The Great New Min Min Challenge.
In less than 250 words write a story inspired by:
“The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men Gang aft agley”.
Click here to hear the author read his words:
Rodents
My love is like a big red nose
That shines bright as the moon…
Nay, laddie, thinks Rabbie, I need something more romantic, that’ll ne’er have Bonnie Mary swooning into my arms.
He stops to wipe the sweat from his brow, for turning the rich soil of Ayrshire’s undulating topography with a horse-drawn plough is heavy work, even for a strong young man.
And Rab’s mind has a tendency to wander, as a braw lad’s does.
He does have an eye for the lassies, it has to be admitted!
Rose, he ponders, roses are more seductive than noses…
The sound of tiny consternation before him brings him back to reality.
He is dismayed to see a family of mice fleeing from the destruction that his plough has wrought.
Seeing one of them hiding behind a daud of earth, he stoops and speaks.
Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie…
O, what a panic’s in thy breastie!
Nah, no chance, he decides quickly, I’ll never breach Jean’s armour with a load of blethering about field rodents.Then he pauses.
Jean?
June!
That’s better biscuits!
My luve is like a red red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve’s like the melodie
That’s sweetly play’d in tune;
Och, I’ll maybe just get her a box of chocolates!
Robert Burns (25th January 1759 – 21 July 1796)
What a fun take on the prompt. The last line was quite funny. Love it!
Glad you enjoyed, Bridgette!
I think you penetrated the psyche of the great man there, Keith. Well done. I didn’t know you could speak Scottish either.
Uh-oh – cerebral alert. Sorry CE. The first two sentences apply, the third… meh!
Laughing.
You’ve got to watch that breakfast Pimm’s, Sandra!
‘Those’ breakfast Pimm’s. Sorry again.
Please, Sandra, no apology necessary.
It’s just good to see you here again, and to enjoy your writing.
This multi media piece has a stage effect, enjoyed it very much..
Thank you, Cassa, I’m happy you found it all worthwhile.
Ah, what an insight into the creative process. The catharsis of a clodhopper personified and a box of Black Magic to finish.
A clodhopper?
Tread carefully, cobber, you speak of the World’s Greatest Poet!
Spoken like a true nationalist. 🙂
Oof, fitting, funny tribute to the Great Man.
He’d have enjoyed this – in less that 250 words you’ve got his character, his work, his poetry…and his love of the lassies. (Note the ‘s’ at the end of that word.)
As well as a few allusions hidden among that ‘undulating topography’ – ‘Jean’s armour’ indeed!
And Kenneth McKellar to finish off – jist braw!
Aye, Jenne, sometimes I just come over all Scottish!
But if we can’t find inspiration in Rabbie, it’s time to hang up the keyboard.
Well done! The path from inspiration to artistry is never straight and linear, but goes forth and back and back around, like mice gathering grain to stock their nests.
Of course, most don’t catch that, as they focus on the end results only.
Thanks, Liz, I suppose even our great poet had his struggles like the mere mortals among us!
A tin of Cadbury’s Roses might do the trick!
All because the lassie likes Milk Tray!
🌹
Laughing.
Please don’t be silent, Nancy, you’ll be too perfect!
Who knew there was such a thing as being “too perfect”. ☺️