Morris liked slow. Unfortunately, he lived in a fast world. His mama rushed to make breakfast, to dress his brothers and sisters, she rushed to work at the flower store. Papa rushed to his workshop, rushed to clean their house, rushed to meet his artist's club. His three older brothers and two younger sisters rushed all day, from the momenr their eyes opened to the moment their heads fell on their pillows at night. They played fast games and talked fast and thought fast. But Morris moved slow. He took his time, observed, waited, and liked to think, think, think.
"Come on, Morris!"
"Hurry up, Morris!"
"Pick up the pace, Morris!"
What is a pace and why should he pick it up? Morris felt like it was hard to be himself.
One day, Morris took a long, slow walk in the woods. He discovered a tree he'd never met, and sat under the cool, green leaves. He filled his lungs with air, and let out a contented sigh. He sat, and sat, and sat. And he learned that the woods let him be slow.
Love it! That's a gorgeous statue! And we can all definitely use a little bravery in our lives.
Unselfish Magic
The troll means different things to different people. To its artist, it means the display of her hard work, a lifetime worth of dreams; To the people visiting the artists’ wonderland venue, it’s the hope that they too, one day, create something so unique; To the town’s children in the know, it’s the guardian of a secret way into the building, hiding a hole just large enough for a child to crawl through. To tourists, it’s a magical legend, one of those “hidden gems” they can tell their family and friends about when they get home. To those who know the legend and who believe, it’s a place to leave a letter, a plea, in the large hands of the sculpture asking for help on behalf of a loved one.
The World Is In Our Hands has inspired many since its inception, and will continue to inspire. No one knows why or how. They just believe in its magic, a magic that makes them want to do good in return for asking the troll to lend a bit of its magic to someone they love. Everyone who knows the legend also knows you cannot ask for the magic for yourself. It will not work. It only works to benefit people who truly need it but won’t ask for it.
Was the artist a witch? A fae? Some other magical being that shared her magic with her creation to help people brave and unselfish enough to travel to ask on behalf someone else? With the artist not leaving a name on her creation, and nothing similar created anywhere else, no one will ever truly know or understand the magic of the troll. As it should be.
I love this idea that the troll means something different to everyone; what a beautiful reflection of life. And I also love the legend and that it is rooted in generosity, not selfishness. Another beautiful piece of writing, Trista, thank you! 💛
Thank you:) With the news on for most of the day every day, I think it’s put me in a very “karma exists” mood. If you put good out in the world, good should come back.
I turn the corner and stop dead in my tracks. There it is. I have been searching for years for the door to the Whimsy Woodlands. The notes said to look for a giant wooden troll, but in all honestly, I didn’t think it meant a LITERAL giant wooden troll. Twenty feet tall sitting criss-crossed with a warm grin and made of long slats of beechwood. I thought I’d find him as an etching in a Giant Sequoia tree or as rocks stacked by a stream in Buttermilk Falls.
Left foot, right knee. The notebook was covered with little phrases that stuck in my head over the years. Left foot, right knee. I thought about it all the time. Recited it as I walked, as if I needed the reminder on how to make my legs work.
I approach the left foot of the Giant Wooden Troll and then step over to the right knee. But, what does it mean? What do I do now? I run my hand over the smooth bark....
Oooh, Molly, this is very enticing! I love this setup and wonder what the main character has been searching for, and what Whimsy Woodlands will be like. Thank you so much for sharing your writing!
Looking up at this magnificent symbol of our planet. Reminded me of God passing on the World to our hands. Showing us in this artistry the thoughts of the Artist who carved it into a replica of man in youthful boyhood. Where in his imagination he held the whole world in front of him. And maybe also a responsibility to keep it as it had been given to him, a paradise on Earth where conserving Nature is the call he hears to protect it.
Using nature itself to depict the vision he had seen appear before him in the logs of wood he hoped to capture with his artistry. Perhaps realizing in that moment that while being in awe of the vision he saw he was given a gift he realized could not be maintained by himself alone. So the Artist decided to fulfill his destiny by creating this Troll like human to portray his message to the world around him, imagining it would be enough.
As he carved each intricate detail of this troll boy he became one with the world and as he continued each touch of his tool upon the wood of the trees it became more and more a part of his very existence, his reason for being. Each section he completed his strength in his conviction grew as did this wooden structure representing his purpose and responsibility to protect and nurture God’s profound gift to him. He had an urge now, like a seedling, to show each set of eyes that gazed upon this wooden symbol that they too could have the world in their hands. He prayed that each person who could …would feel the importance in this troll made of wood. How he prayed it held a lasting vision of paradise for all who gazed upon it. Then this vision of the world placed in the hands of humans could save it for eternity.
