Every Wednesday we get our weekly picture prompt for the Friday Fictioneers, graciously provided by our Fairy Blog Mother Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. There’ve been reruns of old prompts for a few weeks now, which is a nice break for the ‘founder-fictioneers’ because they can re-post their old stories. Newcomers like me get an interesting glimpse into the Friday Fictioneers’ past. The reason for the reruns is Rochelle’s third book, As One Must, One Can, which has a deadline in July.
The task is to write a story: beginning, middle, and end, in 100 words or less. You can find all the Fictioneers’ stories when you click on the Froggy. Please read, comment, and if you like, join the fun. Everyone is welcome.
The Fire of ProgressWaves thump against her pedestal with a steady beat but she doesn’t flinch. Right arm pointing towards the sky, she brandishes her torch at a sinking civilization. It’s only been six feet over the last fifty years. That’s not much, but enough to submerge her island. Coastlines change. Islands disappear. People on the move create a flood of a different kind. This will go on for centuries, but she doesn’t care. She stands tall. Her fire of progress illuminates the other building that will stand: the stock exchange. Even at maximum sea level, both will prevail. Until their bases crumble. |
(100 words)
<begin eco-freak sermon>I don’t care if you ‘believe’ in human-made climate change or not, fact is that the ice melts and sea levels rise. Earth’s climate is a very complex system, difficult to understand. That isn’t an excuse for not adapting the things we know have an effect and can be changed. If you like to play around with a sea level map, go here. Of course it isn’t 100% accurate, but it gives you an idea how different places could be affected.</end eco-freak sermon. 😉 >
Featured image ©Jan Fields. Used with permission for this Friday Fictioneer Challenge only. Any other use of this image requires Jan Field’s permission.
More political comment than story, but I diidn’t like it any less for that
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Thank you, Neil. I need to get my head away from politics. Next week I’ll try to write a fairytale… 😀
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What a sobering thought, the Statue of Liberty standing alone with its island submerged. I’d never thought of that but you’re right, we’re definitely heading in that direction.
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Fortunately these things mostly happen gradually, so I’m pretty certain that they’ll move her somewhere else. But yes, if you look at the melting of Greenland ice, it’s getting alarming. We certainly live in interesting times.
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Anything or anyone living my the coast really – which means here in Bristol we’ll be under the waves, the tops of our harbourside cranes waving to Liberty across the Atlantic.
A great use of imagery, Gabi – she and money stand tall until the environment corrodes them. Sobering and very well written
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Thank you, Lynn. Many cowaslines will be affected, some way or the other. I’m glad you like it.
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A great piece, Gabi. 🙂
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cowaslines? clotheslines? A plane? A bird? No, coastlines. Sheesh!
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Haha! I knew what you were trying to say.
I like the word ‘cowaslines’ and was wondering what it could mean. Sounds like a rural word – maybe from northern England – meaning the paths in the landscape that herds of cows made as they graze.
‘See the cowasline on yonder hill, son?’ ‘Aye, father.’ ‘Thas been there since my father and his father before ‘im.’
Nice word 🙂
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Hahaha. We made a word. Gotta remember that and use it somewhere. XD
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Love it! we should start a whole new thread of posts using made up words, passing them off as real dialect or obscure examples that are dying out we’re trying to rekindle them. Could make up anything … 🙂
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Great idea! 😀 Sigscht die cowasline dortn — old Bavarian backcountry dialect, only known to the natives. 😉
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Sounds fascinating – what does if mean? 🙂
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It’s a made up dialect, but since I was born in Bavaria, I’m entitled. Do you see the cowasline there? is the rough translation.
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I enjoyed where you took this prompt. Thank you.
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Thank you! I’m glad you liked.
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Indeed both will stand, one more alone than the other.
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Let’s hope it isn’t Liberty who stands alone. Thank you.
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Indeed let’s hope.
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I guess we will do the same until stocks are raised because they stop emissions
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Indeed. Could happen though. Thank you.
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We’ll probably see the Statue of Liberty lifting up her skirt to keep it from getting wet or, at best, sitting on the roof of the New York Stock Exchange trying to hail a helicopter.
Nice take on the prompt, Gabriele. 🙂
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I’d think they move her if it comes to that. I never realized how high that pedestal is, but with a maximum sea level rise of around 60 meters (if all the ice on Earth melted), she’d barely have her toes wet. Thank you!
