More Prompts for the February Year of the Rat Writing Contest — Exactly 50 words

Here are some more writing prompts for February.  Remember, it’s entries of EXACTLY 50 words this month.

From “Scenes from Childhood:  Palolo Valley,” by Joseph S.M.J. Chong

All I can remember is Anita curled up on the parlor floor screaming as my father stood above her, leather belt in hand, lashing her.  My mother was trying with no success to stop the attack, and all I can accurately recall is the sense f fear, the unmistakable sensation of violence let loose.  It is only a tableau that I can present here; it would be pure invention to describe the scene with greater detail.

(73 word excerpt)

* * * * *

From “Kindergarten,” by Wing Tek Lum

She is walking over to her friends
with her back towards me.
Somehow I can sense
that she has forgotten about me already.
The morning is fresh and clear
and I drive away with only a father’s regret.

(38 word excerpt)

* * * * *

From “Chinese New Year,” by Eric Chock

hard of hearing
he feels firecrackers
vibrating in his heart

(10 word excerpt)

* * * * *

From “Pa-ke,” by Herbert K.K. Chun

Ling Wan has died.  i helped
throw him into the sea.  his
feet were cold and stuff.  his
toenails were black.  I wear his
sandals.  I keep his last
words.  they are,
“do not let me die.”

(37 word excerpt)

* * * * *

From “Digging for Lotus Roots,” by Kathleen Ngit Jun Young

I’ve already determined, with a quick glance, that Popo looks very nice, peaceful, her face lightly powdered, jade earrings in her ears, a pearl between her lips to light the way.  I don’t think about the pearl, the darkness of death to be lit in an imaginary, or at least unknown, journey.  If I must look at her, I look at the jade.  I’ve never seen those earrings before.

(69 word excerpt)

* * * * *

All excerpts are from Paké:  Writings by Chinese in Hawaii, Bamboo Ridge, The Hawaii Writers’ Quarterly, No. 42 and 43, Spring and Summer 1989.

* * * * *

These are only suggested prompts.  Use them as you will — or won’t.

Rules

By participating in the Bamboo Shoots community, you agree to the following rules:
  1. We reserve the right to remove content that promotes hate or gratuitous violence. Be respectful and courteous to others.
  2. All contest challenge entries must be submitted by the designated
  3. Enter as many times as you like using a trigger/prompt (this page).
  4. Contest Challenge entries can be prose (including short stories, nonfiction essays, or whatever you write), poetry, or plays -- or any type of hybrid writing you dream up.
  5. Every entry must have a title -- unless you choose to enter a haiku, in which case you can simply enter the word haiku in the title section.
  6. All content/entries should be original work. You retain ownership of your entries; however, we may ask to use them elsewhere on the site or on social media to help promote Bamboo Ridge and/or the Bamboo Shoots online writing community.
  7. Winners will be announced with all possible speed after the end of each month. Winners receive 10 Bamboo Bucks credit to spend in the BRP online bookstore. Bamboo Bucks have no monetary value outside of the online store.
  8. Entries may also be selected for publication in the regular Bamboo Ridge Journal. If your piece is chosen, the editors will contact you via the email address on file.
  9. Please note that you need not enter the contest challenge in order to post on Bamboo Shoots. You may post other writing if you choose. We welcome that here:  Click this link to go to Shoot da Breeze.

This prompt is closed for submissions.

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