I hope you’ll come visit soon: My apartment awaits with open arms! Seeing as I’ve just moved, there’s no couch here yet to sit on while discussing all the ways we’ll light up the world together. Furthermore, the shower sometimes leaks tears (I can relate) and I’ve only yesterday found out how to keep the dryer happy (did you know some dryers have a drawer for collecting all the wrung-out water, and one must empty it oneself? …I did not).
But: I’ve got more tea than you could slurp in a lifetime of pixie dust, a lovely real-wood table to set it on, and just enough disrespect for recipes that cooking is always an adventure. At my place all artificial lights are out by 9 p.m.—after that, only candles. I lie in bed listening to a novel before falling asleep: something light, imaginative, fancy-tickling. You’d love it here. Oh, I almost forgot to mention the meadow and river just outside, to the north and east, respectively. Sunrise over the river? Yes please.
I hope you’ll remind me to write every day, and help me find the right words when I’ve come up empty. I hope you’ll rub off on me a bit so that after you leave, I’m a little more like you. I love the way you color everything golden hour, find the flowers growing through the pavement cracks, and can crack a joke when it’s dark. You call weeds wildflowers and start looking for adventure as soon as plans start unraveling—or maybe pull the first thread yourself. I’ve lost some of that mischief and mystery, but maybe you can be my summer school tutor this year.
Do come, and we’ll romp and frolic till we live rent-free for ages in the minds of everyone who sees us :-)
Love how this starts with your apartment and ends with living rent-free! I can smell the freshness of a new start. Playful, flirty, and energetic--an attractive invitation. Really liked the line, "I hope you’ll rub off on me a bit so that after you leave, I’m a little more like you." Yes!
love the dryer that needs to be kept happy. I actually have one of those kinds of dryers :) Also love the idea of an apartment ready to be filled with magic--great extended metaphor!
Welcome. I have been waiting for you. Ever since I lost my North Star, my mom, you seem to have disappeared. No matter how hard I look, I cannot find you. I have looked everywhere. In her cedar hope chest full of old obituaries and Christmas ornaments. In the breeze running through my Japanese maple leaf tree. Under the bed. In the junk drawer. Mom took my voice, my words, too. My heart is so open I often bleed onto the carpet. I believe in your power. I will serve you whatever you need to make the journey. Glitter. Sunrises and sunsets. An Ice cold Coca-Cola with a street taco, eaten while sitting on the hood of your car watching the surfers at Mavericks. Champagne in a red Solo cup. Wind chimes. Take my hand. Show me the way. Make us both shine.
Oh, yes, Nicole. This is beautiful. I like how you pinned magic in relationship to loss/grief. I loved your list of where you've looked for it--and how you included tangible and intangible things (in her cedar chest, in the breeze). I felt a familiar searching feeling in your words. And then your list of what you'd give to magic made me smile right through the end. Thank you!
This is so raw and tender, Nicole! Gorgeous. I love the move from glitter to a street taco in the same line -- I don't know what I thought was coming after Coca-Cola, but it wasn't that, and I loved the surprise :)
As a side note, I just love Japanese maples! Looking forward to reading more of your writing <3
No one is awake but us. Here, let’s whisper while first light announces the sun.
Thanks for showing up. For staying when the facts washout. For thinning matter until your shimmer prickles through.
I love it when you do that.
Sorry I don’t always know you right away. And that I took so long to call you by your name. To mean it.
See, I’m learning here, Magic.
I know don’t want to live on what I know. Teach me what I’ll never understand. Highlight the inexplicable. Point me toward mystery. School me in sighs of awe.
Prove to me again how this world is translucent. Let me glimpse a little more of you today.
What creative use of language here! I felt inspired by it. "The breaking" made me think of ocean waves but also of breaking up or breaking apart. I, too, liked the verbing of "glitter". And these hands that are not severed--oof! Gave me little chills. Thanks!
I love how you play with parts of speech: "You glitter worry with your empty, build your lonely..." Also, the image of magic blowing someone off!! Brilliant.
Love these comments so far. I’m gonna be working these prompts in the wee hours, so I’ll be jumping in tomorrow am (EST)! Excited to make magic with you all. ✨
I have missed you these past months. It has been a different existence without you, and frankly, I don’t like who I have become in your absence.
My heart, a flickering candle flame where fire used to roar. The color in my world has grayed, and I wrongly blamed the world. It was you, it was always you.
Do you miss me too?
We were so good together, you and I… the chemistry, the energy, every day a gift to explore together.
Please find your way back to me, so I don’t have to abandon myself too.
Dear Magic,
I hope you’ll come visit soon: My apartment awaits with open arms! Seeing as I’ve just moved, there’s no couch here yet to sit on while discussing all the ways we’ll light up the world together. Furthermore, the shower sometimes leaks tears (I can relate) and I’ve only yesterday found out how to keep the dryer happy (did you know some dryers have a drawer for collecting all the wrung-out water, and one must empty it oneself? …I did not).
But: I’ve got more tea than you could slurp in a lifetime of pixie dust, a lovely real-wood table to set it on, and just enough disrespect for recipes that cooking is always an adventure. At my place all artificial lights are out by 9 p.m.—after that, only candles. I lie in bed listening to a novel before falling asleep: something light, imaginative, fancy-tickling. You’d love it here. Oh, I almost forgot to mention the meadow and river just outside, to the north and east, respectively. Sunrise over the river? Yes please.
