© irene waters 2015
Industrious
Ants and bees
But like the queen
I’d like to be
with drones and workers
at my whim
Industrious , for I’ll accept no shirkers.
Industrious
The revolution
they’d have you believe
was a precursor to that other
that saw all in factories
working like those ants and bees.
Industrious
they tried to stamp out
with Unions pulling children out
then claiming wages should be fair,
A shorter week they then dared.
Industrious,
again in parts
sees children studying for long hours
Knowing when work they must
Schooling will be their only hope
As we all know,
knowledge does empower.
© irene waters 2015
As you can see I had a total writers block on this prompt by Charli where she asked:
December 30, 2015 prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write an industrious story. It can be about an industry or the efforts of a person or group of people. What does their industry reflect? Does hard work pay off? Are there risks or accidents?
Respond by January 5, 2015 to be included in the weekly compilation.Rules are here. All writers are welcome!
About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Well, the block certainly diverted you onto something new! I love this Irene and also the effect that forcing ourselves to respond to a fiction prompt results in. Good writing and good for writing 😀
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Thanks Lisa. Yes it does make you travel outside your comfort zone. I’ve started a new monthly challenge (uncomfortable with that word but don’t know what else to call it) that you may be interested in but you are under no pressure to participate unless you want to. https://irenewaters19.com/2016/01/01/a-new-monthly-challengetimes-past/
Hope you have a Happy 2016 and that your back is nice to you.
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I really enjoyed this flash poem Irene, I think it’s so clever. And I love the scenes depicted in your photos…I’m curious as to where you took them…
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Thank you Sherri. So glad you enjoyed it. I am not a poet in that I have no idea about rhyme, beat and all the rest of the components of poetry but when I’m down (which I wasn’t) and it seems when I am stuck for story, poetry of some sort seems to fill the hole.
The photos were taken at GOMA (gallery of modern art) in Brisbane.
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Thanks for letting me know that, I was fascinated by the photos 🙂 And yes, I feel the same way about poetry…but I write it when I’m down, it’s the only time I seem to be able to do it!!!!
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I think it suits deep emotion. Anyway neither of us is writing poetry at the moment (you can’t count this as it was a writers block moment) so it must say that we are happy. Good place to be.
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That’s the kind of good news I like…I might think I’m losing the plot sometimes, but at least I’m not writing angst-filled poetry, and you neither! Yay 🙂
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🙂
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Great job, Irene. You met the challenge!
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Thanks Noelle
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Writers block led to a different flow of creativity. Very industrious of you! I’m so intrigued by these figurines, too. Are they related to the little men among tortured trees?
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And I meant to add, the idea of industry and workers rights, child protection, educations are all heavy ideas for just 99 words. Well done.
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Thanks Charli. It started off purely about ants and bees it was interesting to me where it led.
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No they aren’t related to the tortured tree little men. These were life size artists impression of a school in Asia which was displayed in the Brisbane gallery of Modern Art. Naturally I just knew I would need them for one of your prompts.
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I love this, Irene, it’s really clever and poignant – we’ve freed children from the shackles of the factory only to have them slaving equally long hours on their studies.
And, as everyone has acknowledged, wonderful images.
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Thanks Anne. As I said in another comment this one just happened starting with thoughts of ants and bees. The images could have been done specifically for it. Cheers
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