HEADS-UP: short-shorts flash fiction contest, deadline for submissions upcoming


THE FLEXIBLE PERSONA, a literary magazine is hosting a “Short-Shorts Editors’ Prize” for flash-fiction up to 1,000 words. $6 submission fee. Cash awards: $125, $75, and $25. Deadline December 1. Details HERE.


ABOUT THE POET BY DAY

No Baloney Sandwiches, a poem …. and your Wednesday Writing Prompt

 


This is dedicated to all those people,
those who are blatantly themselves.
….[[[You know the ones I mean.]
Some, when seedlings, had family or teachers
who jabbed a finger yelling: You! You! You!
accusing them of being quintessentially themselves
. . . as though that was wrong.

They are the YOUs who come from multi-colored places
with varied dreams and
hearts woven of wonderlush
They are the womanly or manly,
childlike and wise.

They run from the gray streets to the green forest.

They take to long-lost roads and never-found pathways
with their song in a backpack and
a brown-bag lunch of no-baloney sandwiches.
When they elder they arrive back at the beginning

knowing who are they are

. . . and why.

© 2016, Jamie Dedes, All rights reserved

“The moon does not fight. It attacks no one. It does not worry. It does not try to crush others. It keeps to its course, but by its very nature, it gently influences. What other body could pull an entire ocean from shore to shore? The moon is faithful to its nature and its power is never diminished.”  Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony, Ming-Dao Deng


WEDNESDAY WRITING PROMPT

Write a poem about being being true to ourselves, true to our inherent nature.  If you feel comfortable, leave your work or a link to it in the comments section. All poems shared on theme will be published in next Tuesday’s poetry collection. You have until Monday night, 8:30 p.m. PST to respond.


ABOUT THE POET BY DAY