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More RATTLER’S TALE Stories
by Anthony North
for
Friday Fictioneers
Poets & Storytellers United
The Sunday Muse
in association with
KEYUDOS
PHOTO PROMPT © Todd Foltz
BAKE-OFF
They were lined up, only their backs showing.
Reality TV was like that – liked to have a surprise for the end.
I suppose you could call them a metaphor.
The first contestant approached: ‘I think I’ll poach them.’
The second disagreed: ‘I’ll beat them to pulp for a huge cake.’
The third added: ‘Well I just like smashing them; watch the goo ooze out.’
I guess dumbing down had gone too far.
The egghead intellectuals agreed.
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GENESIS OF LOVE
Forget the apple. There were too many roses in Eden.
Or maybe it’s all just a metaphor.
In the beginning were animals.
They couldn’t mate face to face, see – so didn’t see.
Then along came animal Mark Two, or Human.
He was a weak but cunning upgrade.
He’d changed his hands – evolved the opposable thumb.
Man became a master manipulator – learnt how to fashion his tool.
Which meant he didn’t need to go around on all fours, but two.
Man became erect – had adapted a new pelvic bone.
Then came the human bit.
It became more comfortable to mate face to face – and he saw.
And she saw. Realised her nakedness, and he liked it.
And together they mated – and loved.
For the genesis of humanity WAS love.
But every story has a sting in the tale – our own Pandora’s box.
For hot on the trail of love came jealousy and, eventually hate.
The Red Rose and Red Mist are one.
There were too many roses in Eden.
And they have thorns.
Dumbing down is correct. Interesting take on the prompt.
Thanks for that, Tannille.
I’m not sure this show is going to attract many viewers, even beyond the eggheads
I’m hoping it’ll get none, lol
Dear Tony,
Dumbing down is an understatement!!! Are they handing out Darwin awards in this reality show? (Don’t even get me started on “reality” shows). Egg-cellent story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks for that, Rochelle 🙂
Egg-smashing as entertainment?
Sounds on a par with much of what’s already out there.
I agree, CE.
Very apt representation of the masses 🙂
Indeed. Thank you 🙂
“Egghead intellectuals” 🙂
This egghead agrees too 🙂
Thank you Anita 🙂
They used to film the quiz show ‘Eggheads’ in the building I work in. They did like a good pun, as all daytime TV seems to!
I’ve watched that occasionally. I sometimes think day time TV is a pun.
Anthony, I’d looked at those eggs all lined up in the photo , and thought they did look like they were sitting in a grandstand as spectators. So, I’m pleased you took that idea further and I enjoyed your take, although I agree that there’s been too much dumbing down.
Best wishes,
Rowena
Thanks for that. Glad you liked it.
Actually that sounds quite high-brow compared to some of the reality TV that’s out there – not that I watch it of course!
Yes, I love the way they call it reality.
Nothing would surprise me any more so far as reality TV is concerned.
Me neither, Sandra.
I love brown eggs best. Nice story.
Ronda
Many thanks Ronda.
You had a lot of fun with the prompt photo, Anthony. Well-served entertainment and a perfect metaphor for reality cooking shows — and life in general!
Thank you, much appreciated.
Too funny and sadly… too much truth
Thanks for that, Dale.
Clever and punny! I especially loved the last line about the eggheads.
Thanks for that, and welcome here.
Egg smashing sounds a fab idea.. i’d watch it but cant imagine it getting a second season or even beyond the pilot
Hopefully not.
It could be worse, it could be the Kardashians. I’ve never seen it. I’m just assuming. The reality show mentality is how we got saddled with our current American president. Our government is a reality show, and it’s far worse than people breaking eggs.
Smashing Kardashians, or, as I like to call them, Cardassians. I like it!
Not a lot of imagination among the contestants, for sure.
Eggsactly
This is exactly what most of reality TV is made of these days: eggheads. Clever take.
Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Neat and viscious story – I saw bald heads too!
Thank you, Liz, glad you liked it.
what a beautiful take on the prompt. well done.
Many thanks for the kind words.
A different approach and an enjoyable story Anthony.
Thank you for that.
Excellent tale…well told…keeping all the pieces in play.
