Second Campaigner Challenge
I took up Rachael Harrie’s dare. Please go to her linky page and LIKE me (Number 71) if you like my entry. Here’s the challenge:
Write a blog post in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, whether flash fiction, non-fiction, humorous blog musings, poem, etc. The blog post should include the word “imago” in the title, and include the following words: “miasma,” “lacuna,” “oscitate,” “synchronicity”. If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional and included in the word count), make reference to a mirror in your post. For those who want an even greater challenge (optional), make your post 200 words EXACTLY!
Of course as a German, I had to look up all the obligatory words (except Imago; I’m a forester and I have had more experience with those than I care for), and it took my quite a while to figure out that ‘oscitate’ means ‘to yawn’. Well, why use a simple word when a difficult one will do. Now, here’s my entry. I hope you like it. It’s got all the requirements (words, mirror, and 200 words) and it’s more or less non-fiction this time (albeit with a little added imagination)
The winged Imago
Slumber receded. Light registered on her brain. She oscitated. Was it time to wake already? If she opened her cell too early, the miasma of the breeding pond would kill her. If she left it too late, her strength might not suffice. She twisted and stretched. The cell was awfully tight, and her back itched. She rubbed it against the upper side of her confinement. Yes, that helped.
A tear in the fabric of her cell. Oh dear. She stopped moving. Was it safe? Her ears listened to the slightest sounds from outside. Birdsong – far away, thank the Mighty Blue. Not a single frog croaked below – didn’t mean there weren’t any.
She couldn’t stay in here forever. Did she dare? Carefully as not to disturb the world outside, she left her cell. It proved harder than she had expected. She arched her back, pulled out one dainty leg after the other, and stood there – waiting – listening. The lacuna she had left, an empty shell beside her. A hunger pang shot though her abdomen. She needed to hunt as soon as her body hardened. In perfect synchronicity, the dragon-fly spread her wings and soared over the blue mirror of her kingdom.
Loved your piece!! It flowed very smoothly and you used the words perfectly. Great job!!
#189
Thanks. I’ll check out your entry too.
Excellent word usage, good micro fiction, great job.
#188
Thanks, yours is great too.
I like yours a lot. The dragonfly idenity was so good. ; )
I thought this was beautiful!
That was lovely. It felt like an alien world, but then the dragonfly twist at the end. Great imagery and fantastic use of the words.
I’m glad you liked it.
Positively wonderful! I loved the imagery and your use of the words.
Lovely, quirky piece! I thought it was a description of a scientifically-bred human until the end. I’m over from the campaign, at #142. Cheers!
What did you expect? I’m a trained forester. 😉
I loved the POV and how the timid dragonfly grows brave enough to try her wings. Our stories are similar in one aspect, yet very different in execution. Namely, the execution part. I’m number #52. Hope you enjoy it too.
I did. As you said, it was similar but very different too.
Loving your imagery here. Awesome fantasy elements. I found myself lost in this little world you’ve started. I’d read on if there were more.
Great job, Katharina (awesome name!) 🙂
German name 😉
Thanks for the compliment. I’m glad you liked the story — only it hasn’t really got a fantasy element in it. It’s what I believe a dragonfly feels when hatching from its cocoon.
Wonderfully concise. Loved this piece.
Thanks but yours is very nice too.
Loved it, wanted to read more! ; )
One day soon, I might write a non-fiction MG adventure story telling about animals and their daily lives. That’d be fun.
Mighty useful. Make no mistake, I aprpecitae it.
I love science — and stories.
Lovely. I wasn’t sure what kind, but I expected an insect. Dragonflies are beautiful so I smiled at the ending when she was revealed!
Thank you so much. Yes, if one didn’t skip the part of this being Non-Fiction, one could have guessed. 😉
What a beautiful piece! I love how you personified the dragonfly until the very last moment.
Thank you. It’s quite similar to your story.
Your naturalist knowledge and sensitivity came through beautifully in this piece. It flowed well, and the use of these peculiar words did not feel forced, as it has in some I have read. Well done, Cat!
Thank you. I like your name. Mrs. Marple 😉 (She’s one of my all time favorite characters)
Cat, I think everyone had to look up these words!
Your piece is just fabulous – great imagery.
Mine is #3.
That eases my mind. 😉 I liked yours too.
Very visual, very detailed! And dragonflies are pretty.
Really well done. It’s so visual. Mine is #29
This ran very smoothly, but I was flanked when I realized this was about a dragonfly.
You are a master trickster.
Nice entry.
😀 I meant to trick the reader (although I did give a hint before I started. I said it’s non-fiction).
Beautiful imagery and I thought you used those odd words effortlessly! I’m #44 🙂
Thank you.
I had to look up the words, too. I think that’s part of the challenge–challenging words.
I like how seamlessly you wove the challenge words in. I barely noticed them. Well done.
I didn’t mind looking them up. It’s part of the fun. I just thought that my American fellow writers knew those words already.
Beautiful imagery! I’m #48 🙂
Thank you. I’ll check out your asap.
Great twist at the end! I totally thought this was about a person until the last line. Nicely done! 😀
That was my intent. Glad to hear it worked.
This is lovely. A really beautiful awakening. And I LOVE dragon-flies. A Great way to use the words. Well written.
Thank you. I love dragon-flies too. And as an ex-forester I know how useful they are.