Here's my response to this week's 100 Word Challenge, where the word was widened.
My children have started characterizing things by manner of exclusion. Fish are not birds. It is not raining. They are not adults.
I am not wondering what the skin under your jaw tastes like. Your ribs are not Braille; your hip is not for me to know. I am not imagining myself in front of you, mouthing the words, “Let me.”
I am not answering a ringing phone.
It happens. You think you have all the information, and then suddenly the aperture gets widened. Light gets in; you’re left clutching things that are falling, defining yourself by what you’re not.
My children have started characterizing things by manner of exclusion. Fish are not birds. It is not raining. They are not adults.
I am not wondering what the skin under your jaw tastes like. Your ribs are not Braille; your hip is not for me to know. I am not imagining myself in front of you, mouthing the words, “Let me.”
I am not answering a ringing phone.
It happens. You think you have all the information, and then suddenly the aperture gets widened. Light gets in; you’re left clutching things that are falling, defining yourself by what you’re not.
Christ, woman. This is good.
ReplyDeleteThought provoking!
ReplyDelete"Defining yourself by what you're not." Love it.
ReplyDeletesexy imagery. "I am not wondering what the skin under your jaw tastes like"
ReplyDeletequite the punch in just 100 words!
deep - deafening - beautiful
ReplyDeletedo I hear "I am not the woman/man you want"?
This was beautiful. I like the idea of descriptions by exclusion.
ReplyDeleteHot. Love it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading and commenting.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the bridge between children and adult desires. Very intriguing.
ReplyDeleteYou are so talented.
ReplyDeleteThat means a lot, Ann. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLove. Just love.
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing. I am awestruck.
ReplyDeleteThe second paragraph blew me over. I'm now in child pose. Robin
ReplyDelete