Week 714 of #ThursThreads was a success, a remarkable feat for 13 solid years. Thank you to everyone who writes each week. You are why we’re still doing this. I’m truly grateful for all y’all!
If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Silver James for judging this week. Follow Siobhan Muir on Bluesky or check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads server on Discord to keep up with news, etc.
Entries:
- Bill Engleson
- Siobhan Muir
- David A. Ludwig
- Eric Martell
Silver says: We have the usual suspects present today and yay for me because I get the enjoyment of reading and expounding upon their offerings. There’s always such talent displayed that choosing is difficult though I did not resort to coin flips this week. That said, it was neck and neck but one entry edged out the others by a nose. (Forgive the grandiose verbiage as I’m currently in the headspace of a very hoity-toity Fae lord.)
Mentions
Eric Martell
Silver says: Amazing stage setting in this tale. The detail is exquisite and Eric captured the emotions of both characters with intricate care. I have a sense of the characters but there is much more to learn as both seem to have depths ready to be plumbed. This gives off old-school vampire vibes but it could very well be a modern spy/suspense tale.
David A. Ludwig
Silver says: DUDE! I sooo was not expecting this tale. I’m reading along smiling at the nod to the World Cup and the pastoral scene then BAM! David hits with an iron fist and Crouching Tiger anime action ensues. A very nice twist there, and one that knocked Oberon out of my head for a moment.
Siobhan Muir
Silver says: Indeed, why now? A very good question to be asking and one should always trust their guts, especially when an intruder pings that internal radar. Siobhan has set up a very interesting scenario and given succinct character details in a few short words. I’m curious about them. I definitely want the rest of the story.
winner announcement
Week 714 Winner
Silver says: Ah, an anthem to the slow decline of poetry. As always, Bill’s unique brand of humor is evident in this delightful tale, along with some wily wisdom. It could indeed be a hostile takeover. Well written and fun to read. I never quite know what to expect from Bill and it’s always a surprise when it happens. Well done!
The Somnambulist’s Sonnet Society
I didn’t want to say it but I wasn’t surprised. We’d been in decline for several years. Sonnets just weren’t au courant these days as I am sure the centuries dead sonneteer, Pierre de Ronsar, might have said, if asked…in French, n’est pas.
Not only were sonnets not in favour with a younger tribe of poets, but the public had also moved on.
Spoken word was alive and entertaining.
Free verse was epidemic.
Not only was everyone a critic; everyone was a poet.
Though our membership had been dwindling, what with death and boredom infecting us at every turn, there had been an odd uptick in a certain sort of new member.
I finally mentioned it to Elvira Sneed, our President. “Elvie, have you noticed those two new members…I don’t want to besmirch them but they seem out of sorts.”
I used a gentle expression to describe something I sensed was not quite accurate. Elvie was a dear soul but not confrontational in the least.
“You mean Zip Rebel and Slash Wonder?”
I nodded. We didn’t actually know their real names but they were two of a small contingent of angry poets…very Ginsbergy, I thought.
“Yes, dear,” I said. “I hope I’m wrong…I can be quite wrong these days about many things but I fear…oh, gosh darn it, I’m afraid it’s a hostile takeover.”
There. I’d said it. We had been asleep at the sonnet wheel.
“It’ll be okay,” Elvie consoled me. “We’ve had our day.”
~~~~~~~
Congratulations FORTY-NINE TIME WINNER Bill! Don’t forget to claim your badge and display it with pride. You certainly earned it!
Pass on the great news on Facebook, Bluesky, Mastodon, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂
