Writing prompt: being grateful
No Comments »12th June, 2012; Category: Writing prompts
Slum housing in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
I took the above photo while in Addis Ababa last December. It is typical of so many ‘homes’ in the capital of Ethiopia. Literally around the corner are lovely homes which would not be out of place in my home town here in South Australia. The contrasts in many cities of the world are there for all to see; I find such inequalities distressing. I feel helpless in the face of such poverty.
We take so many things for granted in our comfortable homes and offices and schools. We take for granted a warm bed on a cold night (we are heading for a frost as I write this). We take for granted enough food in the pantry for many days. We take for granted hot running water when we turn the tap. We have so much; many have so little.
Writing prompt: write about being grateful, write about the things we normally take for granted, the thousand little blessings we overlook every day.
Writing prompt: Travel
Mt Lofty Ranges from Adelaide Airport, South Australia
This photo was taken at the Adelaide International Airport last December. My wife and I were waiting to board our flight to Melbourne on our way to Dubai and then Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. Our daughter taught at an international school in Addis last year and we went to visit her for a few weeks. Later, the three of us travelled to Casablanca before touring Morocco. In the new year we spent some time holidaying in Spain. You can read more about our travels on my other site, Trevor’s Travels.
Writing prompt: Write about the holidays you’ve been on, whether they were to exotic places overseas, or close by your home. As an alternative, write about the most exotic place you’d love to visit some day. Try turning your writing into a short story. Next time you go on a holiday, start a journal recording your travels. If you are into writing poetry, write poems about the places you visit. I wrote over 50 poems about the places I visited on my most recent overseas trip.
Good writing.
The birds of the air
New Holland Honeyeater in our garden
Followers of this site may also be aware that I also write regularly about birds on another site of mine – Trevor’s Birding. The site also includes many hundreds of photos of Australian birds taken in my garden and on my travels around Australia. More recently I have included photos and articles about birds seen on a recent holiday in Ethiopia. Over the coming months I will also feature birds seen in both Morocco and Spain. What I experienced with my family on that holiday is also featured on another of my sites, Trevor’s Travels.
The birds in our garden in rural South Australia are a constant delight to us and visitors to our home. There is a constant stream of birds going from tree to tree, flying overhead or feeding on flowering bushes. I frequently photograph them and also write articles about them. From time to time they also inspire me to write poems or even short stories featuring the birds I see.
Writing prompt: take out time to watch the birds in your garden, or a nearby park, beach or river bank. Write a poem about one of the birds you see. If you would like comments about your poem, post it in the comments section (maximum 40 lines).
New Holland Honeyeater in our garden
By the light of the moon
Full moon May 2012
A few days ago the moon was at its closest to the Earth for this year. It was also full moon. The media made something of the event – it must have been a slow news week. I also noticed that quite a few people took photos of the moon and posted them on the social media sites.
While this didn’t particularly interest me, I though I’d take the camera outside soon after the moon had risen, just to see if there was anything worth recording. I managed a few reasonable shots of the moon shining through the clouds and nearby trees.
Writing prompt: write a short story or a poem about the moon. You can post your poem in the comments section (keep it under 40 lines) and I’ll comment on your effort.
Full moon May 2012
Mothers Day
Today is Mothers Day here in Australia.
I’ve been thinking: on this Mothers Day, treasure your mother dearly – while she is still with you.
This day is always a bitter/sweet time for me because I have the sweet memories of my dear mother – along with the realisation that she passed from this life nearly 40 years ago.
Writing prompt:
Write about your mother and how much you appreciate her. If she is still alive, put your writing in a card and send it to her in appreciation. Attach a loving gift as well.