That Long Hot Summer
prompt words: twilight and hue (synonyms only)
I opted to use a synonym of the old use for "hue," that in "hue and cry." This was the legally required shouting of bystanders to assist in capturing one witnessed committing a crime. It now means, according to The Free Dictionary, "A public clamor, as of protest or demand:" with the example, "raised a great hue and cry about political corruption." "Hue" is thought to come from the Old French word, "huer," meaning outcry or clamor, making "hue and cry" a redundant expression. Enough of that, here's my offering, a tanka prose.
Tedder, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
A person can only take so much. Everyone has a point, one point, when the single proverbial straw breaks the camel’s back. In our case, that break came one evening last summer. Not with a straw, but with yet another plea ignored. Then hell broke loose.
the sky bruise purple
when public outcry gained voice
the half-light failing
battle in the streets began
a war no nearer to end
©2021 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved
I love the line: sky bruise purple. Thanks for your blog visit!
ReplyDeleteThank you. :)
DeleteGreat take on the prompt, Lisa :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! It actually took a different turn in the end.
DeleteMy first thought was "hue and cry" for some reason. No telling what our brains jump to. Thank you for interesting prompts.
ReplyDelete