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Water Falls #99WordStories

This week at the Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills challenged writes to In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story using the phrase, water falls. Where is the water coming from? How does it shape a story? Who does it involve? Go where the prompt leads!

Any creative ideas for incorporating ‘water falls’ into a story dried up and I was left with this piece very much a BOTS (based on a true story) about a weather event that occurred along the east coast of Australia earlier this year. It was devastating for many, and many still suffering the aftereffects are homeless.

Water Falls

The water fell, gently at first then obstinately, in unrelenting torrents, like uncontainable tears from a sky in mourning. A ‘rain bomb’, they said, a ‘one in one hundred years event’. It swelled the rivers and flooded the lands mercilessly, taking lives and homes and destroying livelihoods. Water from dams filled beyond capacity cascaded over spillways, intensifying the deluge. A supercharged natural event not experienced before, never expected again. When the sky opened just a few years later, crying those same mournful tears of loss and destruction, surely the denials would cease.  As indisputable that water falls, they didn’t.

Thank you blog post

Thank you for reading. I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.

Note: The collection of stories made in response to the previous prompt Baby Ducks Ate My Lunch, including mine,can be read at the Carrot Ranch here.

Comments

46 responses to “Water Falls #99WordStories”

  1. Kate Avatar

    A poignant story well written. I liked your imagery of the rain being obstinate and then ‘uncontainable tears from the sky’.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you, Kate. And now we have another rain bomb and the threat of flooding for many, again, so soon.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Kate Avatar

        Stay safe.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Norah Avatar

          Thanks, Kate. You too. 🙂

          Liked by 1 person

  2. Marsha Avatar

    You all suffered so terribly. We get monsoons in AZ. I’ve never experienced anything on the scale of what happened there. It has happened in CA where we lived but not since the 1950’s. The fires make it worse burning the trees that hold the soil. It must have been terrifying.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      Terrible things are happening all over, Marsha. So much hardship and tragedy.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Marsha Avatar

        It’s overwhelming.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. calmkate Avatar

    Good one Norah … I was caught in the middle of that but am safe and dry!

    Well over a thousand families lost everything … absolutely everything and it took the govt a ten days to get here and two months to come up with any kind of plan. What’s not happened since is criminal … the second flood a couple of weeks later didn’t go down too well as many had started cleaning up.

    Some of my neighbours will never come back …

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Norah Avatar

      It is horrific, Kate, and the problems continue. The homelessness of so many is heartbreaking.
      We can both be grateful that we are safe and dry.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. calmkate Avatar

        absolutely … and I am supporting those open to it … too many have retreated into themselves and that’s not healthy …

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Norah Avatar

          They are fortunate to have your support. 💖

          Liked by 1 person

  4. Colleen Chesebro: WordCraftPoetry Avatar

    When I lived in Florida, a few years back, we had 20 inches of rain fall in two days. I totally connected with your descriptions and what you went through, Norah. How scary! Thank goodness, you’re safe. ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Norah Avatar

      I’m pleased the description was accurate, Colleen. It was very scary for many.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Colleen Chesebro: WordCraftPoetry Avatar

        These extreme weather events are happening everywhere. It’s so scary!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Norah Avatar

          It is. And that’s not the worst of it.

          Liked by 1 person

  5. Water Falls « Carrot Ranch Literary Community Avatar

    […] Water Falls by Norah Colvin […]

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Charli Mills Avatar

    It’s painful to watch the suffering of many because of denial, Norah. Scientists long ago predicted climate crisis but now that it has arrived, its existence is still disbelieved. You’d think after the second 100-year event in two years people would at least be questioning what is happening.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Norah Avatar

      I do think that. It’s incomprehensible.

      Like

  7. Miriam Hurdle Avatar

    The weather turned upside down in the whole world, Norah. The rain bomb and flooding sound terrible. I’m sure Australia could use some rain but not crazy and destructive water falling like the sky is broken.
    Most parts, especially the east and northeast of the US have bad weather all year long, one after another. They have snow, rain, flooding, tornados, and more. People don’t even have enough time to recover before the next one hit.
    Well done with the response to the prompt, Norah. I hope you’re okay where you are.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Norah Avatar

      To have a bad weather event one after the other like that must be very difficult to cope with, Miriam. I hope you’re okay where you are.

      Like

  8. dgkaye Avatar

    Beautifully written Norah. And yes, a terrible thing. I’d never heard of ‘rain bomb’. Crazy! ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Norah Avatar

      It certainly was crazy, Debby. I’ve never experienced rain like it before. The clouds sat over so much of the east coast and rained for days.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Patricia Tilton Avatar

    Your language is beautiful and your writing is so lyrical. It swept me into your story. Great challenge! Happy Easter!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you for your lovely words, Patricia. I appreciate them. Best wishes to you and yours.

      Like

  10. Mabel Kwong Avatar

    A wonderful write, Norah. And a good topic you chose too. You’d think the floors in Australia would never happen again – but they did again this year. Devastating to watch it all unfold not too long ago. Sometimes these things just happen. Hope you are doing well.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you, Mabel. Yes, the floods were devastating for so many, and many are still feeling the effects. There is bad flooding in South Africa now too, and many more deaths than here. It’s tragic. I’m well. I hope you are doing well too. 💖

      Like

      1. Mabel Kwong Avatar

        It is terrible there’s so much flooding everywhere. Hopefully things get better soon, and with the world in general. I’m doing alright as we are heading into winter. Hope it stays warm over there, Norah 💖

        Liked by 2 people

        1. Norah Avatar

          I agree, Mabel. Too many terrible things. I’m pleased you’re doing alright. Stay safe. 💖

          Liked by 1 person

  11. Jennie Avatar

    Well done, Norah! Flooding is devastating.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Norah Avatar

      It sure is, Jennie. So many here are still without homes after the floods. It’s tragic.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. robbiesinspiration Avatar

    Happy Easter, Norah. I have read about the terrible flooding in Australia. We are also having a lot of rain.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Norah Avatar

      Happy Easter to you too, Robbie. I did see flooding over your way in the news. I hope you weren’t affected.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. robbiesinspiration Avatar

        HI Norah, there has been very bad flooding on the east coast of South African in and around Durban. I live in the highveld so it didn’t impact us although we had a lot of rain. My house is on a hill so we’ve never had flooding.

        Liked by 2 people

        1. Norah Avatar

          I’m pleased you weren’t flooded, Robbie, but from what I’ve seen on the news, the situation at Durban is devastating. It’s terrible what nature can do. What man can do is even worse.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. robbiesinspiration Avatar

            Yes, I think parts of the affected area will end up like New Orleans, never getting repaired.

            Liked by 2 people

  13. petespringerauthor Avatar
    petespringerauthor

    Love the simile, “Like uncontainable tears from a sky in mourning.”

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you, Pete. I hoped I wasn’t overdoing it, but it was such a mammoth rain event, it was difficult to describe.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Jacqui Murray Avatar

    I remember that storm…

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Norah Avatar

      It was a big one.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. srbottch Avatar

    Mother Nature does as she pleases. Nice description and background.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you, Steve. She does. I wish we wouldn’t add to the destruction.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Jasrameshen Avatar

    Fantastic concept

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Norah Avatar

      Thank you.

      Like

      1. Jasrameshen Avatar

        Your welcome dear 😊

        Liked by 2 people

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