MULTIPLY Pictures and Words Week 10 - The Princess and the Bird

Photo Credit: Mark Richards

She sits dreaming of her loved one
of where he is, she is full of hope
A forbidden love, she is princess
But with him she wants to elope

The king, her father, tracked him down
But her lover, he ran away
She prayed that he would never be found
Their love was not for a day

In this land so very far away
There was magic in the air
The princess had a witch as aunt
And for true love she did care

She took the lover into her house
and together they made a choice
The lover was changed into a bird
Who sung with a beautiful voice

He flew to the palace to see his love
and perched upon her hand
He sung of his love and eternal faith
And with her his life was planned

This singing bird gave the princess a peck
and then the spell was cast
She turned into a beautiful dove
And they both flew away very fast

The passed over mountains very high
And flew over oceans deep
In the meanwhile the witch cast another spell
And the King was in a deep sleep

It was then that the birds flew back to the land
Where their love was not allowed
They sung together in unison
To wake the King so proud

The two love birds watched the King awake
He was so very sad
If only my daughter was with me again
I would not act so bad

I would grant her the wish to marry her lover
I made so many mistakes
If only I could turn things round
That my heart would not so ache

It was then that the spell was taken back
And the lovebirds regained their form
The King was happy to see his daughter
He decided not to storm

This happened many years ago
The princess has now become Queen
Her husband is now King of the land
Are the happiest pair ever seen

For more click here

MULTIPLY Week 9 - The Arrival

“10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 landed. Ok men we are back on the planet earth again; those that have been here before, I don’t have to explain anything, but the others should know that we have had our station on this planet for a few thousand years transmitting its changes and keeping us up to date on the developments. It was a long journey from planet Chilopoda and I am sure that we would like to relax for a few hours and rest our bodies. However the men in our station are impatiently awaiting our arrival that they can return to our planet and be replaced by those of us that will be taking over in the station.”

The space ship’s doors opened and the space visitors left the ship. They were overwhelmed by the height they had to overcome before reaching their target. The Chilopodans were a small sized race in comparison with the now human inhabitants of the planet earth and so sizes were in a large relation to the space ship crew. They were confronted by two high mountains. Wedged between the tips of the mountains was a large round boulder.

“Captain Polyped is that the station, high up between the tips of the mountains? My ancestors that had already visited this planet described the path.”

“Yes men, that is the way to go. For us Chilopodans a long way, but we are experts at walking and it should be no problem.”

And so the brave space visitors began to climb up the path to the space station. They were almost at the top when the scouts that had been sent in advance returned to the Chilopodan team.

“Sir, we have a problem” said the chief scout.

"Tell me” answered the captain.

“The humans are occupying our space station. One of them is standing on the surface.”

“Explain further chief scout. I can see no reason why an inferior human would climb to our station and possess it. Our electronic tracking devices are all inside the boulder. Our ancestors built the station many years ago, and our windows are so small that no human could see them.”

“It seems that the human tendency to show off has again taken the upper hand, sir. The human standing on the stone was placed there by a helicopter. The helicopter is still hovering near bye and a group of humans are filming the human on the stone with cameras; probably to show others how clever he is.”

“Yes, scout, this is the sort of human stupidity we are often confronted with. Not only do they crush our fellow citizens with their feet and not even notice it, but they like to risk their lives climbing places where they do not belong.”

“Shall we attack captain?”

“We have been known to injure members of the human race, but I would advise this only in a Man versus Chilopodan confrontation. We have a mission and this is more important. We will now take a rest and wait for the human show to come to an end. We will remain here well hidden and not approach our station or the humans. In time they will leave when they have their photos. When we placed the stone between the two mountain peaks, there were no humans on this earth. Over the years they developed and are more nuisance than anything good. Our colonists on this planet are forever in danger of losing their lives from the ignorance of the human race. They look upon us as something inferior, but we were here long before they crawled out of the swamps and developed. Through our super telepathic powers we embedded the stone containing our space station between the mountain peaks.”

“It is true captain; I have heard many stories of our colleagues being crushed by the humans, the humans not even noticing that they have taken our lives.”

