Category Archives: microfiction

May 11, 2022

a clogyrnach poem – take 2

By Kat Myrman 
there is not much that can be said
to fools who think the truth is dead
alt-reality
is insanity
but they’re free…
in their head

~kat

Had to give the Clogyrnach poem another go. Yesterday’s offering was slightly off form. And you know me, perfectionist that i am, I couldn’t let it rest until I got it right. Each line written according to syllable and rhyme was my goal. phew! it took a bit of blood and sweat to get it done, but i did it!!! Give it a try. It’s well worth the effort!😊

Clogyrnach Poems

This Welsh poetic form is typically a six-line syllabic stanza with an ab rhyme scheme:

Line 1: 8 syllables with an a rhyme
Line 2: 8 syllables with an a rhyme
Line 3: 5 syllables with a b rhyme
Line 4: 5 syllables with a b rhyme
Line 5: 3 syllables with a b rhyme
Line 6: 3 syllables with an a rhyme

2 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Clogyrnach, Digital Art & Photos, microfiction, Random Thoughts and Musings

December 8, 2017

The Midnighters

By Kat Myrman

“Parliament is in session,” declared Ozzie, “we have a couple of live ones this evening!”

“Whooooooh…I love the futility of it all,” hooted Ollie.

Orville chimed in, “Foooooools.”

Otto, the quiet one, just ogled. He was good at ogling and freaking out fearful humans. ‘Am I a good omen or a bad one…whooooo can tell?’

“Shhhh!” Otis screeched.

“Whooo, look! They’re coming!” Odin announced.

Two souls bolted over the hill and into the valley, their hapless former selves stumbling behind in pursuit. It was futile, just as Ollie had said. After a few dips and swoops the souls faded into the mist, leaving their fleshy hosts in darkness.

Once a person loses his soul it is nearly impossible to get it back. Give your soul an inch of freedom from reason and it is sure to bolt. It’s a slippery slope. An epidemic of epic proportions orchestrated by legions of soul-less heads who are miserable and in need of adoring followers.

But at least the midnighters were entertained.

“They never had a chance,” sighed Ollie.

“Same time tomorrow then?” Odin asked his fellows.

“Wouldn’t miss it. This is better than barn crashing!” Orville guffawed.

“Whoooo’ll be next? Whooooo knows?”

~kat

A bit of silliness for Jane Dougherty’s Microfiction Challenge based on the odd painting above, that I discovered, after a quick google search, is by Hugo Gerhard Simberg (24 June 1873 – 12 July 1917), a Finnish symbolist painter and graphic artist.

15 Comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Life Lessons, microfiction, Random Thoughts and Musings, Social Issues

August 12, 2017

The Girl Who Dreamed of Flying

By Kat Myrman


Once upon a time…you know where this is going. You might even think, this is one of those ‘fairy tales’ and dismiss it straight away as a myth, but I can assure you it is truer than true. For it is true that everything in this world has a once upon a time; even you, if you think about it, when you burst purple, wet into this place, gulping your first breath, eyes squinting at the bright glare of life.

And so it was for Clarissa. Born in a humble wisteria-draped cottage in a dingle village long, long ago, Clarissa emerged from the Guf laughing, eyes wide and bright. The midwife declared, “My my, but this is a special one!” Never had a truer thing been uttered, as time would tell.

As soon as she could walk, Clarissa set about exploring every cranny and nook. Birds and bugs, whirlygigs, cottonwood fluff and witch’s gowan wishies…flying things, were her favorite things of all. She spent hours studying them, quite unusual for a youngster, and gibbering to them about this and that, as if they were listening. She dreamed of flying like her airborne friends. One day she did. It was the saddest of all days the dingle had ever known.

On that dark and dreadful day Clarissa managed to escape the watchful eyes of her doting mum to wander up the mountain trail to the lookout ledge. She stood there for a moment, feet clinging to the rocky crag, arms extended, her fiery red curls dancing in the wind, and she laughed so loudly it caught the attention of every living thing below. They watched aghast as Clarissa lept into a swooping gust and flew for a short, too few magnificent seconds.

Frantic to save her, every winged, wispy thing surrendered their feathers and wings, whirligigs and fluffy, puff wishies to the wind, hoping to break her fall her by blanketing the dingle in feathery fluff, but they were no match for gravity’s power, drifting helplessly in the air. Clarissa fell right through them, landing in a horrible thud as the last echo of her laughter faded in the distance.

Now you may not notice it when it happens but I can assure you it’s true. Every time a child laughs a bird sheds a feather or bug its wings. And sometimes Maple tree whirligigs, cottonwood fluffies and dandelion wishies take to the wind too. All to remember Clarissa, the girl who dreamed of flying, and to add another moment’s wonder and happiness to children everywhere. For it is also true that their magnificent innocence, like Clarissa’s ill-fated flight, fades far too quickly, like echoes of laughter in the distance.

~kat

A Folktale for Jane Dougherty Microfiction Challenge inspired by Jeren of itsallaboutnothing’s poem that you can read HERE.

