PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook
A lucky koi am I
To live here
Surrounded by gardens
And best of all, stacked rocks
Because I remember stories
My grandfather told me
Of watching monks stack one by one
One by one
In Japan
Before he was brought to this place
A century ago
Now we swim together
I watch his brilliant orange and pearly white grace,
And envy, with one black spot
Smeared across my eye
No matter
Each day at noon
Old-Man-In-Khaki tosses morsels
And a hundred koi plunge and dip in a ravenous dance
While visitors admire
A lucky koi am I
THE END
Friday Fictioneers is a compilation of writers from around the world who gather online weekly, guided by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The challenge? To write a story in 100 words or less based on a new photo prompt.
To read more stories in an online flash fiction anthology by Friday Fictioneer authors, click:
Thank you for another great photo prompt, Sandra Crook. As you can see, I love koi and stacked rocks, so it’s no wonder I wrote from the point of view of the koi in the ponds surrounding this beautiful place! 🙂
I enjoyed that poem. Great write this week! 🙂 <3
Thank you, Jelli!
A unique point of view, nicely done.
Thank you, Iain. I’m often attracted to unique points of view and wonder sometimes if I go a bit too far. 🙂
Not at all this time 🙂
Dear Jan,
I love the koi POV. When I looked at this picture you came to mind immediately. 😉 Lovely poem.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, Rochelle. I obviously couldn’t resist drawing stacked rocks into my story. 🙂
I love that poem/story. I, too, have koi in my pond, and they are a source of joy to me. They’re jolly greedy though!
Penny, lucky are you to have koi to gaze at, even during their ravenous (greedy) dance. 🙂
What a lovely voice you create for a koi, Jan, full of grace with only a hint of disgrace. A vivid view of life inside that pond and touching on life outside. Really enjoyed this. Well done.
Thank you, Kelvin. In this photo, life inside the pond seemed more interesting to me than life outside. 🙂
Such a wonderful poem, Jan. A nice and totally different take on the prompt.
Thank you, Dale!
Simply delightful Jan and a refreshing change from everything else I’ve read.
One of the best compliments I can receive as a writer, Keith–refreshing. Thank you so much!
What a delightful vignette of life you have captured from the POV of a koi. Lucky are we to read you, Jan.
Thank you, Neel. I enjoyed your rags-to-riches story, too. (And there’s more to that story, I believe.) 🙂
I found the beat happy and joyful.
Thank you, James! One of the pleasures of being a writer!
What a beautiful song by the koi… both the memories and the future of swimming and eating.
Thank you, Björn! I like the idea of koi songs. 🙂
Suddenly, I was reminded of the Emerson, Lake, and Palmer song, “Oh, What Lucky Koi He Was.”
Now I have that song in my head, too, Russell! 🙂
Outstanding! Really enjoyed this.
Thank you, Linda!
Very nice! I like the POV of the koi. Very original.
Thanks, Curt!
Great story. A century old Koi; how cool!