So the visitors decided to take a rest on the lower slopes. They even found some food whilst they were waiting. The mountain slopes were covered in grass and other vegetation and animals that the Chilopodans preyed on were in abundance. They suddenly heard an ear splitting noise and from their position on the mountain side saw the helicopters rise. The scouts left the group and proceeded to the mountain top.

“Chilopodans, I have just received a message from our scouts using the higher wave lengths. They say that the human has left in the helicopter and everything is now clear. We will advance.”

Eventually the visitors from Chilopoda arrived at their earth station and were welcomed by those that had been working there for the last hundred years. Time has another meaning on Chilopoda. The new arrivals soon took their place in the station, sitting at the radio machines and operating the cameras, observing the humans and registering changes in the earth’s atmosphere. They also had many colonists on the earth who supplied them with useful information.

“10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 lift off. Ok, men I am sure you will be glad to return to our own planet after so many years on the earth, but I hope you enjoyed your stay. It is valuable work you have completed in our station and you have collected valuable knowledge for Chilopoda.”

So the next time you see a centipede crawling along, avoid treading on him. He might be a scientist waiting to return to the planet of Chilopoda after his stay on the earth.

For more click here

MULTIPLY Pictures and Words Week 8: Perpetuum Mobile

Photo courtesy of Mark Richards

the train to nowhere passing bye
looking through the window
seeing passengers looking through the window
seeing them and they seeing me
but not seeing each other
wheels turning infinitely
passing meadows,
travelling through villages
churning air in tunnels
seeking a place to rest
a signal showing red
the train pausing
standing on the rails
puffing and breathing and waiting
and the signal changing
and the train travelling further
slowly gathering speed
faster and faster
clouds and trees spinning past
and then
a station looming ahead
the train expiring its breath
and gradually, gradually
coming to a halt
passengers leaving and arriving
passengers sitting
on the train continuing
its journey to nowhere

Click here for others

MULTIPLY Pictures and Words - Week 7: The Book Room

Smith and Smith
Solicitors

Dear Mr. Cartwright
We thank you for your letter concerning inheritance of the Cartwright estate. After a long search the rightful heirs have been found to the property belonging to Jason Cartwright, deceased. We have noted that you and your family will be arriving to take possession of the keys to the property on Saturday, 11th July, 2009 at midday. Mr. Julian Smith Jnr. will await you at the entrance to the said property.

As informed, since the demise of Jason Cartwright ten years ago, no rightful heirs had been found and due to this fact the property has not been inhabited. However, funds were supplied in the departed’s testament for upkeep of the manor and surrounding grounds and you will find the house in an inhabitable state. Furniture and private possessions of the said Jason Cartwright are also preserved in the property in question.

Awaiting your arrival with keen interest

Yours faithfully
Julian Smith Snr.

--------

“Hey mum, dad what’s in that letter from those solicitors? Is it about that house we have inherited from that relation we never knew?”

and Christine was quite excited about moving into a manor. She had just finished school, and had a nice long holiday until she started her English literature studies at the university.

“Yes, it is dear” answered Emily Cartwright, “it seems we can move in on Saturday.

“What do I hear there Emily? Let me see that letter, after all it was my long lost third cousin that left the whole property to us” and Christine’s father Michael joined in the conversation.

The family were quite surprised to find that they had inherited a complete manor house with furnishings and were keen to see how it was. They decided to keep their own house for the meanwhile and move to the manor during the summer holidays. Afterwards they would make the decision whether to keep the property or sell it. Emily was glad that it was furnished as it meant they only had to take some clothes for the time being. If they needed more they could always buy something in the near bye village.

Saturday arrived quickly and they arrived at the manor. Julian Smith Jnr. was waiting for them at the gate. Emily and Michael were surprised at the size of the house. The roof had many gables and windows indicating that it probably had many rooms. The entrance hall showed a large staircase leading to the upper rooms. It was completely furnished.

“Mum, can I have this room as my bedroom. It has a nice comfortable bed and a balcony overlooking the garden.”

“Looks all right to me, what do you think dear?” she asked her husband.

“No problem ladies, but what about our room Emily.”

“I was thinking that the room opposite Christine’s would be just right for us. It even has an old fashioned fire place.”

“Yes, and my room has one of those walk in clothes cupboards, come and have a look.”

