Woo-hoo! Time for Summer Short & Sweets! 🙂
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I am so happy it’s Friday! Visiting colleges is tons of fun but also tiring and all those donuts that driving is not good for my fitness. I am learning things, though. Do you know what the smallest private college in the United States is? Apparently that distinction belongs to Alaska Bible College with an enrollment of 38 students. Who knew? I hope you all feel as enriched by that little tidbit as I do. We will not be visiting Alaska Bible College (our loss I’m sure) but I cannot possibly put up with Jo-Jilly for that long of a drive!
So let’s have some fun, shall we? Let’s see what we can think up today…
First, choose an emotion. Just in case you can’t think of any, here are a few:
Interest, politeness, surprise, anger, annoyance, contempt, disgust, irritation, serenity, relief, relaxation, contentment, calmness, anxiety, embarrassment, fear, helplessness, powerlessness, worry, courage, hope, pride, satisfaction, trust, doubt, envy, frustration, guilt, shame, affection, empathy, friendliness, love, boredom, despair, disappointment, hurt, sadness, amusement, delight, elation, stress, shock, tension, excitement, happiness, joy, pleasure…
Got one?
Second, choose an animal that emotion makes you think of – either similar or opposite – but you can also go random and see what you come up with 🙂 Again, a list for anyone who’s feeling uninspired 🙂
Aardvark, anteater, badger, beaver, camel, cat, chimpanzee, cow, deer, donkey, gazelle, gorilla, hamster, hippo, horse, jaguar, kangaroo, lamb, lion, lynx, mink, moose, monkey, opossum, ox, ocelot, polar bear, porcupine, pony, porpoise, puppy, raccoon, rhinoceros, ram, salamander, squirrel, skunk, tiger, turtle, toad, walrus, warthog, wolf, wombat, yak, zebra…
Got one?
Okay. Here’s what we’re going to do:
1. Pick an adjective that compares/relates/associates your animal to your emotion (e.g. if you chose angry and cat, you might choose hissing, spitting, or twitchy for your adjective)
2. Write an action filled phrase describing how the animal moves (e.g. if you chose cat you might say slinking, slitted eyes shifting suspiciously)
3. Write a phrase telling where the animal lives (e.g. if you chose monkey you might say in the crown of the rainforest)
4. Write a phrase that either tells readers why the animals acts the way it does, or possibly how others react to it (e.g. if you’re writing about an angry monkey you might say screeching for the baboon’s banana)
Put it all together like this:
Emotion
is [a/an/the] adjective from #1 animal
action filled phrase from #2
phrase telling where animal lives from #3
phrase telling why animal acts that way or how others react to it from #4
and you have a) a short poem and b) great practice in simile/metaphor!
Here’s mine for satisfaction and cat
Satisfaction
is a purring cat
curled warm and soft
on a noontime windowsill,
soaking up sunshine because she can.
Here’s another for bewilderment and penguin
Bewilderment
is a tuxedoed penguin
tiptoeing tentatively
at the icy ocean’s edge
wondering where his dinner dove.
How about one for shame and snail?
Shame
is a slump-shouldered snail
creeping, head down,
in the shadow of the stone wall
hoping to escape scrutiny.
The fact that I have barely been home for two weeks, I’m cross-eyed from driving, and I’ve been dulled into a creative stupor by innumerable college info sessions and tour guide spiels should make you all feel very brave about attempting this because you can be sure whatever you write will not be the worst thing up here – I have helpfully put my own attempts in that place of dishonor 🙂
Now you try! Not only will you be sharpening your simile/metaphor skills, perhaps you will inspire a story – for yourself or someone else – or perhaps you’ll read someone else’s and get a great idea! Do as many as you want – they’re totally fun! I can’t wait to read what you come up with!!!
Of course, as I will be driving home from Ohio, which is very far away, I will probably not get to read your sterling work until late sniffle sniff… But that’s just more to look forward to 🙂
Have a great weekend everyone!!! 🙂 And remember, if you want to be eligible for Short & Sweet prizes, you must submit at least one entry for each SS&S week’s prompt. Please see HERE for full details! So far, 44 people have done at least one, but only a dedicated 9 have done all 4 to date… in case you were wondering 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Blind rage
is a powerful mother bear
charging, frothing, hackles raised
in the cool of the forest floor
toward anything foolish enough to come
between her and her baby.
