Six

Keith's Ramblings

For Six Sentence Stories where the given word is Grid.

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Standing in his studio, a crumbling concrete bunker amid swaying trees, a weary artist stares at a blank canvas, his mind empty, his thoughts a vapid open space.

With a swipe of his arm, his easel smashes to the floor, then he tramples across blank canvases and crumpled paint tubes and crouches in a corner, quietly sobbing, his head upon his knees; inspiration has deserted him.

Through a rusty iron grid that crisscrosses the broken window, sun rays permeate the gloom and gently caress his weary hands

He looks up and watches as shadows flicker upon the peeling walls, dancing, swaying, spinning, and then the awful silence is broken by a songbird, sitting upon the ledge whistling a merry tune.

He unfurls his aching body, rights his easel, gathers up some canvases, then adorns his palette with paints of many colours and with flicks of his wrist, pictures begin to form, one, two, three, more.

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It was years before the studio was discovered, a glimpse of Heaven, one reporter wrote, but nobody knew who the creator was, not a  name, not a signature, not a single clue.

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Thanks to Denise at GirlieOnTheEdge for hosting.

34 thoughts on “Six”

  5. clark's avatar clark Jul 27, 2023 / 15:09

    I’m with the others… a small* jewel of a story.

    *six-by-six, of course

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  7. Patricia's avatar Patricia Jul 27, 2023 / 19:12

    I imagine there are many such glimpses of Heaven that hidden away behind closed doors.

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  8. messymimi's meanderings's avatar messymimi's meanderings Jul 27, 2023 / 22:14

    I’m glad his muse came back, he probably realized it was never gone, just quiet. A very haunting story (and i have a feeling i’ve read one like it before).

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings Jul 28, 2023 / 12:33

      Thanks, Mimi. I did write something similar about a toy maker several years ago.

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  10. Spira's avatar Spira Jul 28, 2023 / 06:32

    Inspiration is always present, we seem not to be.
    A fine story Keith, with an ending, unfortunately, not unfamiliar to artists.

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  11. Natasha's avatar Natasha Jul 28, 2023 / 08:04

    So poignant. The story of a whole lots of artists and creative people, ain’t this? Look at Van Gogh being celebrated all over after his death and what a lonely, traumatic life he led. Saddens me no end.

    I wish you a wonderful weekend. Take care my friend.

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    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings Jul 28, 2023 / 13:13

      Artists, musicians, writers; so many went unrecognised during their lifetime. Thank you for your kind wishes, Natasha.

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      • Natasha's avatar Natasha Aug 1, 2023 / 13:12

        Thank you for your words always. They add a glimmer of hope, joy and laughter to my life.

        Like

  13. rumorofhope's avatar Hope Jul 28, 2023 / 17:25

    Superb graphics! And, YAY, for birdsong. I always find it inspirational.

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  14. Liz H-H's avatar Liz H-H Jul 29, 2023 / 09:27

    Sometimes you break
    Before you in truth create
    That final sentence a grab of the gut.
    Just lovely, Keith.

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