It's Still Life

Once upon a time when the hordes began every hesitant sentence with Ah or Um or Well, they took comfort in knowing everyone started a thought with the same pause.

To collect their thoughts, most like. Like pulling up their socks. Adjusting ones belt. Like before blowing their nose they’d say, Um, and then examine the snot and say, Ah. They’d look up at sky, rain falling on their face, and say, Well, Well. Unless it was a hot day, then they’d say, Aaah.

And then this kid came along from a neighbouring town, and he started every conversation with Huh or Wha.

Well, this annoyed the locals no end, this changing god’s own language with a new word, to which everyone responded with a Hmmm. But it wasn’t long before everyone included Ah and Um and Well and Huh and Wha and Hmmm in their daily conversation, even long after that boy had pedalled his bike back home.

And I can hear you saying it right now … Well, well.

Written for Linda’s SOCS, starting with Once upon a time.  AI Digital Art is mine and created using Midjourney’s bot (v4). Image and poem ©Misky 2023 Shared on Twitter #amwriting @midjourney