Friday
Friday Flash Prompt: Ekphrastic-tastic
This evocative photograph by Alessandra Sanguinetti was on the cover of Cabinet some months back. My prompt is ekphrastic: Write a response in 300 words or less (in any POV you’d like) to this image. What’s happening in the world of this photograph? (I’d advise against Googling—you might find out too much!)
posted on 10 Dec 2010, 9:26 AM
Far out in the black, heathen mists, of the uncharted planes of nowhere, the terrified mother grasped the trembling stick figure of her brood and held his shivvering body close. Oblivion was upon them, it's ragged teeth rending the horizon like some unquenchable mythical beast. The blackness of its maw stood aloft like a peek-hole into oblivion.
There was only one chance...
Grasping her fledgling offspring, she held him close. In a few peaceful moments, she would absorb him back into her flesh. His body would become her body once again. His being would be recombined with hers. Then the oncoming hydra could deal with her as it wished. She would accept it, knowing that her child was held forever in the warmth of her final embrace.
posted on 10 Dec 2010, 12:39 PM
My stomach is like an inner tube, bloating under my bathing suit, and when I think about slicing through it and cutting it off, I wonder if I'll still float?
posted on 10 Dec 2010, 1:58 PM
JLS, I dig this. When I look at this, the weather's secondary to the girls.
posted on 10 Dec 2010, 4:48 PM
I agree with Alina L. This piece transcends the prompt in the way it shows us the girl's inner landscape.
posted on 17 Dec 2010, 5:52 PM
The storm cannot be avoided
And beyond it warm and peaceful days
Also cannot be avoided
Your frail body will hold up to them both
You will grow roots and a fat trunk
From the wear of the wind
And the beating rain
And the ravenous sunshine
And you will stand here
One day
With your daughter and whish for her only sunshine
But you will bear her what she needs
For the storms
That cannot be avoided
posted on 18 Dec 2010, 6:32 PM
The Cloud
The dark heavy Cloud descended upon the vast open plain, searching.
The land beneath it was flat and stark, and almost empty. But in the distance, two women, two lovers, were swimming in a pool of water. One was a very large woman in her thirties, the other a very slight woman in her early twenties. The day was hot and sunny and they had slipped away to be alone and cool themselves in this isolated swimming hole, far from anyone.
They felt a chill, as a shadow passed over them. The Cloud, blocking out the sun, seemed to come out of nowhere. The billowing darkness seemed to move with intent toward them. They were stunned when they saw this ominous vision swirling and turning over their heads. They ran from the water but they knew there was no place to hide, they were alone, and unprotected, in this barren land. They shivered with fear and awe, and held each other tightly. Their heads were touching, as if by doing this, they could merge their wills and confront it.
The Cloud descended upon them. They could not see anything in the fog that engulfed them. They lost all sense of time and place. A slight tingling electric charge permeated their bodies. The cool, moist mist became radiant and a sense of euphoria came over the two women.
The Cloud touched their skin, and hair, and lingered, as if to caress them, then moved on, searching.