Underground Writers Network Forum Challenge #1 "Ironic Depa..

I posted a thread on Friday, asking all of you to put down some ideas to create the first challenge of the week.

Laslo came up with this idea, and the voters found it interesting to work with. I hope you all enjoy it and participate :)

Here is the challenge:
Write a piece 500 words or less under the topic of "Ironic Departures". Open to all genres, and styles. Rules: the story must culminate in an ironic twist.

I am looking forward to read all of your great creations. I encourage you to post them here, so that we can all enjoy them and share our thoughts.

Have fun!

Do we ALL have to participate in it? I mean, I am iffy when it comes to Irony. I can't, nor do I try to, create it because I really don't get it. I mean, I am not saying that I won't give it a try because I will. I am just letting you know beforehand that I might not be able to live up to the ironic standards.

Update: Ick. I managed something. Nothing good, though! the poem "The Fate Weaver" is the poem that I am using for this challenge. I had to take come versus out since it exceeded the word count of 500 or less. >.> It is really horrible, but I don't think I could have done any better!

Delvin

I think my poem "Janes Letter to John" might classify.
check it out if you have a chance. ::biggrin::

You don't HAVE TO participate on any of the challenges, none should feel in any way obligated, it's just an experiment to have fun and help contribute ideas when we get on one of those block's ;)

Hope you all have fun with it. I encourage you to post the pieces here for all to see :) I will post for you the ones you mentioned. Hope to hear your opinions on them, it'd make for an interesting exchange :)

Quote:


The Fate Weaver-

My soul was taken by a Raven
he carried me into the Haven
of the one who weaves the cloth of life
In happiness and strife

His talons departed and down I fell
down into a deep empty Well
For wishes do not dwell in here
only the truth�which many fear

Falling and falling until I hit ground
my eyes are aghast as they look around
There sat the lady in her chair
weaving fate with locks of hair

�I knew that it was here you�d be;
you whom searches for the likes of me
Hoping for the cloth to break
and all for your darling soul�s sake.�

Her tone at first uncaring, but the got graver,
�I�ll weave you greatness if you do me a favor.�
My ears perked to this proposition
�I yearn to rid of some opposition.�

So I spoke, �It seems you have destined me to lose
my innocent child. I never got to chose
when I was ready to grow into a man
and leave my childhood in some newborn�s hand

�You left me alone in the river of pain
I never cried and I�d never restrain
for I knew that there was nothing to do
when my father died�because of you�

The Fate Weaver turned around in her chair
inhaled briefly a warm bitter air
�And what is this to do with a rival?
Their fates were your fate�s survival�

I was left confused in disarray
She finished one weave and put it away
Standing up she gave me a smile
What horrible bile!

�That what I do is because I must
I never wish to turn anyone to dust
Only to make room for a newer fate
That�s why others must wait at the Gate�

My lips parted in a heavy sigh
I didn�t care for her reason why
She left into another room
As I was left standing in the gloom

I rushed over to the other side of this dwelling
my thoughts of vengeance ready and swelling
I waited, but only for a while
Before my lips turned into a smile

I rushed towards the wall behind her table
and tore down a weave made of threads to sable
Way back from when her hair was black
Unlike the white weaves in her stack

The rest were the colors of clouds
Other weaves covered in white shrouds
Of course! Her fate was of an infinite youth
the grim of her hair the most saddest truth

She mustn�t weave a stand of white
into her own or she might suffer plight
Ah, what a brilliant plan
The Fate Weaver tricked by a man!

I strung her weave onto the loom
and fled back to my place in the room
She came right back with that same smile
that witch of timeless bile!

And pulled out a strand of white silk
to weave in her life the color of milk
Surprised and in fright
She�s woven this day her last night

by Delvin

Quote:



Jane's Letter to John-

I knew we�d meet somewhere,
both of us without a companion,
when we were once each others.

An unexpected reunion
moaned with my exhaust,
a tapping foot,

breaking�gassing.
You just stood there
with a plastic bag in your hand,

while our stares
plastered themselves
on my windshield.

You started walking
away,
licking your lips;

I remember what they tasted like
on New Years�s Eve
where we always found ourselves,

once a year,
in a corner, on your bed,
in my dark cellar.

I had the perception I was moving
and looked back
out of the frosted lines

to catch your shoulders dropping
once you thought
I had lost sight of you.

by Kristin

Quote:


The Fate Weaver-

My soul was taken by a Raven
he carried me into the Haven
of the one who weaves the cloth of life
In happiness and strife

His talons departed and down I fell
down into a deep empty Well
For wishes do not dwell in here
only the truth�which many fear

Falling and falling until I hit ground
my eyes are aghast as they look around
There sat the lady in her chair
weaving fate with locks of hair

�I knew that it was here you�d be;
you whom searches for the likes of me
Hoping for the cloth to break
and all for your darling soul�s sake.�

Her tone at first uncaring, but the got graver,
�I�ll weave you greatness if you do me a favor.�
My ears perked to this proposition
�I yearn to rid of some opposition.�

So I spoke, �It seems you have destined me to lose
my innocent child. I never got to chose
when I was ready to grow into a man
and leave my childhood in some newborn�s hand

�You left me alone in the river of pain
I never cried and I�d never restrain
for I knew that there was nothing to do
when my father died�because of you�

The Fate Weaver turned around in her chair
inhaled briefly a warm bitter air
�And what is this to do with a rival?
Their fates were your fate�s survival�

I was left confused in disarray
She finished one weave and put it away
Standing up she gave me a smile
What horrible bile!

