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community, creative writing, gods, life, ocean, photography, poetry, religion, sacrifice, stories, water, writing, writing exercise
I urge people to join in, comment with your paragraph of fiction to accompany the image. It doesn’t have to follow my story or reflect the same themes. It can be a poem or in a different language (provide a translation please 
). Anyone who wants to join in, is welcome. This photograph will be reblogged under Ermisenda on tumblr and added to the Picture it & Write gallery on Facebook and Pinterest.
Please continue to write however you’re inspired, but add a tag to the beginning of your post if there’s mature content in order to keep Picture it & Write an engaging event for all of our followers.
While I peacefully stared out into the horizon, my legs kicked furiously beneath the water. The unbroken surface hid the fear. Self-preservation was strong within me but I knew my duty. The goddess needed young blood from a man. Our fishing village’s future was in my hands. I prayed that there would be fish to feed my family tomorrow. I would tread water until she consumed me. Staring out, waiting for her, I cried.
– Ermisenda Alvarez
Everyone is welcome to use the button, just link them back to the Picture it & write category or Ermiliablog! Share your love for Picture it & write on your blog with the image below. Be proud, and stylish 
!
Reblogged this on Nature’s Abhorred Vacuum.
Thanks for the reblog!
The sea eternal
Gives birth
Fully formed man
Expectant of the graces
Of the gods
No land in sight
Perplexed by waiting
New man hovers
Within the depths
Counting moments
The horizon
Aches with possibility
Blue and purple hues
Peace and royalty
Awaiting the full sunrise
And the coming
Of a king
Hope this fits? 🙂
A very good piece. Sound messianic!
Thank you…it might be I guess, just random thoughts inspired by the lovely photo. 🙂
I think it fits perfectly. I loved this description – ‘The horizon/Aches with possibility’. Splendid! Thanks for contributing this week. 🙂
Thank you for posting the writing challenge – it was fun!! 🙂
I can see where this idea came from. It does seem that he has just ‘appeared’…!
Well said… 🙂
Thank you!! 🙂
The horizon
Aches with possibility
Wonderful description, lovely poem.
Thanks so much!! 🙂
I love the visual ideas in the words you used. I especially like the first stanza! Beautiful.
Thank you!!! 🙂 🙂
I was going to say I think it fits perfectly, but I see Ermi already said that. The beginning reminded me of that oft-quoted line, “from the eternal sea, he rises”.
Wow…hadn’t consciously thought of that allusion as I wrote it but perhaps that was in my subconscious…thanks for reminding me!! 🙂 🙂
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Oh, so sad, and yet so uplifting…! Self sacrifice certainly is an heroic deed..!
I really enjoyed that, Ermisenda; definitely a very different ‘take’ on the image…!
Here’s mine…
http://abcofspiritalk.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/picture-it-write-surely/
Thanks for the kind words. 🙂
I agree wtih, Joe. The way you communicated the conflict was great. Especially finishing with the question, could he? Even at the end, he hasn’t quite decided. Great work! Thanks for contributing this week to Picture it & write, Carolyn. 🙂
I love the idea of the sacrifice, giving yourself for the good of your family. Good one Ermisenda. Here is my offering https://joe2stories.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/picture-it-and-write-something-more/
Enjoy
Joe
I hope you don’t love the idea of blood/life sacrifices. 😛 I loved your story. The progress from childhood dreams to seeing them lived was well played. I also loved this line – ‘visit the many lands and cities that until then were only manifest in Gus’ words.’ Gus had a lasting impression on Joe. There is always something more out there! A great message. Thanks for contributing this week. 🙂
Hi, my contribution to this beautiful pic 😀
http://hidingbehindbooks.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/pretend-picture-it-and-write/
Wow. So powerful. I adored this part – ‘I’ve become real good at balancing. On the floor. On the stairs. On life.’ I could feel the man’s desperation. I also love how you wove dreams and reality so subtley such as… ‘Funds saved in my bank account. Money that’s not going to be used for therapy and doctor examinations.’ A great piece of fiction! Thanks for contributing this week at Picture it & write and sharing this fantastic work with us!
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What a beautifully sad piece
Thank you, Alastair! 🙂
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Wow, your original fishing village story has left me feeling weird inside; absolutely LOVE that! Awesome, awesome story.
I’m glad that I made you feel something. 😀 It was a short piece but I could see it becoming longer…
Hi and good day!
http://terry1954.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/picture-it-write-ermiliablog-4/
A great one, Terry. Very bittersweet and romantic. I can’t fathom living without my dearest partner. Loved your perspective on the photograph this week. Thanks for contributing to Picture it & write!
Wonderful image again -here’s mine
http://awritersfountain.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/picture-it-write-treading-water/
Ooo, the ending. I loved how you split the lines up with ‘You who may not be waiting/for time/or tide/or man’. It gave it a slightly eerie edge that I enjoyed. I’m curious as to who ‘you’ is. An interesting piece, Neens! 🙂 Thanks for contributing this week!
Wow – I called mine Treading Water – before I read yours – I guess that’s how he is still afloat.
Got a whole film in my head from your few words. Great evocative write.
Great minds think alike. 😉 Thanks for the compliment!
Stop,
Surrounded on all sides.
Immensity,
Indigo
Tipping point.
Keeping your head
Above the waves.
Placid.
Suspended forever
Nothingness.
Everything together.
Life.
Nothing but darkness
Yet the light penetrates.
Stretched
Beyond sight
And stretched beyond breath.
Drowning,
While sitting still.
Fear and loathing
Selfless cajoling
To make a stand,
No
Solid ground.
Nowhere to stand
Not even sand.