Christine was almost right, it looked like a walk-in dressing room, but when they opened the door they were all astonished. Instead of empty clothing racks it was piled from top to bottom with books. All three walls had fitted book shelves.

“Now that’s strange” said Michael “I have never seen a bedroom with its own library before.”

“Neither have I” answered Emily

“Who cares” said Christine. “Just look at the works of literature stacked on the shelves. All the classics you can think of, just what I will need for my studies when I start at the uni. I will just have to clear it up a bit. It seems that the books on the back shelf don’t fit properly, especially those in the middle. They have already fallen out of the shelves onto the floor.”

“You are right Christine, something for you to tidy up after you have made your bed.”

“Yes mum” Christine answered, although she was already looking at the books in detail. Her parents left her to get on with organising her room.

Christine was amazed at the books; there was everything she could wish for. Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, Jayne Austin and poetry from William Wordsworth, Robert Browning and many others. She noticed that there were no modern authors but she was sure she had a complete collection of the classics. She started to tidy the shelves up, putting the books on the floor back to their original place. Suddenly her mother called her to the evening meal and she descended the stair case to the dining room. This was another surprise. The dining room table had enough room for at least ten people, so she imagined that Jason Cartwright must have had a large family.

“No, Christine” said her father. It seems that he never married and had no heirs. The house was built by his grandfather. There is a painting of the grandfather and his family over the fireplace.”

“Well, he seemed to have a few children. The two boys must have been his sons, and I suppose one of them was Jason’s father. He also had a daughter and look; in the painting she is holding a book. I bet it is one of those books I found in my room.”

The discussions went on about who the mysterious Jason Cartwright and his ancestors were, and soon Christine decided it was time to go to bed. Actually she had decided to have a read of one of the books. She was surprised when she entered her room and opened the door to the room with the books. The books she had tidied and put back on the shelves were spread on the floor again. “Strange” she thought, but perhaps she had not returned all of them to their place and so she fitted them into the spaces left. She found that Jayne Eyre by Charlotte Bronte was one of the books and decided to read it. She had read it some time ago, but found it was always worth a re-read. She noticed it was a very old book, the publishing year being at the turn of the century. Not a first edition, she thought, but all the same very old.

She made herself comfortable in her bed and began to read, but soon felt tired, put the book on the side table next to her bed and decided to sleep. Unfortunately sleep was not as good as she would have liked it to be. She suddenly awoke to hear the sound of crying. She decided to see where it was coming from and hoped nothing had happened to her parents. You never know being in a strange house. She opened the door to the bedroom and stepped out into the corridor, but the sound of crying had stopped. She went back to bed and as soon as she crept under the covers, the noise started again. This time she decided to take a closer look and realised it was coming from the room where the books were. She noticed a faint flickering yellow light was showing at the bottom of the door. She opened the door and immediately the cries stopped, although she noticed that there was a smell in the air, the sort of smell you get when a candle is extinguished. She decided it was her imagination playing tricks on her and decided to go back to bed, however, something startled her. The books she had replaced on the bookshelf were lying on the floor again.

“I don’t believe it” she thought and decided to replace them, finding that Jayne Eyre was amongst them. “It gets more mysterious all the time” and looked at the bedside table where she had put the book. No, it was not there; somehow it had had been returned to the room with the books. Another thing she noticed was that when she replaced the books there seemed to be an icy atmosphere surround the empty book shelf.

The next day was Sunday and the family were all at home. She decided not to mention to her parents what happened during the night, or what she thought happened during the night. Christine, herself, was not sure whether she had dreamt it or whether it was real. However, the next night she discovered it was real. She had decided to spend the night in the book room. She took a sleeping bag with her and a torch and made herself as comfortable as she could.

“This is stupid” she thought when she awoke after a couple of hours and nothing had happened. It was then that she felt very cold. She decided to get an extra blanket to cover herself when she was shocked by a noise and the books on that special shelf fell onto the floor, although no, they did not fall, it seemed they were pushed.

“Ridiculous, there are no such things as ghosts”, but it was then that the room was illuminated by a candle, just one candle and Christine saw the figure of a young lady move out of the space where the books had fallen. It was the same girl shown in the family portrait in the dining room.

