Alas, I fell off the wagon for two weeks, but getting back up and back on board! If you are interested in joining this merry band of writers, check out Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ blog Addicted To Purple, for details. As always I welcome honest, constructive feedback; please leave a comment.
© Lucy Fridkin
A Break In the Sky
As sunbeams break the clouds, my joy is boundless.
The entire city laid out before me–– An adventure around every corner, mine for the taking!
Days of rain and cold have kept me still, huddled, and unwilling to venture afar; but, this sky, awash with color, dissolves my dark mood and beckons me.
I’m ready to leave behind petty squabbles and pecking order, for a while–– craving these moments of solitude and peace, so rare and precious.
The clouds have lifted. I step to the ledge, spread my wings and soar.
(91 words)
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©2011-2016 All content and images on this site are copyrighted to Dawn Quyle Landau and Tales From the Motherland, unless specifically noted otherwise. If you want to share my work, I’m grateful, but please give proper credit and Link back to my work; plagiarism sucks!
TALES FROM THE MOTHERLAND 
This is shared joy since Vancouver has finally brightened up with the first snow !
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Feeling the same way just across the border! Thanks Sarah.
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I love the imagery!
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Thanks Heidi! Can’t wait to read yours! 😉
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I’m guessing (or hoping) she/he has wings. It was too joyous to be a suicide
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Yes, it is. I thought a few people might assume not… almost titled it Jonathan Takes Flight. 😉 Thanks for the feedback, Neil; it’s much appreciated!
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Dear Dawn,
I’m hoping this is the POV of someone who really has wings, ie a bird…or figurative wings. Love the imagery.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It is indeed. No dark suicides this week. 🙂 Thanks for the feedback, Rochelle. Hope your week is wonderful!
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I love reading the joy about blue skies in your piece, especially after your lamentation about dark days last week!
I’m ready to leave behind petty squabbles and pecking order, for a while–– craving these moments of solitude and peace, so rare and precious. – Gorgeous reason for flight.
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Thanks Alicia. I hoped that he “pecking order,” would be a bird giveaway. I love the photo and it made me want to fly! No doubt, after nearly 6 weeks of rain and gray here… any blue, any sun is worth celebrating! 🙂
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Sweet story, cleverly told.
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Thanks CE; I appreciate your kind feedback.
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I am glad someone finds adventure in the city. Do mind the overhead cables.🙂
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Just one more thing to zip over! 😉 Thanks Michael, I appreciate your feedback!
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Feels like today, with the bright blue sky and sun again. For a split second, I went macabre at the very end, but realized that was not how it was supposed to be intended. Although, with a slight change or two earlier on, you definitely could have sent it that way. Love the flying imagery at the end..
I was up in your neck of the woods today, and on a whim, looking out at the bay as I drove, decided to pull into a park to admire the stunning view of the ocean and mountains. There was a coffee place there, and as I spontaneously went in for a cup of tea, I actually looked around the place fully expecting to see you there, typing away. There were several people escaping the cold, no doubt working on novels, or a thesis. After a quick walk around, I braved the frigid air and snapped several photos of the view (as my fingers turned into popsicles).
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You must have been at Woods, in Boulevard Park, Sue! I go there sometimes, but not often… though I walk my dogs on the boardwalk there, all the time! One of these days, we need to meet up!
Thanks for the feedback. I wandered if folks would think suicide… 😉
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Yes. I was at Woods. Beautiful spot, but a bit crowded that day. When my son was little, I took him there a few times.
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If it’s sunny, it’s crowded. If it’s cold, it’s crowded. Then it’s crowded on weekends. And often on weekdays too. It’s a popular place. 😉
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Delightful, Dawn. One can’t grieve forever, I think! I love it! Hope all is well with you, dear friend.
Hugs,
Cathy
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Thanks Cathy. No grief here… just one bird, deciding to embrace a nice new day. 😉 Life is good for now! I’ll be in Denver in late Dec/early Jan, but packed timing! Then off to Israel… I’ll let you know when I’m there again. xo
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Dear Dawn,
While researching my title I came across a series of quotes about flight from books by Richard Bach, he of Jonathan Livingston Seagull fame. Your story spoke to me right away. Well done.
