The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Masterpieces
by Angela Yuriko Smith

Writer, this is yours:
An endless white space, waiting
for your masterpiece.

we heard your excuses:
workspace too dark, too cluttered
too many distractions, not enough time…
you muttered, we fluttered
and brought you the finest in excuse erasure—
inspiration by razor. now you’ll get to work.
you have ink in your veins, ideas trapped in your brains
if you could “just get them out” we heard
every word. we aim to please despite your pleas.
we’ll hold your feet to the fire—a molten magnum opus!
you said you’d give anything, this we remember
your left hand, your right eye, the rest of your liver
you give, we deliver. you create, we dismember.
pour out your creative juices, bleed for your art
we heard what you promised
and you promised
your heart.

We just want to watch
and inspire your creation
of masterpieces.

Fiction © Copyright Angela Yuriko Smith
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com.

More from Angela Yuriko Smith:

Angela Yuriko Smith is a third-generation Shimanchu-American and an award-winning poet, author, and publisher with 20+ years of experience as a professional writer in nonfiction. Publisher of Space & Time magazine (est. 1966), a two-time Bram Stoker Awards® Winner (one for a Siren’s Call ezine essay), and HWA Mentor of the Year for 2020, connect with her at

angelaysmith.com