The mortals’ reverence faded.
They grew distracted and self-absorbed, no longer worshiping The Goddess.
Her temple fell into ruin. Crumbled bits of once-sacred stone became debris scattered among tall grass. Moss and ivy clung to marble.
She watched this disintegration as it mirrored that of civilization.
Humanity split apart like a plank of weathered wood, discarding kindness and embracing hate.
She felt no pity or sorrow but, instead, disappointment and disgust. They were a plague.
Silent many years, The Goddess waited, fury rising, until she stood and filled the heavens with her rage, unleashing a storm to end them.
Flash Fiction Challenge over at Carrot Ranch
July 13, 2016 prompt: Anger – In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story using the emotion of anger.
Oh, is that what happened this weekend? (https://youtu.be/v5C2okaoo1c) <-very close to my place.
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Wow. Perhaps that was a warning?
So, yes, something like that. Except worse. Much worse. We mustn’t anger The Goddess.
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Don’t make me mad; you won’t like me when I’m mad…
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I don’t think I would. But…the prompt WAS anger. (I know, you think people are good and delightful and so forth. I have a slightly less hopeful outlook.)
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Ah so like Anne G… You just let your inner miserablist hang!!
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Oops! My miserablist is showing. How embarrassing. 😉 Yes, I wonder how a meeting would go with you and Norah vs me and Anne.
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I think the sunny siders would leave you to your happy gloom
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Fair enough. 🙂
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Fabulous line: “Humanity split apart like a plank of weathered wood, discarding kindness and embracing hate.” Oh, the storm is brewing!
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Oh, yes, a storm is brewing! Thanks, Charli.
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I had your blog up on my computer screen when Todd got on to check his email. I heard him reading your flash. He said it was really good!
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Aw. Thanks, Todd. 🙂 Made my day!
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Pingback: Anger Issues « Carrot Ranch Communications
Oh, brilliant, Sarah! Speaks so eloquently to our age.
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Thank you. Unfortunately, it does. (Geoff says we’re miserablists.)
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Powerful piece. And I agree with Charli at the symbolism in this: “Humanity split apart like a plank of weathered wood, discarding kindness and embracing hate.” The storm is waging. The goddess is powerful indeed. Why we mere mortals do our utmost to annihilate ourselves is beyond me. Surviving the goddess’s wrath is challenge enough.
I challenge your miserablism with my meliorism. I hope mine wins. Some days it seems impossible. 🙂
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It is so far beyond my comprehension why we behave this way, why we do these things to each other and to the earth. It really does seem impossible some days but I hope yours wins, too. 🙂 Thanks, Norah.
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you can be scary! This though:
Humanity split apart like a plank of weathered wood
God I wish I wrote that. Amaze
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High praise. ❤ Thanks, word weaver.
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