Photo courtesy of Sandra Crook Poem extract from WB Yeats’ ‘The Second Coming’
Rochelle’s challenge for this week’s Friday Fictioneers is prompted by the fascinating interior of threads and bobbins. Can you write 100 words inspired by this photo ?
STITCHING HISTORY
I’m looking for John Tattersall the weaver. I step into the weaving shed. The only sound, the humming of the power looms. What is this warp thread ? Twisted human hair…Weft thread ? Looks like strands of sinew. Woven into the fabric are strips of paper with tiny writing, bones, teeth, yellowed nail clippings, plastic, bleached coral pieces, worn baby shoes…
“Mr Tattersall — tell me what are you doing ?”
“I must weave our human story into this tapestry year by year.”
“Because ?”
“As W B Yeats says :
‘Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world’ ”
April 2, 2019 at 12:34 pm
Loved that mix of the surreal Mr Tattersall’s weaving the world into his work and the nagging suspicion that he might just be right, that if he fails to continue the project, things might just spin out of control. Fantastical and lovely
April 2, 2019 at 2:54 pm
Thanks so much Lynn, I appreciate your kind feedback. I was grasping after the idea that things have to be held together somehow otherwise they’ll spin out of control. Do you remember the Hitchhikers Guide character, a bit like God, who had a plan !!
April 2, 2019 at 6:13 pm
The Hitchhikers Guide character rings a bell, but I’m struggling to remember details. Sounds very Douglas Adams! I’m glad in your story that someone is on control, overseeing the whole – feels like that’s far from the truth in reality. A pleasure to read
April 2, 2019 at 5:50 am
Clever story. I like the weaver’s name, and the bits and pieces he’s weaving together. A fascinating blend of the essential elements of bodies plus the bits that really make us human. Love the baby shoes in there.
April 2, 2019 at 11:09 am
Thank you Margaret – I appreciate your feedback.
April 1, 2019 at 8:17 pm
So apt at these times of chaos… love the way you tied it together with Yeats
April 2, 2019 at 11:14 am
Thank you Bjorn – so pleased you liked the story. A line from Yeats’ poem floated into my head, when I was writing & it seemed to fit.
March 30, 2019 at 6:55 am
Human story needs a lot of weaving. At times it seems like falling apart.
March 30, 2019 at 5:09 pm
Appreciate your comment Abhijit – I agree.
March 29, 2019 at 7:51 pm
loving the metaphor
March 30, 2019 at 5:23 pm
Thanks – so glad you’re into the metaphor. An inspiring photo isn’t it ?
March 30, 2019 at 5:38 pm
Yes it is! It inspired so many good stories.
March 29, 2019 at 1:39 am
I really enjoyed this, Francine. Loved the name of the weaver and the whole premise of it!
March 30, 2019 at 5:29 pm
So glad you liked it Dale – the idea of a weird loom sort of snook up on me, and the odd objects I thought of were too many for the word count!
March 30, 2019 at 5:34 pm
Was cool!
March 29, 2019 at 1:13 am
Fascinating take on the prompt. Yeats is one of my favourite poets and I loved how you incorporated his lines in the flash.
March 30, 2019 at 5:36 pm
Thanks so much – I appreciate your feedback. ‘Things fall apart ‘ came into my mind, out of nowhere & it seemed to fit. Pleased you think it fitted in.
March 28, 2019 at 1:08 pm
Gruesome, but much of life is gruesome. Looking down through history, it is indeed woven with the hair, bones, and blood of mankind. A rather brilliant take, I think.
March 30, 2019 at 5:42 pm
Thanks so much Granonine – I glad you enjoyed the story. Agree about it being a bit gruesome.
March 28, 2019 at 11:36 am
An interesting story on many levels. Nice one.
My FriFic tale!
March 30, 2019 at 5:44 pm
Thanks for your comment Keith.
March 28, 2019 at 10:30 am
Dear Francine,
You give the reader much to ponder in this well woven tapestry.
Shalom,
Rochelle
March 30, 2019 at 5:46 pm
I appreciate you feedback Rochelle. Thank you.
March 28, 2019 at 9:52 am
The tapestry of life 🙂
March 28, 2019 at 10:10 am
Thank you Ali.
March 27, 2019 at 10:46 pm
Yeats was a visionary for our times it seems! Nice one.
March 28, 2019 at 10:14 am
Thanks Iain. Uncanny that Yeats wrote that poem about a different situation, yet some of it reflects ours I think.
March 27, 2019 at 9:46 pm
That’s a tough bit of weaving.
March 28, 2019 at 10:19 am
Thanks Alice. The story took a bit of a gruesome turn !
March 27, 2019 at 8:32 pm
it looks like he’s a real character to avoid lest you become part of the tapestry. 🙂
March 28, 2019 at 10:24 am
Thanks – yes – avoid that weaver !
March 27, 2019 at 8:26 pm
What a lovely idea! I liked your description of the tapestry’s contents
March 28, 2019 at 10:29 am
Thanks so much Neil. I was inspired by an exhibition on magic ! People used to hide everyday objects in their homes, like their old shoes, to ward of evil spirits.
March 28, 2019 at 10:53 am
Fascinating
March 27, 2019 at 6:59 pm
Positively mythic in scope! I love your choice of name for the weaver, given his preferred choice of fibres…
March 28, 2019 at 10:36 am
I appreciate your comment Penny, most kind. Glad you liked Mr Tattersall.
March 27, 2019 at 5:51 pm
Very intense! Excellent write.
March 28, 2019 at 10:42 am
Thanks so much Violet- pleased you liked the story.