PROMPT: Dinosaur

Daily writing prompt
If you could bring back one dinosaur, which one would it be?

Do not make me bring Jeff Goldblum up in here. [No wonder they are still rebooting those movies every two years, people are not getting the message.]

DAILY PHOTO: Double-Decker Trams of Hong Kong

“Daybreak” by John Donne [w/ Audio]

STAY, O sweet, and do not rise!
The light that shines comes from thine eyes;
The day breaks not: it is my heart,
Because that you and I must part.
Stay! or else my joys will die
And perish in their infancy.

PROMPT: Plane Tickets

Daily writing prompt
If you won two free plane tickets, where would you go?

I’d start by going to wherever was listed in the destination block on the plane ticket. Maybe I’d spend some time there or maybe I’d hop on other transportation and go somewhere else in the region / country. Most places with an airport are worth seeing, but if you ever fly into Belize City, get out. (It’s an armpit surrounded by paradise on all sides.)

Family Resemblance [Kyōka]

Chinese temple pond:
dragonhead tortoise sculpture.
live turtles swim
and sun in those waters.
do they see the likeness?

Long Gone Hong Kong [Free Verse]

In my youth, "Honk Kong"
Came after "Made in __"
As often as did any
Set of letters.

I can't remember the last time
I saw that declaration.
I do hear references to the
Hong Kong Markets opening.

They tore down the
Kowloon Walled City ---
A chock a block, chunky
Architectural cancer growth
Where people lived squeezed
More than a million to the
Square kilometer.

But still there are places where people
Are packed and packed --
While densely stacked --
In high-rise Building-Cities.
(If a City-State is a place in which
City and Nation are identical,
A Building-City is where a
Building contains all the
Functions of a city.)
One could live without leaving
If one didn't love sunshine.

But people do love sunshine.

And mountains and beaches,
Which Hong Kong also --
Against all reason --
Has in abundance.

DAILY PHOTO: Hong Kong Skylines

“To a Butterfly” by William Wordsworth [w/ Audio]

Stay near me—do not take thy flight!
A little longer stay in sight!
Much converse do I find in Thee,
Historian of my Infancy!
Float near me; do not yet depart!
Dead times revive in thee:
Thou bring'st, gay Creature as thou art!
A solemn image to my heart,
My Father's Family!

Oh! pleasant, pleasant were the days,
The time, when in our childish plays
My sister Emmeline and I
Together chased the Butterfly!
A very hunter did I rush
Upon the prey:—with leaps and springs
I follow'd on from brake to bush;
But She, God love her! feared to brush
The dust from off its wings.

PROMPT: Nickname

Daily writing prompt
What’s the story behind your nickname?

It’s a shortened version of my proper name. I was born before “Weekend at Bernie’s” and before legendary comedian Bernie Mac became a comedian (at least before he became a celebrity,) and so – contrary to popular stock responses upon mention of my name – it derives from neither.

Rainy Day Graveyard [Free Verse]

Rainy day
Graveyard:

Green grass
Glistens
Between row on row
Of low gravestones.

Droplets dash
Against the marble
And against
The brass plaques --
Silently.
Though a steady patter
Of drips on leaves
Sings through.

A poncho-clad figure
Walks through the
Sprawling war memorial ---
Alone.