The 50
By paborama
Inspired by the Scottish Book Trust's monthly 50 word writing competition.
- 1380 reads
Hebrides Overture (Fingal's Cave') Op. 26’
The organic slap of seaweed against the base of the basalt organ-like pillars. Swelling, falling. Darkness falls quicker here than outside, not long till the melodious fugue would cover him up.
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- 471 reads
Macaroni to the Masses
Removing the macaroni cheese advertisement, Laura reflected on her success.
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- 567 reads
And Your Little Dog Too
Rounding the corner, my feet leave the pedals, my hand hits the brake and Toto leaps from the basket. The girl, in blue gingham dress, draws on her...
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- 459 reads
And Your Little Dog Too
Rounding the corner, my feet leave the pedals, my hand hits the brake and Toto leaps from the basket. The girl, in blue gingham dress, draws on her...
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- 633 reads
Winter Draws Near
'Naked Monopoly!' My flatmate has been getting alarmingly erratic since her divorce. Mother shifted suddenly on the sofa, looking at me eyes wide, '...
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- 436 reads
Da Wars
Duh Duh Duh da de Duh da de Duh... The top of the man's head appears over the parapet of the bus' stair Dee Dee Dee... he answers the 'phone, fingers...
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- 464 reads
Bengali River Night
Caressing his otter, Mahmud gazed out over the sluggish waters of the Bhairab awaiting the Zaminder's return. Twelve days gone and the tension grew...
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- 483 reads
Pens
Silver Pen, click perfect. Parker a favourite but bloody expensive, ain't it? What're the chances that a ten pound pen is worth more in literature...
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- 476 reads
Henricus Rex
Henricus Rex. In him Eleanor, Queen of the Franks: incest, though were the most devout of spouse. Therefore divorce for marriage unjust to be devised...
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- 678 reads
Christmas Term
The pantry looked different in the snowy reflections from outside. The car door slammed. Peregrine wolfed down the last handful of cake decorations...
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- 473 reads
Chance yer Luck
Twenty one, the sum of one die. Six to one, the chances of rolling any single side on a single die. Twenty one, the chances you have with a dice pair...
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- 417 reads
Fireside
The sausage fell off the stick. Sizzling in the ashes only to be plucked once more by hopping fingers; pierced back on the skewer. 'Whoop!' Johnny: '...
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- 579 reads
Condensed Blancmange
Lucea was grateful to take a bite, her free hand darting for the tiny pastry triangle flaking off with the cut of her perfect teeth to tumble...
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- 546 reads
Abigail
'Abigail' the tree said, 'come further in and leave the world behind.' She stepped off the path and into the wooded grove, a shiver running up her...
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- 400 reads
Come on Tae!
I wiz walking along the seafront doon Portybella wey, when ah thought 'ah could dae wi an ice-cream, gey Hot it wiz. So, ninety-niner in ma haun I...
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- 1484 reads
Orange bridge over the Sea
One Sunday my brother led me to make a bridge to nowhere. The uprights of stumps, orange crates for boxed walkway. Bridging the sea from an extrusion...
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- 466 reads
Black Sal
Hither, Black Sally, do my bidding this once. Take of this herb ash, this wax from the sconce. Rubbed by your feline paws into my lover's abode, to...
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- 2 comments
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- 820 reads
Gyoza
She glances at me as I wet my fingertips, smoothing the pastry’s edge, tucking and pinching as I go. Her hair black; smile scarlet and rude. Six...
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- 719 reads
Arunachalam Muruganantham
Arunachalam Muruganantham reached his nadir when the soothsayer was called. Blood dripping from the bladder between his legs, he trudged to the next...
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- 365 reads
Paulie's Fairy Godmother
Spit-back, Chat-back Johnny, who once burnt-down the bus-stop. Paulie's getting a hard time off the 'Pine-Cut Crew'. It's not his fault he's...
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- 947 reads
Terrence Damp
Terrence needed a drink. The hollow was fine for keeping water WHEN it rained, but rain was in short supply lately; his olives were getting...
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- 442 reads
Sable Sable
Catastrophic calm and blue, blue skies. Bleeding into the water. Moments ago a slice, like an ice dip, at the edge of the toe. Such a lovely day for...
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- 401 reads
Sky 'scape
I paint skyscapes. I always start by washing the canvas in blue. Land comes next, flat beach or moor; there's amazing variety within such simplicity...
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- 2 comments
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- 620 reads
I, Cassandra
Festooned, the city belches back the flapping birds of 'Art' from the horrific pit they've slunk within these past eleven months. The augurs tell any...
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- 356 reads
Summer Fête
Delight springs eternal from the otherwise sodden streets. Acrobats, clowns, comedians, Actours! Take my hand and run with me into this or that...
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- 1063 reads
Rattatattat
Knock-knock, three times a knock. Pulling on socks; straining to look at the clock. It's stopped! Fumbling at my pocket, I locate my 'phone and check...
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- 537 reads
Cornucopia
Corrugated camel trouser leg, stained in gravy, straining at the waist. I'd love another slice of cake, dear, but I cannot. Drag myself to loo to poo...
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- 321 reads
Bon Feu
Twelve seconds to go, mother! The midnight whistle on the express train shrieks. Nine seconds to go, brother! The fuse is lit and the sparks sizzle...
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- 337 reads
Honey Froyo
'Smooth, darling! Like you've just been eating honey froyo?' I throw my eyes in his direction, killer intent is not hard to conjure. Alex clicks away...
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- 379 reads
Bees
Bees sing the history of those they have seen over walls, in bathrooms, and behind trees. A bee exists for each and every one of us. When the bees...
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- 395 reads
Snoorking on the Moon
Hollow little footsteps I'm following, like miniature craters. The bouncers were not far ahead of me, I saw them from the rise. Coming here and...
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- 513 reads
Sweet talk
She hands me the twist of cloth, filled with sugar. 'Granny Robertson has a sweetie for you, Sally.' I take the gift, and she hers. We suck between...
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- 284 reads
In the midst of it all
Your hands plunge beneath suds, with the tap plunging rinse waters amongst it all. You held me as I cried, the washing-up sidelined. Now, with my...
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- 266 reads
The Jump
'As if!! You do it...' She looks me in the eyes, falling gracefully away from the edge of the pier. I'm left, heart beating like a fledgling; waiting...
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- 275 reads
McCluck
Ah wis born intae the great McCluck family business, only for ma mum, Pecky-Sue, tae die when ah wis fourteen year old. A young age tae fledge. Ah've...
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- 288 reads