In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Clean Slate
Rain washes the slates Grey sheen shines in the sunlight Ready for the moss
Clean Slate
Author: Scott Andrew Bailey
Parlay
By Scott Bailey 2017
We swing from lack of
Parlay to way too much talk
Blessing or a curse?
Scott’s Daily Prompt 13/01/2022
Today’s prompt is.
Clean slate
Explore the room you’re in as if you’re seeing it for the first time. Pretend you know nothing. What do you see? Who is the person who lives there?
Take Two
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Take Two
Slightly cheating from the prompt guidance – these two pictures were taken yesterday. The first was a quick snap of our garage. We are in the process of clearing it. It was completely full of rubbish – including two big sofa’s. We need to start using it for what it intended and parking our car there.
The second picture I took as I caught sight and our hall wall. We have just rearranged the picture frames there and put up a clock. I was struck by the arrangement when looking from above.
The thing that connects the two? – Well see the poem below the images.
Time
Transforms
Order
To chaos
Utility
To waste
Decor
To ruins
Free
By Scott Bailey 2017
Let the wind blow me
On the course of its desire
The ocean’s freedom
Scott’s Daily Prompt 12/01/2022
Today’s prompt is.
Take two
Run outside. Take a picture of the first thing you see. Run inside. Take a picture of the second thing you see. Write about the connection between these two random objects, people, or scenes.
This is Your Life
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, This is Your Life
It is quality
Not ticks on a bucket list
That will reckon us
Sparrow
By Scott Bailey © 2013
Sparrow, sparrow in my way.
Briefly tell your tale today.
Tell me if my love is dead.
Do I waste the tears I shed?
Briefly, now I’ll tell my tale.
Pray your courage does not fail.
You do not waste the tears you shed.
Alas I say, your love is dead.
A sharp, cold sword did spill her blood.
She tried to stem an angry flood.
But peace that day she could not win.
So fearful war will begin.
Thank you bird for being true.
Nothing’s left for me to do.
To take up arms and pursue strife.
Slay the spoilers of my life.
I bid you, sir, think awhile.
Turn from this dark path so vile.
Listen to my humble song.
Step not where your lover’s gone.
Just a simple bird am I
But far above this land I fly.
And see its beauty spread below.
See ahead, where you might go.
Lay down your sword with forgiving heart.
Do not tear your land apart.
Still your rage and vengeance cease.
Follow rather a path of peace.
Humble bird I hear your song.
But my love is dead and gone.
So I raise my sword today.
And will make those killers pay.
The enemies that broke my heart.
And now have torn the land apart.
Upon their heads is all this blood.
For I must release the flood.
Then sir, I shall shed a tear.
For the future I do not fear.
Yet for now I swiftly go.
To make way for the crow.
Originally published in A Spring of Dreams
Scott’s Daily Prompt 11/01/2022
Today’s prompt is.
This is your life
If you could read a book containing all that has happened and will ever happen in your life, would you? If you choose to read it, you must read it cover to cover.
32 Flavours
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, 32 Flavours
32 Flavours
Mmm
What to try, what to try
They have mint choc chip, my favourite
But I always have that
Everyone’s telling me to try some new
Expand my horizons
I want to try rum and raisin.
But the buzz on the street is asparagus and chilli!
The kids want that new take on raspberry ripple
But it’s so expensive
Still
I feel bad, all their friends have had it
How can I deny them this?
But really my heart is set on vanilla
What to try, what to try
Time’s up!
What Ifs
By Scott Bailey © 2014
What ifs hang on
Like poisoned barbs
Even in the face of reality
All reason tells you
Let them go
Rip them from the flesh
Yet deep they go
Sharp their points
Beyond the anaesthetic
Of mere words
So rise up
From the river
Of doubt
Rip that flesh and bleed
Step on the shore of tomorrow
Healing first needs hurt
Scott’s Daily Prompt 10/01/2022
Today’s prompt is.
32 flavours
Vanilla, chocolate, or something else
Lives Sold
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, 1984
We are being watched
Because we craved attention
Saught out fame
And paid
With our privacy
Hesitation
By Scott Bailey 2017
I hesitate
Vacillate
Dissemble
Hold back
Yet the words I need
To express to you
Are bursting
In me
They need freedom.
I
I
OK
Here goes
Um.
Where did you go?
Scott’s Daily Prompt 09/01/2022
Today’s prompt is.
1984
You’re locked in a room with your greatest fear. Describe what’s in the room.
