Today’s prompt is. Idyllic
What does your ideal community look like? How is it organized, and how is community life structured? What values does the community share?
Scott’s Daily Prompt 25/03/2022
Author: Scott Andrew Bailey
Competition
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Competition
Stats
And myself
These are my competitors
When did the stats
Creep in?
Catapults and Boiled Sweets
By Scott Bailey © 2017
Catapults and boiled sweets
Sailing boats and jam jars
Watching tadpoles
Playing in the woods
Hunting newts
Swings and roundabouts
Wistful thinking
For the days
That never were
Scott’s Daily Prompt 24/03/2022
Today’s prompt is. Competition
What activity, task, or game most brings out your competitive streak?
Roots
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Local flavour
Here my roots are deep
I am nourished
I can reach out to the world
I don’t need to go there
The Tip of the Flame
By Scott Bailey © 2015
The glint in the dark
From the deep of the cave
The thirst that draws
The primitive out
Out from the dark
Out from the safe
Into the harsh
Changes of life
Leaping from age to age
The fire that burns inside
Connecting us over time
To the fires that have passed
Every ancestor who held it
Was a winner in their life
Success upon success
And you are the tip of that peak
Scott’s Daily Prompt 23/03/2022
Today’s prompt is. Local flavor
Write a piece about a typically “local” experience from where you come from as though it’s an entry in a travel guide.
Alone
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Stranded
All alone Stranger in a strange land But alive Next step Taken in fear? Or as a chance To start again
Holding Hands
By Scott Bailey © 2016
Tiny, warm, fragile
Fingers tightly holding mine
Treasured memories
Scott’s Daily Prompt 22/03/2022
Today’s prompt is. Stranded
You’re stranded in a foreign city for a day with no money and no friends. Where do you go; what do you do?
Swords and Bows and Lore
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Bedtime Stories
Swords and bows
Chivalry and Justice
Robbing to rich
To pay the poor
King’s who were not above the law
And magic
Ancient lore
These were the stories
That filled my head before bed
What happened to those times?
Songbirds
By Scott Bailey © 2017
Miracle needed
To save the earth from its doom
Songbirds hail the dawn
Scott’s Daily Prompt 21/03/2022
Today’s prompt is. Bedtime stories
What was your favorite book as a child? Did it influence the person you are now?
In the night
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, INTJ
I like to walk Late at night In peaceful darkness Treading by starlight Comforted by silence Secured by solitude and peace The parties are overrated
Menagerie
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Menagerie
Life these days
Sometimes it seems
Those who profess
To lead our countries
Are nothing but a menagerie of animals
But animals do not seek war
Or wealth
Impossible
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Impossible
Life these days Seems impossible We have to remember These obstacles These weights and walls Were made by us We just have to find the strength To remove them
Bone of Contention
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Bone of Contention
You fly the yellow and blue flag You welcome them with open arms This is all good It is the least we can do But you Left children to drown in terror Because they did not look like us Their bones Will contend you
Show and Tell
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Show and Tell
Leaders
It is time
Words are not the measure
Of your worth
Show us
Comfort Zone
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Comfort Zone
Fires rage But not here Bombs fall But not here People starve But not here Only when this comfort zone Is breached Will we really act But our ability to do so Will be inadeqaute
Blogging Struggles
It’s getting a struggle to keep going lately. I have missed four or five days of my own daily prompts – which I am about to go back and try to catch up on. But it all seems a bit pointless right now. None of the effort seems to be paying any dividends. It is not driving any sales of my books and I am not earning any other income from it.
But then again that was never the point – the main point is for my own mental well being – it’s my outlet. But now its reached the point of being a struggle to keep posting – even that benefit seems to be gone.
And on top of that – like many people, the cost of living is squeezing me and my renewal for the plan I am on is coming up and I simply cannot afford it. This doesn’t mean I have to scrap it all, but I would have to revert to the free plan and then I would lose my own domain name and possibly all the followers I have built up. Unless some kind millionaire happens upon the site (or a few less well off people make a couple of small donations via Paypal – see below) I don’t think I really have a choice.
