I opened the book, a lightweight paperback, where I had left off the night before at a story about being stuck in a train tunnel one hundred feet below ground when a moth stumbled out between the pages into the morning air.
I opened the book, a lightweight paperback, where I had left off the night before at a story about being stuck in a train tunnel one hundred feet below ground when a moth stumbled out between the pages into the morning air.
Love it. You could lay it out in stanzas e.g.
I opened the book,
a lightweight paperback,
where I had left off
the night before
thank you Mike. I saw it as a piece of flash fiction, as the shortest blog I have ever posted, but you’ve opened up its possibilities as a poem. I’ll work on your suggested layout.
just for the record it happened as I opened up ‘Scan’ a short story by Helen Simpson in her ‘In Flight Entertainment’ collection of 132 pages; much thicker and the poor moth would not have survived
Yes it could be both John. Flash fiction is a great idea. Have you looked at “Short and Twisted”- it’s a publication that specialises in short stuff.
I think it can also make a great poem.
http://www.celapenepress.com.au/short_and_twisted.html
Unfortunately now closed for 2012, but maybe next year.
actually Mike I need a few more poems for the Gawler readings on Jan 29 so will definitely use this. thanks
it’s okay, Mike; I’ve got that one covered; have sent four short entries in before the closing date — but yes 2012 for this one
Stumbled was the perfect verb John, well done!
thank you. I like Mike’s idea of converting it into poetry; perhaps it is more a poem than flash fiction; can it be both?
Moth: Freeeeeeee!!!!
yes. I imagine that’s how the moth felt after 10 hours of imprisonment, probably resulting in a lifelong aversion to books
poor thing!
I trust those two pages of imprisonment had enough wise words to properly rehabilitate that felon.
You’ve probably turned the moth into a violent book hater, to return to damage the hated torture implements.
there’s even a poem in that one, as told from the moth’s viewpoint
just for interest at the Newmarket pool today we saw a lime-green butterfly fluttering aove the lawns; never seen that colour before — outside a butterfly house
It works as an interesting vignette; you could stagger the words out for a visual effect:
I opened the book, a lightweight paperback, where I had left off the night before at a story
about being stuck in a train tunnel
one hundred feet below ground
when a moth stumbled out
between the pages
into
the morning air.
Except rather than how WordPress rendered it above, it would cascade diagonally towards the bottom right of the page.
yes. I like that. Wouldn’t make any difference to a reading of the piece but it sure would have string visual appeal upon the page
Good one! At 42 words that’s about as concise as can be, and it works.
Also, here is a market for it or similar pieces under 50 words:
http://www.50-to-1.blogspot.com/
thanks Paul; I will check this site out
Love it! This is also perfect material for a haibun (short story with haiku) if you wanted to play.
yes I would like to play or at least have a go at it; I like literary challenges. I have not heard of the term ‘haibun’ but would like to learn more. Please present your challenge