I reach out to you Offering a #hand to help But who will take mine? #vss365 #haiku #poetry

"What's with the soft stare, Bob?" "I'm just happy being with you." "You old charmer." "Happier than when my team wins." "No one stands on a chair and cheers for me." "I would Nora, #hand on heart." "Go on then." #vss365

'Give me your #hand, Gabe. I'm practicing palm reading for the pixie fete. Oh, interesting. Patience line? A bit stumpy. Kindness? Not bad. Frown line? Huge. Humour line? Missing. Entirely. But this one's perfect - you buying me a brownie.' Hmph. 'Clearly false, then.' #vss365

"The smoke alarm is going off, what did you do this time, Riz?" I said then I saw Riz fused with a giant #hand. "Don't ya dare say nethin!" He hissed. "What the hell! You look like Thing!" "Oh fukin ha ha!" "Do you need...a hand?" "Jus u gawdamn wait..." #vss365 #riztherogue

Max was very unwell. He had man flu and when he sneezed his nose fell off. That’s not very #handy, he said, as the doctor sewed it back on again. Better than your ears swelling , said Agnes. Why? Because you’d be on your way out… oh my word, I think you’re on your way #vss365

She has three minutes to get in and out. She does it the old fashioned way. Down the side of the building. In through the window. Across the room and blow open the safe. The #sands of time are running out. She grabs the blueprints and turns. ‘Look who we’ve got here!’ #vss365

Grandpa had an hourglass. He would sit in his room, watching the #sand fall from top to bottom. He knew the colour of every last grain, but that didn't change the fact that they started in the top, and they would end up in the bottom. They found him, slumped over, staring at the empty glass. #vss365

The #sand remembers every secret you buried. Every lie, every sin, every shallow grave you thought the wind would erase. It’s been gathering in the corners, in the cracks, in the walls, patiently counting the nights until it finally starts whispering your name back to you. From the inside. #vss365

#vss365 While sad flurries of #sand kept vigil at dusk, the warm vibrato of my bassoon lured the fennec out of hiding. I tossed it a few morsels. This outpost was virtually an island of stone surrounded by vast sea of dust, and my lone friend had gobbled up the last of my supplies.

It conjures up images of deserts, dunes and beaches. It shifts and can cross oceans during storms. It's used by man to show the passing of time. Another cognate, it's identical in spelling and meaning in both English and Afrikaans. The #vss365 #prompt for April 4, 2026 is #sand

Dylan crouched in his EV suit, gripping a handful of #sand in his fingers, allowing it drift slowly down under the moon’s lower gravity. It wasn’t all sand, though. Some of it was ashes. This? This didn’t make sense. It didn’t fit The Enemy’s methods and he needed to know what had happened. #vss365

"Why are you stressing?" "I think I messed up our curry, look." "Well it smells great. Don't worry." "The sauce looks dubious, Nora." "It's dark anyway where it's going, like my aunt likes to say." "Bless... Okay it tastes like #sand." #vss365

Bolt the Matador entered the #ring splendid in his red cloak. He bowed to the crowd. The bull thumped his hooves and snorted loudly. The gate opened and he charged towards Bolt who dropped his sword and fell to his knees. The bull slowed to a halt and licked Bolt’s face #vss365

"Riz, we're being haunted by a grey lady, any idea why?" I asked. "No, its a complete mystery as ta wat dat lass is doin 'ere, she's deffo not 'ere cuz I didn't hand 'er dat #ring she wants." "RIZ! Why?" "It waz a guld ring fer fuk sakes! She cudnt use it!" #vss365 #Riztherogue.

CURRENT PROMPT HOST The #vss365 host for April 1-15 is: @redsaid1.bsky.social Prompts will drop at 3:00 PM GMT (UTC) Follow Rachel Nel, if you haven’t already!

