Bots (an acrostic poem)

Image: newsweek.com/en/full/466747/google-red-button.jpg

Believing in one’s ability to control the machine, the button is pressed

Observing the fallacy of that confidence as the droid fails to do what was desired

Though in the end, the comradery and lessons learned far outweighed the disappointment

STEM encapsulates an ever beating heart and a spirit that will rise from the ashes of failure

The Navy Blues ( a 200 word story) *disturbing content, please be advised*

 

The whiskey scorched all the way down as he took another swig.  He almost fell over as he ground out his cigarette.  That brought him face to face with that photo of her in that navy blue dress.

“I can’t believe you’re gone.”

A sob escaped causing him to slump into his recliner.

“We were so good together.”

Putting down the bottle, he picked up her image and gave it a sloppy kiss.  He went to put it carefully back down, but instead, he fumbled it.  The photo tumbled to the tiled floor, shattering the glass.  He groped for the now naked photograph, cutting his hand, but undeterred, he snagged it.  He sucked on the blood while staring into the picture’s eyes.

“You enjoyed that didn’t you, hurting me again?”

He picked back up the bottle and pounded what was left.  Snatching his lighter he set fire to her visage.

“Fuck!”

He watched her burn, yet even when the flames reached his fingers, he couldn’t let go.  Not even when she was just ashes.

“I told you I’d do anything to make you stay.”

He showed his fingertips to the navy blue urn on the bookshelf.

“See, I meant it.”

 

Image: d1nr5wevwcuzuv.cloudfront.net/product_photos/69254667/file_e29426d8ce_original.jpg

Ashes to Ashes (a 100 word story)

The ashes drifted down from the sky, covering everything for miles.  Those ashes were people’s lives and memories, and he was there to stop more people’s memories from clogging the landscape.

Davis picked up his shovel and began to dig once again.  While the task was physically and mentally grueling, he kept thinking how good it would feel to wash off those memories when the job was done and the fire was contained.   But for now it was him and his shovel, and he wasn’t going to let those people down.

Memories are precious and shouldn’t go up in smoke.

 

Image: climatefeedback.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Thomas-Fire-1.jpg