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age, community, decay, double edge, life, old woman, optical illusion, photography, poetry, trick, visual illusion, writing, writing exercise, young lady
Welcome to a special edition of the creative writing prompt, Picture it & Write. As tomorrow kicks off our second Blind Sight Blog Tour, we’ve decided to showcase one of the most important elements in the Blind Sight series, that there are two sides to every story.
Eliabeth
At first I thought I saw an old hag, withered with wrinkles and age. How could I have been so wrong? On second look, I saw a young woman; it had been the odd curve in her jaw and strangely shaped ear that had made me see her as someone else. I could not catch her eye, for she was turned away, her pretty little nose turned up as though embarrassed to be in our presence. I couldn’t blame her, for we were not dressed like her. Where we wore tattered dresses with holes in our stockings and daisies in our hair, she had a pretty choker and a mink coat draped around her shoulders. There was a feather in her cap and a veil covering part of her hair. She had so much life in her, but I wondered how happy she was.
Ermisenda
A beautiful young woman caught my eye. When I turned my head to take a closer look, I flinched at what I saw. Something in the light had tricked me. There was not a young woman but an aging, widow. I guessed she was a widow because she was draped in black from her hat, the fur on her shoulders, and dress. Age was reigning its ugly head.
I couldn’t imagine the day that I too would decay. There was only sadness in her eyes. Her gnarled nose was her most prominent feature. The heaviness of depression was shifting from her to me. What a curse it was to grow old. She looked like she was just waiting to die.
Confused? Remember, there are two sides to every story.
Ermilia 
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Not sure this really follows the prompt but what the hey. There is always room for another interpretation.
http://joe2stories.wordpress.com/2013/06/30/picture-it-and-write-the-goddess/
Enjoy
What a great way to approach the image. I love how you delved into three stages of this woman. Great work, Joe! I really loved this line – ‘For her every sunrise is seen through the lense of the thousands before it.’ Thanks for contributing!
I think it’s a sad thing that society trains us to see aging as ugly. I’ve worked with the elderly for many years. Really I prefer a face covered in lines to one with the skin stretched back and an unnatural frozen expression.
My bit is here.
http://undeadinthenetherworld.blogspot.com/2013/06/another-life.html
I agree with you. It is curious in Western society that age is seen as something undesirable. One of my favourite sayings is ‘Ageing is a luxury denied to many’. I like to shape my beliefs over age in that respect. To live into an old age is a rare feat for humans, even in this day and age. It’s only been very recently that individuals have recently been living longer consistently (like Europe, Australia, American, etc.). I liked how in your story you mentioned how she didn’t care what the busy-bodies thought. If we always worry about what others think, we won’t do anything for ourselves! Thanks for contributing this week. 🙂
– Ermisenda
Here we are. http://starvingactivist.wordpress.com/2013/06/30/picture-it-write-special-30-june-2013-skin-deep-beauty/
Awe! How sweet. What a great contribution for this prompt.
I found this prompt very challenging, but I finally came up with a story.
I hope you enjoy this:
http://logo-ligi.com/2013/06/30/picture-it-write-damsel-or-dame/
I enjoyed reading both stories. You capture the optical illusion separately and with distinct descriptions. I like the imagery as well.
Thank you very much. I’m about to skip off and read yours.
That’s awesome! Thought I don’t think a slap was deserved since the optical illusion, while skilled, was accidental.
nice
Thanks!
Here I go again late.
http://glynisrankin.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/hopeful/
Late is better than never!
Interesting poem. It’s peculiar to me that you have noted ‘fairer skin’. It’s funny how not too long ago, back in the racist days (although racism still exists today although usually more covertly in Australia [and America I presume]) fairer skin was the ideal, now everyone whose pale wants the perfect honey, caramel tan. Oh, society! You silly thing you.
I like that in your poem you communicated her desperation to hide what she thought were flaws, to show her more positive features. Maybe she will have to deal with her own touch today, rather than a man’s! That doesn’t sound too terrible to me. 😛 Thanks for contributing this week, Glynis.
Your prompts are so much fun! Perhaps she might, it works in a pinch..8)
Thank you for presenting such wonderful pictures that spark my imagination.
I hope this is what you talking about… lol. I got one of my friends to help me out. 🙂
http://gotmeghan.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/picture-it-write-we-have-a-guest/
Answering on my phone so struggling to copy paste. Marvelous.
Marvelous
Marvelous! I think it is so neat that you got a friend to join in. Thank you both! I loved both messages, that there is more than what the eyes can see and that beauty isn’t everything.
Third time’s the charm, right? Lol Thank you 🙂
That was amazing girls , I must be feeling positive right now as I only saw a young woman…in fact when I first looked at it I saw a woman with a lion with it’s jaws about her head…… oops! that probably makes you think I am weird ! I only saw the old crown when I watched the video clip. Nice writing girls I enjoyed it! xx
Most people struggle to see both. We don’t like that there might be something we’re not seeing and our brains stubbornly cling to what we already know is there. (Eliabeth’s interpretation). We’re glad you enjoyed the prompt, it was fun to write.
Yes the brain can be very stubborn, we only see what we want to see. 😉
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Like the contradiction presented here.. Age is a feared inevitable! Added my contribution. Hope you like it.
Very sweet writing. Thanks for contributing to this week’s Picture it & Write.
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I managed to be able to one this week
http://wp.me/pOTN0-1ZD
I like how one of you sees an old woman who’s really young and the other a young woman who’s really old. “Age was reigning its ugly head.” What an interesting turn of a phrase. Age… the evil monarch.