Many thanks. Much appreciated.
All good, except watching the oozing out!
That’s different!
Thank you. I often like to do different.
Reality TV is such a yolk. I am sure we will see this on our screens one day.
Eggsactly
Poor egghead victims 🙂
Aha! Yes, indeed 🙂
Oh! I love where you took this! If eggs weren’t so precious, I’d love to smash a dozen or two right now. Thanks for a fun and all too true story.
Thank you, Alicia, glad you liked it.
Smashing! I conclude that reality TV is as far away from real people as you can get. For instance, who in their right mind bakes those elaborate cakes in Bake Off?
Thank you, and I agree.
Your Genesis of Love is a brilliant and magnificent poem Anthony! A new favorite for me of yours! Hope you are doing well and staying safe.
Thanks for that, Carrie, glad you liked it.
A unique slant on the garden, Anthony. Very entertaining.
Thank you Bev, much appreciated.
Well…cheap TV doesn’t have quite the same ring. Bargain TV? Housebrand Flavor-rite Television, you’ll never tell the difference and your guests won’t, either! Which just means it’s wormed its way too far in for me to be saved. 🙂 I did enjoy the shifts in the rose poem, the images uncompressing like a book of cut-outs. Wonderful.
Thank you Chrissa, I do keep trying to save myself 😉
Lots going on in the Garden. One of your most entertaining, and provocative poems EVER! Loved it.
Many thanks for the kind words, Helen.
The Red Rose and Red Mist are one.
There were too many roses in Eden.
And they have thorns
The anticipation of Eden’s goodness may come with many surprises. We can’t win them all.
Hank
Tell me about it, lol
I like your new take on the Eden myth, and enjoyed all the clever witticisms.
Thanks for that, Rosemary.
I fully empatise with the sentiment here, dumbing down has taken over society, unfortunately it seems relentless and not likely to stop any time soon
I think you’re right.
Ha ha! I’d like to throw them at the ones who make this fake reality stuff up.
Oh, so would I.
Too many people are drawn to the spectacle of the smashing instead of thinking what could be made.
Very true.
“There were too many roses in Eden” — great.
Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Darn those thorns! They ruin everything!
They do indeed.
It seems that contestant number three has some issues to work through…
He certainly does.
I think the world is feeling the sting of the story, that Pandora’s box is filled with trouble. Roses have thorns and eggs have cracks.
Yes, very true.
The opening lines of “The Genesis of Love,” are nothing short of phenomenal! Makes one think 🙂 Beautiful writing 💝
Thank you for those kind words. Much appreciated.
Thought of having eggs this morning had cheese on sweetbread instead. And never thought of roses in the Garden of Eden but now i will ponder it
Thanks for dropping by my sumie Sunday today
much❧✿❧love
Thank you. Glad you dropped by.
Both pieces make for very interesting reading … compelling … impactful … fascinating little tales.
Thank you, Wendy. Very kind.
I enjoyed your Bake off poem and unfortunately could imagine it well
I agree. Unfortunately, indeed.
You would never think that this strange almost hairless creature would be attracted to another similar creature, let alone agree to rear a screaming discontented cub which takes years to develop and then expects to be privided for for fifteen years or more.
But, oh boy, am I glad they did 🙂
Wow! Your story had a twist to it. Very entertaining and creative. I will never think of roses the same way again…lol…or the animals lol
Thanks for that. Glad you liked it.
I loved both pieces. I agree the dumbing down has gone way too far. The rose piece is such a unique recount of the garden of Eden. The beauty of a rose always comes with thorns.
Thank you, Susie, much appreciated.
As the movie, “Idiocracy” because closer to reality and each day confirms it, I wonder if society will survive. I think a cabin deep in the woods is more to my liking.
You’ve given us two examples of the human condition, where we were and where we are headed.
Indeed, but hopefully the tide will turn.
Love the Eden story and yes, Animal Mark II was/is such a disaster… in so many ways!
Indeed. Thanks for that.
The first one enforced my decision to not watch Reality shows.
The second was like a brand new bible story. Roses or apples. Doesn’t
Matter. One has pits, the other thorns. Wonderful take on this strange piece of art.
Many thanks Sara.