Of Nights, Clear Skies and Patches of Grey Clouds in Between

Dear Friend,

I took the first photo yesterday evening and the second one this morning. The day before last, while everyone in my household was snoring away, I stepped outside despite the cold. Stars illuminated the sky as I stood, hoping for a repeat occurrence; the northern lights that flashed a smile two nights ago. What I got in instead was a shooting star.

In that moment of aloneness, in a trance, mesmerised by the comet zipping across the sky, I realise we cannot negotiate with Mother Nature. She does what she wants and gives us what we need, not what we want. Whatever bad dream woke me up, I cannot remember. But I remember the sky reaffirming we are never alone, no matter how much we believe in our loneliness.

You and I are members of “Art IS Wasting Time” team. We swallow clouds and expel water for all boats to rise and sail the tide. Then, in the dark hours of the night, reach for our witching tools to play with language and build monuments with words.

What good is magic if we hoard it? I tell you, friend, the old self must die for the present self to live. Let’s negotiate the tyranny of a sunny day to re-imagine and birth our future selves. Onwards with wasting time and making art that keeps us alive!

Yours in shared power of storytelling,

K

Prompt 7: Negotiation for Write Right @Thotpurge

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Khaya Ronkainen
Khaya Ronkainen is a writer, poet and creative professional. Her blog focuses on all things poetry and creative nonfiction.

7 Comments

  1. What good is magic if we hoard it! Indeed!! We can never negotiate with nature, but we keep trying – perhaps to keep hope alive… !!

  2. “But I remember the sky reaffirming we are never alone, no matter how much we believe in our loneliness.” This uplifts me to a cozy heaven, Khaya. So love your ‘witching tools’ and ‘word-monuments’. Smiles.

  3. “Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.” John Lennon

    As (he)artists, we get that…it’s actually needful. There should be another word/phrase for this that doesn’t have the ‘judgemental’ aspect inherent in its meaning.

  4. Here’s to building monuments with words and making art that keeps us alive! Your building and making are beautiful, Khaya 💖

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