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- A to Z Challenge - Hillbilly Hilarity - Miracle Stories - Poetry - Bits and Pieces - About My Family - Family Photos - Family Links - Snapshots of - Haida Gwaii - Articles, Stories & - Poems - Leave me a note	Back to Creative Writing This poem was written for a "writing challenge" at the Penticton Writers' Group. Each participant chose a random word, wrote it at the top of two slips of paper, and on one of the slips wrote 10 words they related to the topic word. The other slip was handed to another participant who also wrote 10 related words. The words then had to be used to write a poem or short story. My topic word was "quirky." This is my effort - you'll find the original list of words at the bottom! Quirky Quirky, she was – Uniquely, beautifully quirky – This one who tumbled, unexpectedly, Into our contentedly well-ordered lives. She spiraled in Like a brilliant, multi-colored shower Of kaleidoscopic shards, Shimmering, Changing with every twirling movement. And yet, somehow, The patterns never quite right. Always something just a bit odd. Small differences That isolated her. Funky details. Her fanciful little hats (She favored fedoras, I recall. Fedoras. Topped with a mad collection of buttons, Attached, with wildly mismatched threads, In childlike mayhem). And her startling striped stockings, Toes worn bare Tripping the light fantastic. Strangely outcast she was. Some folk came right out, Firmly declared her weird. Others simply whispered, Crazy. While more proper folk Archly proposed more, well, Thoughtful adjectives: Alternative, they suggested; Original. Creative. Artsy, perhaps. But then, One by one, We all turned away, Back into our comfortable, Carefully ordered lives. No one noticed That with each turned back Her colorful hues faded a little. Her dancing toes twirled Just a bit more slowly. Her shimmering effervescence Dimmed slightly. Her amazing kaleidoscopic patterns Slowly collapsing Into a shattered heap. And then one day, Unexpectedly, She was gone. Creeping away, Unnoticed. Leaving our contented, comfortable, Orderly lives Cold and gray and empty. (The original word list for the writing challenge: QUIRKY, different, odd, isolated, fedoras, outcast, funky, buttons, striped stockings, hats, crazy, unique, original, creative, thoughtful, wierdly, artsy, fanciful, alternative). By Norma J. Hill Date: October 14, 2008 Back to Creative Writing	My name is Norma, aka Pen and Paper Mama. I'm married to Lionel, and we have 5 kids - Taryn, Sarah, Robyn, Wendy and Peter, and four grandchildren, Tony, William, Marcus, and Apollo - with three more on the way! Having recently lost my job due a company closure, I have decided to take the plunge, and really focus - professionally - on my passions! I love writing, tutoring, and facilitating Christian study groups. I'm an enthusiastic volunteer with Another Chance Street Ministry. And I also enjoy exercise, gardening, playing guitar, language learning, sketching, and a multitude of other interests - a "Jill of all trades." I hope you will find some stimulating ideas here, and I'd love to hear your reactions and thoughts too... leave a note in the Guest Book, or Email Me.
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