House

On the end of the row it’s now dilapidated and has been abandoned for the longest time. The windows are covered with dust, trapped by derelict cobwebs. The house’s interior is destitute with furniture strewn across the floors and a broken bannister lying on the stairs. It is constantly dark, the only light is that which peeks through the muddied windows.

At the back of the house is a garden. Walled off, four trees coiled with ivy line the outside. The garden has been neglected and is overgrown, with tall grasses and shrubs having conquered the soil. Vines climb the wall, clinging to the bricks. Plant pots cracked by roots seeking pastures new house ferns and flowers. The ferns uncoil when the sun comes out, leaning out for love, leaning that way forever. The only source of light in the garden was the lantern but its light has long since flickered and faded.

Today the hose and some of its denizens are 100 years old.

~~~

Lantern

The lantern is swaying but there is no breeze. Under the star river the lantern breaks free of its mooring. Yet it does not fall to the ground. It levitates in the gloaming. Through its glass shell a dull colourless flame flickers before blossoming in resplendent shades of orange and yellow.Imbued with life the lantern explores the garden, its pagoda roof waxen in the star light. It loves the way its light refracts on spider webs, how the garden is reflected in a dew drop, watching the ants navigate the grass jungles, illuminating them with save passage, the light bouncing off the windows and watching the ferns unfold in the night air.

On different nights it settles in different parts of the garden, illuming it in its entirety. And sometimes it hovers through an open window, its glowing flame enlivening the desolate house.

Table and Chairs

The lantern floated through the window, its light illuminating the once dark house like a submersible revealing the ocean depths. As it moves through house, particles of dust drift through the beams of light, as the lantern flame shines upon a table with four chairs. Covered in dust and bits of plaster no one has sat here for decades. The lantern takes a closer look. One of the chairs is missing a back and another is lacking two of its legs. The table is dotted with scratches and has one leg shorter than the others. The lantern, curiosity sated leaves and drifts through the gloom, heading upstairs.

In the gloaming, creaking and groaning fill the air. First the chairs begin to move, the two-legged one with some difficulty. Wandering around the sparse, empty room the table soon followed, lumbering around the abandoned room. The furniture enjoys looking out into the street, watching the lantern in the yard, the will o’ the wisp tending to the garden. Mostly though the table and chairs enjoy getting together and talking about the house, who has lived here, who has sat at this here and all of the things that were ever discussed at the table.

Clock

Levitating on the upper floor the lantern shines on a clock whose fingers begin to spin. The pendulum comes in motion and the clock, encased in wood unhooks itself from the wall. Drifting around the house it ponders the nature of time and wonders to itself how much longer it will exist. Being the only thing left in the house with the knowledge of time it finds itself unable to exist in the moment, always looking backwards and forwards.

~~~

The lantern mean while floats through an open up stairs window and returns to the garden, watching a spider spin its web under the cover of darkness.

~~~

Inspired by the Japanese myth of Tsukumogami: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukumogami

Also this is a special post for me, as it is number 100. And as such there is some people I want to thank here who have helped me in the ways of blogging.

Firstly on the blogosphere: Angela McConnell and her awesome blog, My Blue Screen: http://angelamcconnell.com/ . Thank you for being one of the first commenters on my blog and all the helpful advice and conversation you have given me. Also thank you for running an amazing blog.

D… and her blog A Happy Peach: http://ahappypeach.wordpress.com/ . Thank you for all the feedback you have given me, thank you making me a better writer and thank you for an amazing blog.

Hazel Ang and her blog Paintblotch: http://paintblotch.wordpress.com/ . Thank you for painting and drawing wonderful pictures and being the source of the first like on my blog. Also thank you for the comment on the City of Moru, it is quite possibly the best thing anyone has ever said about my writing.

And thank you to everyone who has ever read, liked or commented on my blog. Its means a lot. Thank you.

Personal thank yous: Thank you to Hetty Wood, Stephanie Moss, Catherine Marsh, Gareth Jones, Rachel Parr, David Arrowsmith and Ali Sha for various things such as helping with blogging, writing and just plain reading. Thank you.

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