Last week impossible to choose between Jim and David, this week – again for reasons of competing, captivating writing – honours have to be shared between Terrie for the 230th entry in The Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries, and David for ‘The end of an Era. Thank you both, for the high class entertainment – and Antonia whose comments never fail to highlight a particular merit.
Words for the coming week: lion tender unpack
Entries by midnight Thursday July 6th, new words and
winners 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.
Thanks for choosing my entry from last week, Sandra . I am now over 30,000 words in on the 'Dillos tale and about half way through it ... just starting on chapter 13 ... you know the mid point in any story where things start to go horribly wrong.... Whoops, that might just have been a mini spoiler alert. :-)
ReplyDeleteTHE STRANGER
ReplyDeleteNight coming, Trailing its tender cloak through the sky. And within the night exists the light To reveal the me who is I.
Darkness coming, Drowning the lion-like sun in a shadowy sea. Within this dark I can embark On a search for the I who is me.
Night is my companion, It lets me see deep inside. There I unpack the things darkness brings Within a harbor where they can hide.
I do not fear the darkness, It’s the light of day I dread. Light tricks the eye; it’s a spy For the stranger that lives in my head.
Oh my goodness, so much to like about this wonderfully evocative offering. I love the clipped sentences, the rich imagery and the hint of dangerous melancholy that stitches the whole thing together. 'Lion-like' sun in a shadowy sea' ...Just brilliant.
DeleteThank you, Terrie. You are very kind.
DeleteThat ' Trailing its tender cloak' grabbed me , and what followed kept me tethered. As Terrie says, so rich in images and, to my ear, you've taken 'tender' as the mood. A enviably beautiful read, Jim.
DeleteAntnia asks - how did Jim do that again... give us another outstanding piece of poetry!
DeleteThe Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries - entry 231
ReplyDeleteNigel nudged Mossy tenderly with his snout, ‘get Trub and that gangly fellah, the one wiv ‘alf an’ ear bit off and the scruffy lion-tufted beard. They kin take over the watch while we talk tactics.’
As Mossy scuttled away, he looked at Armi and Atlas, ‘now’s a good time t’ unpack and check yer tool-belts, cos you lads got the scouting job. Soon as they’re back, I’ll talk t’ the others, and Moses, about using the same plan as before but getting the gerbils to create a diversion t’ distract them rodents beforehand.
We’ll make our next stand here.’
'Lively' is the word which comes to mind reading this, Terrie, I love the industriousness of your 'dillos - so vividly evoked.
DeleteLooks like Nigel has things well in hand, Terrie. So well done!
DeleteA Lion In London
ReplyDeleteI found Elias afloat on a raft. Half man half lion. Probably the only survivor of Doctor Moreau's fabled island. One of his grotesque experiments in vivisection.
Once we had docked at the Port of London I smuggled him to my town house concealed beneath a large rain cape.
He likes his meat tender. I have the butcher parcel it up for him. He unpacks it with the delicacy of a gentleman and devours the contents with the savagery of a beast.
He will be my assassin. His claws his weapons. Gladstone will die. The empire will fall.
Another rich and vivid piece for this week - breathtaking, David. Thank you.
DeleteYou, David, have a remarkable imagination. Such a good read!
DeleteAntonia says:
Deletecould there be anytihng more dangerous to peace of mind than the dillos on the move...
[Threshold 441]
ReplyDeleteAttempting to identify the disgruntled, would-be ruler – maybe aspiring to be Raven’s queen – I unpacked months of kaleidoscope memories – bright as jewels in colour and variety, but regretfully just as ephemeral – it was the tawny, lion-like mane of her hair which first, came into focus. Simultaneously, I was aware of a tenderness across my belly, of a quality which said ‘post-partum’. Surprised I remembered that, I strove for further details, but they escaped me.
Then the pain became less memory. More real.
the lion-type mask, nothing more than a battered old rug, took on a surprisingly beautifulhe was in danger of being unpacked i n front of the London lions... and tempting glow in the afternoon sun. unfortunately so did the kion and as he ran three times faster than his target...
DeleteChange of focus [520
ReplyDeleteWorking backwards, Ruth established Goren and his two followers came into the country at Harwich; caught the London train to Liverpool Street and thence to Darlington, avoiding Goren’s attention via several changes of clothes, unpacked from the rucksacks which were their only luggage. As they tendered cash for their train tickets, Pettinger recognised their faces. He’d watched Goren’s innocent enjoyment of the journey, mercifully oblivious as to its end; recalled his teenage lion-like bravery, well-knowing it would not have saved him from unimaginable pain. To Ruth, he said, ‘Brilliant work. Where are they now?’
‘Returning to Harwich. By train.’
Antonia says
Deletemy small contiibution
an evocative train journey clip for the Prediction, coming on a day when the trains are scheduling massive strikes...which will break down all the memories these snap clippings, so emotionally displaying the train names as certain types... an d we wonder what a replacement form of journeying would bring us - apart from a longing for the past.
A splendid "painting" with words, Sandra. It is so easy to "see" your scene.
DeleteAntonia, yes 'Longing for the past' - I well remember the thrill of a Christmas day meeting granny and aunt off the steam train at St, Margaret's station. and Jim, thank you for your kind words.
Delete