Tuesday, March 31, 2009

WAG #5: Life in Motion

The assignment:
Sometimes it’s good to approach writing like taking a photograph with words. On the other hand, it’s important to remember that a scene is always in transition. For this week’s adventure, sit in a good observation spot and notice how the scene in front of you changes from one minute to the next. Has the light changed? The sounds? The people? What’s different now compared to when you first arrived? Is there anything you can see (or hear, smell, etc) that is changing right in front of you? Be creative and break the rules! This week is all about change!

My attempt:

For once, the street is empty. No cars, no buses -- no people, even. Is the whole city sleeping? Have Londoners succumbed to smog sickness? The eerie emptiness makes me uneasy.

I stare. Nothing moves. Even the clouds are fixed in the grey sky. The leaves are immobile, hanging limply in the heavy air.

A gust of wind. A plastic bag takes flight. It wheels and dances in a bird-like parody before crashing to the pavement.

The street regains its cement-fixed stillness.

6 comments:

Nancy J. Parra said...

Cool- a moment frozen- then whoosh-beautful. Thanks!

Nixy Valentine said...

I like this! I had a similiar experience, actually... life seemed to stand still for a moment when I was trying to do this, and there I was, ooching it along so I could do my assignment. LOL

Iain Martin said...

I liked your paragraph on the wind and the plastic bag. Change dances all around us, because even a pause in the performance of the Tango is part of the dance.

Chris said...

Frozen under storm clouds, interesting piece.

J. M. Strother said...

I like the mood setting and the short crisp sentences. Vivid imagery here.
~jon

Lulu said...

Enjoyed. I've witnessed plastic bags dancing as well. i wonder if the developer of these ubiquitous bags realized how well they flew.

You said a lot in a few words. I envy that skill!

Thanks!