Teacher’s Pet
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Teacher’s Pet
This is dedicated to Mr Marsh – wherever he may be – who used to teach like this. He also turned me on to Stephen R Donaldson so I am doubly grateful. One of very few good teachers in my school.
Teach the solution
And the solution will be forgotten
Teach how to solve
And solutions will be found
For life
Quicken the Resistance
By Scott Bailey 2017
Maybe
The danger we face
The sheer wall of darkness
Will quicken the protest
Flesh the resistance
Hasten the day
The snowballing
Of the revolution
Scott’s Daily Prompt 08/01/2022
Today’s prompt is.
Teacher’s pet
Tell us about a teacher who had a real impact on your life, either for the better or the worse. How is your life different today because of him or her?
Helpless
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Helpless
Let go of what you can't control
They say
But what if it controls you
And won’t let go
And who are they
Anyway?
The Secret
By Scott Bailey © 2017
The ancient secret
Burns in our hearts and our blood
Obscured by sharp lies
If you really want to know the secret check out Mankind Limited
Scott’s Daily Prompt 07/01/2022
Today’s prompt is.
Helpless
Helplessness: that dull, sick feeling of not being the one at the reins. When did you last feel like that –- and what did you do about it?
My Favourite
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, My Favourite
I miss you
My favourite
Those times
Oh, those times we spent!
In the twilight hours
The world between worlds
When the world beyond
Was no more
No more cares
No more worries
Now
My life is one long slog
One long fight
Back to find
My favourite
Peace and Quiet
Difference
By Scott Bailey 2017
You say center
We say centre
You say color
We say colour
We are different
Guess that means
You will build a wall against us
Ban us
Make war on us
One day
Scott’s Daily Prompt 06/01/2022
Today’s prompt is.
My favourite
What’s the most time you’ve ever spent apart from your favourite person? Tell us about it.
Dadda
By Scott Bailey © 2014
I think I have broken my toe
But I am just too tired to know
Stubbed it on a childproof gate
Too tired to see it until too late
But the pain and the weariness melt away
Into warmth when you hear them say
Dadda and they give you a smile
That gives you the strength for the next mile
Originally published in A Spring of Dreams
Scott’s Daily Prompt 05/01/2022
Today’s prompt is.
Call Me Ishmael
Take the first sentence from your favourite book and make it the first sentence of your post.
Quote Me
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Quote Me
A little explanation need for this one. The quote I always come back to is one from Frank Herbert’s Dune.
The only constant is change
I come back to this when times are tough, to remind me – nothing is forever. Even the hard times will end. But also to keep perspective – I always try and think – will I care about what I am worrying about in 10 years time. If not – it’s not worth the stress now! (I know that’s easier said than done.)
With that quote in mind here is a quick Haiku inspired by it.
Even the mountains Are impermanent giants The wise realise
Intentions
By Scott Bailey © 2015
“It was just a bit of fun”
To the broken hearts and home
“I meant no offence”
To the victims of riot and guns
“I was just following my dreams”
To the crushing weight of debt
“I will never do it again”
To the frightened wife and child
“I was trying to save some cash”
To the shattered future lost
“I thought I knew best”
To the chances that are gone
“My intentions were good”
To the consequences of action
Scott’s Daily Prompt 04/01/2022
Today’s prompt is.
Quote me
Do you have a favourite quote that you return to again and again? What is it, and why does it move you?
Kick It!
Let’s kick it into touch
Bucket lists!
Resolutions!
Traditions.
All they are really for
Is to transform you
Into the perfect consumer
Leeching away
All of you.
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Kick It
Moments
By Scott Bailey © 2015
The world clashes with me
Or I with it
Its movie reel passes before me
And I watch
Observe
But I am not of it
Occasionally
It brushes me
Pricks me
Interrupts my view
My observations
And the things I should enjoy
I don’t
Until I can observe them
Again one day
My moments pass
Slipping
I can never seem
To be in them
Scott’s Daily Prompt 03/01/2022
Today’s prompt is.
Kick it
What’s the 11th item on your bucket list?
Resolve
Resolutions
Made again
Broken again
Closure?
Endings?
Realise
Instead
Endings are beginnings
We should not
Resolve
But
Revolve
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Resolved
Arid
By Scott Bailey 2017
Arid
Are the hearts
and souls
Of our leaders
Deserts devoid of
Compassion
The seem to think
That
Their endless thirst
Can be assuaged
Quenched
By blood and gold
Our blood and gold
Scott’s Daily Prompt 02/01/2022
Today’s prompt is.
