This time to Hull, to see Opera North’s production of ‘Tosca’. We’ll be back sometime Friday but I’m hoping, as I’ve scheduled words for next week, so you don’t have to wait too long, you will tell us which were your favourites for last week.
Words for the coming week: mud, orchestra, spurn
Entries by midnight Thursday April 6th, new words Friday 7th
Usual rules: 100
words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all three
words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir.
Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words
and stems are fine.
Oh, choices, choices... i want to pick two .. no three .. its so difficult to choose.
ReplyDeleteI've assigned them each a number ... drew them out of hat and my vote is for
'Husband and wife ' with Lady of the Lido second choice ... sorry i couldn't help a second dip in the hat.
The Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries - entry 223
ReplyDeleteAs an orchestra of sunlight and shadow filtered across the landscape Nigel called a halt to organized fairly decent camouflage from prying eyes.
Hunkered beside Armi, Atlas handed him the now mud- spackled, packet Pink-Fairy had given as he’d left the Whoremadillohouse.
Armi recognised the double-wrapped, mottled, package fastened with red twine and caught the whiff of dried water-hemlock and deadly-spurnweed. ‘P’raps Cinereus should ‘ave this.’
‘Got some,’ whispered the koala, ‘keep it hid, never know when it’ll be useful, an’ both of yuh wash yer claws before yuh eat. Don’t need a couple of dead ‘Dillos on me paws.’
Man, I love the 'dillo tales
DeleteYou make it so easy for readers to "see" your scenes, Terrie. That is a sign of writing talent.
DeleteYes indeed, I can only echo what Antonia and Jim said.
Delete[Threshold 432]
ReplyDeleteFrom ungraspable, probably unreliable, memory came an image of a staged performance I’d once been taken to. Hero, voice dark and deep as estuarine mud, loud enough to drown the orchestra below him, singing in a language I did not recognise. Supposedly supported by the harmony of the chorus behind him. Not that, from their faces, those backing Raven had support in mind; their chorus sang of spurning his authority, such that he was torn as to whether to turn his song on them (it had the power to silence!) or continue his seizing of Indigo Eyes and me.
I can really imagine this scene full of atmospheric tension and threatening glances . The prompt words fitted in perfectly .
DeleteI stumbled,
ReplyDeleteThe mud, in my eyes and mouth
A bitter taste, I am the spurned lover
Betrayal, orchestrated by the ONE who should never fail me
Nothing will ever be right
The pain
I love her, I hate her
I want her to die
I want to die
No
I want to want to die
The victim in me cries "NO FAIR!"
The monster in me wants to find them and break them
Why won't I die?
Why won't they die?
It pulls my guts out
I can’t live like this
And
I can’t stop
Where is
The End
A truly terrible conundrum, Dave. Nicely done!
DeleteA skifull wringing of pain and indecision.
DeleteI can only echo both Jim's and Sandra's comments. I also liked the way you set this out, it added to the sadness tension anger of raw emotions that cleverly carried me along to the very last word . I enjoyed this a lot Dave .
DeleteThank you, Terrie
DeleteMUD BATH
ReplyDeleteWere I orchestrating Manny’s executions, I wouldn’t cover the victims in mud before killing them. I mean why… to humiliate them? I’m sure the dude being waxed tonight will quickly spurn thoughts about mud once he learns that a bullet will soon be lodged in his brain.
But that’s Muddy Manny’s modus operandi, and he personally applies the mud. I’ve watched him do it many times.
As Manny’s chief lieutenant, I’m notified when an enemy is to be rubbed out. Not so tonight, though, and that has me confused.
Confused that is until Muddy Manny began hurling mud at me.
Impressed by the concise telling of this tale.
DeleteAs always a brilliant sting in the tale. Wonderfully written and most enjoyable. The prompt words melded easily into the story.
DeleteVery nice use of the prompts, Sandra. I loved the "over-brassed orchestra."
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jim
ReplyDeleteTongue in cheek, wot
ReplyDeleteBrilliant imagery here, Sandra, loved how you created the interplay of emotions.
ReplyDelete