Tenacity ~ Pic and a Word Challenge #20

Ghost Gum, Simpson Desert, Northern Territory, Australia
Some mornings
I get out of bed
Begin the day
Clinging to what I have
Thinking that is tenacity

But if the coffee wakes me up
I remind myself to find a way
To reach a little further
Climb a little higher
Take another step forward

To remain where I am
Safe but confined
Is losing ground
Where is the tenacity
In a self-imposed stop sign?

Ghost Gum
Simpson Desert
Northern Territory, Australia

Taken during travels, 1994

The Pic and a Word Challenge is a weekly creativity prompt offered Sunday mornings.

Each week I provide a photograph of mine along with a single word. The challenge? Use the pic and/or word as points of inspiration to create something — a photograph, a painting, prose, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, longread or just a few words. You are welcome to use these two elements (photograph and word) literally, thematically or metaphorically. If you create both images and words, all the better.

To participate:

  • Use any title you like.
  • Your response can be words and/or an image
  • Better if the words are your own
  • You may use my image in your post, or any image you have created.
  • Place the challenge’s Pic (if you use it for inspiration) and Word prominently in your post
  • Mention that you are responding to the Pic and a Word Challenge
  • Add a link to this post in your response

To help us find your response, you can also:

Each week, I’ll list the previous week’s responses at the end of the new challenge. I may also share some on my social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, etc.

Last week we sought our patience, our ability to wait… This week, explore the state of grit and determination.

Last week’s challenge: Waiting
Thai Longtails, Krabi, Thailand
Challenge #19: Waiting

The word for last week’s Pic and a Word Challenge #19 was Waiting, along with this photograph of longtails waiting for passengers in Krabi, Thailand.

Five wonderful posts this week. Thanks everyone!