Thursday, September 22, 2011

Second Campaign Challenge--THE GHOST'S IMAGO

So here goes! My entry is a poem. Who knows why the target words caused this! It's 62 words. ; ) (I'm linky #33.)
 (Edited to add: Someone asked for a link to the voting, so here it is. LINK )
The Ghost’s Imago
He knew it was time--
Time to go beyond
When the maggots flew
And his miasma dissipated.
His body sank into
A lacuna, a missing space,
Where only his bones
Would remain to oscitate.
He marveled at Life and Death’s
Synchronicity
As he moved on to begin anew
With discovery of
His new destination--
A mirror of his past.

Racheal has given us a big challenge this time:
The Challenge is:
Write a blog post in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, whether flash fiction, non-fiction, humorous blog musings, poem, etc. The blog post should:
  • include the word "imago" in the title
  • include the following 4 random words: "miasma," "lacuna," "oscitate," "synchronicity,"
If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional and included in the word count), make reference to a mirror in your post.
For those who want an even greater challenge (optional), make your post 200 words EXACTLY!
Once you’ve posted your Challenge post on your blog, pop back here and link directly to it in the Linky List below (please make sure you include the direct link to your post, not just the link to your blog!).

I've again set up the Linky List to let you "Like" entries, so make sure you come back here and vote. Winners this Challenge will be determined solely on the basis of your votes. This is an honor system, so please don't take advantage of this process either on your own or another's behalf. "Like" voting will close on Friday, October 14th.

76 comments:

  1. Wow. I really love this poem. In so few words you manage to create a great visual of the process.

    Really loved this

    ReplyDelete
  2. I really liked this, I love how the words flowed so well together. The words also inspired a poem from me =)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great poem, like the imaged and the way you work in mirror.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love it. You also went with a little bit of a ghost story there. I did the same. Curious how many directions these challenge instructions take us, eh?

    Great job, Zan! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. K.T., A.E., Story, David and Melodie,

    Wow! You guys are fast! I'm just glad I got the poem so fast. David, I'll have to see what your ghost story's like.

    And thanks, Melodie for the vote. ; )

    ReplyDelete
  6. Short and to the point. I like it. Mine is #29

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow, that was fantastic! Is it weird that I think "when the maggots flew" is actually quite beautiful? Great imagery.
    Mine is #3.

    ReplyDelete
  8. That was great! The images inspired were creepily beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, Zan Marie! This is just lovely. I was just commenting on another poetry post a little while ago...love them! :) ~ Nadja

    ReplyDelete
  10. Bridget, Jen, Sheri, Susan, and Nadja,

    Wow! Thanks for the compliments! The words Rach gave us just fell into place. ; )

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thought this was well done. Think poetry is really difficult, but you managed to pull it off and get all the words included (in a way that made sense). Liked the brevity too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful Poetry! I've always loved it. I felt you were talking about several things here, but the image that sticks in my mind is that of a butterfly :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks, Helen and Lady Jai,
    I love poetry, but it has to come organically. I can't up and say, "I'm going to write a poem today." That sort of forced poem shows only that--force. ; )

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yay! Another poem!

    Your piece is haunting, yet beautiful. Very well done.

    ReplyDelete
  15. You painted a great visual! Nice job. The 4th poem I've seen, too- pretty cool. I'm #34 and a new follower!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks, F. E!

    Thanks, Lady Gwen. I'll follow you back. ; )

    ReplyDelete
  17. You’re a talented poet. I enjoyed reading (and rereading) your entry.

    Have a great weekend

    ReplyDelete
  18. A beautiful poem! Your command of language is beautiful, and you really slid the challenge words in without making them feel forced! Wonderful work!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Medeia, rddenton, and Cortney--you're making my head swell.

    Not that I mind the compliments. (wry grin)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I really appreciate anyone who can express themselves through the poetic forms. This is a great example, as well as a super utilization of the words in the challenge!

    Please consider this fellow campaigner a new follower.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Zan, Not only do I enjoy the poem on its own, but love how you captured such imagery with 62 words :-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Very vivid and a little disturbing. ;0)

    The Write Soil

    Mine is #50.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thanks, Bryce! Welcome to the Shade. And thanks for the compliements. ; )

    Christy,
    Glad you liked it. This one just appeared with very little work. I'm in shock. ; )

    Dawn,
    Sorry to disturb you...Well not really if I can be vivid. ; )

    ReplyDelete
  24. What an evocative look at the process of decay. I loved it

    ReplyDelete
  25. Succinct an powerful. I love oscitating bones!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks, Jana and Joanna!
    The images came from the word. I like "ocitating bones" myself. ; )

    ReplyDelete
  27. Zan Marie, I'm back again to tell you that I left a blog award for you on my site whenever you want to come by for it!

    ReplyDelete
  28. What a beautiful poem. I am so impressed, as I am hopeless at poetry but you managed this really well using all the words effectively. Wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh, this was fantastic. I have no talent for poetry myself, so anyone that can produce such a lovely piece has my admiration. Good job! :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. This is the second poem I'v come across and it's great too.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Really lyrical, this was just so easy to read it flowed beautifully. Thanks for the follow :-)

    ReplyDelete
  32. I absolutely LOVE this! What a great job! Heading over to the Linky List to vote!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Concise and well put. I really like it!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I like that you used stanzas/poetry form! First one I've seen! Kudos!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Thanks, J. A. and Sandwiched Writer
    There's a few more poems among the entries.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Loved the way you used those words in such a fabulous poem!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thanks, Jessica and Charlotte,
    The words created it as I worked with the definitions. ; )

    ReplyDelete
  38. very nice. I like how you were able to do the challenge in just 62 words and have it all make sense.

    Good job!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Thanks, Fairview. I like your kittie. ; )

    ReplyDelete
  40. Wow! You really pulled the crazy vocabulary into a consistent register! Not to mention fashioning a lovely poem to boot.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Haven't seen many poetic entries. Nice job.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
  42. Thanks, Lee
    There's a few poems. I think I've seen about 5.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Ooh, a poem! I love reading your poems. This one especially has many layers of meaning. You wove the words in so well!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Thanks for visiting mine. I love yours. Very visual and not as much spooky as ethereal. Yeah, that's it. Not ephemeral,because this will stick in my mind. I don't like ghost stories in general, but this is another story. Sorry about the pun. Now I'm following you too!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Deniz,
    Thank you! Since poetry has to jump out at me, I don't force it, the fact that you like it is a bonus.

    Sher,
    Thank you, too. It just demanded to be written. And thanks for the follow. ; )

    ReplyDelete
  46. Very visual. Beautiful poem! Great job working those words in there.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Not to mention a fantastic, metaphorical use of oscitate! Impressive! I think the rest of us were just trying to figure out its dictionary meaning.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Thanks, Raelyn

    Kurt,
    The bones oscitating was obvious after I realized the POV was a ghost. ; ) Some character/POVs just jumb out and this one did from the intricacies of the definitions.

    ReplyDelete
  49. beautiful, but do maggots flew? Just kidding Zan Marie, good job!

    ReplyDelete
  50. HaHa, Jo.
    They do when they're done eating and become flies. At least that's what I *wanted* to convey. ; )

    ReplyDelete
  51. Very nice! I like how smoothly it flows and how well you incorporated the challenge words.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Cool! I thought the words lent themselves to poetry, too, and you do a great job with the form. Definitely have to like yours!

    ReplyDelete
  53. Awesome! I love reading the poetry entries because it really shows talent. I suck at poetry. I'm voting for this one. :) I'm 125.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Loved your piece of poetry and your stealthy use of the words. :) Great piece!

    #189

    ReplyDelete

To use Facebook or Twitter sign in, select Name/URL. Add your name and the URL of your homepage for Facebook or Twitter...and comment. Thanks for coming by!