Ooh! Excellent, Delores! I feel that rage, and have no desire to ignite it! Well done!
First, I LOVE your snail poem. Just the idea of a shamed snail is hysterical. I mean, what has he done that he must escape scrutiny? Fabulous!
Here's mine. I added a couple of extras on the end because I just couldn't help it. I may turn this into a longer piece. Thanks again for the AMAZING writing exercises. I've loved them all (and I think I'm one of the nine, right?).
Satisfaction
is a smug sloth
slouching along in his slumbering way
in the solace of rain forest trees,
thumbing his nose at progress
with a savvy smile
and his own type of swagger.
Sucko here! *raises hand*
Excitement
is a contented horse
loping, galloping, surefooted,
through the verdant grassy pasture
contented it all belongs to HIM.
Love your cat, penguin, and snail. They made me sleepy, smile, and mortified. Did you say donut?? I'M ON A DIET!!!!!! WAAAAHAAAAAAAAAA…
It's Friday already?! Yikes, where did my week go?
Frustration
is a thorny porcupine
waddling woefully
through his lonely forest
wishing only for a warm embrace
OK, so I've been fighting with my 9-year-old this week. Where's my little boy who used to freely give hugs? He's left the building…and I'm frustrated!
You and Jo-jilly keep things safe with all that driving 🙂
Here's my Short and Sweet:
Relaxed
is a lazing lion
stretched out long, head upon his paws
over a thick patch of grass
beneath a savanna shade tree
away from the blazing sun.
Grrr. Make that “his own SORT o swagger.”
Double grrr! “OF” – unless he's an Irish sloth…
Sweet! I love this one, Kim! Poor porcupine…
Anger
is a raging, charging rhino
it gores and tosses aside
anything that crosses its path
What fun! I don't know what an opossum is and that makes me feel stupid but I've chosen a wolf. At least I know what wolves are!
Worry
Is an orphaned wolf cub
Shivering in the shadows on the hillside
As darkness descends and hunger bites.
I've been thinking about you…driving…I always thought I'd want a GPS…but I drove with my daughter and they can be frustrating (not daughters, although they can be also sometimes)…especially when you've changed your mind about where you are going and the voice says, “turn left, turn left, turn left).
This was fun, Susanna…thanks again for the brain exercise. 🙂 Sorry I used an ant…which is not an “animal” but an insect, I guess…but it popped into my head (not the ant, fortunately) and I've always been fascinated with them.
Tenacious
Is a steadfast ant
Tirelessly laboring with strong jaws excavating
In the subterranean tunnels under my feet
Creating a new home for his queen.
Hi Kim,
I had to respond…here's a few from us: xoxoxoxo…and most boys go through that stage. 🙂
And maybe he is. 🙂
The emotions you are going through is good fuel for creativity. This is great, Kim!
Tension
Is a dark, creepy spider
Lurking with shifty eyes
At the corner of the ceiling
Ready to pounce when threatened.
….I need a massage!
It's 2:27am and I have no idea what my words mean. Still, I had fun! Does that make any sense to anyone? Maybe my blood sugar is low. May I have one of those chocolate delights?
Doubt is a nervous owl
Jutting and jerking all jittery like
In the hollow of a fallen log
The Horns and Masks balked, “How undignified!”
I'm so glad you had fun, Pam! And yes of course you may have as many chocolate delights as you like – there is always plenty of chocolate around here! Now go to bed and get some sleep – YOU'RE not an owl 🙂
You and me both 🙂 Love your poem! Thanks for joining in the fun, and I hope the tension eases soon! 🙂
Jo-Jilly isn't that bad, really. She usually gets us where we're going… eventually 🙂 But I think my husband's GPS is more reliable… and has a British accent which sounds good 🙂 An ant is fine! I love your poem! I commented it on it on your blog already so I won't repeat myself 🙂 Thanks for joining in!
This is wonderful, Rosalind! I'm right there with that poor little wolf feeling very worried for him indeed! Opossums are not very pretty (except in picture books :)) They look kind of like overgrown rats – grey and white with soft fur, but their faces aren't that attractive and they have nasty long hairless tails. They are marsupials. You might not have them in England – I don't know – just like we don't have badgers over here. Thanks for joining in the fun!
