Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Defining Purpose

Let me start by saying, I did write this piece pretty fast.  It was a scene that came to mind after reading the prompts from Write at the Merge and Trifecta this week.  It is a quick sketch as I am working on squeezing in some fun writing time between my 11 month old son, starting a new job later this month and grad school.  But I wanted to get back in the habit of responding to the prompts.  So, here it is.  I'm not entirely sure my use of the Trifecta word "Fly" fits the third definition, but I think it does.  If not, please let me know.  Either way, check out other entries at the links above.

            “I’ve been thinking,” a blond youth commented.
            “You know that’s a dangerous past time,” his teacher replied with a smile, “What’s on your mind, Jaris?”
            “What makes something what it is?”
            The older man’s brow crinkled and his wooly bear caterpillar eyebrows drew down to shade his dark eyes.
            “I mean, sir, the old saying about a bell being just a cup until it is struck.  But, that’s not entirely true.  One could strike a cup in the same manner as one struck a bell but it’s still a cup.  What makes the bell different, Marken?”
            Marken stopped walking, his brow smoothed, and his eyes lost focus.  Jaris waited while his teacher pondered his question.  After several minutes of still silence, Marken began to move down the trail, only at a slower pace this time.
            “Purpose,” he finally spoke to his pupil, “A thing’s purpose is what defines it.  Take the statues around us.”
            “What statues?” Jaris scanned the boulders they’d been passing.
            “Look closer,” Marken paused in their journey.
            Jaris circled several boulders before coming to one near Marken.  Rounding the backside, Jaris made out the weather worn features of a face.  Part of the cheek and nose were missing.
            “I didn’t know these rocks used to be statues.”
            “Exactly.  They lost their purpose.  Without that, they ceased to be statues and became rocks.”
            Marken leaned against the rock head while Jaris pondered this.  He knew his apprentice needed some time to think before he let the next question fly.  Marken even had an idea as to what it would be.  Too bad he didn’t have an answer.
            “I know I’m the chosen of the gods.  But what does that mean, Marken?  What is my purpose?”

15 comments:

  1. I love this. "A thing's purpose is what defines it"
    Well done.

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  2. I really like the underlying message in this piece. Well-written and engaging characters. And I think you can make the case for your use of fly. :)

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  3. Isn't that something we all deal with? What is our purpose? It's just a journey of figuring that out. Thanks for linking up with WOE!

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    1. I'm glad to have to chance to write an link up again. And, yes, I think we are all on a journey of figuring out our purpose. I think that's a big piece of why this scene really jumped out at me this time.

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  4. I try to follow my instincts, but sometimes I think they are speaking to me in a foreign language and I just can't get the piece write. This one was somewhere in between that and knowing I nailed it. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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  5. I like the subtle twists, things that make you think in between the words. Well done!

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    1. Thank you. It's humbling to know someone thinks my writing is thought provoking.

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  6. Short, sweet and thought provoking. Absolutely loved it. Great piece!

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  7. Reminds me of when the Dali Lhama (?) was recruited as a young boy and raised to be the next leader not yet really old enough to comprehend. Great premise, Grasshopper ;-O Loved the interactions and the line quoted by others...a thing's purpose is what defines it. Although sometimes new purposes can be found through creativity. Hmmm. You have my mind really rooted in this. That's a good thing!

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    1. Hmmm. That's an intriguing idea to explore with this. Thanks!

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  8. 'A thing's purpose defines it'...very nice. I like what you did with this, even if it was "on the fly".

    As for trying to get back into the prompts, don't beat yourself up if you miss things here or there. It will work out eventually. Glad that you are back!

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    1. Thanks. I am glad to be back - even if it is sporadically. I appreciate the compliment. Thanks for stopping by!

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