Barbed Wire Barriers
Des spotted the loop of wire waiting on the fence post. His mind turned it over, thinking of Osage Orange and large scale containment. Used on cattle, dividing the land, fencing in people; it was designed to injure, to ensnare. That crown of thorns represented the rough treatment this range life offered. Bound up on the fence, the horizon in view, it fenced in more than his property. Dreams, too. More work waiting. Best not to dwell on things too long.
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Today’s post is part of Flash Friday Fictioneers. The photo prompt is courtesy of Madison Woods. Her story can be found here, along with links to all the other Flash Friday Fictioneers.
©EKLeary
Nicely done–I especially liked “It fenced in more than his property. Dreams, too.”
Mine: http://www.vlgregory-circa1800.vpweb.com/blog.html
I grew up around farms and you captured that love of the land mixed with regretful necessity. I could empathize. Here is mine http://createrealitylivelife.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/flash-fiction-story/
A nice contemplative piece – nicely done.
Mine’s at http://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/trespass/
I’ve got to agree with V L. I liked that part as well. Made me feel for the poor fellow.
My attempt: http://authorbrandonscott.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/when-hope-dies/
Poor Des, I really feel for him as he seems to wish for a happier, less harsh life.
Mine’s here:
http://garybaileywriting.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/fridayfictioneers-hunterhunted/
I think we all feel as Des does here, now and again.
Here’s mine: http://thebradleychronicles.wordpress.com/
Very nice, Erin. Love the hint of melancholy and dreams of life beyond the land.
Nicely written piece depicting the harsh realities of life and dreams that remian just that, dreams. Mine is here: http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/fridayfictioneers-sobibor/
Poor Des 😦
I felt a hint of religion in it (I don’t know if you were going for that or not) with “crown of thorns,” rough treatment, dividing the land, hard work — and the sun in the image.
I hadn’t originally written that description (crown of thorns), but when I was typing it up, it came through all on its own. My intention wasn’t to make it a religious theme, but I guess it had it’s own idea of what was necessary. Funny how that works out sometimes.
Yes … the “crown of thorns” was a nice image (something about sacrifice might have made it stronger, but range life and barbed wire certainly conjures up rough treatment, too). Sometimes, it IS best not to dwell on things too long, lest all of our dreams get fenced off and shut up
Nice job, Erin. You know what they say, “the grass may be greener on the other side of the fence, but you still have to mow it.”
Thanks for your nice comments on mine. Here’s the link for others
http://russellgayer.blogspot.com/
Don’t fence me in… I liked this piece…and the “crown of thorns” was not lost on me. It illustrated his burdens very well.
~Susan (Here’s mine: http://www.susanwenzel.com)
This is very thought provoking. Nice work. I hope that Des can find peace on whichever side of the barrier he ends up.
Oh I really liked this, Erin. I liked how the fence was more than just a physical barrier. Well done! 🙂
Here’s mine:
http://siobhanmuir.blogspot.com/2012/04/another-200-words-for-fridayfictioneers.html
Siobhan
I liked the image of the coiled wire as a crown of thorns. I agree with Siobhan about the fence.
Here’s mine: http://postcardfiction.com/2012/04/27/scraped/
Fenced in dreams. That’s one of the most horrific things I can imagine.
Well-written. Thanks for sharing.
Mine: http://the-drabbler.com/trespass/
This brought tears to my eyes.. Half of my childhood was spent in a small farm town. I’ve known people like Des…strangled with their fenced in dreams. I was one of the lucky ones. I managed to escape from the barbed wire and fulfilled my dreams.
Hi Erin. Way to create a story that nearly everyone can relate to in one way or another. Who at one time or another hasn’t felt trapped either physically or emotionally by the circumstances of their life? Nicely done.
Here is mine: http://wp.me/pReXn-fv
i read ‘despot’ – the lonely and tormented ruler, doing that which he sees best for his subjects……..bless ’em
http://sacha1nch1.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/flash-fiction-venus-in-wire/
Heyhey… as a fellow Friday Fictioneer, I took the liberty of tagging you — http://plowright.wordpress.com/2012/05/08/tag-im-it/