Raw Earth Ink
spit, mixed with dirt – muddy words flow
The Higher Call
He dips his pen into the inkwell. Lifts it carefully, tapping it gently on the edge of the jar before moving back to his paper. His fingertips, forever stained with the heavy black ink, never hesitate.
Not a moment passes where there aren’t thoughts and ideas swirling inside his heart and mind, stories to be told in a few short lines.
There’s a worn wooden clock on the wall ticking away the moments he’ll never see again. His writing quickens. So many things to say. He knows he’ll write until there’s no more strength in his fingers.
Other than the clock, it’s just the scratching of the nib you hear. Periodically punctuated with ejaculations of fury or a sharp bark of laughter.
In the corner sits a worn teddy bear on a three-legged stool. Its soft tan fur now matted and thin. It once held the affections of the little boy who used to sit in the very same place, silently watching his poppa create.
His light brown eyes always observing, absorbing… but he never did learn how to speak. Decades have crawled on since he last sat on that stool while the now-aged man he once watched still writes and writes and writes.
tara caribou | ©2019-2022 revised
27 Comments on “The Higher Call”
Raw Earth Ink 
very random and thought provoking … where did this come from? sounds inspired by something personal and a little unusual?
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Just strange little scenes I see in my mind and feel compelled to write out.
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that was really nice Tara!
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Thanks Frank! I’m glad you liked it.
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Oh so Deep. Nice piece of your thoughts,
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Thanks John! I’m glad you liked this.
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Love it! I can see him sitting there while the silent teddy bear is watching! Well done.
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Thank you Dwight!
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Great vivid snapshot! A writer’s work is never done 🙂
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Yes! That’s so true.
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I really identify with this piece!
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That’s wonderful Chris! To have it resonate with you makes my day.
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This is a really intense and evocative scene, Tara. It is easy to visualise the scene but, – and what I feel is more important to me – to get inside your character’s head and understand his need to make himself heard, if only for his own sake. Excellent.
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Thanks Chris. I purposely left that out because I wanted the reader to imagine a hundred different things it could be. The outsider looking in. No idea why, just the obvious drive and what once was is now gone with the passionate artist seemingly oblivious to it all.
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I want to read more about this silent writer character.
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That’s great! I know I’ve done my job when you want more! ☺️
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Exactly! I want more…
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Touched in some way for which words elude.
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Yes that’s it exactly!
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Reblogged this on cabbagesandkings524 and commented:
Tara Caribou – A man, a pen, and a teddy bear
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I love the thoughts and feelings this provokes… the images too an question about the boy.
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I had this whole story playing out in my own mind and I wrote the bare minimum of what I saw, in hopes of creating some inspiration or imagination in others. I’m glad you enjoyed it, Simon.
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I like that – making the bare bones of something to see what comes of it 🙂
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The imagery here is incredible. Thank you for taking me there!
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My pleasure.
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I always like to imagine the spirit lives on through what we held close. In this case, the lovely teddy 🤗.
A very touching piece, I got to know more about these character in one sitting than I do some characters in novels lol
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I’m glad you were touched by this one. I liked writing it. Just came out in a rush.
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