Clair de Lune

Posted on March 2, 2019 by areilly88

I’m still discovering the fun surprises blogging has to offer, including this speculative fiction style writing prompt posted by D. Wallace Peach.

Here’s my response to the photo prompt above:

You can’t risk it! They said,
Anything could happen out there
Exposed in that dangerous blue light
The illumined darkness

Stay here, safe in Shadow!

But she wasn’t the sort
To use fear as her talisman
To mistake shelter for freedom

She was ready for more

Thus crouched in the hidden doorway
She cautiously looked both ways
Watched as the moon eclipsed the sun
Then stretched herself to fullness

As her small body expanded
She strode, near danced
Into the silvery center
That infinite space of the unknown

And found herself reflected there
© Amanda Reilly Sayer

38 thoughts on “Clair de Lune”

Beth Muller on March 2, 2019 at 11:08 am said:

leave our profession as soon as possible to devote yourself to the expression in words and pictures to your rich internal world.

really. ________________________________

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- areilly88 on March 2, 2019 at 11:11 am said:
  
  Thank you Beth! I’m especially honored that you risked putting in your email address to make this comment 💚
  
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D. Wallace Peach on March 2, 2019 at 11:33 am said:

Oh, Amanda. This is wonderful. I got a little shiver of elation when I reached the end. I’m so delighted that you decided to join in. I’ll set it up for a reblog within a couple of days (I’m sharing them in order). Thank you!

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- areilly88 on March 2, 2019 at 11:36 am said:
  
  I’m so grateful for your comment and the discovery of your good work!
  
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  - D. Wallace Peach on March 2, 2019 at 11:59 am said:
    
    I read that you’re new to blogging. Well, you’re off to a great start. Challenges are fantastic ways to meet other writers and bloggers and bring them to your blog. Happy Writing, my new friend!
    
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  - areilly88 on March 2, 2019 at 12:38 pm said:
    
    Thank you for the encouragement, my new friend! I love the community I am discovering here 💚
    
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Frank Prem on March 2, 2019 at 8:39 pm said:

Gorgeous work, Amanda. Nice entry to the field.

Don’t give up your other work, though, as Beth Muller suggested. Make this the extension of it. You have capacity to reach in both directions.

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- areilly88 on March 2, 2019 at 8:56 pm said:
  
  Thank you for your kind encouragement, Frank. And for your caring advice.
  
  I don’t see myself making any rash decisions about my work life. Beth and I know each other very well, so I understand (and appreciate greatly) what her comment really means 🙂
  
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  - Frank Prem on March 2, 2019 at 9:11 pm said:
    
    I figured Beth was a supporter of your efforts. Nice to have such good friends.
    
    But, truly, stretch both ways and both will benefit.
    
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D. Wallace Peach on March 3, 2019 at 3:32 pm said:

Reblogged this on Myths of the Mirror and commented:
Another wonderful poem response to the prompt. This one from Amanda. I hope you enjoy.

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Bette A. Stevens on March 3, 2019 at 3:37 pm said:

Beautiful, Amanda…

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- areilly88 on March 3, 2019 at 3:38 pm said:
  
  Thank you Bette!
  
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Priscilla Bettis on March 3, 2019 at 3:42 pm said:

This was a beautiful read. I like reading the responses to Diana’s prompts because each author or poet takes the prompt in a different direction, stretching the imagination.

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- areilly88 on March 3, 2019 at 3:46 pm said:
  
  Thank you Priscilla. I’m so grateful for your feedback. I have also enjoyed reading the different responses and have been loving the diversity in what the image has inspired!
  
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House of Heart on March 3, 2019 at 3:54 pm said:

This is so lovely Amanda!

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- areilly88 on March 3, 2019 at 3:58 pm said:
  
  I’m so glad you think so! And I am so grateful so many folks are taking the time to comment and let me know 💚
  
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  - House of Heart on March 3, 2019 at 4:02 pm said:
    
    Beautifully unique and a lovely take on the prompt. 🧡
    
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Jordy on March 3, 2019 at 8:00 pm said:

Gorgeous poem, Amanda! I love the boldness of the character. Wonderful!!