Yikes! remind me not to get in your way when you've had a bad day 🙂 Thanks for another great S&S entry, Randy! 🙂
Oh, I LOVE this Angela! I want to be right there with that lion and just lie in the shade and not do ANYTHING!!! (Especially drive! :)) Thanks for joining in the fun 🙂
Oh, poor Kim and poor porcupine 😦 I know that feeling all too well. My little boy will be 17 in 2 weeks (he's the one who's looking at colleges) and the hugs are few and far between these days while the criticism comes all too easily as he reaches for independence. Here are a few hugs from all of us to tide you over until he comes to his senses.. and he will 🙂 It's hard being a parent and it's hard growing up 🙂 (((((((HUGS!!!!!))))))) And thanks for your wonderful entry! 🙂
You know I love anything horse-related and this is no exception! Great one, Robyn! As for donuts, no more for me either! All this driving and eating out has done me in and I'm going to have to join you on your mission!
Thank you, Renee, you are too kind! This was actually my third Short & Sweet idea attempt for this post – I discarded two entire posts because I didn't think they were fun enough – so by the time I got to writing this in a hotel room in Ohio in the dead of night I was pretty well asleep at the switch, so I'm glad you liked my snail! 🙂 I love your sloth, and I love the word swap you added on FB – excellent improvement. I'm so glad you're enjoying Short & Sweets – that's the whole point – to have fun! 🙂
Bashful
is a self-conscious platypus
Swimming secretively
In the Down Under delta
Dodging tourist paparazzi
Oh dear. The sloths got into the Bushmills again…(swaggers – or staggers away)
lol Cathy 🙂
Cathy Mealey (unregistered) wrote, in response to Renee LaTulippe:
Oh dear. The sloths got into the Bushmills again…(swaggers – or staggers away)
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Ooh, another great one, Cathy! Bashful and platypus go perfectly together! Thanks for playing along 🙂
I was very excited to be back in time for Summer Short and Sweets!
Here goes –
Friendliness
is a calm skunk
walking through the campsite, looking for food
Living in the weeds next to the nice family's campsite
Fed by crazy campers.
And yes, when we went camping, we were terrorized by skunks that acted like they owned the place. *sigh* Talk about too friendly animals! >:-(
Hi Susanna. Thanks for the fun and easy challenge this week.
I've posted my challenge on my blog and what prompted the story.
An agitated, stiff-necked, red squirrel
Chest thrust in a challenged stance
Flicking a bushy-tail
Barring teeth sharper than a razor
Nattering like an old woman
Atop a carpeted, grassy drey
Wedged between steamy pipes
Under the hood of my BMW
Guarding winter’s walnut stash
Yeah! I'm batting 5 for 5.
I love this, Erik! How great that you were able to combine your camping experience with Short & Sweets 🙂 Skunks are something else, aren't they? A few years back we had a grub infestation of some type in our lawn which lured in tons os skunks. They would hang out in broad daylight on the lawn, and when I wanted to let the dogs out I'd have to try to scare them away without getting sprayed. I used to bang on the garbage can lid with a giant stick and they couldn't care less! It was as if they knew they had the upper hand!
Yay! Good job! I'll have to pop over and see what prompted your entry 🙂 And yes, srry if this week was too easy 🙂
Love it, Cathy! And you kept within the guidelines.
Great story, Erik. And it's great that you were able to use your camp adventure.
Oh, did I say “too” easy? No no no. It was just right. That's what I get for opening my big trap.
You described “blind rage” to a tee. Wonderful!
You painted a great picture, Robyn. I see we share the same last name. Great name too!
I'm yawning, but not from boredom. Ah, a lazing lion.
Yikes! I'll stay out of its way. Great job!
I like it, especially “hunger bites”
Hey Vivian.
You know I left a comment on your blog,
but thought I'd say “hi”.
Still love that word “tenacious”
Excellent metaphor!
Great use of “s” words and the ending was perfect.
Sorry to hear you're frustrated, but you did a great job of showing your frustration.
Susanna I loved all three of yours. If you didn't give such great examples, this week's challenge wouldn't have been as easy. Note, I didn't say “too easy”.
🙂
Tracy Campbell wrote, in response to Susanna Leonard Hill:
Oh, did I say “too” easy? No no no. It was just right. That's what I get for opening my big trap.
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Glad you liked them – i was worried 🙂 And I'll see if I can step it up for next week… (just kidding :))
Joy
is a shimmering porpoise
diving and leaping gracefully
with speed through the foamy waves
delighting in his freedom