Keeping the dream alive
A way of making a donation to keep this site alive – just for me to cover the costs of running it. Which is less than £100 for the year but which I cannot afford.
£5.00
Adrift
By Scott Bailey © 2017
Adrift
Lost
Floating
Free
No goals
No direction
No chains
Just reflection
Sparkling stars
Burning sun
Gentle waves
Life undone
Free
Floating
Lost
Adrift
Scott’s Daily Prompt 20/03/2022
Today’s prompt is. INTJ
Do parties and crowds fill you with energy, or send you scurrying for peace and quiet?
Sailing, Unfettered
By Scott Bailey © 2017
I am a ship
Crowded into the harbour wall
Anchored sound
And safe
But I can see the sea
Beyond the gap
Calling
Lulling
The storms come
The harbour shields
But still, I am tossed
And battered by
Uncaring waves
The chain is strained
The anchor holds
For now
So many storms I have seen
How many more
Before the chain breaks
Setting me free
Lost at sea
Sailing unfettered
Unmoored
Scott’s Daily Prompt 19/03/2022
Today’s prompt is. Menagerie
Do you have animals in your life? If yes, what do they mean to you? If no, why have you opted not to?
Always Descending
By Scott Bailey © 2017
Always descending, never ascending.
Moving downwards, moving down.
I can’t get used to this feeling
Moving downwards, moving down.
Is it really like this? What are we doing?
Do we really want this?
Is this the thing to be?
The chains that pull the valves and the levers,
That drive the steam through pipes of dreams.
Dream worlds falling, morning calling,
Pull the chains on, shoulder the yoke.
Down to business. Down to labour.
Moving downwards, moving down.
I don’t like this, what am I doing?
I don’t really want this, what is to be?
Enter the shaft that takes us downwards.
The light is dimming as our dreams descend
Scott’s Daily Prompt 18/03/2022
Today’s prompt is. Impossible
“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” – the White Queen, Alice in Wonderland.
What are the six impossible things you believe in? (If you can only manage one or two, that’s also okay.)
Scott’s Daily Prompt 17/03/2022
Today’s prompt is. Bone of contention
Pick a contentious issue about which you care deeply — it could be the same-sex marriage debate, or just a disagreement you’re having with a friend. Write a post defending the opposite position, and then reflect on what it was like to do that.
Qualm
By Scott Bailey © 2017
Calm your qualms
It’s all change
It’s all good
Still
The trembling
Still
Scott’s Daily Prompt 16/03/2022
Today’s prompt is. Show and tell
You’ve been asked to do a five-minute presentation to a group of young schoolchildren on the topic of your choice. Describe your presentation.
Collaboration
By Scott Bailey © 2017
Collaboration
Is knocked out of us
Systematically
In the school system
Filling us up instead
With competition
And greed
Perfecting us
As the ideal consumers
The perfect wheels in the
Machine
Those who hold the levers
Know
Collaboration
Could bring them down
If you liked this poem check out my novel – the theme of this poem is the central theme of the book – see below.
Mankind Limited
Trapped. In a world where everything is measured and control pervades every area of life, four people begin to break down. Instead, they break through the walls of deceit and propaganda and into a world of revolution.
Each, in their way, vow to overthrow the established order. They embark on a journey against the forces arraigned against them, forces of state and self-doubt.
Ultimately their paths converge on a dangerous road and the discovery of an ancient secret.
On one level this is a story about how different people react to the ever-growing and relentless pressure of everyday oppression. It explores their journeys as they are broken and rebuilt and investigates their modes and motivations for rebelling.
At another level, it is a critique on the darker side of capitalism and free markets and how that has driven us further and further away from the evolutionary advantage that gave us supremacy in the first place. It questions whether the human race has doomed itself or whether we still have the capacity to wrench ourselves from the track we have so tightly committed our society upon.
Read an excerpt here.
Available as
or hardback
from Amazon
Scott’s Daily Prompt 15/03/2022
Today’s prompt is. Comfort zone
What are you more comfortable with — routine and planning, or laissez-faire spontaneity?