18 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, Flash Fiction, Life Lessons, microfiction

July 6, 2017

Mother Lode

By Kat Myrman

Photo by Claire Sheldon


“How many of these are there?”

“I don’t know, a couple hundred.”

“You sure the old lady said she hid money in her stuffed animals?”

“That’s what my cousin’s, friend’s, mother heard her neighbor say.”

“What?! I can’t believe I’m sitting here unstuffing this woman’s creepy collection on hearsay!”

“But it could be true! Besides, I trust my cousin.”

“You lost me at ‘friend’, my friend. The old lady will be back soon. If we don’t find something soon, I’m outa here!

Just then a shiny penny tumbled from a pile of stuffing. 

“Really dude?! God!!!!”

“Well, it IS money!”

~kat

100 Words for Rochelle Wisoff-Fields Friday Fictioneers 100 Word Story Challenge based on the photo above by Claire Sheldon. 

22 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in 100 and Under, Challenges and Writing Prompts, Flash Fiction, Humor, microfiction

June 20, 2017

Twittering Tales #35 – 20 June 2017

By Kat Myrman


About the challenge: Each Tuesday I will provide a prompt, and your mission, if you choose to play along, is to tell a story based on that prompt in 140 characters or less. If you accept the challenge, be sure to let me know in the comments with a link to your tale.

A final note: if you need help tracking the number of characters in your story, there is a nifty online tool that will count for you at charactercountonline.com.

I will do a roundup each Tuesday, along with providing us a new prompt. Have Fun!

Twittering Tale #34 – The Round-Up


From Michael at Morpethroad:

She needs iron in her diet.
You won’t fool her.
Salami nanas are the newest craze.
You’ve an ice-blocks chance you know.
How was that?
Oh! Yuck.
(140 characters)

From Reena at ReInventions

Could this really be the cause of a divorce? Her US-based trophy husband, turned out to be non-vegetarian. Ouch! Back home, the Jain girl had never smelt or tasted meat.
(140 characters)

From Oneta at Sweet Aroma:

Sixty years she cooked for her meat-lovin’ man. Now heart-healthy diet only! Fruit ok’d by the rehab nurse.  Love found a way!

From Neel at Neel Writes Blog:

Pre-marriage life was bliss. Post marriage the love peeled away.
What remained was the hard crust of hate.
Post-divorce she held on to the crumbs.

From Kitty at Kitty’s Verses:

He was offered the food, & the cat grabbed it from his hand.She lay unconscious,after taking a bite.The host was at her wit’s end.
(134 characters)

From Di at Pensitivity101:

She said she fancied banana pizza!
(34 characters)

From Michael at Flawed Masterpieces:

Jerry peeled the banana, waiting for a pleasant sunrise, only to discover the monkey had swapped out the fruit for day old kielbasa!

From Willow at Willowdot21:

It was decided that this was a clever joke. Someone had removed the banana fruit from the skin. They all thought it was fun,sadly it wasn’t.
(140 Characters)

From Kathryn at Another Foodie Blogger:

Sue loved playing pranks on her vegetarian friend, but she might have gone too far. After “peeling” the banana, Jen fled the room, retching.

From Lorraine at In 25 Words More or Less:

Mae “Deli” West: “Is that a [salama]banana in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?” (92)

From Radhika at RadhikasReflections:

Constantly trying to please her cynical husband and his unending demands, left her confused about her own identity.
(115 characters)

From Francine at Woman Walks Dog:

That wild Timelord  Dr Who ! He’s been visiting GModGroogFood Galaxy again and he’s dumped his leftover snacks in an earth park. Shall we try some?

From Soul Connection at Through My Heart’s Web:

Cruelty at par…How could they peel off my skin and use it to cover this weird look alike of mine.I am all NAKED.EAT ME or COVER ME Please.

From Peter at Peter’s Ponderings:

Deirdrie was surprised, and more than a little disappointed, that Charles had misinterpreted her suggestion of a game of hide the sausage!
(138 characters)

and my take starting us off:

“Banangers?!” Emily screeched, “You’re insane Tom!” 
“But it’s brilliant Em. GMO meat trees will be the new superfood.”
“I think I’ll pass!”
(138 Characters)

Well well! A very creative bunch you are! I admit, last week’s photo was a bit bananas! Thanks for giving it a go.

Decided to mellow it out this week. Found this great photo at Pexels.com by photographer, Tyler Hendy. First official day of summer comes along this week. Nothing like sitting outside at your favorite place enjoying the long nights over a coffee or tea or something a bit more spirited. 😊 Anyhoo, hope you’ll tell me a story about this scene. Romance, intrigue, mystery, drama, or thriller? Oh my! The possibilities are endless! Have fun!

Twittering Tale #35 – 20 June 2017

Photo by Tyler Hendy at pexels.com

 

“Great!” she mumbled, before slipping away unnoticed, “Stuart from the mailroom.”

Stuart waited two hours. His blind date never showed.

~kat

(136 Characters)

35 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Essays, Flash Fiction, microfiction, Twitter Tales

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