Theme: A Favourite Place
Entry: Free
Prize: £100
We gave the members of The Globe Soup Members-Only Group the task of writing 100 words on the theme: A Favourite Place. The following entries are Globe Soup’s top picks (in no particular order). Scroll down to find out who they chose as their winner.
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Nocturne
by Lauren Wesley-Smith
My favorite place is one of change,
A cycle ever repeating.
Like smoothened plains by day,
But rolling white hills by night,
Rising and falling like cresting waves of the sea.
It’s a place of refuge, a place of tranquility.
Ensconced by curving trees, creaking and groaning,
The cotton ripples in the moonlight,
Whispering the secrets of the night.
There’s comfort in its constancy,
Purpose to its changes.
My secret self to ashes,
Then I rise.
Sometimes I share it,
A token of love,
But forever it’s mine.
And if it were up to me,
I’d never leave my bed.
2. Skog
by Pete Armstrong
All the world's forests are different: Scottish pine on a frosty morning; English oak dappling the sunlight; giant Canadian firs shouldering their blanket of snow. Swedish skog is beautiful, each living tree stretching tall for its share of light, those fallen now rotting, returning their nutrients back to the common land. Everywhere is blanketed with green moss, painted onto every rock by trolls in the night. Birdsong fills the air. Tiny creatures rustle under ground cover, burying themselves in the hoofprints of bigger beasts. With each breath you smell the land of Midgård, protected by the gods.
3. Four Mile Beach
by Kerry Williams
I love visiting my favourite place, Four Mile Beach in the late afternoon. By this time the scalding sun has passed over the footprints in the sand, and is instead tucked behind the hill, peeking through the shady palms. It paints the metallic ocean with a palette of soft pink tones, and stains the pastel blue sky with burnt orange hues. The mountains stand majestically at one end, shrouded in a cloudy blanket, and lorikeets can be heard chatting to one another as they flutter from tree to tree, showing off their vibrant rainbow of feathers.
4. Freedom Flies
by Geraldine Nichols
I choose my space carefully.
It needs to be
not too hot
or too cold,
just right.
I try not to lay too far back
or be too upright
but centre myself
just right.
I enter my inner space,
my favourite place.
Breathe in slowly,
breathe out
just right.
I close my eyes,
not too tight.
Breathe in slowly,
breathe out.
Rise above and
dance free my dear spirit,
take flight,
Freedom is yours
for a short while.
Spread out your arms
Embrace the heavens
Smile and take your fill
Return again soon to do my will.
5. Saudade
by Enya Malbon
My favourite place transcends time and space for when I’m there all else crumbles, ceasing to hold weight. My feet have pounded pavements, puddles and pastures; trekked through terrain of treachery and delights. I hold these places within my chest like precious stones each possessing mementos - absurdly breathtaking views, deep kisses, and foolhardy misadventures.
Saudade.
After each spout of escapade, however, I always find my way back no matter time nor distance travelled. I rediscover my favourite place and nestle, peacefully engulfed, her arms wrapped around me and rhythmic heartbeat against my ear. “It’s good to be home, Mum.”
6. Musings on the Pantheon
by Sharon Peta Pearlman
Cylindrical, pillared structure. A closed door in front, before the usual tourist throng, in the early hours. Drinking coffee, awakening the senses to focus the magic from long-ago stories that come alive through the mind, and imaginings, bringing in the footsteps and voices of the past. And here am I listening - taking in and feeling all of it - inspired and alive. The Pantheon on the Piazza Della Rotondo - the spirit of Raphael - words, images, string together in my heart and mind. Soon... the dome of light will shine on a favoured setting.
The members of The Globe Soup Writing Group chose number 2: Skog as their winner!
The Globe Soup Writing Group is a private Facebook group for anyone who has entered one of Globe Soup’s seasonal writing contests. Check out our competitions page to see what’s running!