All at once the beauty of this troll boy became a symbol for all to see what a beautiful reality Nature given by God could be for each and every troll boy within us.
Oh I just thought it was so great! I love thinking about how a tomato, which is so ordinary to me, was seen as this strange, possibly deadly, foreign fruit. And the worm!
I love your troll story. The way you developed Toby’s character and story arc using such a short form inspires me. The troll will be my muse today. Thank you
Really love the creativity challenge! Reminds me of weekly prompts during my Creative Writing degree — was always such a fun time. I'll have to attempt writing something!
Harold was new to the job—an exhibit in Wonderland. He had to sit outside through rain, the hot sun, leaves falling on him, and snow. He didn’t want to do it at first, but the bosses convinced him he’d have the world in his hands. Harold didn’t want that responsibility. It was too much. He preferred to be responsible only for himself. He refused the world and was content, but worried he’d be fired.
Morris liked slow. Unfortunately, he lived in a fast world. His mama rushed to make breakfast, to dress his brothers and sisters, she rushed to work at the flower store. Papa rushed to his workshop, rushed to clean their house, rushed to meet his artist's club. His three older brothers and two younger sisters rushed all day, from the momenr their eyes opened to the moment their heads fell on their pillows at night. They played fast games and talked fast and thought fast. But Morris moved slow. He took his time, observed, waited, and liked to think, think, think.
"Come on, Morris!"
"Hurry up, Morris!"
"Pick up the pace, Morris!"
What is a pace and why should he pick it up? Morris felt like it was hard to be himself.
One day, Morris took a long, slow walk in the woods. He discovered a tree he'd never met, and sat under the cool, green leaves. He filled his lungs with air, and let out a contented sigh. He sat, and sat, and sat. And he learned that the woods let him be slow.
He smiled.
And made friends with the birds...
the butterflies...
the squirrels and chipmunks...
the dragonflies.
He smiled, content, and slow, and at home.
This is beautiful, Amanda! Thank you so much for sharing this. I think I'm going to spend some of the weekend in the forest now, just going slow... 💛
This looks like a Thomas Dambo troll! There’s six of them up here in the PNW and they are so magical ✨
Keiko! You're right, I just looked it up! https://www.thomasdambo.com/works/green-george
Thanks for sharing your photo and the link! His trolls and giants are amazing! :)
You’re very welcome, Steph! Happy Friday to you!
Thx--have a great weekend!
PS, my favorite line from your story is:
"Even after the coffee was long drunk, Toby could still taste the ghost of it on his tongue."
Yes!! I’m so inspired by his making these gorgeous trolls from recycled materials!! They’re so cool in person!!
I LOVE stumbling on art that's made in ways I never would have thought of. So, so inspiring!
Love it! That's a gorgeous statue! And we can all definitely use a little bravery in our lives.
Unselfish Magic
The troll means different things to different people. To its artist, it means the display of her hard work, a lifetime worth of dreams; To the people visiting the artists’ wonderland venue, it’s the hope that they too, one day, create something so unique; To the town’s children in the know, it’s the guardian of a secret way into the building, hiding a hole just large enough for a child to crawl through. To tourists, it’s a magical legend, one of those “hidden gems” they can tell their family and friends about when they get home. To those who know the legend and who believe, it’s a place to leave a letter, a plea, in the large hands of the sculpture asking for help on behalf of a loved one.
The World Is In Our Hands has inspired many since its inception, and will continue to inspire. No one knows why or how. They just believe in its magic, a magic that makes them want to do good in return for asking the troll to lend a bit of its magic to someone they love. Everyone who knows the legend also knows you cannot ask for the magic for yourself. It will not work. It only works to benefit people who truly need it but won’t ask for it.
Was the artist a witch? A fae? Some other magical being that shared her magic with her creation to help people brave and unselfish enough to travel to ask on behalf someone else? With the artist not leaving a name on her creation, and nothing similar created anywhere else, no one will ever truly know or understand the magic of the troll. As it should be.
