Beginnings: January Writing Prompt Responses

This month’s writing prompt was Beginnings. Here we showcase our favourite responses.

Beginnings prompt: From the seed of an idea to the flourish of its petals; everything has a beginning. What may appear insignificant in one moment may be the roots of something spectacular down the line. The capture of a glance, the brave first step. Just opening the door to another year, another sunrise, and thinking something astronomical is going to happen, even if you don’t know it yet.

Daybreak

Beneath the bluest sky, Dawn closed her eyes. Resentment & jealousy flooded in despite the heat. These heavy limbs. She hated herself for hating others. In her stifled mind, she willed the clouds to gather, wished the bitter storm would break.

Her hands grazed against the dry grass. Her palms lay open. Dawn breathed out and Dawn breathed in. Her stomach rose, her ribcage expanded. Her mind raced, picturing their happy faces, smiling and rejoicing in their latest victory. Their smugness burnt a fire in Dawn’s
raging soul.

Dawn tried to do everything right.

Dawn passed all her exams. But her family barely batted an eyelid.

Dawn got a well-paid job. But what else did she expect?

Dawn met a nice man. But he would never come up to their ideal expectations.

Dawn painted magical landscapes. But if her work didn’t hang in galleries, then she was indulging in a hobby.

Dawn sang in bands. But her voice was what could at best be described as mediocre.

Dawn performed in experimental and non-experimental theatre productions. But if she didn’t win a BAFTA then she was an amateur and even if she did, then she should have won an OSCAR.

Dawn wrote her way into her own dreams and back. But if she hadn’t been interviewed on Radio 4, she couldn’t really call herself a writer.

Dawn went on protests and shouted loudly and frequently about the ills of this world. But she wasn’t exactly a Gandhi or a Nelson Mandela and she would never be important enough to be killed, not like Martin Luther King.

The sun burnt its way through Dawn’s damp skin. Dawn breathed out and Dawn breathed
in.

Dawn was clever. But her personality was flawed. Unlike her generous sister.

Dawn was talented. But she’d never be a match for her naturally gifted brother.

Dawn was pretty. But her cousin was the belle of the ball.

Dawn could speak three different languages. Her father spoke four.

Dawn could do cartwheels and somersaults. Her mother was the athlete in the family.

Dawn could pull rabbits out of hats. Her brother and sister conjured up unicorns out of nowhere.

Dawn could make conversation at a party with everybody. Her entire family plus her cousins, great-aunts, great-great grandparents, nephews and nieces could speak in tongues with folk who had not yet been born.

Dawn could design a rocket that could travel to the moon. Her extended and ever-extending family could fly like Icarus around the sun, the solar system and spin round galaxies before evening fell.

Dawn could be Dawn, but she’d never make it through the night.

The sweat breaking out on her forehead could not wipe clean her fury.

Dawn breathed out and Dawn breathed in.

Beneath the bluest sky,

Dawn

breathed

out

and

Dawn

breathed.

by Lizzie Eldridge (@lizzie_eldridge Instagram, @lizzie_eldridge Twitter, & Facebook)

Germination

Seed of hope sown
A sip of water to start
Surrounded by nourishment
The apricity of a sunny January
Warms from deep within
Cocoon slowly splits
Signalling little changes
Remember who you are
And where you came from
Wiggle through the muck
Shoot up high
Aiming for the sky
Ready to start anew
Lush dreams emerging
Breathe in, she ought to
Breathe out, life
Ready to really grow
Flourish and bloom

by Nitika Balaram (@musings.by.nitika Instagram)

Dawn

a chorus of dionysian sopranos open the

earth again and again,

         again, again.

at this heaven-scented hillside, homer’s

white sea sways like wine. seasons and

civilizations and paradoxes begin at the

rocky shoreline and we’re going to have

to let it.

we’re going to have

to withstand this.

by Rebecca Herrera (@strawberry.img Instagram, @strawburrymoon Twitter)

When He Won’t Be Around Her

She will dance on the occasion.
She will be on cloud nine.

It’s a new beginning for him knowing what’s going to happen when he won’t be around

her.

She is learning to drive.
She will go to places.

It’s a new beginning for him knowing what’s going to happen when he won’t be around

her.

She will find new friends.
She will be in a euphoric dimension.

It’s a new beginning for him knowing what’s going to happen when he won’t be around

her.

by Inner Monologue (@inner_monologue_ Instagram)

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