October 30, 2020, Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about life savers on any body of water. It can be a formal Coast Guard, historical or contemporary. It could be an individual who unexpectedly takes on the role. Go where the prompt leads!
Respond by November 3, 2020.
The Blessings of Ziva
“Hurry or we’ll be late, Bisera. We have to be there before sunrise,” called Emika.
Bisera balanced the jug on her hip without spilling a drop. “I’m right behind you, Emika. Did you remember to bring the apple?”
“I found the last red apple in the bin. The apple and the water are our offerings to Ziva, the ancient goddess of water.”
Bisera reached the river and tumbled toward the icy depths. “Help me.”
Emika grabbed the girl’s scarf and saved her from harm.
“Thank you, Emika. The goddess put you in the right place at the right time.”
On the eve of the New Year, in ancient Slavic countries, the young maidens took offerings of water and apples to the local river to honor the goddess Ziva. Read more about Ziva, the Slavic Goddess of Water, whose name itself means life.
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Author: Colleen M. Chesebro
Colleen M. Chesebro is a Michigan Poet who loves crafting syllabic poetry, flash fiction, and creative fiction and nonfiction. Colleen sponsors a weekly syllabic poetry challenge, called Tanka Tuesday, on wordcraftpoetry.com where participants learn how to write traditional and current forms of haiku, senryu, haiga, tanka, gogyohka, tanka prose, renga, solo-renga, haibun, cinquain, Etheree, nonet, shadorma, Badger’s hexastich, Abhanga, and diatelle poetry.
Colleen's syllabic poetry has appeared in the Auroras & Blossoms Poetry Journal, and in “Hedgerow, a journal of small poems,” and in various other online publications. She’s won numerous awards from participating in the Carrot Ranch Rodeo, a yearly 99-word flash fiction contest sponsored by carrotranch.com, an online writing community. Recently, she created the Double Ennead, a 99-syllable poetry form for Carrot Ranch.
Colleen has published a collection of poetry, flash fiction, and short stories called, “Fairies, Myths & Magic: A Summer Celebration,” dedicated to the Summer Solstice. She contributed a short story called “The Changeling,” in the “Ghostly Rites Anthology 2020” published by Plaisted Publishing House.
Colleen Chesebro’s poetry blog is called Word Craft – Prose & Poetry at https://wordcraftpoetry.com/
Her author blog is found at https://colleenchesebro.com where you will find her poetry and short stories.
View all posts by Colleen M. Chesebro
Great flash, Colleen! I like the action of carrying a jug of water on her hip without spilling a drop — it speaks to her steadiness and that she’d be the one who acts as a life saver. Water is life!
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Thanks, Charli. I love the creativity flash brings us as writers. ❤️🎃❤️ Happy Halloween! 🎃
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Love this perfectly fitting for the season witchy story. ❤
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Thanks, Sis. I love the old myths. ❤️
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❤
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Love this, sis and going to read more about Ziva. ❤
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Thanks, Sis. Mythology is the best for writing stories. ❤️
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I totally agree. ❤
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I love mythology too. Lovely flash Colleen. 🙂
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Those myths are some of the best stories. ❤️❤️❤️
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Lovely to learn more about Ziva the Goddess. And you know these stories and myths all have their roots in truth some where back in time. 🙂💙🙏
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Absolutely! I have no doubts. I love the myths. ❤️
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Me too 🙂
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Ps and I meant to add. We are all of us now in the right place at the right time. 🙏💙😊
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Ohhh, thank you, Sue. ❤️
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An interesting piece, Colleen.
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Thanks, Robbie. I like the mythology of the mother goddess, or life-giver. It’s a fun concept to work with. ❤
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Imagination running full speed ahead. It’s amazing where it takes you. Great myth, Colleen.
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Thanks, Marsha. I love mythology. The best stories come from myths. ❤
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I need a better imagination. 🙂
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You love history. Look there for inspiration. You will be surprised at where that takes you. What if… ❤
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True that! Great idea. That’s why I signed up to start writing challenges. It helps broaden my abilities. 🙂
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Just like I use myths as prompts, you can use historical events.
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There are an abundance of those!
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Check this out: http://creative-writing-course.thecraftywriter.com/
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I will. I’m on my phone, so I’ll come back to it when I’m on my computer. Thanks for sharing. 🥰🥰🥰
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