Five minutes and seven seconds into lunch, he started coughing, shooting millions of disease carrying germs in her direction; missiles from a hostile nation. She covered her nose and watched his face, a battleground ravaged by seventy three summers. It turned red, then purple.
Finally, she pushed her plate and went to the kitchen to get water. He waited a moment, then wiped off half a loaf of ciabatta , slipping it neatly inside his brown army jacket.
"I need some air "
he drank the water and walked towards the door, stiff-limbed like an army general. She noticed the missing bread and threw an old chipped plate of sarcasm at his retreating back. It missed. He let out a victory laugh, saluted his platoon of stray dogs standing on alert in front of the house, and fed them soft home-baked bread.
In turn, they kept him alive.
Author notes
Inspired by the poems of Douglas Goetsch
A contest entry
- A Moment Like This by Rowan.
800 points, ended December 17, 2008, 13 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
-
hmmm... not sure i get this one
-
tricky bastard. lol. I loved this, excellent prose.
Thanks so much for this.
-
It's been too long since I read you.
-
Amazing as always....I love the metaphor and they wonderful ending...truly a winner all the way around...strong and perfect...
best to you!
-
Wow... what a fantastic write. I totally love vignette poetry and this is a classic tale... Wonderfully done!
Ken
-
Yes... this is excellent. A snapshot in time.
-
yes...I love the edits you've made
-
'old chipped plate of sarcasm'
wonderful penning!
-
this is good!!
-
damn.
'and threw an old chipped plate
of sarcasm at his retreating back.'
that made me smile. you're amazing and i didn't find any errrors
if you don't win...i'll cry!
[':
-
C
-
Love it...from title...first word to last...especially the chipped plate of sarcasm!!!
Adding your comment:
1 - 12 of 12