“Please help me”

Christine could not believe her ears.

“Please help me, I want peace, I want to sleep.”

“Who-who-who are you” Christine asked with a shaky voice

“Sally Cartwright. Please release me, I must leave this place.”

Christine had decided no, this was enough, and left the room as fast as her legs could take her.”

The next morning she decided to take a walk to the village and visit the library to see if they had any records of the Cartwright family from the last century. The librarian told her for the information she needed she should visit Jack Rhodes. He grew up in the village and knew just about everything about everyone. She told Christine where he lived so Christine decided to see what she could find out.

Jack Rhodes lived on his own in a little cottage at the end of the village. She found Jack Rhodes was very helpful and she had the feeling that he was only too glad to be asked about his memories from the day’s gone bye. Of course, he did not remember Jason Senior, (it seemed that all the heads of the Cartwright family in the village were called Jason) but his mother had told him about the family. They had two sons and a daughter. The sons moved away after being married, but the daughter just sort of disappeared. She worked in the local books shop and it was rumoured that she had found a lover, a young author that often visited the shop where she worked. Her father did not approve of the relationship. Then one day she just disappeared, oh yes, he said, he remembers her name was Sally. They said she had run off with her boyfriend and the father had disowned her.

Now Christine was sure that Sally was still in the house, somewhere behind the bookshelf. She went home and told her parents what had happened, with the mysterious crying at night and the ghostly figure she saw and that the books kept disappearing from the middle shelves at the end of the book room.

“You must be joking” said her father

“No dad, come and have a look”

and as sure as she said it Michael Cartwright saw that his daughter was telling the truth. The books were on the floor once again. That night Michael and Emily decided to stay with their daughter in the book room. They needed no persuasion after that night and the next morning Michael took a hammer and knocked the book shelves down at the end of the room and they found a sealed door behind the shelves.

Two weeks later the bones of Sally Cartwright were buried in the local churchyard. It seemed that Jason Cartwright Senior took one secret with him to his grave.

-----

Dear Mr. Catwright

It is with disappointment that I have read your family wishes to sell Cartwright manor. According to your instructions we have now put the complete estate on the market.

As soon as we find a client willing to buy the property, you will be informed.

yours faithfully,
Julian Smith Senior.

For more click here

MULTIPLY: Pictures and Words Week 4: The Lion

Hello everyone, just take a look
I won’t bite and between are bars
Don’t feel sorry for me, take a seat and listen
I will tell you my memoirs

I was born so free, somewhere in the bush
My mum did all the work
My dad just watched and lazed around
my mum said he was a jerk

Then came the day when I was caught
And travelled far from home
I cannot complain, I was given some food
but was not allowed to roam

So now you see me in this zoo
I really do not feel sad
I don’t have to hunt, I have no stress
It is here I remain, not so bad

Have a nice clean cage, a loving wife
I have everything that I need
Now just imagine If I was not here
I would have to search for some feed

A lion’s life in the wild is not fun
It rains, it can pour, you are wet
It’s much nicer here, no stress and no hunger
And you think it is wrong, please forget

Do you really think I want to wander miles
When all I need is some sleep
I even have a wife in this place
We have cubs as well, so neat

The wife says the same, now if we were free
She would have to do all the work
We are admired by you people, you pay for the fun
I can really only smirk

I am still the King of the jungle of course
But here it is really so fine
Come wife give a scratch, it is feeding time
Cubs follow your mum, keep in line

So do not feel sorrow for me or my wife
We enjoy our lazy days
Who cares for a jungle and all the dangers
Here are much safer ways

Pictures and Words Week 4

MULTIPLY Pictures and Words - Week 3

How many years, how many packs, how many wives and children filled his past? He had lost count. He was still the most respected and honoured as leader of the wolf pack. Remembered the days when he and his tribe were hunted. Humans armed with weapons, killed for their fur, just for the fun of it, his revenge had mounted over the years and today, he was just too tired. Justice always has its rewards. The humans were now fighting each other, so perhaps this was their just reward. The pack still lived in the forest, but would follow him, nearer to the town every day . There was a pregnant silence that now hovered over the concrete ways and houses. Waiting until men would hunt men, killing what was in the way. In a way he was satisfied, they now have their just rewards. So they should die, mercilessly and with no honour as my children, wives and brothers died. They had no sorrow for killing us; after all we are just wolves.

