Friday Fictioneers is hosted by the wonderful Rochelle, the undisputed master of what I call Sound Bite Fiction.
She sets the weekly challenge, and the standard.
This week’s fascinatingly bizarre prompt is provided by Liz Young.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on this picture, below.
© Liz Young
Click here to hear the writer read his words:
The Lion
I gaze out across the shimmering grasslands.
In the distance I see a small herd of grazing zebra.
The pride’s females are starting to slink towards them in two great arcs.
Behind me the cubs are mewling.
This is my world.
A female nudges me as she passes, then moves quickly after the others.
Her long sinuous body stays close to the ground, she is soon hidden by the swaying grass.
I turn my head languorously towards the sun that warms my back.
I sigh.
I do not want to be here.
I yearn to be alone, to be free.
Sound Bite Fiction 
Wonderful vivid images. They really bring this piece to life.
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Thank you, Lisa, I am very pleased you enjoyed it.
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Very interesting piece and I liked Sascha’s addition of the song. It’s very striking, the king of the jungle (etc.), but he has no desire left to be this king, to participate in his tribe in the role that it is. It’s fascinating from an animals perspective put perhaps there is a great deal of anthropomorphism here, giving the animal these human desires for freedom. But freedom, I think, perhaps is more than a human feeling, somehow it is is a universal feeling regardless of many species. Hugs CE.
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Thank you, Amanda, for your usual thoughtful comments.
If you have ever had the misfortune to see the big cats pacing their enclosures in a zoo you know they yearn to be free.
My story can, of course, be taken as an allegory.
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Of course. And yes, I know what you mean. When I was a little girl I very much recall the tigers at the Valley Zoo being like this. For a child it’s scary, but knowing better now, you feel awful for them. Now I’m pretty sure they’ve passed on and/or been moved to a wild life sanctuary, as with most animals such as this.
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First time I’ve done the audio. Language is about rhythm and hearing a poet’s delivery of their own writing brings a truth to that piece. Which, incidentally, I liked.
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Thank you, Patrick, always good to see you here.
Glad it worked for you.
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I hope there’s a nice retirement home in their forest. Or maybe he can just buy a banana boat.
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Interesting that you think he is old, sir, rather than just restless.
Thanks for visiting.
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Typical man. Letting the women do all the work and then complaining about it. 😊just kidding.
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Most of us don’t argue with lionesses, Andrea!
Or the female of any species, for that matter.
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Lovely imagery that brought the story alive. Maybe the time grows near for him to have a pride of his own. =)
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Happy you enjoyed it, Brenda.
Thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment so thoughtfully.
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Thereis something incredibly sexy about this.
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You are a rather strange lady, Dawn.
That is your best fault.
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LOL
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I’m always intrigued by listening to you recite your writings. I could see the vision so clearly as you read each line. Peaceful yet longing for another place to be for perhaps there might be more satifaction where he wants to go … or … not. The risk one always takes when looking for more than they have. Stellar …
Isadora 😎
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The heart wants what the heart wants, Isadora.
I am happy you enjoyed this and took the time to tell me.
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At least they aren’t sneaking up on a huge pink pachyderm. I hear those are rather tough and stringy.
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Hey, watch it, bub! Sweet and succulent is what I’ve heard!
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And high top boots is what we need.
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are…
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It would seem we all yearn to be born free, no matter how free we may seem to others.
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Some of us just can’t be at peace, it seems
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Sounds like a lovely life, lazing in the grass. Those lions are never satisfied. Great story.
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Sometimes it’s just not enough.
And thank you for the kind words
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One isn’t always happy where they are, even if the livin’ is easy.
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Exactly, Alicia, the heart, or the soul, just keep on searching, regardless
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Loved this take on the prompt, even if “Born Free” immediately began playing in my head. the description is perfect.
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Thank you, Sascha, high praise, much appreciated.
But now I can’t escape this wretched song, so you can suffer too:
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Haha! 😀
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I felt that I was there. Lovely
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Be careful, Michael, he is kinda restless!
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You catch the languor of the male lion in the hot sun beautifully. I can see him clearly!
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Thank you, Penny, I am happy it worked for you
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I love how you’ve taken the theme of imprisonment from the picture and built on that. This is beautifully written – and beautifully read, too!
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Thank you, Emily, a comment like yours makes writing (and reading!) worthwhile.
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You’re very welcome!
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Good job those females are out getting dinner for him while he minds the babies. Good one. No bodies, probably just carcasses this week.
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Man cannot live on bread (or zebra) alone, Sandra.
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Not sure I’d want him to mind the babies. Ive heard occasionally male lions eat them!
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He might be in for a shock when he finds he has to go out and fend for himself. Doesn’t know how good he’s got it!
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These things are irrelevant, Iain
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Full of yearning to escape the mundane, no matter how idyllic it might seem. Very nicely told
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Thank you, Siobhan. Some of us are always restless, no matter what.
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But who would feed him? Interesting point of view, beautifully written.
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He’ll pop into the supermarket, it’s always deserted!
And thank you, glad you enjoyed.
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Dear CE,
A lion’s-eye-view wonderfully and sensitively told.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, m’lady, lions are people too, y’know!
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Fascinating take. A lion feeling trapped in what humans perceive as glorious freedom. Powerful prose poem.
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Thank you, Jilly, my point is that we can be imprisoned by our feelings no matter our environment.
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Eloquently told. I wonder if it might be better in third person?
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Thank you.
I consider this with each story I write, Neil, why do you think that this time?
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A distaste for anthropormphisation. It may be entirely personal
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Laughing. As I masqueraded for several years as a huge pink pachyderm I don’t have this problem!
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