Welcome to my contribution to week 57 of Saturday Centus, a fun and challenging writing meme hosted by that darling of Arizona’s high-society (yes, there is one) and everyone’s favorite literary blogosopher (which is not a real word yet, but should be by next week), Jenny Matlock!
Each Saturday her legion of Centusian followers makes the cyber-trek to her blog, off on my tangent, to receive their instructions for the week’s writing exercise. On a typical Saturday we will be given a prompt, generally a short phrase but occasionally she’ll use a photo, and we are tasked with writing a short story or poem using said prompt and only 100 words.
Well, this isn’t your typical Saturday here in Centusland!
In what could aptly be described as a Saturday Quarter-Centus, Miss Jenny has challenged us to complete this week’s assignment using only 25 words and the prompt, “the end.” The other rules of Centus forbid the use of vulgarity and photos or illustrations as well as the altering of the prompt.
Now I know that 25 words doesn’t sound like a lot when it comes to writing a story, nor 27 words for that matter, but these are not your typical writers you’ve got here. Centusians are highly-skilled wordsmiths who have honed their skills in ridiculously short story writing for over a year now, so click on the Saturday Centus button and check out their various takes on this week’s prompt. You will be amazed what can come from 25 words and “the end.”
Here is my submission for this week’s 25-word challenge. I have entitled it:
The Rapture
Like a fool I gave it all away.
The end, they said, was nigh.
Pitied those left to stay
As heaven-ward I’d fly.
My poor, deluded soul.
Postscript
Rev. Harold Camping, the 89-year-old president of Family Radio, a 150-station Christian broadcasting network and the originator of the May 21st rapture claim, has now reinterpreted his prophecy to say that May 21st was a “spiritual” judgment day and that the world will still come to an end on October 21, 2011. The millionaire broadcasting mogul told the press that his company would not return money donated by followers to publicize the failed May 21st prediction saying "We’re not at the end. Why would we return it?"
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Here's an interesting tidbit: a poll of Republican primary voters revealed that 65% of those who felt Sarah Palin would be raptured thought the rapture was coming on May 21.
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