Memory’s Last Masterpiece

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Bold, inked details filled the foreground while the distant horizon disappeared into an indistinct wash of half-guessed color.

Tear blurred figures strode up the path towards Meg, the faces little more than a blot, but the names well known.

The names, the names. People and places. Things and ideas. The names paraded down that watercolor path towards her and away from her.

“Grandmother? Are you still with us?”

The dry-brushed voice belonged to a name half-familiar, but not one set into the scene the way Winslow Homer was.

She tried to paint the present, but her palette had gone dry.

***

Word count = 100

Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo © Jean L. Hays. Read more or join in by following the InLinkz “linky“.

46 thoughts on “Memory’s Last Masterpiece”

FineTest August 22, 2020 at 3:19 pm

Great metaphor.

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1. trentpmcd Post authorAugust 22, 2020 at 3:20 pm
  
  Thanks :)
  
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Rebecca Cuningham August 1, 2020 at 12:59 am

very clever. I like it.

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1. trentpmcd Post authorAugust 1, 2020 at 7:14 am
  
  Thanks :)
  
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Psychic-Medium-Author Ronda Del Boccio July 28, 2020 at 7:00 pm

Yex, sometimes creative juices fail to flow. Good story.
Ronda

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 29, 2020 at 6:51 am
  
  Thanks, Ronda.
  
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Miriam Hurdle July 25, 2020 at 2:23 pm

Beautifully written, Trent! I enjoyed reading it.

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 25, 2020 at 4:18 pm
  
  Thanks, Miriam!
  
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  1. Miriam Hurdle July 25, 2020 at 9:36 pm
    
    You’re welcome, Trent!
    
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draliman July 25, 2020 at 1:39 am

Great use of the photo to paint us a scene!

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 25, 2020 at 7:21 am
  
  Thanks!
  
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Bill July 23, 2020 at 9:34 am

I agree with other comments here. Great use of your writer’s tool box. Well done!

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 23, 2020 at 11:35 am
  
  Thanks!
  
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ceayr July 23, 2020 at 6:11 am

Elegant and evocative piece, Trent.
I can relate to the ‘half-guessed color’

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 23, 2020 at 9:14 am
  
  Thanks. With that “half-guessed”, my memory too often is like one of the watercolors and it is little more than a guess ;)
  
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justjoyfulness July 23, 2020 at 2:26 am

A beautifully captured poetic piece. You described her inner life quite magnificently.

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 23, 2020 at 7:28 am
  
  Thanks. :)
  
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Dale July 22, 2020 at 10:05 pm

This was such a beautiful write, Trent. One of my favourites from you. So good.

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 23, 2020 at 7:17 am
  
  Thanks, Dale. I guess I should try to go metaphorical more often :)
  
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  1. Dale July 23, 2020 at 7:41 am
    
    Yes! This was truly wonderful.
    
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    1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 23, 2020 at 9:14 am
      
      :)
      
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msjadeli July 22, 2020 at 7:53 pm

Poetic and beautifully sensitive portrait of an inevitable stage of life for many.

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 23, 2020 at 7:16 am
  
  Some may keep bold colors to the end, but it is the inevitable stage for many. Thanks.
  
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  1. msjadeli July 23, 2020 at 12:50 pm
    
    You’re welcome.
    
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Resa July 22, 2020 at 3:20 pm

An excellent write! An excellent read!

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 22, 2020 at 5:08 pm
  
  Thanks, Resa!
  
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Susan A Eames July 22, 2020 at 2:16 pm

Beautifully expressed. Loved that last line!

Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 22, 2020 at 3:15 pm
  
  Thanks. This was one of those that the last line came first and the story was written to reach it.
  
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granonine July 22, 2020 at 12:47 pm

Trent, I had to read it again just to get the full impact. This is so good. Love the last line.

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 22, 2020 at 3:09 pm
  
  Wow, thanks for the kind words, Linda :) Glad you liked it. I thought of the last line first and so wrote everything to work up to it.
  
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Tina Stewart Brakebill July 22, 2020 at 11:47 am

Beautiful. Plus a Winslow reference. Love his work 💜💙

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 22, 2020 at 12:13 pm
  
  Thanks! For some reason, I put Winslow in, and then thought, “nah, he didn’t do watercolor, did he?” I Googled “artists who used watercolor” and his name was on the short list, so…
  
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rochellewisoff July 22, 2020 at 11:37 am

Dear Trent,

Such a beautifully painted metaphorical story. It really touched my heart.

Shalom,

Rochelle

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 22, 2020 at 11:43 am
  
  Thanks, Rochelle, I am glad you enjoyed the story. I wanted to try something a little different today.
  
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Keith's Ramblings July 22, 2020 at 9:29 am

A poignant piece indeed. Nice one Trent.

Here’s mine!

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 22, 2020 at 11:40 am
  
  Thanks, Keith.
  
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Sadje July 22, 2020 at 9:16 am

Oh, wow! This is amazing

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 22, 2020 at 9:32 am
  
  Thanks, Sadje!
  
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  1. Sadje July 22, 2020 at 2:26 pm
    
    You’re welcome 😉
    
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Tannille July 22, 2020 at 8:52 am

“She tried to paint the present, but her palette had gone dry.” – Pretty much says it all. What great line.

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 22, 2020 at 9:07 am
  
  Thanks. I thought of that line first and wrote the story to match.
  
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notestowomen July 22, 2020 at 8:35 am

Sad and beautifully written story, Trent.

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 22, 2020 at 9:06 am
  
  Thanks. Trying something a little different.
  
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  1. notestowomen July 22, 2020 at 10:06 am
    
    You’re welcome :)
    
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Iain Kelly July 22, 2020 at 8:29 am

A life lived and lost. The present is indeed a difficult one to capture in art!

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1. trentpmcd Post authorJuly 22, 2020 at 9:06 am
  
  Those painted memories are all some have left, and the present? Yep, a difficult capture.
  
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