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- areilly88 on March 3, 2019 at 8:02 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much Jordy! I enjoyed writing this and hope we’ll all be so inspired 💚
  
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  - Jordy on March 3, 2019 at 8:20 pm said:
    
    Indeed! A great hope!!💗
    
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Carol J Forrester on March 4, 2019 at 4:14 pm said:

I just love the lines
‘To use fear as her talisman
To mistake shelter for freedom’
They work so well and have a real punch about them.

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- areilly88 on March 4, 2019 at 4:20 pm said:
  
  Thank you for commenting. It means so much to have my words resonate with others. I’m grateful for the feedback and as it happens those are two of my favorite lines also!
  
  Because we’ve all done both, right?
  
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  - Carol J Forrester on March 4, 2019 at 4:22 pm said:
    
    Yes, I’d say ‘To use fear as her talisman’ resonated especially.
    
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Portofino on March 4, 2019 at 6:18 pm said:

A well-sculpted poem. Perhaps you have kept your writing talent under wraps. It needs to be shown to the light more often.

Don’t give up your other talents. I did that for the sake of words. Life shouldn’t have to be a trade-off.

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- areilly88 on March 4, 2019 at 6:32 pm said:
  
  Thank you for this lovely comment and your encouragement. I’ve been writing and painting for many years, but have only recently had the courage to share. My day job certainly requires creativity, but in a less joyful (and not always obvious) way. Still, I’m grateful and that work can be beautiful in its own way.
  
  I don’t feel pressured to trade anything. My only immediate goal is to stop hiding, to ‘stop using fear as a talisman’ perhaps 😉 Blogging is a step in the right direction, it seems.
  
  Thank you again! I look forward to more of your work!
  
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  - Portofino on March 4, 2019 at 6:40 pm said:
    
    And thank you!
    
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anotetohuguette on March 4, 2019 at 7:41 pm said:

Welcome to the world of blogging…I really enjoyed this beautiful piece and I, too loved the lines, to use fear as her talisman, what a wonderful way to look at fear in our lives!

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- areilly88 on March 4, 2019 at 7:45 pm said:
  
  Thank you! Your kind feedback (and that of others) is so encouraging – talismans against fear, you might say 😉
  
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  - anotetohuguette on March 4, 2019 at 7:47 pm said:
    
    Yes!
    
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Ethan Dale Eagar on March 4, 2019 at 8:47 pm said:

So many powerful lines! Fantastic poem!

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- areilly88 on March 4, 2019 at 8:50 pm said:
  
  Thank you Ethan! I’m so grateful for your feedback, that you made time to tell me you enjoyed it!
  
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Paul Sunstone on March 14, 2019 at 1:35 am said:

And found herself reflected there

The theme or message of the poem was interesting, and I followed along in interest until the last line. That’s when the message punched. Went beyond interesting to punch.

I see you use prompts. If you’re curious, please feel free to check out my poetry prompt. But only if you’re curious, Amanda. No worries if you do not wish to take it up.

https://cafephilos.blog/2019/03/09/the-cafe-philos-poetry-prompt-for-outlaw-boys-and-girls-and-them-that-be-wild-things/

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- areilly88 on March 14, 2019 at 5:46 am said:
  
  Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, Paul! I love that the ending struck you. Still relatively new to blogging and juggling a few balls, I’m very interested in taking up prompts as they inspire me. Thanks for offering yours 🙂
  
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Pingback: March Speculative Fiction Round-Up | Myths of the Mirror
The Alchemist on April 9, 2019 at 10:40 am said:

Your worlds are full of beauty and wonder!

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- areilly88 on April 9, 2019 at 10:56 am said:
  
  Thank you so much! Your shapes and colors and glazes are also wonderful 💚
  
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  - The Alchemist on April 9, 2019 at 12:01 pm said:
    
    Thanks 😉
    
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Mary on August 26, 2019 at 11:52 pm said:

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after reading through some of the post I realized it’s neew to
me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely delighted I found it and I’ll
be bookmarking and checking back often!

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