Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
This is the Wakefield Doctrine’s contribution to ‘the Unicorn Challenge‘
Hosted each week by jenne and ceayr, we who are about to write are tasked with creating a story, (a world, a glimpse off the continuum or, perhaps merely a daydream), inspired by the week’s photo image. The limit to this construction is that it require no more than two hundred and fifty words to convey.
Nighttime on the open ocean is irrefutable testament to limits of Man. His wooden, (or steel), constructions appear to defy the limits imposed by Nature. But humility is not the most celebrated quality of humankind. In fact, one might argue ambition was the reason for expulsion from a certain Garden. Leaving water for fish, air for birds an affront; surely good only for the weak of mind and timid of spirit.
The trawler had set out at dawn. Then, the sea was flat, the temperature unremarkable and the wind pushed-and-played with the crew’s hair, like barroom predators when the evening is young and appetites weak.
Now, however, emboldened by acquiescence of the sun, darkness reigned and the waves grew. As the boat wallowed in deceptively indolent troughs, the sea stepped over the gunnels like boys jumping hedges. The crew, standing on the main deck, continued to pick through the catch, halogen suns casting crumpled shadows.
Hearing the captain’s uncertainty, the deckhands employed the most human of strategies when confronted with forces beyond their control, they put it out of their minds. Increasingly the deck was awash with green water breaking against the rails. Rollers of bycatch, seaweed and froth brushed past their legs, racing from one side to the other. Upside down pendulums, the men worked, knowing there was no return without the boat, and only by filling the fish-holds would the captain allow that to happen. That the sea had other plans was permitted no space in their thoughts.
*
About clarkscottroger
Atmosphere and imagery abound, clark, as we have come to expect. This week’s gem: ‘the wind pushed-and-played with the crew’s hair, like barroom predators when the evening is young and appetites weak.’.
Epic tale of the sea, Clark! Excellent writing.
I’m reminded of the line in an old hymn, “for those in peril on the sea.” My hat is off to those who brave “the watery chaos,” and to you for your starkly realistic voicing of their story.
it was an interesting time
lol which begs a tellimg question, ‘Would the narrative of our lives be different if we had asked (before embarking on a course of action) ‘How will this read os a future blog post?
First sentence, last sentence. Perfect bookends.
I can’t begin to imagine what it must feel like working on a fishing trawler. At night. Far, far from land.
“Salty Dog”, most apropos soundtrack.
“…. the sea stepped over the gunnels like boys jumping hedges.”
As Denise says, the first and last sentences perfect bookends, Clark, and they lift the tale right out of the ordinary.
The story has the tone of the beginning of a classical epic – humanity pitting its wits against Nature.
Nature, which you present as an active participant in the tale through your vivid imagery.
Excellent story.
thank you, j
I think, Clark, that you just keep getting better.
It seems to me that you are now harnessing your undoubted talent for creating word images through similes and metaphors within taut sentences that tell a cohesive tale.
For me, your contributions are among the week’s Unicorn highlights.
thanks c.
if (and I certainly welcome it) I am, a significant factor is the process is hanging out with you and jenne and gang at ‘the ‘corn
while practice should never be under-rated (when it comes to skill acquisition) I believe the give and take in common interest groups like a bloghop is even more so
(very much, for me, an element of ‘oh yeah? how’d you do that (achieve that effect) and the give and take among people of common interest’ really keeps the process alive. I mean, most of us can think of the ways we should improve, but having someone whose skills we respect to say, ‘What the hell was that? Can you simply take us from beginning to middle and finally end? Maybe add the structure… etc’
appreciate it.)
Great writing, Clark (as usual)!
thank you Chris
Cleverly descriptive, the denial and menace. My favorite simile here:
“The sea stepped over the tunnels like boys jumping hedges.” 💙
(looking for a piece of paper, scribbling ‘similes are like as opposed to metaphors or something)
lol
thank you for that
(never can keep them apart in my head, which is surprising given how central they are to my efforts to write
👍You do you. It’s working for you!