Roberta Writes – Esther Chilton’s writing prompt, Future and d’Verse prompt, zeugma #poetry #childhoodmemories #d’Verse

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Frozen in Time

The hands of the clock and the sun in the sky moved slowly during those long, warm days of summer holidays. Other than limited household chores, Cath and I had little to do other than visit the nearby beach, splashing about in the waves and getting sunburned. All summer long our noses and shoulders blistered and peeled. There was no respect for the might of the sun in those days and sun screens were still a twinkle in the inventors eyes. I remember the stinging pain.

Our skin itched from the salt and our feet and toes roughened and sometimes bled from the abrasive sand. As we jumped over, and dived through, the frothy seahorses, the sand collected in the gussets of our swimming costumes. We would leave the water with our costumes hanging down to our mid thighs from the weight of the sandy collection.

We had no thoughts of the future or of the past. We lived in the moment. Sea shells were gathered in plastic buckets and carted home. I would scrambled up onto the roof of the garden shed, dragging Cath behind me. We would sit together with our buckets of shells and home made glue, creating shell people. Hours were passed in this pleasant task with the gentle wind ruffling our hair and the floury smell of the glue in the air. Our childish eyes saw these artworks as masterpieces. They remained on the roof until the rain dissolved the glue. Then, we started again.

Burning sun

Blisters exposed flesh

Reddens skin

Prevention

A concept of the future

Now, I pay the price

This Shadorma prose piece is written in response to Esther Chilton’s writing prompt word, Future. You can join in Esther’s challenge here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2024/08/07/writing-prompts-26/

It is also a response to Melissa‘s d’Verse prompt as follows:

Today’s Poetics prompt, if you choose to accept it, is to write a poem including one example of zeugma. You may come up with more if the muse strikes, but only one is required. My seugma is included in the first line of my prose piece.

You can join in the d’Verse prompt here: https://dversepoets.com/2024/08/13/zeugmatically-speaking/

Picture caption: Me (at the back) and Cath on the beach. This is the only photograph I have of that time.
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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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66 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – Esther Chilton’s writing prompt, Future and d’Verse prompt, zeugma #poetry #childhoodmemories #d’Verse”

  2. O Robbie: this is wondrous; the poem is good but the prose glisters; you vivify the past, a past I shared on a different continent with my sister and cousins; we were children of the sun and frolicked whole summers beneath its glare, innocent of the price —

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  5. Lovely memories and photo. Love your poetry. And I like how you responded to the prompt, by going back in time and reflecting on the future concept of sun protect – cleverly done. Certainly out of the box thinking.

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  7. A mind bending example of the writing device. The sun burns, its movement to us an illusion as the world turns. The concept of time, the connection of past to present and future. I enjoyed your writing, Robbie.✍🏻❤️

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      1. Although two of my brothers and I lived through World War 11; (my third brother born right at the end) as your mother did…we were never hungry (despite rationing) but, between our lovely Mum and equally kind foster aunt, were loved and cared for. Dad served in the Royal Air Force. (I really must get your book…). Cheers. xx

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  18. The poem and your story certainly bring back memories. Luckily for us, in Sweden we did not need suncream and we did not get blisters, but we had a warm sun at the beach. I accumulated my sometimes severe sunburns later in life in the US. I assume Cath is your sister.

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    1. You are lucky. Given how much sun exposure and sunburn I experienced as a child, I am lucky my skin is so good. I have had sun damage though and had to treat it with a chemotherapy cream. Not fun! It was a lovely time, no stress, no worries. Carefree!

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  23. Love this, Robbie.

    I know some of what you speak.

    The sand in the bathing suit, and the glue made from flour and water (I’m thinking that’s the glue) are definite memories. Haha, I needed some paperglue recently, but was out. So, I did the flour and water.

    Hmm, it worked much better back then.

    Yes, we pay for the past in the future, sometimes.

    A terrific write, Robbie. Thank you!

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  24. Beautiful memories of what reminisce make simpler times. Life was somehow easier then. I love the poem too I also remember sun burn and on at least one occasion sunstroke. That’s a wonderful photo of you and Cath it says it all . 💜💜💜

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  27. This is really good, Robbie. I remember days playing on the beach, getting sunburned and hoping that meant we wouldn’t get sunburned again the next day. Your poem is right on the mark.

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