February 2024

 


Down the Rabbit Hole



The Golden Key

You've come across a key that unlocks anything. Write a poem (<40 lines) or a short story (<500 words) about this most fascinating item in your possession.


My hand trembled as I held the golden key, its tarnished metal glinting in the dim attic light. It felt old, older than anything in the cobweb-draped space, and I sensed a subtle hum from it as if it held a dormant pulse.

The attic was where my grandmother stored all the forgotten things, a hodgepodge of steamer trunks, chipped china, and yellowing photographs. I'd always loved poking about up there, a little Indiana Jones in a dust-filled kingdom. But this time, the key had called to me, nestled in a velvet box that hadn't been there before.

No inscription, no hint of its purpose. Yet, I held it and whispered a silly wish, almost as a joke, "I wish this old lock would open." The attic's ancient padlock, rusted and immovable since I was a child, clicked. A shiver ran down my spine.

It couldn't be, could it? Curiosity overrode caution. I tried the key on everything I could – a worn suitcase, a grandfather clock that had long ago ceased ticking, even the attic door itself. They yielded, every one of them, as if the key was more a command than an implement.

Then my eyes fell on an old wardrobe, its wood scarred and dark. There was no knob, just two massive keyholes. My breath hitched. I fit the golden key first in one, then in the other. With a sound like an indrawn breath, the wardrobe doors swung open.

This was impossible. Beyond the wardrobe doors wasn't darkness and mothballed clothes, but a forest bathed in an ethereal golden light. The air smelled of wildflowers and damp earth, and the rustle of leaves was unlike any I'd ever heard.

Heart pounding, I stepped through the wardrobe.

The old attic with its familiar dust and shadows were gone. I stood in a woodland glade dappled with sunlight I couldn't see filtering through the trees. A path wound away, beckoning, and an overwhelming sense of rightness filled me. It was like all the questions I'd ever held had settled, the answers waiting just around the next bend.

The air hummed again, and I realized it wasn't coming from the key, but from me. As I turned the key in my hand, it vanished with a faint shimmer, dissolving into me.

It wasn't the key that had unlocked this world, I realized. It had unlocked something within myself. And now, all I had to do was walk the path.



Attic's heart, where shadows dwell,
A golden key, a trembling spell.
Dust of ages, whispers low,
A tarnished gleam, a pulse to know.

Cobwebs cling to treasures lost,
Grandmother's trove, by time embossed.
Young explorer, spirit bright,
A whispered wish, in fading light.

Ancient lock, a rusted sigh,
Yet yields to touch, beneath the sky.
Curiosity, a tempting flame,
Key in hand, and rules untamed.

Suitcase worn, and clock's still face,
The key commands, in boundless space.
Wardrobe looms, with secrets deep,
Two keyholes sigh, as hinges weep.

A world beyond, in golden beams,
Wildflower scent, and whispered dreams.
Heart aflame, a path unfurled,
The attic fades, a vanished world.

No turn of key, but spirit's flight,
The shimmer fades, in newfound might.
The key dissolves, a truth unsealed,
Power within, forever revealed.




Word/Line Count:
Story: 411 Words
Poem: 24 Lines


 

Down the Rabbit Hole



The Antipathies

Alice believed she would meet these folks who walk with their heads downward if she keeps falling. Write your own adventure of discovering such a place. (<1000 words)


The air whistled past Gervic’s ears. It wasn't the panicked rush of his initial fall, no, but the wind that whispers of a long journey. It was almost…peaceful. It had to be hours by now, maybe days even. Since the rabbit hole, since the tears, since… well, he'd lost track of time entirely.

Suddenly, the air thinned, the light changed. There was a tug of something familiar, something like gravity flipped on its head. And then Gervic was tumbling, head over heels, eyes wide, landing with a thump.

“Oomph!" He sat up, blinking. Above him, where the sky should have been, was a ceiling. A ceiling of dirt and roots, the light filtering oddly through them. He wasn't outside anymore, but in a gigantic cave of sorts.

A giggle, high-pitched and sharp, echoed around here. "Look at him!”"

Gervic whipped around. Two children stood before him, identical but mirrored. Their hair was dandelion yellow and their eyes were uncanny green. Most importantly, they stood upside down. Their feet pointed to the dirt ceiling.

"Welcome to Down Under," the smaller one said with a cheeky bow that nearly toppled him over.

Down Under? Of course! Gervic had wondered if he'd come out on the other side of the world, but he'd never suspected it would be quite this literal.

“I'm Gervic,” He managed, still disoriented. The children beamed, and then – with a strength far belying their size – hoisted her upright, so he stood just like them, toes to the ceiling. It was dizzying, a bit nauseating, and…well, kind of exhilarating.

“I'm Topsy, and this lump is Turvy,” said the larger twin. “You'll be staying with us for now. Follow, and don't poke anything glowy!"

