Category: Poetry

Super Carl

tnkerr2 Comments

Written for the November 8th Flash Fiction Challenge

Carl knew he was different from his classmates. Yes, he had superpowers like all the other kids, but his gifts were more eccentric. He couldn’t see any practical applications for them.

Carl had the ability to manipulate plants. He could also transform himself into a gelatinous substance, like potatoes mashed with an electric mixer.

School was torture and constant teasing until he slathered up the opponent’s lanes at the track meet against Eastwood High. Their star runner, Flash, never left the starting blocks, he couldn’t gain any traction.

All the trees and shrubs in the schoolyard fell over laughing.

The prompt and instructions were:

In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that pairs mashed potatoes with a superpower. It can be in any circumstance, funny or poignant. Go where the prompt leads.

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Bombay, L.A., Monterey, Santa Fe, and San Tropez

tnkerr5 Comments

Written for the September 20th Flash Fiction Challenge

The front of the line is Germany
and look, here comes Hungary
With all the green, I’d guess that’s Ireland
Close behind the high school band.

The drummers make time for dancers from Zambia
Those singers are from the Gambia
There’s Korea and Tanzania
Martinique and Mozambique
Caledonia – Estonia
All the nations are here.

Gymnasts from Romania
consorting with the Counts of Transylvania
and horseback riding dudes are arriving from Albania
Oman, Taiwan
round the corner, they’ve gone,
but that’s OK, here’s Kazakhstan.

Uganda, Rwanda, Albania
Barbuda, Bermuda
Lithuania

Even Alsatians
are represented
in our parade of nations.

 

The prompt and instructions were:

In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a parade of nations. It can be literal, or it can be a phrase that you use to describe a situation. Explore what it could be. Go where the prompt leads.

Elbow Macaroni

tnkerr8 Comments

Written for the September 13th Flash Fiction Challenge

Margarite grinned wildly, stepped off the bus and hurried toward me.

When she got close she dropped her backpack and leapt into my arms.

“Holy smokes, Kiddo,” I pushed her hair back and kissed her, “what are you so excited about today.”

“Art class, Daddy. I made a picture of you.”

“With paints?”

“No.”

“With crayons?”

“No, Daddy. Mixed media,”

“Mixed media? What’s that?”

I put her down. She pulled a paper plate from her backpack and showed me.

Macaroni was glued to the plate. There were pencil lines and hints of orange marker. It looked just like me.

The prompt and instructions were:

In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes pasta. It can be spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, or any variety. It can be a meal or a work of art. Go where the prompt leads.

Devil Boat

tnkerr8 Comments

Written for the September 6th Flash Fiction Challenge

I read that she was called “The Devil Boat” in reference to Revelations Chapter 13. We never called her that. The USS HAWKBILL SSN666 was a highly decorated Sturgeon Class Attack Submarine.

What was most grand about her was the crew.

Every crewman on a submarine stakes his survival on the skills and knowledge of the rest. This creates a bond. It builds pride in self and in others as, daily, you do more than you ever thought possible.

It’s a dangerous and cramped workplace. It’s not for everyone. It sometimes stinks. It frustrates. I’d undoubtedly do it again.

The prompt and instructions were:

In 99 words (no more, no less) write about an epic workplace. It can be real or imagined. Go where the prompt leads.

Authors comment: If the photo I have used here is yours please contact me and let me know who you are so that I can give credit where credit is due. It’s a great photo of the Hawk and you deserve the credit. Thanks.

Acrostic Bottleneck

tnkerr8 Comments

Written for the August 30th Flash Fiction Challenge

Beneath the quiet, dormant wheels
Of this sharp, sleek, motionless luxury automobile
The motorway lies still, inert and unmoving despite my serious objections. Roll up the windows then,
The heat is relentless and the malodourous exhaust fumes of a thousand cars
Lingers and mingles languidly with the
Ether that surrounds us.
Needless to say, we should take the next available
Exit, we should find a relaxing spot to picnic; or a back road we might use as an alternative – a means to
Circumnavigate this bottleneck, else we won’t be home before
Kwanzaa, and it’s not yet Guy Fawkes Night.

The prompt and instructions were:

In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a bottleneck. You can be literal or use the term to describe congestion. Go where the prompt leads.

One of my Haiku at Vita Brevis

tnkerr4 Comments

Vita Brevis recently hosted a poetry competition. It was a lot of fun, it was very well attended, and there was an abundance of great submissions. I am honoured to have been selected as the winner.

Brian Geiger, the founder and Editor has published my submission on his online magazine. You can read it here.

Thanks to Vita Brevis and to everyone who stopped by to read and comment on all the entries. Every submission there was deserving of the win. I feel extremely lucky today and plan on buying a Lottery ticket.