I love this idea that the troll means something different to everyone; what a beautiful reflection of life. And I also love the legend and that it is rooted in generosity, not selfishness. Another beautiful piece of writing, Trista, thank you! 💛
Thank you:) With the news on for most of the day every day, I think it’s put me in a very “karma exists” mood. If you put good out in the world, good should come back.
I turn the corner and stop dead in my tracks. There it is. I have been searching for years for the door to the Whimsy Woodlands. The notes said to look for a giant wooden troll, but in all honestly, I didn’t think it meant a LITERAL giant wooden troll. Twenty feet tall sitting criss-crossed with a warm grin and made of long slats of beechwood. I thought I’d find him as an etching in a Giant Sequoia tree or as rocks stacked by a stream in Buttermilk Falls.
Left foot, right knee. The notebook was covered with little phrases that stuck in my head over the years. Left foot, right knee. I thought about it all the time. Recited it as I walked, as if I needed the reminder on how to make my legs work.
I approach the left foot of the Giant Wooden Troll and then step over to the right knee. But, what does it mean? What do I do now? I run my hand over the smooth bark....
Oooh, Molly, this is very enticing! I love this setup and wonder what the main character has been searching for, and what Whimsy Woodlands will be like. Thank you so much for sharing your writing!
Love Denmark! Was there this past April! Great story!
Oooh, where did you visit in Denmark, CL?
Copenhagen, Roskilde, Svendborg and well Aero Island.
That sounds so lovely!! I’d like to go back someday and see more places.
I definitely want to go back! Love the history and lifestyle.
A Destiny Least Imagined Yet Faithfully Held
Looking up at this magnificent symbol of our planet. Reminded me of God passing on the World to our hands. Showing us in this artistry the thoughts of the Artist who carved it into a replica of man in youthful boyhood. Where in his imagination he held the whole world in front of him. And maybe also a responsibility to keep it as it had been given to him, a paradise on Earth where conserving Nature is the call he hears to protect it.
Using nature itself to depict the vision he had seen appear before him in the logs of wood he hoped to capture with his artistry. Perhaps realizing in that moment that while being in awe of the vision he saw he was given a gift he realized could not be maintained by himself alone. So the Artist decided to fulfill his destiny by creating this Troll like human to portray his message to the world around him, imagining it would be enough.
As he carved each intricate detail of this troll boy he became one with the world and as he continued each touch of his tool upon the wood of the trees it became more and more a part of his very existence, his reason for being. Each section he completed his strength in his conviction grew as did this wooden structure representing his purpose and responsibility to protect and nurture God’s profound gift to him. He had an urge now, like a seedling, to show each set of eyes that gazed upon this wooden symbol that they too could have the world in their hands. He prayed that each person who could …would feel the importance in this troll made of wood. How he prayed it held a lasting vision of paradise for all who gazed upon it. Then this vision of the world placed in the hands of humans could save it for eternity.
All at once the beauty of this troll boy became a symbol for all to see what a beautiful reality Nature given by God could be for each and every troll boy within us.
The Artist was happy as he laid down his tools.
Kathy, I could feel the spiritual energy flowing through your words and the rhythm of your writing. Thank you for sharing your imagination with us!
Love the tomato article! Fascinating history--especially the killer worm.
I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed that tomato piece, Jessica. I wasn’t sure if it was too weird to include haha.
Oh I just thought it was so great! I love thinking about how a tomato, which is so ordinary to me, was seen as this strange, possibly deadly, foreign fruit. And the worm!
I love your troll story. The way you developed Toby’s character and story arc using such a short form inspires me. The troll will be my muse today. Thank you
oh my gosh, thank you, Patty!
And it brings me so much joy knowing that the troll walked alongside of you today!
Love this! 🤩
thank you very much, Elaine! I hoped the photo sparked a few moments of creativity for you (or at least left you with a smile.) Happy weekend!
Really love the creativity challenge! Reminds me of weekly prompts during my Creative Writing degree — was always such a fun time. I'll have to attempt writing something!
I'm so happy to heat this, Tassneem! I hope you have a lot of fun with this prompt. Have a wonderful weekend!
I need to know more about Toby!!!! I love this short short story
aww, thank you, Abha!
This is really terrible, but here goes!
Harold was new to the job—an exhibit in Wonderland. He had to sit outside through rain, the hot sun, leaves falling on him, and snow. He didn’t want to do it at first, but the bosses convinced him he’d have the world in his hands. Harold didn’t want that responsibility. It was too much. He preferred to be responsible only for himself. He refused the world and was content, but worried he’d be fired.