Resolved
Have you ever made a NewYear’s Resolution that you kept?
Stroke of Midnight
The brush of midnight
Sweeps darkness across the sky
Sprinkled with white stars
In response to Scott’s Daily Prompt, Stroke of Midnight
Devastation
By Scott Bailey 2017
![By Francisco Sanchis Cortés (Music at an exhibition) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Walk%C3%BCrenritt_o_Ritt_der_Walk%C3%BCren_%28detail%29.jpg)
“This is it!” His voice rolled through the thunder clouds like a promise.
His minions had had their fun while he slept. Keeping the family business running so to speak.
That was over. The was The War. The Big One.
Those puny little tyrants and heroes would not know what hit them.
The God of War flexed his neck, rolled his head and shook the sleep from his long, flowing hair.
Lightning gleamed dully in his armour.
He looked to his left, to his right. Stretching out on either side were the flanks of his sisters. Mounted – their wings shining in the rain.
The God of War raised his hammer and with a mighty swoop bore it down on the earth.
Lighting smashed open the clouds and unleashed hell.
People were confused. Thrown off their kilter. They could not understand the petty battles, the conflict after conflict. No one seemed able to stop them. No one seemed to care.
The rich and powerful holed up with their gold. The poor were starved and eaten.
The God of War kept at it. Smiling with fury. This was his purpose, his being, his goal. His end.
So confused and fearful the people did not see, the chances they had slip away. The weapons they might use be consumed by war.
While the battles raged the earth burned. And burned and burned. The forests turned to ash and cities fell. The seas boiled away.
Beyond repair, this was the final battle.
After the long age of suffering the God of War surveyed the devastation with satisfaction. He had won. Nothing survived. The earth was too warm for life, nothing breathed.
He had won. And so now he burned with the earth. Raised his arms in fury and triumph in his final pyre.
With no players, there was no more war.
Peace descended. The earth would rest in it until the end.
In response to the daily prompt Devastation
#DailyPrompt
Scott’s Daily Prompt 01/01/2022
Today’s prompt is.
Stroke of Midnight
Where were you last night when 2021 turned into 2021? Is
that where you’d wanted to be?
New year, new challenge.
So last year I had a plan. To not post anything new on my website. I figured that by posting all my new work I was then eliminating that work from competitions etc.
So the plan was, keep the site going by reposting old stuff, while waiting new stuff in the background.
Well, that didn’t really work. I did the posting, but very little writing in the background. I did a few poems and a few short stories but nowhere near as much as I wanted.
So what to do?
I need a kick up the proverbial butt. So I have decided to try another daily post challenge. I did one years ago, a poem a day challenge. This time I will try and do a post a day for a year based on this document. I may diverge from the suggestions but they will be the spring board.
To address my concern about eliminating myself from markets I will actually do two. One I will publish the other I will keep private.
I will also make each prompt a post that people can link back to if they want to join in.
I will also still post old posts. Let’s see how it goes.
Sharp
By Scott Bailey © 2017
Silk slides on the breeze
Meets the flow of sharpened steel
Leaves a perfect tear
Oversight
Successful
By Scott Bailey 2017
Have you
Noticed
That the books
That teach us
How
To succeed at this
And
Win at that
Don’t teach us
Why
Meanwhile
Authors count their cash
Kissing the Flame
By Scott Bailey © 2017
The meteor dares
To kiss the flames of the sun
Then slingshots away
Exposure
By Scott Bailey 2017
Sleek steel aperture
Widens for a brief moment
Exposing a truth
Aesthetic
By Scott Bailey 2017
Thinking aesthetics
Is vaguely anaesthetic
Trying hard to write
Marathon
By Scott Bailey 2017
Life is a marathon
They say
I disagree
A marathon is a race
Has a goal
They whip us with that line
Life is a marathon
Life is a song
Every
Note
To be
Savoured
Listen
Or sing
Or play
For
Life is a song
Unseen
By Scott Bailey 2017
Unseen, unheard, forgotten
We
The people
Scorned
Belittled
Bled
We see, we hear, nothing is forgotten
We
The people
Have dignity
Might
And reserves
Capable
By Scott Bailey 2017
I’m not capable
Of writing a good poem
Tonight. Worn right out
Someday
By Scott Bailey 2017
Someday, one day, soon
After that important thing
That I need to do
The Little Monkey
By Scott Bailey 2017
Little monkey clings
Tightly to his mother’s back
Ancient lizard flies
Scott Andrew Bailey - Author 