I enjoyed ‘nowhere to stand’ in relation to this picture. Fantastic! Also loved this part – ‘Yet the light penetrates./Stretched/Beyond sight/And stretched beyond breath.’ Very nice way of linking phrases together with the use of ‘beyond’ and ‘stretched’. Thanks for contributing this week! I’m glad it inspired you. 🙂
Thank you once again! 🙂
This has a free write feel about it. For some reason I really like “tipping point!”
This one definitly was a free write. The words just came to me as I looked at the picture and I just let whatever come flow out. Most of my poems for this work like that but I sit and think about them, and usually am done while having just fniished viewing the picture.
Here is my entry for this weekend 🙂
http://gotmeghan.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/picture-it-write-aquarius/
I like how you brought an image of a gigantic pool. In a way, the ocean really is. Or a pool is a slice of the ocean? I never really thought of comparing the two so directly but it worked great in this. The isolation versus the social pool environment. They are very different. Thanks for making me think, Meghan, and sharing your work with us at Picture it & write!
i love this story. i just find mythology so fascinating! 🙂 your bit of fiction’s haunting, intriguing, heart-wrenching and inspiring (such bold, selfless sacrifice is rarely seen).. and so much in very few words.
http://theeclecticeccentricshopaholic.wordpress.com/2013/04/29/picture-it-write-xix/
Fantastic twist! When you are so passionate about a hobby or sport…if you suddenly become incapable of pursuing it…it CAN feel like you’ve died. I’ve heard that said a lot. If I could never write again, I’m sure I would struggle profusely. Thankfully, you’d have to do more than cut off some limbs to stop that. 😀 Thanks for contributing this week!
Thanks, Kz! It’s great to hear that I communicated those themes/emotions right. 🙂
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of course noah did a double-take
when he awoke in the midst of a lake
“so god,” he said
in his moment of dread
“not building that ark… a mistake?”
“Yup,” said God.
“I don’t mean to be rude.
But without the ark,
you’re just another mer-dude.”
Loved it Anne, as usual.
Randy
Haha, this is totally unrelated, but I was checking out the statues by the pool at Hearst Castle and I couldn’t help noticing that the mermaids had one tail and the mermen had two. What’s up with that?
You can check it out for yourself…
Yeah, what’s up with that?
Ah, Annie. You are too full of wit! Such brilliance. 😀 Loved your take!
I made an actual post out of it.
Hehe, loved it! I’ve heard these jokes over a quick meal. But it’s so refreshing to see it elaborated into such a sophisticated story. The punchline still carries! Loved it, Annie. 😀 Thanks for contributing this week!
Haha… Magic, Anne… 😉
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Here is my entry for this week: (I noticed the ping back on “The Skull and Butterfl-eye” from last week. Please disregard. That was accidental.
This week it is “A Weekend Quickie” – No profanity. Just down and off fun.
http://thewritersvillage.wordpress.com/2013/04/29/a-weekend-quickie-picture-it-and-write/
😉 Randy
Lol! You take the most interesting of perspectives. I loved the light-hearted feel to this one. Although, why is he so nervous? If he’s getting lucky, she’s going to see his junk anyway. 😉 Thanks for contributing, Randy!
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A moving tale on sacrifice. Do find m contribution below:
http://call2read.com/2013/04/30/picture-it-write-7/
I’m curious as to why he didn’t go to shore. An interesting tale. I love your description of emotions at ‘war’ within him. A nice surprise at the end! Thanks for contributing this week to Picture it & write. 🙂
I’m a little rusty, but this is for you:
http://frommywriteside.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/bobbins/
Wow! Loved this. The suspense you built was so cinematic. I can easily see this being in a movie trailer with dramatic music behind it. Fantastic! I seriously want to read this as a novel. What a great intro. 😀 Even when you’re rusty, you write brilliance! Thanks for contributing this week to Picture it & write, Sam.
Here is my contribution for this week.
http://edgarsroad.co/2013/05/01/picture-it-write/
This was touching. I can’t imagine the terror of having to endure a flash flood. It must be so terrifying. Those poor orphan children… A great story! I like how you took this as an opportunity to weave truth into fiction. Thanks for spreading the awareness with Picture it & write!
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My contribution (earlier this time ^^): http://evilnymphstuff.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/come-to-the-ocean-of-love/
A great perspective! I love your metaphor of the ocean, in the literal sense but also symbolic of love. Fantastic! Also loved this description ‘I closed my eyes and let my soul be rocked by the music, its bell-like notes and heartbeat rhythm.’ By the way, you have great drawings! I just checked out your eye speed drawing too. You are one skilled young lady, M. D.! Thanks for contributing to Picture it & write this week. 🙂
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Seems like in most of the sacrifice to the gods/demons stories, it’s the girls who are being offered up as sacrifices. Apocalypto maybe. Anyway, nice to see a guy get tossed to the fishes for a change. Hope the goddess’ name isn’t Piranha!
That’s what I thought too. The girls get too much slack. Hence, I decided to change things. This goddess will only take penis-people sacrifices! 😀
I am so wrong… would a lesser goddess accept circumcision?
Ah, here we are! http://starvingactivist.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/picture-it-write-28-april-2013-horizon-calls/
Very eerie. It sounds like a legend to be told to children in small villages. Be wary of the sea goddess! A fantastic little story. I loved this description ‘oblivious to the caress of hungry sea life beneath him.’ Thanks for contributing this week to Picture it & write. 🙂
Hi! please check out my contribution. http://poetscornerblog.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/enlightened/
I think it’s always best to try and do as much as possible, let your values speak through your actions. If we only wait and hope, then nothing will be done! A lovely poem. Thanks for contributing this week, Shashi!