DISCUSSION THREAD -- March 2021 -- 75-Word Writing Challenge

[Hugh]

Well, many thanks indeed for your vote @mosaix . I took a look at 3.25am and saw the magic words “tiebreaker”.

And good luck @Victoria Silverwolf, it’s great to find myself in a tiebreaker with you.

 

[nixie]

Voted for Victoria, was on my shortlist,

 

[Ian Fortytwo]

Voted for @Victoria Silverwolf .

 

[paranoid marvin]

Congratulations to Hugh and Victoria Silverwolf making it to the playoff. Having read (and reread), they are both fine entries and worthy winners, but Hugh just sneaks it for me.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Thanks Daysman for the shortlisting, and a nice surprise to come back to another vote, thanks Ursa

 

[Starbeast]

Ouch! There are too many strong candidates this time - I start to sympathise with Starbeast. My short list refuses to reduce
My thanks to johnnyjet,,sule, therapist, (not to forget Starbeast, of course) for the mentions, plus Victoria and Parson, for their eternally uplifting commentaries. I discovered my idea was too long for a seventy-five worder - it required two hundred to work right (I-ll print out the full version after voting is concluded.

You are immensely welcome. You, along with a few others write wonderful poetry which I always look forward to reading in these challenges. I eagerly await to read the official extended version. I usually say, "stay awesome" to people who write a fine entry, but I don't have to say that to you, because you are awesome.

Wishing poetry was more my thing
But still the stories short did sing
'Pon my soul to inspire and light
My way for dragons to take flight.


Here till Tuesday. Try the veal.

I had to send back the veal. I couldn't bare to know that I'm eating a baby cow. So I ordered lamb instead. Then had rat tart for dessert.

Shortlist, in no order:
@AlekseiVashchenko : something strangely spacious and haunting in this story
@Starbeast : beautifully poignant
@paranoid marvin : more wonderful doggerel
@Cat's Cradle : great build up to the last line.

And many many much appreciated thanks to @Michael Bickford and the mighty @Starbeast for your votes. Such wonderful surprises.

You're very welcome for the vote. Your tale tugged at my heart. It was a tough choice at first amongst all of poems, humor and outstanding ideas that others came up with. I too went with a drama for a story. Which I'm happy to receive mentions for it, including you. Thanks man.

Thanks Parson, Starbeast and Hugh for the shortlistings and the great comments.

You are tremdously welcome. I always look forward to reading a new poem of yours. Keep em' flying bro.

*Wayne Mack -- The Tale of Icarus*
BT Jones -- Grace Under Fire
luriantimetraveler -- Untitled
Michael Bickford -- Here Be Dragons
Hugh -- Evensong
M. Robert Gibson -- A Salty Dog Story
reiver33 -- Emergence
Starbeast -- A Better Life

Many thanks for the mention. You made my day shine bright. BTW, every time I see a package of Zebra pens (because of the Zebra images), I always think about you.

Well I'll be a Dragon's dinner another 'Stealthy vote'

A Dragon's dinner? Could that be a reference to the title of my current list? On the Dragon's Menu You are definitely on the list. I wonder if that includes snow peas.

Any way, I did eat at a Japanese restaurant a week ago. I ordered (upon a recommendation) the Godzilla Maki. It was very good sushi.

So many stories to enjoy this month. I had trouble deciding which entry to vote for, but finally came around to one story. So, my lists:

Honorables:
AlekseiVashchenko, Luiglin, M. Robert Gibson, Laura R Hepworth, Parson, Starbeast

I enjoyed the poems this month; nice to see so many entered.

I'm honored to be on your honorable mention list. I too was delighted to read many poems that were entered this time around. You wrote a very unique tale yourself. Stay cool bro.

@BT Jones And a gigantic YOU'RE WELCOME to you for me mentioning you.

 

[chopper]

I had to send back the veal. I couldn't bare to know that I'm eating a baby cow. So I ordered lamb instead. Then had rat tart for dessert.

