Writing Challenge #12
 

Guess what? It's a picture week! :)






Write using whatever form of writing you wish - Have FUN with this one! Especially if you love penguins ;)

The little creature that emerged was clearly not my son. His bright orange feathers were nothing like mine. My wife and I both stared at it awkwardly for several moments before my gaze turned to her. She was avoiding my eyes and was fidgety.

“Penguina?” I asked. “What is going on here?”

“Pen, I can explain,” she said as her voice cracked, tears forming in her eyes.

“Is this what you've been doing while I was out hunting for fish, risking killer whale attacks to keep food on our table?!” I said, fury rising in my beak.

“Damnit, Pen!” she protested, tears rolling down her cheeks like pearls, “I wish it hadn't come to this, really I do! But you were never here! And you promised! You promised –”

Her voice was drowned in a spring of tears and I starred, helpless to regain the bird I had somehow let slip away. My thoughts briefly returned to our younger years of mutual preening and flirtatious behavior. How could I blame it on her? She was right. I hadn't been there. I hadn't been there.

I turned away from her and left the nest, feeling like something had died inside of me. I went to the bar and took a stool near the diving pool. I saw a lot of penguins come and go. They were all familiar, but they were all strangers that night.

“Bring me a drink bartender, and make it something hard. I've got forgetting to do.”

The bartender slipped me something from under the counter. I'd never seen it before, but I could tell it was something potent. How many pathetic stories had that bartender's sad eyes seen? Probably enough to make any grown penguin break down and cry. It was if his eyes had said, “I know your story without you even having to say a word. This here will make you feel better. This here will make you feel better right away.”

I tried not to think about it, about anything. I let the liquor slide down my beak, burning its way to my stomach. I asked for another, and another, and another. How many drinks had I had? It didn't matter. I saw Penguina's beautiful face swim before my eyes like a haze. I tried to reach out for her, but all I caught was air.

The bell on the door suddenly rang and someone entered – someone I'd never seen before. He didn't have a black coat like your average penguin. Not this guy. I might have been drunk, but I saw him clear as day through the mist that clouded everything else. His coat was smoother than satin, and bright orange. He walked with an arrogance in his step, and he had a beak like none I had ever seen.

Christ. This was the guy that had stolen my Penguina.

I stood up and though I might start a fight, but halfway there something inside of me broke. What good was a fight going to do me now? I stumbled past the bird that had taken away all I had ever had and left the bar, the bell ringing as I made my escape. It was dark out now. In my drunken confusion I wandered off to the edge of the ice near the ocean. A full moon was out and the ocean was glistening sea green under the starlight. It was the most beautiful sky I had ever seen. I could feel hot tears well up in my eyes as I fell to the ice, by feet dangling into the ocean water before me. Then, just as I hit rock bottom, I saw it. A dark form in the sea green. Moving slowly and ominously, like a wraith in the shadows. I knew what it was, but this time I didn't run, this time I didn't try to swim away. I just held myself frozen there, ready to stare it in the eye. It broke the surface of the water, its jaws opened wide to consume my body, my soul. I had never seen anything so beautiful.

What the Fuck
Is that a Duck
Be just my Luck
Would also Suck
'Cause in this Habitat I'm Stuck

Peek-a-boo - I see you - But who knew - What a view!
This ain't right - within my sight - no not quite - maybe the light?
Here we see - not like me - we don't agree - let it be!
During the storm - keep him warm - not the norm - in his form.
He's not grey - night or day - I must pray - all is okay.
Now I fear - keep him near - others will jeer - and I'll hear.
Can only guess - more or less - the answer's yes - what a mess!

ok guys, I'm LAUGHIN over here! Great start!

whether arms or wings
feathers or hair
nothing comes close
to a parent's care
they nurture their offspring
keep love in their nest
give the child to the world
and hope for the best
nourishment and shelter
the smallest of things
but it's the love that we give
that allows them their wings
They may not be what we
had hoped them to be
But we love them as our own
unconditionally

Sometimes life doesn't roll just the way you like
so youre left rolling with the stars
until there's a meeting of the ways
to find their miraculous way home.

Anybody else gonna take a stab at this? Only a day left....


Great job to everyone so far!

Awesome, Ng...I'm quite impressed...this is my favorite of your work. Incredible! :D

In heart and mind, this child is mine
With all I am , these hearts become
but one
No wonders kissed, as grand as this
And all this life I thought I knew
Is you
Once thought as whole, but now I'm full
Of all the bessings from above
My love

For in your smile, I see myself
Grinning back at you

my wife f**ked a shark
the hammerhead variety
all orange with the distinctive head.

then i realized it was a duck
a duck with a mohawk?
what the hell is that thing?
at least she stayed within the bird species
big sigh of relief

i drink a lot
and will continue to do so

child will grow up
wondering what the hell?
why am i so f-ing weird looking?

thats ok i guess
looking normal
but not being normal
is a chore also

may as well look the part
if the innards aren't right

hope the circus comes around soon
and when that music plays
they take the freak with them

I saw the penguins, and all the words dried up... sorry...

Cold and crushing, ice abounds.
Cringing in the freezing void.
Trying to make heat to live.
Cursing as it slips away.
Ice does not care.
Triumphant in apathy.
Consuming life to nothingness.

Whispering winds blow in their home.
Waving their wings they boast excited.
Shielding the newborn stranger.
Even in the darkest places,
Where it seems beauty sacrifices the soul,
Happiness is to be found.
Life will go on.

(I tried to implement a few devices I learned about in class today. I was hoping that the first part would sound harsh, and the second would sound soothing. Ignoring the meanings of the words, did it come off that way to anyone?)