photo by Sandis Helvigs via Unsplash
Mother paced the room, heel snagging the rug at every turn, every time she clicked from fabric to floorboards. ‘Just help me understand.’ Her tone had switched from bullying to pleading, a desperate act for her.
How do Iย explain the feeling as I sank into the damp leaves, as theyย parted beneath me, as sweet earth wrapped about my body, as he whisperedย without words, whispered the bulgeย of sap through the trees, the soft, velvet stretch of leaves unfurling, of roots spreading through the soilย – of how the rain tastes when you have noย tongue?
‘I loved him and never saw his face.’ How can Iย explain that he doesn’t have one?
Written for Sonya at Only 100 Words’ Three Line Tales. See the pic and let it inspire you. See here to join in and to read the other stories.
That does seem like an experience that would be hard to explain to your mom. I know mine wouldn’t get it. Great sensations on that sinking-into-him description.
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Yes, wouldn’t it? Not sure where I was going with this – another commentor said it reminded them of the Green Man myth and I think that might come closest to the mark. Something primevel going on for sure. ๐
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Good strategy: populate the story with interesting but vague hints and let the readers fill in the gaps with what they find the most exciting. ๐
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A useful thing to do with flash too, when the word count is so low – let someone else do the work ๐
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I love how many interpretations you can take on this piece!
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Our imaginations run riot ๐
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It was a poetic tale. Very nice one. ๐
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Thank you Prakash. Very kind ๐
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Beautiful!
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Thank you Sonali ๐
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Makes me think of the Green Man myth, not sure if that was intentional. That somewhat terrible Green Man film that had Albert Finney in it, I vaguely recall (no comparison to your story of course!). Just reminded me of it. Love that myth, the pre-Christian nature of it.
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Love a Green Man! Something odd and magical / sinister about it. Thanks Bill. Not one of my best, but it had its moments. Don’t know that film, but it sounds fab – in a pants way ๐ But then I think the Wicker Man’s a bit like that too
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The Wicker Man soundtrack is killer. Yeah, I get the “not one of my best” thought in general, but that thinking doesn’t work for me. It creeps in, but rarely does me any good. Hard for us to judge our own work, I think.
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You’re quite right – impossible to judge your own work. I posted some flash last week that garnered just as many positive comments as work I’m happier with – mind you, fellow bloggers do tend to be positive and not tell you your work sucks, even if it does ๐ Good to be self critical up to a point though. Beyond that point, you may never post a story ever again
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How could I have deserted your site for so long? My head is so scrambled that I don’t understand this story, but it doesn’t matter; it’s beautiful.
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Not sure I understand it either! Bill mentioned the Green Man and I think that’s the closest comparison – something pagan and magical, slightly sinister that has taken hold of her and she’s fallen under its spell. Think my head was in an odd place that day ๐ Thank you ๐
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๐
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*gasp* oh be still, that pesky bird fluttering inside my chest.
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Haha! I wonder what she’ll tell her mother – and whether she’ll see the faceless man again? Thanks for reading ๐
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Who knows Lynn who needs to our imaginations are whetted and well enough said๐๐
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Thanks Ellen ๐
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My mother would never understand either — beautifully told TLT.
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Haha! Not sure I would either ๐ Some boyfriends need a lot of justifying to your mum – this one is one step further ๐
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I would say a long step further! High heels or no.
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Haha! Yep. Not one to take home for Christmas ๐
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Yes, even in my family!
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๐
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I dunno, I think this person is obviously GORGEOUS! Please don’t leaf me, but give me a leaf!
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Haha! He must have something going for him, you’re right ๐
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