Walk through the gate. Follow the light.
I will be yours forever.
For you, my men will erect a castle
using crystal, marble and steel.
For you, the women shall sew garments
of silk decorated with golden threads,
glistening diamonds.
Come.
Walk through the gate.
Be mine.
“Tonya!” The young woman jolts awake. “Bring me them nails!”
She stands.The flour sack dress she’s been hand-stitching for a week falls to the dirt.
Squinting into the sun, she sees her man hammering together boards, building a one-room shack in a field of weeds.
She rubs her pregnant belly.
Smiles.
Life couldn’t be better.
Up From the Ashes 
Tonya has a positive spirit- the courage to dream and the acceptance to be happy in her tough present state. Good one.
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Thank you very much. This week I tried to go light. My last few posts have been rather glum.
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Thank goodness for imagination. Nicely done! Amazing what each person sees in these photos.
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I so agree Caerlynn. I love seeing what each writer focuses on. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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This is what I first saw in the picture.. but it changed when I started to write… I actually thought of a place for romani beggars..
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Yes, I can see that, too. Thanks for reading and commenting, Bjorn.
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One man’s shack is another’s castle! It’s all in the eye of the beholder. This is an excellent example of love what you have. Love this.
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Thank you very much. Sometimes castles and diamonds aren’t what’s needed.
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So very true
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It’s all a matter of perspective.
Nice and light 🙂
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Great! That’s what I was going for. Thanks
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Nicely done. I could almost feel the scratchiness of that flour sack dress.
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My mother wore a few flour sack dresses as a child. She never mentioned scratchiness, but now that you mention it . . . Thanks for reading.
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Dear Alicia,
I love the atmosphere you created in this story. It’s all perspective. I think this will be a happy marriage.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think so, too. Thanks, Rochelle
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She has everything she needs, grateful for what she’s got. Nice story!
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Thanks you very much. Sometimes what you have is all you need (I really need to remember that myself.)
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You and me both.
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My favourite so far! Left me smiling.
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I’m glad. I was trying to make this a happy tale ~ get away from the dour. Alicia
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Great turn around of a dreamer who is happy with her life. Other girls’ dreams would probably be her nightmare. I love it.
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I believe you’re right. Tonya must be easy to please. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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This is so beautiful. I applaud your imagination to combine poetry and prose, works wonderfully.
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Wow! Thanks. Kind words indeed.
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She’s a sensible woman – enjoys her dreams but is happy with her reality.
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I wish I were more like her. Thanks.
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beautifully rendered. if this is not love, i don’t know what love is.
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Thank you. Loving what you have . . . There’s something to be said for that.
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The voice saying to follow me is something corrupt, like the voice of greed. The contrast is the reality of her life.
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Yes! That’s what the building on the right reminded me of. Greed and opulence. Thanks.
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Dreams help us appreciate reality even more … well sometimes.
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Oh, you are so right. Thank you.
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I see hope here, even through the sadness. A great take on the prompt
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Thank you. Just followed what I saw. Appreciate your comments.
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Ah, a dreamer of dreams. Not a bad thing. In fact, I’m rather guilty myself.
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What a delightful thing t obe guilty of. Thanks’ Russell
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Excellent. I’m in awe of this one.
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Thanks you so very much, Ted. Kind words indeed.
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“All that glitters is not gold.” Lovely piece.
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You are so very right. Thanks for stopping by. Alicia
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I love the dream sequence and your description of the garments. It’s nice when life can be a satisfying and perfect when we know what really matters. Nice work, Alicia.
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Thanks, Amy. It didn’t start out to be when my fingers hit the keys then . . . I’m glad you liked it.
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I wish I had her attitude. I whine for 15 minutes if I get a paper cut. Well-written (actually poetic) as as usual.
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Thanks, Perry.
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I love the contrast between her dream and her reality. Your tone is perfect in both halves of the story. And I like the details of ‘her man” and her hand on her belly – it shows that despite her poverty, she’s happy. (Just a small typo, I believe – an extra “c” has crept into “stitching”.)
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Margaret, Thanks for your lovely comment. Always appreciate your stopping by.
Also THANK YOU for pointing out the extra “c” in stitching. I’ve recently had corrective eye surgery and the left eye isn’t up to snuff yet, so things are a bit blurry at best. I checked, checked and rechecked my submission and obviously missed that error. Many thanks.
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Wonderful contrast between two worlds and I have no doubt over which one will be happier.
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Thank you very much, I’m begining to think that the less we own the happier we are.
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Good story, Alicia. Tonya has to have been raised in that kind of poverty to accept it with a good attitude. She has probably known nothing else. At least they won’t be homeless. It sounds as though they’re western settlers. I hope she has family and friends nearby to help her. Well done. — Suzanne
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Thank you. I always appreciate your stopping by to read my work. Happy Holidays.
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The poetry of the first part is beautiful, Alicia, and makes the reality that much more visceral. Really well done!
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Thanks, Dawn. I love it when you stop by. If only we could have a cup of tea and a scone.
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