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I like your “eco-freak sermon” and the story as well.
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I’m glad you do. Sometimes I just can’t shut up. 🙂 Thank you.
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Beautiful truth expressed very poetically!
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I’m glad you like it, thank you. 🙂
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And it’s happening right now. Beautifully written!
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Yes, alarming, isn’t it? I’m glad you liked it. Thank you.
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A thoughtful piece, very well expressed.
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Thank you, Sandra. 🙂
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For the past two hundred years there have been plenty who were willing and happy to rape the environment for quick, easy money. They speak of building a better place for their grandchildren while destroying the natural resources that sustain life on earth. Well said.
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Absolutely. But, to be fair, for a long time the consequences weren’t clear (if you don’t look at shooting buffalo to near extinction and other quick-effect things). What irks me is that when people know about the consequences of actions, and still do nothing because it’s inconvenient… Ack. I’ll stop ranting now, thank you, Russel. 🙂
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Dear Gabriele,
Sobering piece in disturbing times. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m glad you like it, thank you Rochelle. (BTW, read your books, will review soon. :D)
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Dear Gabriele,
It goes without saying that I’m thrilled to pieces you’re reading my books. From Silt and Ashes really could use some reviews. I’m getting great comments from people on it but no one seems to be going to Amazon to review. The next book looms on the horizon. 😉
Thank you and Shalom,
Rochelle
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I haven’t bought much on Amazon yet, I usually get my ebooks through ibooks. I hope I do it right, it’s been ages since I wrote a review… but we’ll get there.
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As I’ve told others, there shouldn’t be a problem with Amazon as long as you’ve purchased something from them even it it was a pair of sox.
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not even the colossus of rhodes had survived the ravages of time. it’s just the way it is.
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Ah, I had forgotten about that one. Yes, everything ends. Thank you.
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This is relevant for all of us. Where I live in Christchurch, UK, the river stour flows behind my house and every year it rises closer and closer to my door! 😦
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That is very frightening indeed. 😦
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You make your point so well here, Gabriele. Powerful message very effectively presented. Wonderful.
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Thank you for your kind words, Margaret. I’m glad you liked it.
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stocks are always more important than environment
http://obliqview.blogspot.in/2016/07/set-off-prompt-jan-wayne-fields-old-man.html
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Yes. Environment should demand interest rates. Thank you.
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Something that needs thinking about but which we don’t want to consider possible
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Yes, hiding our heads in the sand makes it all go away. 🙂 Thank you.
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Thank you for your story as well as the eco sermon!!!
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Thank you, Jan!
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Go ahead and fly your “freak flag”. I certainly did this week and you were much kinder to Lady Liberty than I was. I’m pretty sick of non-scientists denying the changes that we all can see.
Tracey
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So am I. And of the arrogance with which the ‘I don’t believe that’ statements are uttered. Thank you, Tracey. Heading over to your place…
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Global warming? What’s that? We will be fine, let’s just burn some more fossil fuel 😉
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That’s the spirit. Bleeding heart environmentalists know nothing. 😛 Because the sun’s going into hibernation… (No,no,no, can’t write that…nonono XD ) Thanks.
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Interesting take on the picture! I won’t comment on the political part but it’s definitely something to think about, how things can change and what will still be around.
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Thank you. 🙂
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I love the multiple meanings you have woven into this story.
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The lady invites a lot of symbolism. I’m glad you liked, thank you.
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A powerful image in your story–that of the Statue of Liberty standing alone, showing the way to a land that is farther away now, because of rising water, and will recede still further. Well done.
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Thank you, I’m glad you think so. 🙂
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Good writing, Gah. On the other hand, I’ve read that more cold water in the oceans could “lower” the temperature. A piece said Alaska’s temperature has gradually lowered. Another ice age would be a switch a little like the movie “The Day After Tomorrow”. Neither outcome is very cheery. 😦 — Suzanne
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Problem with the oceans is that different temperatures either cause stagnation or mixing of the water layers, thus influencing the big streams in the oceans and they affect the regional weather. It is all linked and very difficult to interpret. Overall main temperatures are on the rise though. Thank you, Suzanne.
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