Tag: flash fiction

Butterfly | Sarah Whiley

October 8, 2021

That’s right
I’m the sidekick
Riding the tailcoats
Of those braver than I
Too shy
Too scared
To bare my teeth
Instead, I smile

Push me around?
You can
I promise I won’t mind
I have no guile
I grit my teeth
My knuckles are white
What lies beneath
Composure like armour

Shh. Can you hear it?
My soul has awakened
She’s trying to get out
I’m on my knees
Slowly I push
Gently I prod
The cocoon opens wide
And I am bioluminescent

I am ready
My stars in the sand
Laid bare for all to see
A butterfly

Sarah Whiley is a primary school teacher, with a passion for writing. She enjoys crafting whimsical short stories and poems, in a variety of forms. More work from Sarah can be found at her blog, By Sarah.

Gray Butterfly | Frank Hubeny

October 7, 2021

While walking through the prairie Joseph noticed the colorful butterflies moving from blossom to blossom. He remembered the satisfaction of doing purposeful work before his injuries.

Back on the street a carload of unemployed youth who called themselves the Retaliators taunted him as they drove by shouting, “Useless eater!”

Joseph’s accident may have been a curse, but how great were his blessings! That evening before lying in bed he kissed his wife and she smiled. Falling asleep he saw a gray butterfly sitting on a post waiting for him becoming as it few off colorful and bright.

Frank Hubeny spends his time between Miami Beach and Northbrook, Illinois. He regularly posts poetry, short fiction and photography to https://frankhubeny.blog.

Whispers and Echoes Poetry and Flash Fiction Index | September 2021

October 3, 2021

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For most of September 2021, Whispers and Echoes was on its annual posting break, but it returned for the final week of the month to begin sharing the submissions we received for the Butterfly Photo Prompt.

To see what we shared – or what you missed – in September, check out the links below. Enjoy!

Poetry

Untitled | Venkataraman Ganesan

October 1, 2021

The fragile wings tremulously resting on the very edge of the ancient bark had seen better days. The Polka Dots in Sepia were showing telling signs of wear and tear. The journey from larva to pupa to butterfly had been an exhilarating one indeed. There was neither room for remorse nor reason for regret. What initially were flights of absolute fancy had eventually transformed into adventures of purpose. It was a life well lived. Fragrance. Fulfillment and Fun. The bosom of Mother Nature was benevolence personified. Now it was time for redemption. To return to the very origin. To salvation.

Whispers and Echoes Poetry and Flash Fiction Index | August 2021

September 3, 2021

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Throughout August Whispers and Echoes shared poetry and flash fiction on the theme of summer.  Thank you to everyone who sent in their writing as well as to those who have been reading.

The journal will be going on a short break between the 6th and the 27th, as September sees Whispers and Echoes take a short break each year.  While we’re away submissions to our Autumn 2021 call will still be open (you can find the guidelines for it here), but please note, responses will not go out until we return. The page for this particular call has been updated to show this.

From the 27th September we will begin sharing responses to our recent photo prompt submissions call. We were pleasantly surprised by the volume of submissions we received for this one. So, thank you to all those who joined in.

We’re still closed to general submissions at the moment as our planned posting schedule is full, but we’re hoping to change that soon.

To see what we shared – or what you missed – in August, check out the links below. Enjoy!

Poetry

Prose

Call for Submissions…Autumn-themed poetry and flash fiction

August 24, 2021

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Whispers and Echoes is currently open to submissions of short poetry and flash fiction on the theme of “AUTUMN”.

Submission Guidelines:

  • Keywords and themes you might wish to consider (this list isn’t exhaustive): changing seasons, falling leaves, end of summer, shorter days and longer nights, autumn equinox, autumnal foods / colours / rituals / events / associations, harvest, nature and nature deities, autumnal weather or autumnal-inspired settings for flash fiction stories and poetry…As long as it fits our guidelines, go wherever your inspiration takes you…
  • Our usual submission guidelines apply: flash fiction in 100 words or under and poetry in 10 lines or less.  The full guidelines can be found here. Please read them before submitting.
  • Please state the following in the subject line: Autumn Submission – Your Name
  • Submissions open: 24th August 2021
  • Submissions close: 27th September 2021
  • Responses will be sent out on or around 30th September 2021
  • Accepted submissions will be posted on the site throughout October.  Depending on the volume of submissions received, we may, along with our usual Monday and Friday postings, include extra posting days each week for this call.
  • Please send your submissions to: deardreamingspirit@gmail.com

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Call for submissions…Photo Prompt – Butterfly

August 17, 2021

Whispers and Echoes is currently open to submissions of short poetry and flash fiction inspired by the following photo:

Submission Guidelines:

  • Only poetry and flash fiction inspired by the photo prompt above will be accepted for this call.
  • Our usual submission guidelines apply: flash fiction in 100 words or under and poetry in 10 lines or less.  The full guidelines can be found here. Please read them before submitting.
  • For this call, please limit your submission to either 1 poem or 1 piece of flash fiction
  • Please state the following in the subject line: Photo Prompt Butterfly – Your Name
  • Submissions open: 17 August 2021
  • Submissions close: 30 August 2021
  • Responses will be sent out on or around: 31 August 2021
  • Accepted submissions will be posted on the site towards the end of September and into the beginning of October.  Depending on the volume of submissions received, we may, along with our usual Monday and Friday postings, include extra posting days each week for this call.
  • Please send your submissions to: deardreamingspirit@gmail.com

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Summer in Scotland | Britta Benson

August 9, 2021

‘Quick’, I scream, dropping the dishcloth into the sink, my hands covered in froth as though they’ve got rabies. ‘Out!’

We grab the camping chairs, stashed in the darkest corner.

On our garden path, we bare milk blue arms, point sour faces towards the sun, like members of an obscure cult.

Two minutes pass. Then, black, voluptuous clouds devour the distant frolic of heat and close their ranks once again.

‘Summer’s done’, I sigh and turn to my husband. ‘Stick the kettle on, will you?’

We sit at the kitchen table, reminiscing.

‘Wasn’t it great?’, he says.

I stretch out my hand to touch his and melt into this beautiful memory of a fleeting moment.

Britta Benson
Britta’s Blog – Letters from Scotland
Odds & Ends