�That what I do is because I must
I never wish to turn anyone to dust
Only to make room for a newer fate
That�s why others must wait at the Gate�

My lips parted in a heavy sigh
I didn�t care for her reason why
She left into another room
As I was left standing in the gloom

I rushed over to the other side of this dwelling
my thoughts of vengeance ready and swelling
I waited, but only for a while
Before my lips turned into a smile

I rushed towards the wall behind her table
and tore down a weave made of threads to sable
Way back from when her hair was black
Unlike the white weaves in her stack

The rest were the colors of clouds
Other weaves covered in white shrouds
Of course! Her fate was of an infinite youth
the grim of her hair the most saddest truth

She mustn�t weave a stand of white
into her own or she might suffer plight
Ah, what a brilliant plan
The Fate Weaver tricked by a man!

I strung her weave onto the loom
and fled back to my place in the room
She came right back with that same smile
that witch of timeless bile!

And pulled out a strand of white silk
to weave in her life the color of milk
Surprised and in fright
She�s woven this day her last night

by Delvin [/quote]

The piece shows you put a lot into it, that is wonderful by itself :) Stepping out of our conventional schemes is not easy. You created a lovely story; perhaps not being so strict in the rhyme scheme could help you shape it a little. ;)

"Departures in Irony, Judo style" is my submission. 486 words.

Quote:


Glad you participated :)

Departures in Irony, Judo style-

I met Dave on a trip through the floor. He tossed an uchi-mata in my first Judo class so hard that my feet did a raindown on polyurethane mats and the arc was sweet! I met Mike on a similar trip to the first aid station, after he cranked an armbar on my elbow in a direction I don�t think it bends. I knew we were all going to be instant pals.

And pals we did end up. I became their student and pretty soon I was sending people �threw� the floor and escorting them to the first aid station (luckily that brown belt at the reunion had insurance). And before I knew it, I was training at Judo Gene LeBell�s Academy for promising future cage fighters sending people through the floor and rackin� up taps! When I first started I had no clue what �Ultimate Fighting� was, but before long I knew stats on the UFC like a football player knows stats on the NFL. Mike, Dave, you guys rock!

I guess maybe I expected too much too soon. I mean even though yeah I was a girl, I guess I expected them to treat me like one of the guys, to show me the same honor they�d show one of their own, instantly. But when Dave got his orders, I think deep down I knew it was over.

I thought we were all each other�s boys, so I guess it was kinda shocking when Dave took off my shirt after Mike left that one night. Thinking back on it now, I know he was just nervous, going off to Iraq knowing he might not come back. I don�t regret hitting him in the face, but I do regret calling Mike�s voicemail crying like a little girl and not being able to tell him why. I mean what would you say to your friend whose best friend touched you? Besides he made me promise not to tell anyone, and I guess I still like to play pretend-honor like I used to with them.

Maybe I crossed some lines, said �where were you� a little too harsh, and expected him to understand. It�s not Mike�s fault I didn�t leave with him, it�s not Dave�s fault I stayed; it�s my fault for not saying no.

I guess it�s kinda funny the way life sometimes works out. To think a few months ago I didn�t even know what Ultimate Fighting was. Now I got a huge bag of old UFC tapes and no one to watch them with. They�re the really cool ones from back when the UFC had to be held in Canada because it was illegal in the USA and there were no weight classes, and guys would get pounded! So I�m just sitting here recording them so I can give them back to the guy I met at the Inosanto kung fu academy, I�ve kept them waaaay too long.

by Nicole

Quote:



Jane's Letter to John-

I knew we�d meet somewhere,
both of us without a companion,
when we were once each others.

An unexpected reunion
moaned with my exhaust,
a tapping foot,

breaking�gassing.
You just stood there
with a plastic bag in your hand,

while our stares
plastered themselves
on my windshield.

You started walking
away,
licking your lips;

I remember what they tasted like
on New Years�s Eve
where we always found ourselves,

once a year,
in a corner, on your bed,
in my dark cellar.

I had the perception I was moving
and looked back
out of the frosted lines

to catch your shoulders dropping
once you thought
I had lost sight of you.

by Kristin[/quote]


I think the irony here is very well expressed. The last verse is really good, and with a touch of dark humor. I enjoyed the breaks in the lines. Nice! :)

do we post our challenge poems in the forum or as a piece of Literature?

so who wins? is it a contest or just a challenge to write something?

Just a challenge, to stimulate our creativity, at least for now ;)

This is my entry. ::biggrin::



Malachi-

Another month has come to pass
time for towns people to a mass.
Another full moon
has come to soon.

Two more will meet their demise.
They will be the sacrifice
For the one who travels by night.
Who ends all lives in his sight.

The one that feasts on flesh and bone.
On souls, on fear, and runs alone.
He comes tonight to feast on two.
with fur of black and eyes of blue

They make the choice by name and age.
And this is my first time to sign the page.
As they pull the parchment from the hat.
All goes silent and all eyes fall to where I've sat.

Now I'm tied to the stake
Baring torches the set off to take
My us to the place.
Where all who enter meet their fates.

As the other begins his cries.
My deepest secret begins to rise.
out of hiding for all to see.
the beast they all fear is me...

^^^^^^ Oh Shoot that's Krazzzeee!!