Bob lifted his face to the breeze. "Smell that, Nora?" She sniffed. "Salt and sunscreen?" "No, the sea. It's telling me to get battered cod." "Bob, that's just a craving." He grinned. "You're clever." She nudged him. "Forget cod. Let's #ring in a swim among the fish." #vss365

'I don't believe you, Pixie.' 'What? Why not, Gabe?' 'It's too simple. If your excuse had involved tea drinking dragons, a gorgon with an inferiority complex, or a phoenix who was scared of fire, that would have a #ring of truth. But... you just overslept? I don't buy it!' #vss365

‘I don’t want to judge, but I’m guessing by the way your wife is totally ignoring you while you’re talking to me about cruises, you’re not the romantic type.’ ‘Well, she had tears in her eyes when I proposed years ago.’ ‘Really?’ ‘Of course it could have been the onion #ring I used.’ #vss365

Echoes of laughter settle over fawn and rusty meadows, as the church bells #ring, chiming seventeen. High on the hill the shepherds stir, the goats take the lead, for the descent is arduous and steep. The flock must get home before the town sleeps. ~rev #vss365 #Goodfriday

“It’s Mya’s birthday so I booked a kiss-o-gram,” Jo told Deb on reception. Later: “April Fool! Did you panic?” “Yes- but I did as you asked & found you a #man. Mike from HR. Happy birthday!” 🎶You Can Leave Your Hat On 🎶 Oops! Jo had forgotten I Deb always mishears. Hadn’t she? #vss365

It's mightier than the sword. When you need one, you never seem to find one! Like "man", today's word is just three letters long. It's a cognate too, with the same meaning and spelling in both English and Afrikaans, my mother tongue. The #vss365 #prompt for April 2, 2026 is #pen

‘If you weren’t so stupid, I’d challenge you to a duel.’ ‘That sounds pretty cool. I’m in. Here’s my weapon.’ ‘What’s that? A #pen? So what, like that’s mightier than the sword or something like that?’ ‘No, silly. How else am I suppose to draw my gun?’ #vss365

"He stole only a #pen from the office, Sholmes" "Not just any pen, Hatson" "What's special?" "It belonged to someone Geriarty wants erased" #vss365

Where Did You Go? My fog of a friend No why is sufficient Our trail still there Stars sparkled Illuminating ways Welcoming strolls Oh Where Did You Go? Ink to my #pen Imagination of #man I begged you Loved Prayed Forgave But You Broke My Heart Instead #BraveWrite #vss365 #Poem #Poetry #Poet

We found him in the gutter, ink pooling out of his mouth. Before they carted him away, we dipped our pens in and filled them. For a time my #pen was a live thing, bleeding onto the page. When nearly drained, it unfolded its dirty moth wings and took flight. #vss365

'Remember when we first met, Gabe? You were the most straight-laced, uptight, rule following, check-list toting person I’d ever met.' 'Well, you're still a pesky, rule breaking menace, Pixie!' 'Awww. Thanks, Gabe.' #vss365 #pen Find out more about Pix & Gabe's adventures here: katemachon.com

"Ya know wat? I need a kick ass golden sword," Riz said. "The #pen is mightier than the sword," I replied. "People say dat but wen waz da last time sumone beat a troll wit a pen?" "Last week, I beat Trevor the troll in a crossword contest." "...smartass..." #vss365 #riztherogue

The scribe was hard at work. His magic #pen dashed across the page drawing portals to new worlds and writing travelling spells. He needed to finish before dusk as the moon was waiting on him. But as twilight beckoned the north star swooped down and stole the scroll #vss365

'Lol, Gabe. Did you see the #man in the village screaming every time he saw a faery.' 'It's serious, Pixie. I had to wipe his memory. Now... to find out how he got here.' 'Ah. Right. Excuse me. I need to hide a "Free cake, humans welcome" sign.' 'What?' 'Nothing, Gabe.' #vss365

#vss365 #man

She was given another chance of life but the cost was that a #man would follow her around documenting her life choices. He pulled faces, took photos, sighed and made numerous notes. She felt exposed and judged for everything she did. She decided she would return to Hell instead. #vss365 #writing

#Man on the moon weeps Looking down at all our deeds Tears drifting in space #vss365 #haiku #poetry

English isn't my mother tongue, Afrikaans is. Did you know that you, as an English speaker, already understand Afrikaans? Words that have the same meaning and spelling in both languages are called cognates. The #vss365 #prompt for April 1, 2026 is #man