One evening he risked a visit into the town taking two of the strongest; just for a look, just to see how much the human spirit was broken. Buildings with broken glass in the windows, some bodies lying on the pavements, barely clad in their tattered garments. He told his fellow wolves to be very careful, there might be some humans looking for prey. It was then that they saw in the distance three men, but not armed with guns. They sleeked quietly in the direction, the smell of human sweat and fear in their nostrils. It went quickly, the wolves took revenge and dragged the dead flesh back to their women and children. Their leader howled to announce their arrival and all was good.

The wolves were re-occupying their lost territory. What was once wolf habitat was slowly again being conquered. The wolves increased in numbers and it was soon that the humans lived in fear of them and hid. One evening something changed. He noticed something was different, just a small item, but there was a sweet smell in the air he very rarely noticed. He then heard a cry, a soft cry, but persistent.

“Come brothers, let us see what is there” and they entered an old house. The noise became louder and more intense. The pack entered a room and he warned them to be careful. He then saw it moving on the floor in a corner, wrapped in a once white cloth, but now showing the traces of dirt gathered over time. “How dirty are the humans” he thought and went closer. He picked up the writhing something in his jaws by the cloth and decided to bring it to his lair as a living trophy.

The returned to their females and children and he placed the small human baby on the ground amidst his folk. The female wolves were suspicious and so were their kin, but in every civilised environment there is an exception, even amongst wolves.

“What have we here?” said the leader’s chief woman “so innocent and small and smelling so sweet” and she licked it with her long pink tongue, carefully.

And so the others in the pack came closer and watched. The leader was satisfied. In his far gone memories he had thoughts of a town once founded by humans brought up by wolves. He did not know if this would happen again, but wolves were not monsters. They were animals looking after their own kind, and he decided so low that the human race had sunk, the wolves must rise and show that love and understanding could perhaps heal and renew the world. With time the wolf pack rescued some of the babies weaning them on their milk and the babies grew up together with the wolves.

The great chieftain of the wolves decided his time had come and one day he rested his head and body for ever, but his pack remained holding his memory in honour. Wolf and man were now united and if the world was now a better place to live – who knows?

Pictures and Words: Week 3

MULTIPLY Pictures and Words: Week 1 A New Beginning: The Museum

Before I print my story I just want to add a little explanation. In St. Peterburg, Russia, there is a museum know as The Hermitage museum. Besides the wonderful works of art they have many cats in the cellars, from the olden days of the Czar (it was a palace) and they are there for the main job to keep the mice under control. I have been to the museum in Russia, but unfortunately did not visit the cats. This link http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7029370.stm might explain a bit more. Anyhow I wrote this with those wonderful cats in mind.

It was a dark quiet night, the sun had set over the river and the museum had closed its doors to its last visitor. It was not just a museum, but had works of art from all over the world attracting tourists every day. Tasha was glad that it was now empty, she could now sleek her way in between the exhibits sniffing for any new smells. Her favourite room was the one where they hung the paintings. The oil paint had a smell of days gone by, particularly where the paintings from the old masters were hanging. She was never in the museum during the day; too many people and too much noise, and the humans in charge did not like to see her there. When evenings came she could roam at her own will. There were no humans, they were in their homes. Ivan the night watchman would go for a walk around the rooms now and again to check that all was in order, but he knew Tasha and Tasha knew him, so there was no problem.

She was staring at one of the paintings showing a house somewhere in the country surrounded by fields and she suddenly heard a noise. It was coming from the little room where the cleaning troop kept their mops and brooms. She then saw the door slowly opening to the room and hid behind the curtain. The curtains were so thick and heavy, she was certain she would not be seen. It was then that two men appeared.

“Igor, don’t make so much noise. I don’t want to be heard.”

“What are you worried about Fedya, there is no-one here except for the night watchman, and he is too old and lazy to bother with us. It was a good idea to hide in this room before they locked up the museum. No problem about breaking in. Getting out will also be an easy task, we just stay in the room until the museum is opened in the morning and sneak out. They will never notice.”

