prompt/sample 1-25

READ DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY!!!

Prompt for: Jan 25, 2016 (Fyn)
Subject or Theme: Pick one of the following list: carousel, frigate, flower market or library. Then pick one thing from this 2nd list: depression, envy, revenge or anger. Then write about your word in the 2nd list in terms of your choice from the 1st list. In other words, use aspects of your choice from list 1 as a metaphor for the emotion in list 2.


Word(s) to Include: hunger, careen, ring(or any derivatives of these words)
Forbidden Word(s): anger, depression, revenge, envy, emotion, feel.(or any derivatives, compound or hyphenations of these words)
Additional Parameters: Use your word from 1st list in the title. Must be at least 24 lines. Down at the bottom, put your two choice.Rhyming or not. Remember, do not use forbidden words ANYWHERE, including title or title or the brief description.

Carousel to Hell

Tattered ticket stubs
scattered around
litter the ground--
imagine the clown
on the merry-go-round.
He grins, without mirth.
It is not funny.

Once a noble steed
strong and true
bedecked in flowers
with shiny hooves
and flowing mane
now a swayed back
rib jutting,
saliva drooling,
lead paint peeling old nag.

Circling round and round
and round and round
and round and round
and round
and round
ad nauseum.

No calliope.
No light, sprightly waltz.
Stuck record repetition--
illusive half recalled fragment
of some forgotten dirge.

Brass rings tarnished.
Forever out of reach
in blackened muck, befouled beneath
the bloody headed vulture
perched:
Watching. Waiting.
Wanting--
Should the spinning cease.

Spiraled spinnings
blurred surroundings.
Haunted faces--
Or are they reflections?
Refractions?
Refracted reflections:
Shattered.
Fragmented.

Sideshow mirrors reflect
wild eyed one
dimensional images
caught in freeze frame.
Face whiter than bone,
eyes bruised with lack of sleep.
I do not know me.
I am a stranger.

Ahead of me
wraiths,
mere shells of themselves,
each clutching that brass ring
I could never manage to reach.
I cannot catch up.
I dare not fall behind.
Pursuing me,
nightmare caricatures
on charging beasts
follow on the heels
of my deception.

Won’t stop, long ride
Can’t stop, lose stride
Round and round
Up and down
Sing-song tune
Night ‘till noon.

Can’t get off
I’ll fall.
Can’t stay on
I’ll fall.
I’m falling anyway
Everyway.

Mocking laughter rides
the nearby roller coaster
pitching and careening out over the sea.
At least if you survive
the death spiral
you can get off
at the end of the ride
tho' false bravado
hides pounding blood.

Strobe lights flash, stab.

Frozen moments--
Defining seconds--
Replayed ad infinitum. . .


Enflamed images careening
past .sweat-slicked pole.
Stick fingers, figures, hanging on
For dear life.
Can’t let go.
Can’t stop
Spinning off
Out of control
Spinning ever faster

Hunger gnaws deep
with gnashing, razor-edged teeth,
for more than
stale popcorn emptiness,
kernels of
tooth-breaking truth--
for more than sweet memories
of cotton candy fluff.

Scent of rain mingles
with well-trod sawdust
coating my throat:
swallow caught in shadow.

Images ooze together
like smeared finger-paint.
Colors bleed and blend to mud.

Can’t focus
Up, down
Around around
Forward backward
Doesn’t matter.
Going onward
Going nowhere.
Nowhere to go.
Tethered to the
edge of consciousness

On the
Carousel to Hell

Carousel/depression