twonite Avatar
A prose poem by

twonite

Submitted Nov 22, 2008, 6:00:05 PM

Always and Forever

Always and Forever
What's that
Ever hear never say never
Well sticks and stones do break bones
And your words break hearts
So names aren't needed
Because there's nothing left to hurt
Everything i do and say
Just makes my chances worse
So i'll sew my mouth shut for you
And in case the stitches rip i'll use glue
Why do i tear down myself
So every hit i throw at you
I'm sorry, I'll take a hit too

There's just that something in my heart
That makes me want to cry when the fighting starts
Because it may not seem like it
But i love you
And don't know why i torture you
I don't need forgiveness
That would be too much to ask
But just a smile so i can live in this
cruel cruel world

Comments

Routh Avatar

Routh

Commented Oct 27, 2021, 1:55:35 PM
I don't have any experience writing micro fiction, I always find a story needs to be at least a chapter for me to consider it a story; perhaps I'm just a bit narrow minded in this regard.

These examples certainly hint at a story, and prompt thinking, but that itself to me is prose of a sort I suppose? The example from Oates almost strikes me as poetry/prose rather than a story of sorts. Make this the opening to a chapter, or put it in the backdrop of a pixel RPG and it enhances or enriches the story.

I'd honestly need a bit more time to think about this. The more I do the grayer this becomes for me.
Mythbhavd Avatar

Mythbhavd

Commented Oct 28, 2021, 12:23:31 PM
I'd agree that Oates' story falls more under the heading of prose. I think the purpose of micro-stories is to create a story in the mind of the reader. In the way that I'm using them in a clinical setting is to start a conversation. So, some of the stories are more like parables or moral stories, some are just short thoughtful moments, and some are designed to give you a view of a character or two within a story and see what people think.

In some instances, though, there is an entire story wrapped up in a statement. The story doesn't need to be elaborated. I think we often do this in our day to day lives.
"How are you doing?"
"It has been a day."
There is an entire story wrapped up in that statement. We don't see it, but the speaker knows all of the story. It's an interesting idea.