“All the same, be careful, I really do not want to serve a prison sentence again. The last one was bad enough.”

“Oh yes, I remember, but after all we would not have met if we had not both been in prison.”

“So don’t get sentimental, and now to the work.”

Tasha watched and heard what was happening. As soon as the men walked into a dark corner, she sprang back to the heating pipe and disappeared inside. In a few minutes she was back in the cellar, where she lived with the other cats.

“Felines, listen, we have a problem. I was in the museum and there is someone there.”

“Of course there is someone there” answered Koshka “Ivan is there and looking after the museum.”

“No, Koshka, you don’t understand. There are two men and I think they want to steal something, they were talking about being in prison and being quiet before Ivan heard them. I am sure they have something bad in mind.”

“Tasha have you been sleeking through the heating pipe again. You know our human feeder, Valentina, does not like us to be in the museum. She said we cats should stay in the cellar and keep the mouse population under control.”

“I know, but I so love to wander amongst those old things now and again, they smell so full of old memories.”

“What’s up Koshka, is Tasha getting sentimental again about that old stuff upstairs.” Yuri, the leader of the cats, arrived on the scene.

“I am not getting sentimental Yuri, but I think there are robbers in the museum. I am sure they will steal a painting. Come and have a look for yourself.”

“OK Tasha, the things I do for a female cat. Are you coming as well Koshka?”

“If you say so boss.”

and the three cats followed Tasha through the pipe, although Yuri had to really squeeze through a bit as he was not longer the youngest and had put on some weight over the years.

“You know cats, this pipe walking is not my sort of thing. I am really out of training. Are we soon there Tasha.”

“Shhh Yuri, I can hear them. Be careful when you leave the pipe. Make a quick dash towards the curtains.”

The three cats were as quiet as possible and they were soon peeping from under the curtain towards the sound of the men’s voices.

“Igor did you hear something.”

“There is no-one here.”

“I thought I saw something move behind the curtain over there.”

“Probably a mouse, there are a few around, although I heard the cats are still kept in the cellars.”

“Oh yes, the famous museum cats; living the life of luxury, getting fed and looked after. I would have got rid of them a long while ago.”

“Did you hear that” said Koshka “they are not very nice men. They don’t like cats.”

“Look Yuri, Koshka, they are taking the paintings out of the frame. I think we should do something. Valentina and her friends are so good to us, and we should repay it somehow.”

“You are right Tasha” said Yuri “I have an idea. It is very dark in the museum, and we all three are black cats. Now we sleek out when they are on their way with the stolen paintings.”

“They might see us.”

“No problem. You and Tasha will run before their feet to make them fall and I will look after the rest.”

For a cat this was really not difficult. As soon as Igor and Fedya made their way with the paintings the cats followed them.

“Igor what’s that” were the last words Fedya said, before he crashed down to the floor. Igor rushed to his help, but that was a mistake as he also landed on the floor. The floors were wooden and hard.

“Come Igor, we must go, something is wrong.”

“Fedya, forget it. I think I have broken my arm on the hard floor.”

“Ok, then I will take the paintings and go. It is our only chance.”

“Fedya don’t leave me. I have a black monster staring at me. I think the place is haunted.”

“Rubbish, there are no monsters.” Fedya tried to leave but again fell over something lying in front of his feet.

“Help me Igor, you are right, that monster is looking at me as well. Aw, I think I have broken my leg.”

Yuri now had the situation under control, as chief cat he did look threatening in the dark with his glowing yellow eyes. Tasha and Koshka ran off to find Ivan the nightwatchman who was having a quiet sleep on a chair in his office. They made such a noise with their meowing that he followed them and they lead him to the two sorry figures of the robbers who were now laying helpless on the floor, Yuri keeping a watchful paw over them. Ivan called the police who arrived quickly and the two robbers were soon taken away, but in an ambulance as they had a few injuries from their accident.

The cats returned to the cellar, and were quite proud of their night’s work. The next day Valentina gave them each a portion of their favourite fish, but told Tasha that her trips in the museum were finished for a time.

Tasha did not mind, as a cat she did not understand humans so she did as she wanted. She just loved to smell and see the exhibits in the museum.

Pictures and Words: Week 1 A New Beginning