my ears with my hands to avoid the terrible sounds.  The pyrotechnics were pleasant to observe visually, nevertheless.

These days, as an adult, I avoid fireworks whenever I can.  To this day, when an unexpected bang is heard in the house as neighbors light fireworks, I jump in my seat.  But, I still try to shield my ears.  I'm just like the many pets that feel anxiety because of fireworks. 

Luckily, I live in a condo, and the homeowners' association has banned fireworks in the neighborhood.  However, in surrounding blocks, some people light them, so I am not free from them entirely.  The good news is that our two kitties do not seem to be bothered by them.

Fireworks are unavoidable.  They happen every year and sometimes without warning.  Occasionally, randomly they will occur throughout the year as people use their leftovers.  It never fails that I get startled, especially when the fireworks are unexpected.  I would be better off without fireworks, and I'm sure many furry or feathered creatures would agree with me.

© Stacey Guenther  July 2, 2022

Written for https://flashfictionforthepracticalpractitioner.wordpress.com/2022/06/29/flash-fiction-for-the-purposeful-practitioner-2022-week-27/