What followed was a whirlwind tour. Down Under, it seemed, was a vast network of caves that mirrored the world above, but topsy-turvy. Here, trees grew upwards, roots like tangled hair against the ceiling. Glowing mushrooms dotted the ground, bouncing light against rivers that flowed overhead. Gravity was a mere suggestion. Topsy and Turvy bounced along the ceiling with the ease of squirrels, Gervic trailing clumsily behind, catching himself on branches and roots whenever he faltered.

Their world was a bizarre contradiction: familiar and alien all at once. There were creatures, too, some he half-recognized – owls that hung like bats, squirrels that scuttled upside down, their tails held high. Even the other inhabitants were upside-down versions of people he might find above-ground, though the way they laughed and walked without a hint of nausea was truly a sight to see.

Topsy and Turvy regaled him with tales of this strange land: the Nightlights that glowed in the deepest caves, the upside-down waterfalls, the ever-present danger of a curious creature called the Jabberwock.

Days turned into a strange sort of week, then blurred entirely at the edges. Gervic found an odd comfort in this upside-down place. He even managed to walk along the ceiling with a bit of grace, though he'd never master the way Turvy could flip and spin in midair.

Gervic learned to eat with his head hanging low, to read books propped on the ceiling, and to sleep curled like a spider in his little corner of the cave. At times, there was a pang of longing for the Right-Side-Up world, for his quiet life and his sister. But Down Under…it was a wild, topsy-turvy magic he'd never dreamed possible.

Until one day, when the air shimmered, the light shifted, and Gervic felt his stomach twist.

“Time for you to go,” announced Topsy with a strange note of finality in his voice. “A portal back Up Top, happens now and again.”

Before Gervic could process this, the world was swirling around him. The pull of gravity returned, normal and inevitable. There was a sharp tug, and then he was falling, but this time with sunlight streaming into his open eyes.

He landed on soft grass, a tangle of disoriented limbs. His world was right-side-up once more, and perhaps a bit less brilliant. But then, he thought, his hands coming up to touch the dirt, the grass, so strange after so long in Down Under –perhaps a little topsy-turvy was in his blood now, in his laughter and in the way he looked at the world ever after.




Word Count:
Story: 727 Words


 A. Down the Rabbit Hole




Follow the White Rabbit

Write about your participation in this project/activity, and what you hope to gain from it once finished. (<500 words)


I've always had a soft spot for the written word. While poetry has been my primary outlet, the lure of longer narratives has always lingered in the back of my mind. When I stumbled upon the Wonderland writing/blogging activity, something ignited within me. Perhaps it was the promise of a productive year or the inspiring words of the "Letter to Myself" ("Dearest Me")  – all I know is that I had to be a part of it.

As I embark on this writing/blogging journey, I have a few goals in mind that extend beyond just completing the activity:

Expanding My Writing Horizons: The Wonderland activity is the perfect opportunity to stretch my writing muscles. I want to craft longer narratives, develop complex characters, and experiment with different story structures by the time I reach the finish line.

Discovering Diverse Voices: One of the things that excites me most about Wonderland is the prospect of connecting with other passionate writers. I want to immerse myself in the stories and styles of my fellow bloggers, seeking inspiration and learning along the way.

Sharing My Voice: Participating in a community project like the Wonderland activity offers a precious chance to become a more visible part of the blogging world. My hope is that by sharing my work and engaging with others, I can build meaningful relationships and gain wider recognition for my writing.


I'm fully aware that this journey might have its challenges. Finding time, maintaining consistency, and battling the occasional bout of writer's block – these obstacles may arise. But I'm determined to overcome them. This activity is about more than just the finish line. It's about self-improvement, collaboration, and leaving my mark on the blogging community.

If you're a fellow writer or a curious reader, I invite you to join me on my Wonderland journey. I'm excited to share my growth, learn from others, and together, we can make this an unforgettable and productive year!



A world of words, a curious sight,
Wonderland beckons, bathed in light.
My pen, the key, unlocks the door,
To tales untold, and so much more.

Poetry, my comfort zone, I leave behind,
Longer tales and characters in my mind.
The White Rabbit whispers, "Follow me,"
Down the hole, where my voice breaks free.

With every word, my skills take flight,
Narratives woven, day and night.
New voices call, like Cheshire's grin,
Inspiration sparks, a journey within.

The Mad Hatter's tea party, a writer's feast,
Where ideas mingle, creativity released.
My name echoes softly, carried by the breeze,
A budding writer amongst the literary trees.

Though challenges lurk, like the Queen of Hearts,
Doubt and writer's block, their cunning arts.
Through the Looking-Glass, a clearer view,
My determination shines, forever true.

This Wonderland quest, a gift so bright,
Words take shape, with newfound might.
Beyond the finish line, my story awaits,
A writer transformed, where potential creates.

Come, fellow dreamers, let's fall hand in hand,
Into this world where words command.
Together we'll grow, our voices ascend,
The Wonderland journey, may it never end.



WORD/LINE COUNT:
Article: 324 Words
Poem: 28 Lines