"Two wrongs may not make a right but a thousand wrongs make a writer.”

Sunday, October 5, 2014

The Scout

The barbed wire grapples and snags
like expectation and life gone astray
but it doesn't hurt if you can get away.
Smoke drifts closer and the dogs bray.
Hand-spun cotton but no lingerie,
practical shoes adorn bare legs.
It won't hurt if she gets away.


Photo by Tom Chambers






















The image prompt comes from Magpie Tales a blog dedicated to honing the craft of writers and poets and keeping the muse alive, even when it has been ignored and neglected. For me, this image was fraught with contradiction from the barren landscape and barbed wire to the casual expression on the face of the runner, as if someone had just called her name, or asked her a question. She isn't dirty and she isn't sweating, yet she runs. Like a poem, or a short story, it leaves us half circle. The ending is ours to compose.

19 comments:

Helen said...

I enjoyed this, Elaine. I read a bit about the photographer and discovered he blends different images together to creat the finished photograph. Thus the almost serene look on the girl's face in spite of what it appears she is trying to escape. The title of his photograph is 'Anywhere Nowhere' ~ fitting.

Helen said...

I cannot believe I called you Elaine, a thousand apologies!

Anthony Duce said...

I like the story you found in the image.. I agree, it won't hurt to get away..

Helen said...

'Faraway Nearby' is the photograph's title ... could I possibly make any more mistakes today? Smiles.

Yvonne Osborne said...

Helen,
Thanks! And, yes, that is an especially fitting title.

Anthony,
Thank you so much.

Ankita said...

liked your take!

Berowne said...

Smartly innovative and quite effective...

Silent Otto said...

There must be something incredible beyond the wire ...

Yvonne Osborne said...

Ankita,
Thanks so much!

Berowne,
Thank you! Appreciate it.

Kutamun,
I believe so. Nothing much on the backside.

Anonymous said...

intense imagination...

Paul Andrew Russell said...

A very nice take on the prompt. :-)

Helen Killeen Bauch McHargue said...

I like this a lot. Very creative.

Tess Kincaid said...

It doesn't hurt if you can get away...powerful...

21 Wits said...

She shall get away, she has no doubt, what will be is!

Yvonne Osborne said...

Sandra,
Thank you!

Paul,
Thanks!

Helen,
Are there two of you? :) Thank you so much.

Tess,
Thank you! Thanks for stoking the muse and commenting here.

Karen,
She certainly doesn't seem to be worried about it. Thanks.

Liza said...

Oh, well done! Oh, there is such a story in that picture.

Yvonne Osborne said...

Hi Liza,
Thank you. I know, I couldn't resist trying to tell one.

C. Sandlin said...

This reads like a folktale. Great take on the pic.

Yvonne Osborne said...

Thank you Clarissa.