Yours,
Doug
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Doug!! Wow, so great to hear from you! It’s been way too long. I’ve missed you at FF… though, admittedly, I’ve dropped off these past few months. Thanks for stopping by!
Jonathan was VERY much on my mind. I almost called this “Jonathan Seizes the Day.” Great minds… 😉 Be well.
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I’m hoping this is from the pov of someone who really does have wings – I’m assuming so since they say ‘for a while’. Lovely feeling to this piece.
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Thanks Claire… this isn’t a person at all, but a bird. I hoped that the “pecking order” was enough of a give away, but maybe not. Thanks for the feedback.
And, I got a delightful surprise in the mail yesterday; thank you so much! So thoughtful, and such a great treat! Gratzi!
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Wouldn’t it be great to have the ability to fly – both for real and figuratively. Nice take 🙂
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Yes, yes, yes! I often dream of it! Thanks, Lain.
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Great description and I’ve decided they do have wings and are experiencing the great sense of freedom that comes with having them
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I’m glad you enjoyed it, Michael; I really appreciate your feedback. And, he does have wings; he’s a bird. 🙂
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A soaring, hopeful feel to this – only good times ahead I feel. Lovely writing
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Thanks so much, Lynn; I appreciate your feedback.
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My pleasure Dawn and a pleasure to read
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I love the sense of freedom at the end of this.
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Thanks Louise; I felt a wonderful sense of freedom from this photo! Glad it came through.
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Now, if he can just find a statue or a clean windshield. He’s been holding it for days, you know.
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Ah, Russell… you get me! 😉
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YIKES … I must say I did feel a bit of suicide in the ending. Then, I thought about the flight of joyfulness and felt better about the ending. It could go either way. Every word is beautifully descriptive, opening a mental picture as I read it.
I suppose since my story had mental illness in it, I may have transferred that into your story.
Great writing again, Dawn. Have a wonderful weeked.
Isadora 😎
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Thanks Isadora… I though the pecking order would give it away: narrator is a bird. 😉 No suicides this week!
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I too felt some joy in this piece. I am feeling this is a piece written from the POV of a bird now freed to take flight.
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Ding, ding, ding! You win the prize LLoaDL! Yes, it’s a bird. The fact that I said it in so many comments, should be a give away, and then some of the language hints at it. But alas, the writing was clear enough, over all. Most were confused. Glad you read it as written. 🙂 Thanks for taking the time.
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I thought of that old poem,
“Life’s been very good to me
I’m as happy as can be
No happier man nowhere exists
I think I’ll go home and slash my wrists.”
That’s what I was thinking. But, when you mentioned JLS, then I thought, wow! It’s been a LONG time since I heard that.
Super prose, Dawn. Five out of five Rod McKuens.
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Well THAT is saying something; thanks Kent! I’ll take your 5 out of 5 Rod McKuens and march happily to the bank. 😉 Glad you got beyond the poem.
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Hahaha! You are most welcome, Dawn. 🙂
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Hah, I didn’t see it coming until the very end, even the pecking order didn’t ring the bells. I just thought she or he is going exploring for a while. But as soon as the bird took off, it was clear. Just shows that birds and people have more in common than we think. Lovely story.
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Ah, thanks Gabriele; I’m glad you got it. I think I missed the mark a bit, but we write and we learn. 😉
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I wanted to spread my wings and fly with her!
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I hear you! I dream of flying!
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I could feel how happy you were. Lovely.
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Thanks Liz!
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I also wanted to fly when I saw the picture… great way to describe joy.
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Thanks Björn… oh if only we could!
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The lifting of clouds after a long spell of gloomy weather can have this effect. You’ve shown it beautifully. I love how you reveal that it’s a bird’s POV. Apart from the surprise element, it adds something to the story – even animals feel the effects of weather. (I’m a big believer that animals feel much more than we credit them with.)
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Thanks so much Margaret. I agree, I think animals feel much of what we feel and I could really imagine a bird feeling like this. Glad you liked this, and I appreciate the feedback!
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Well done. You captured that moment before the leap– that hold your breath and leap second– oh so well
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Thanks Audra! I appreciate that. 🙂
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Great twist at the end, Dawn. I didn’t get it until the finish. Good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks Suzanne; it wasn’t clear to a lot of people. My mistake, not readers’! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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