I hope you’ll remind me to write every day, and help me find the right words when I’ve come up empty. I hope you’ll rub off on me a bit so that after you leave, I’m a little more like you. I love the way you color everything golden hour, find the flowers growing through the pavement cracks, and can crack a joke when it’s dark. You call weeds wildflowers and start looking for adventure as soon as plans start unraveling—or maybe pull the first thread yourself. I’ve lost some of that mischief and mystery, but maybe you can be my summer school tutor this year.
Do come, and we’ll romp and frolic till we live rent-free for ages in the minds of everyone who sees us :-)
Love,
Kendra
The shower sometimes leaks tears actually made me tear up. It’s where I do my best crying. Love this piece. Here’s to magic, friend. Let’s make some!
The shower is a fantastic place to cry! Thanks for your kind words <3
Love how this starts with your apartment and ends with living rent-free! I can smell the freshness of a new start. Playful, flirty, and energetic--an attractive invitation. Really liked the line, "I hope you’ll rub off on me a bit so that after you leave, I’m a little more like you." Yes!
Confession: I didn’t even see the connection between “apartment” and “rent-free” till you said it 😂😂
Yes, I noticed that too! I just LOVE a good circle back! Well executed ♥️
love the dryer that needs to be kept happy. I actually have one of those kinds of dryers :) Also love the idea of an apartment ready to be filled with magic--great extended metaphor!
Wild! I've never heard of them before, but suddenly on run #4 or so, the dryer stopped working :/ Lol.
Thank you!
These are so beautiful, it's taking my breath away <3 Thank you, all, for being here.
Dear Magic,
Welcome. I have been waiting for you. Ever since I lost my North Star, my mom, you seem to have disappeared. No matter how hard I look, I cannot find you. I have looked everywhere. In her cedar hope chest full of old obituaries and Christmas ornaments. In the breeze running through my Japanese maple leaf tree. Under the bed. In the junk drawer. Mom took my voice, my words, too. My heart is so open I often bleed onto the carpet. I believe in your power. I will serve you whatever you need to make the journey. Glitter. Sunrises and sunsets. An Ice cold Coca-Cola with a street taco, eaten while sitting on the hood of your car watching the surfers at Mavericks. Champagne in a red Solo cup. Wind chimes. Take my hand. Show me the way. Make us both shine.
With love,
As always,
Nicole
The imagery of you looking everywhere breaks my heart a little bit 🥺
Oh, yes, Nicole. This is beautiful. I like how you pinned magic in relationship to loss/grief. I loved your list of where you've looked for it--and how you included tangible and intangible things (in her cedar chest, in the breeze). I felt a familiar searching feeling in your words. And then your list of what you'd give to magic made me smile right through the end. Thank you!
This is so raw and tender, Nicole! Gorgeous. I love the move from glitter to a street taco in the same line -- I don't know what I thought was coming after Coca-Cola, but it wasn't that, and I loved the surprise :)
As a side note, I just love Japanese maples! Looking forward to reading more of your writing <3
Love the idea of the speaker serving magic to the magic. Kind of a role reversal. . .
Good morning, Magic.
No one is awake but us. Here, let’s whisper while first light announces the sun.
Thanks for showing up. For staying when the facts washout. For thinning matter until your shimmer prickles through.
I love it when you do that.
Sorry I don’t always know you right away. And that I took so long to call you by your name. To mean it.
See, I’m learning here, Magic.
I know don’t want to live on what I know. Teach me what I’ll never understand. Highlight the inexplicable. Point me toward mystery. School me in sighs of awe.
Prove to me again how this world is translucent. Let me glimpse a little more of you today.
I love ‘it took so long to call you by your name.’ Soooo true!
I love "I don't want to live on what I know." The posture of one who is learning, not one who knows -- that's the only way to find Magic in life!
No one is awake but us…so intimate, like a secret 💕
Dear Magic
Why don’t you respond to my texts? I wait
for you: the slap of salt to calves as Orion’s
shoulder peers between two clouds, the gate
left open wide to wildflowers my young
niece doesn’t know are invasive, the last
drops of ice cream on a spoon, melting
forgotten as my lover and I walk past
the breaking. Magic, have you never felt
abandoned? You say I’m not the only
one you blew off this week. You glitter
worry with your empty, build your lonely
as a ghost ship in a storm, its holds littered
with hands—they’re not severed. They’ll atone
by lighting my phone when I think I’m alone.
What creative use of language here! I felt inspired by it. "The breaking" made me think of ocean waves but also of breaking up or breaking apart. I, too, liked the verbing of "glitter". And these hands that are not severed--oof! Gave me little chills. Thanks!
I love how you play with parts of speech: "You glitter worry with your empty, build your lonely..." Also, the image of magic blowing someone off!! Brilliant.
Love these comments so far. I’m gonna be working these prompts in the wee hours, so I’ll be jumping in tomorrow am (EST)! Excited to make magic with you all. ✨
Yay! So glad to see you here
Dear Magic,
I have missed you these past months. It has been a different existence without you, and frankly, I don’t like who I have become in your absence.
My heart, a flickering candle flame where fire used to roar. The color in my world has grayed, and I wrongly blamed the world. It was you, it was always you.
Do you miss me too?
We were so good together, you and I… the chemistry, the energy, every day a gift to explore together.
Please find your way back to me, so I don’t have to abandon myself too.