#vss365 #poetry Old #man on a hill Stopped to think On the land he did till Popping a pill He found the will To be summat greater Like that kid Such a magical creature Before the world Made himself hid What be such a pill You may wonder Well—I’ll let your kiddie brain Wander

The rocking chair swept Bo back and forth as he read her letter. She left six months ago to live in the city. It wasn’t working out. She was homesick. The room she rented was cold and bug infested. The job a nightmare. Man oh #man. He smirked. How the mighty have fallen #vss365

So, I posted a #vss365 this morning About feather boas And crying But i deleted it by mistake Soz iykyk But twas a good thing I did It had the biggest typo So my behaviour Is nothing to #exalt about I’ll live today With my head hanging in shame But my feet in 6 inch heels

#vss365 #prompt for March 31, 2026 is #exalt Our journey together is coming to an end, so let’s exalt the moment and smile with a friend. You have been an amazing community; thank you for letting me host; and I look forward to seeing all your continued work!

He came promising to cure their ailments, and for that they #exalted him They treated him like royalty, when he was nothing more than a con artist with a few powers He gave them the illusion of health, then slipped away with their money, leaving them to die horrible deaths #vss365 #vsshorror

In the tiny village of Grumbledown, Tommy was #exalted as the best postman they’d ever had. He delivered letters every day. Parcels were sent by wings which was always appreciated. But potions and wishes were priority delivered by magical spells #vss365

#vss365 The vampire hordes part reluctantly. Hissing and slashing the air as they moved aside to let you through their ranks. All too wary of your proximity and the delicious heat of your blood... Kneeling before the worst of them, their king, you let the others pass - granted safe #conduct...

He knew all too well how to #conduct himself in public. He’d spent his entire adolescence watching, learning to blend in, to hide. Slowly, neighbors went missing. One by one. Methodically. Everyone was so focused on themselves, they didn’t noticed the blood-stained curbs and empty houses. #vss365

#vss365 #prompt for March 30, 2026 is #conduct Occasionally, it’s business, and a little electricity, but let’s make sure to conduct ourselves wisely in all matters… or misbehave… nobody’s watching. Have a day full of sweet syllables!

Chapter 2 of Avalon Tales: The Girl With The White Hair has landed on my blog 🙂 tstpjm.blogspot.com/2026/03/168-... A series of phone calls focuses on what's going on in Isabelle’s mind #urbanfantasy #shortread #WritingCommunity #amreading

The choir leader insisted Carol go along to watch a concert. The signals she was using to #conduct the choir. Carol recognised them. She needed Carol’s help. “What was this gesture for?” she whispered. “The Sopranos.” Carol gasped. This operation went even higher than she’d thought. #vss365

The horns rang out; a sound so delicious that Bobby felt like was flying. He had always wanted to #conduct the Fairy Symphony Orchestra and finally this was the moment. It wasn’t until he reached the climax that he noticed Troll was missing along with the damn cymbals #vss365

She was the smallest #sprite in her family. It meant that people underestimated what she could do. She found it frustrating but then she realised she could turn it to her advantage. She thought she could get away with murder as no one suspected her... and she did. #vss365 #writing #stories

'Good shower, Gabe?' Grrr. 'I didn't have one.' 'Hmmm... how come you're all wet then.' 'Pixie! You know exactly why!' Giggle. 'Did you find the water #sprite I hid in the toilet?' 'I suggest you remove it before I introduce YOU to the plumbing. Head first. Repeatedly!' #vss365

“Did you know you look like a #sprite?” “Huh?” “It’s not an insult. You have Elven/fairy features.” “You’re saying I look like I have pointy ears and should learn archery?” “I’m trying to pay you a compliment.” “Pfft. Good luck convincing me of that one.” “Seriously?” #vss365

I spent a year programming. Dancing with 1s and 0s until he came to life. A pixel art #sprite of a man on my screen. He's staring back at me, waiting for me to tell him what to do. I could make him dance. I could make him sing. I could make him set himself on fire. "Please don't," he beeps. #vss365