Crafting Poetry One Syllable at a Time
Posted on July 8, 2018 by Colleen M. Chesebro
July 5, 2018, Carrot Ranch Literary Community prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes buttons. You can use the word plural or singular in different expressions, or focus on how buttons relate to a story. Go where the prompt leads. Respond by July 10, 2018.
“The Little Drummer Boy”
The boy hid near a copse of trees. All around him, the sound of gunfire sputtered and pinged. Tears stinging, he pulled the drum closer, waiting for a new command from the general so he could muster the troops.
Scared, he slipped his hand into his pocket and fingered the buttons he had cut from the coats of the enemy. Each button represented a win. He had survived the battles and lived to beat the drums to victory.
Until today. When the men found him the little drummer boy gripped a string of dirty buttons—his legacy to death.
**Dedicated to the Drummer Boys of the American Civil War**
I have no idea where this story came from, but the words flew from my fingertips. It was meant to be written. Again. ❤
And write some Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction!
Category: Authors Supporting AuthorsTags: 99 words or less flash fiction, buttons, Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction, Carrot Ranch Literary Community, Drummer Boys, The American Civil War
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“A good poem is a contribution to reality. The world is never the same once a good poem has been added to it. A good poem helps to change the shape of the universe, helps to extend everyone’s knowledge of himself and the world around him.”
—Dylan Thomas
Click: What is a Rhyme Scheme?
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Colleen M. Chesebro is an American Poet who loves crafting paranormal fantasy and magical realism, cross-genre flash fiction, syllabic poetry, and creative nonfiction. Colleen sponsors a weekly syllabic poetry challenge, called Tanka Tuesday, on wordcraftpoetry.com where participants learn how to write traditional and current forms of haiku, senryu, haiga, tanka, gogyohka, tanka prose, renga, solo-renga, haibun, cinquain, Etheree, nonet, and shadorma poetry. Colleen's syllabic poetry has appeared in the Auroras & Blossoms Poetry Journal, and in “Hedgerow, a journal of small poems.” She’s won numerous awards from participating in the Carrot Ranch Rodeo, a yearly flash fiction contest sponsored by carrotranch.com. In 2020, she won first place in the Carrot Ranch Folk Tale or Fable category, with her story called “Why Wolf Howls at the Moon.” Colleen is a Sister of the Fey, where she pursues a pagan path through her writing. When she is not writing, she is reading. She also loves gardening and crocheting old-fashioned doilies into works of art.
Very sad and touching story, Colleen and a suitable homage.
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I just never know where these prompt words will take me, Olga. I knew nothing of the drummer boys, and looked them up. Sad, indeed. ❤
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A poignant tale, Colleen. I hope “the enemy” takes pity on him.
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I couldn’t see who the enemy was. I felt like his own men found him, but leaving it open ended seemed suitable.
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I liked that it wasn’t stated who he was or who the enemy was. It could refer to either side of many wars where there were drummer boys.
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Agreed. You know this stuff just flows from my fingers sometimes. I see bits in my mind but knew it had to do with the Civil War. I seriously had to research drummer boys. I wasn’t sure what they did. The muse spoke.
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Aw…
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Sad… I know. I pick things up… 😍❤️
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What a bittersweet tale… ❤
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Thanks, Ritu. From my research, many of these boys didn’t reach manhood. Very sad. 😦
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So sad 💜
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Reblogged this on Where Genres Collide.
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Thanks for sharing, Traci. 😍❤️
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You’re welcome, Colleen!
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Lovely Colleen.. beautiful and so sad.. xxx♥
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Thanks, Sally. Such sad tales of war. ❤️
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A beautiful yet poignant story Colleen. 🌼
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Thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed. 😍
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So sad, but a wonderful piece of flash fiction, sis. ❤
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Thanks, Adele. A story that needed to be told, I reckon. 😀 ❤
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Wonderful micro piece.
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Thanks, Craig. I love the way flash makes you think. Very fulfilling. 😀
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I love it. In fact I need to produce about four pieces by October.
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4 days… One a day. They get your creativity flowing!
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This story grabbed you, Colleen! You have the touch of a story-catcher. Amazing detail that bring this drummer boy to life momentarily.
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Ohhh, A story-catcher! Thanks, Charli. I just receive vibes and act on them. This story grabbed me. ❤️
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I love that you follow the vibes, Colleen!
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Thanks, Charli. They get stuck in my wings! 😂🧚♀️💕
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Ha, ha!
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😀 ❤
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Pingback: Buttons « Carrot Ranch Literary Community
😢
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Very heart wrenching, Colleen.
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War is so brutal. Let’s hope we have no more wars!
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