Incredible. I had rat tart too, eh?

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Well done to @Hugh and @Victoria Silverwolf

And thanks for the unexpected votes @Luiglin @Mr Orange @JS Wiig

And thanks for all the shortlistings

And thanks everyone for reading

Keep on truckin'

 

[Wayne Mack]

I send my thanks to @chopper and @TheDustyZebra for their votes and to @chrispenycate and @farntfar for their kind mentions. It was surprising a gratifying as this was an experiment to write in a style that I am totally unaccustomed to.

 

[chrispenycate]

The Peasants revolt

Sun flickers - icy shadow overflies,
Transforming spring to frozen winter's core.
Another clutch:- another tribute Maiden chosen
By lot some rule of chance sometimes belies,
Season of sacrifice coming round once more,
But no remains discovered of the last three clutches, posing
A tiny gleam of hope, in the species war.

"They swallow meat and dairy daily, Miord,
Turnips are fed to their beasts
The living standard they afford
Match true serf villages' annual feasts.
A shire reeve's force suffices them for military might
They tolerate the dragon's plundering, and never turn to fight."

Season of sacrifice arriving once again
But are the maidens truly lost to us?
Have the lost trio been devoured in the dragon's den
Or will they join with her, leading our fight hazardous?
Traditional, has our enemy become
Our greatest ally 'gainst invading scum? ,

"The villagers side with the dragon, my Lords,
Spread tripwires, caltrops to cripple our steeds
Conceal grainstores, cut tethers, bluntening swords
While their daughters' monster's needs
Before this experience none could believe
They'd stand by the predator, leave widows to grieve."

Our maids, our beasts are weapons of aristocrat deflection,
Dragon with tribute maidens - unbeatable protection
Society takes a tiny step democracy's direction

​

I did warn you. Pity I'm not a poet, innit?

 

[Parson]

@chrispenycate .... I liked that a lot. The ending was sweet indeed.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Both stories made my shortlist, so difficult choice, but by just a hair I've decided to go with Hugh in the tie-breaker. It's very close, so best of luck to Hugh and Victoria Silverwolf the rest of the way.

 

[JS Wiig]

Could be another tie...


...which I’d be alright with as both deserve it!

 

[Ursa major]

​

The tie-breaker poll has now closed and we have a winner:

Congratulations, Victoria Silverwolf!​

​

 

[Parson]

Well done Victoria! Hugh, well done too. A miss by just a little is a very fine result.

 

[JS Wiig]

Congrats @Victoria Silverwolf!

 

[sule]

Congratulations to Victoria Silverwolf for a well-deserved win, and congrats to Hugh for being a very close second.

 

[Ian Fortytwo]

Congratulations to @Victoria Silverwolf and to @Hugh for a very commendable 2nd.

 

[Daysman]

Congrats @Victoria Silverwolf !!!

 

[Hugh]

Ever so many CONGRATULATIONS Victoria Silverwolf.

And me? I'm over the moon. To get into the tiebreaker in the first place was amazing and then to get all those votes in such a close contest was wonderful. Many many thanks to all those who voted for my story. I'm truly delighted. I'm also not unhappy to be avoiding the responsibility of setting the next challenge.

The significant context for my story was that two old and valued friends died in the first three days of this challenge. One death was unexpected though he was aged eighty, the other was only in his early sixties but heavily bedridden with an early onset dementia. While I wasn't meaning to write specifically about them, I'm sure that their deaths greatly affected the writing of the story.

The story itself, as I'm sure others will have noted, was somewhat derivative, but I felt it had its own value. I've always loved the dragons of Earthsea, and, though I can barely remember it, I used to treasure the book "I Heard the Owl Call My Name". I also remember the last partner of the psychiatrist R.D. Laing (big in the sixties) saying that the one time she saw him really angry with her was immediately after she'd managed to resuscitate him: she'd interrupted him ascending into the sky while playing jazz piano with the most amazing band.

Anyway, many thanks everyone!