U-Turns
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, 180 Degrees
Politicians
Are vilified
For their U-turns
Personally
I admire those
Who can admit they are wrong
And stay to deal
With the consequences
Karma
By Scott Bailey © 2017
Let not victory
Excite you too much, karma
Has her eye on you
Scott’s Daily Prompt 14/03/2022
Today’s prompt is. 180 degrees
Tell us about a time you did a 180 — changed your views on something, reversed a decision, or acted in a way you ordinarily don’t.
Merlins Dragon
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Silver screen
Look into the eyes of the dragon and despair.
The beast is released.
They thought it tame
Thought it was a game
Now
It’s free
And they will pay the consequences
Of their fear
The quote, the first line of the poem, is from my favourite film, Excalibur by John Boorman, spoken by Merlin.
Official Hospitality
By Scott Bailey © 2017
Government Guide to Hospitality
We welcome you with open arms
If you can afford it
If not, go to hell
Scott’s Daily Prompt 13/03/2022
Today’s prompt is. Silver screen
Take a quote from your favorite movie — there’s the title of
your post. Now, write!
Erasure
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Erasure
There are days
We wish to erase
But would we be the same
Without the pain
Without the shame
Still…
Ghostlife
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Ghostwriter
I don't need a ghostwriter
I need a ghostwriter
Ghostparenter
Ghostlover
I need someone
To live my life
While I write
Scott’s Daily Prompt 12/03/2022
Today’s prompt is. Erasure
You have the choice to erase one incident from your past, as though it never happened. What would you erase and why?
Lab Rats
By Scott Bailey © 2017
Lab rats
In a maze
Looking for
The exit
The Prize
The BIG CHEESE
Suppressing
Suspicion
Sure knowledge
The maze is it
The maze is all
Scott’s Daily Prompt 11/03/2022
Today’s prompt is. Ghostwriter
If you could have any author –living or dead – write your biography, who would you choose?
Playlist
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Playlist
The story of the impossible The impossible climb Save the last dance for me While the world burns around us I’m a believer But I cannot believe what I see Walk away Never really a choice Nights in white satin But no knights to defend
Ignoring the suggestion again and instead, I am taking the first five random songs from a mix that my music player gave me – which is a mix of my own chosen songs and others it suggests I might like. So the five titles I interspersed with my thoughts.
Pink
By Scott Bailey © 2017
Pink
A delicate shade
Of colour
Hijacked
By toy makers and marketers
To smash young minds
Into shape
And conformity
Give it back
To salmon
And cold autumn evenings
To flushed skin
And lips
And artists
And leather bound books
And bank notes
And fresh ink
Pink
Scott’s Daily Prompt 10/03/2022
Today’s prompt is. Playlist of the week
Tell us how your week went by putting together a playlist of five songs that represent it.
VIP
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, VIP
My wife
My life
My every breath
Together
Forever
Until death
This is the way
We need more today
Love
Scott’s Daily Prompt 09/03/2022
Today’s prompt is. VIP
Who’s the most important person in your life — and how would your day-to-day existence be different without them?
Fantasy
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Fantasy
Looking after their friends Interests It’s what they excel at Imagining them being able to cope beyond that Is just fantasy Welcome to your government
Glory Days
By Scott Bailey © 2013
So the soldier walks alone
beneath the
starry night
He has no aim but distance
from the bloody fight
But the war it still pursues him
snapping at his heels
He slips into the forest deep
beyond those broken hills
O glory days
Those glory days
They’ve shattered
and they fade
They only left a rumour
A shadow
where they laid
So the sword is silenced
with a deep and lasting chill
In his heart, the war goes on
the beating never still
Behind the hallowed orders
that laid so many low
Is revealed the empty truth
the sickest, cruellest blow
O glory days
Those glory days
They’re gone
they never were
So the soldier walks away
from guilt
that he defers
Scott’s Daily Prompt 08/03/2022
Today’s prompt is. Fantasy
The Tooth Fairy (or Easter Bunny, or Santa Claus . . .) : a fun and harmless fiction, or a pointless justification for lying to children?
Scott Andrew Bailey - Author 