Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: The Writer’s Skill/Craft (04/22/10)
-
TITLE: Worthy of the Pulitzer | Previous Challenge Entry
By Beth LaBuff
04/27/10 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
In the center of the state,
Never had excitement,
Life was doleful and sedate.
The local town newspaper
Called the Dismal City News,
Was filled with drab and boring stuff,
Had nothing to amuse.
The paper had one writer,
A columnist – a hack,
He drafted stories lacking zest,
His Christian name was Zach.
Zach drove an old Ford pickup,
A dent pressed in the fender,
His faded jeans stayed on his waist
Held by a lone suspender.
Dismal City saddened Zach
‘Cause nothing would occur.
His dream—to write a story
Worthy of the Pulitzer.
An article or simple poem
Like Shakespeare, Poe, or Keats,
A story that could make folks cry
Or glue them to their seats.
Zach pondered his dilemma
Then jumped into his Ford,
Headed south on Dreary Lane,
The speed limit, ignored.
Drove past the city limits,
The story—It could wait,
Then ‘cross his path a chicken strolled.
It almost met its fate.
That’s when the story came to him!
His mind worked to devise
A story so sensational,
One sure to win a prize.
With journalistic expertise
He used each writing tool—
Hyperbole when needed—
Stretched writing-ethics-rule.
The article that went to press
Was titled, “Pullet’s Quest”
The byline underneath: “by Zach”—
A feather for his nest.
“The pullet craved adventure—
Apprehension? — there was none.
She trekked across a barren land
Beneath a searing sun.”
“…Was stalked by swirling dust clouds,
No water for her thirst,
Danger, her companion while
The rough terrain traversed.
And then a grim encounter,
Her life flashed ‘fore her eyes,
A massive metal monster
‘Bout led to her demise.”
“…She plunged head-first, away from harm
And narrowly escaped,
She bruised her chicken liver and
Her beak and wattle scraped.
Then predators eluded
‘Cause she camouflaged her comb,
Then traipsed a million miles
‘Fore she found her way back home!”
Zach’s story – “A sensation!”
Said Associated Press,
Put joy in Dismal City,
Zach reveled in success.
And he became a hero—
The Dismal City Bard!
They changed the name of Dreary Lane
To Zachary Boulevard.
About Zach’s pullet story—
What was the inspiration?
And how did Zach create this tale
Of poultry ambulation?
Exaggeration, adjectives? —
A garnished writing-mode?
Simply— Zach embellished how
“The chicken crossed the road.
The story Zach concocted
While driving in his Ford,
Was granted, from the Egg Council,
The ”Pullet-zer Award.”
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
WOW!!!!!!
"She bruised her chicken liver". Had to laugh out loud on that one!
I tried to copy and paste a few especially loved lines but there are soo many that made me LOL!
I think you're almost too good, girl!! :)
What pure delight this is, Beth, and I thank you so much for brightening my day.
I always enlarge my vocabulary when I read your work. I wondered what a wattle was. I discovered it to be a twiggy woven wall of wattle...or the double chicken chin. :P
You are so funny and creative. You take a simple joke line and turn it into this. Wow! I think you are the bigger celebrity here, not me. I should have got your autograph at the conference. At least I have photos to prove I met you. :)