This week’s 100 word photo prompt from Madison Woods’ Friday Fictioneers is entitled Grapevine. It evoked lots of memories of happy years spent in South Africa, and inspired the following (not so happy) piece:
Triple Exposure
A white rosebush once stood sentinel at the end of each row of vines, waxy leaves jewelled with raindrops, velvet petals unfurling under the hot Cape sun.
No rosebushes now.
The vines are blackened, withered by chemicals conceived by incompetents, combined by zealots.
The once red earth is now cracked and grey; a yellow haze lingers over the blue peak of the Simonsberg.
The all-clear sounded months ago, but few people have ventured outside.
Just we three.
Every morning we’re sent out, ostensibly to clear the land.
In our hearts, we know we’re just another bunch of rosebushes.
A bitter haarvest, Sandra, but beautifully described. (I can tell you have experience with rose bushes.) You and your two companions working futilely under the haze shrouded peak of the Siomonsberg make for a compelling cautionary tale. I don’t want to live in that world, but perhaps I already am.
Aloha,
Doug
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Thanks for commenting Doug. I wasn’t sure about this one, because I’m not sure how many people are familiar with the purpose of the rosebush planted at the end of each row of vines. For those who aren’t – the rosebush is prey to the same pests, diseases and viruses as the vine, so by planting a rosebush the viticulturists are ensuring an ‘early warning system’. Examination of the rosebush will indicate the row of vines is at risk and early treatment can begin. Though I don’t think anybody’s planning treatment of my three characters – I think the phrase ‘sacrificial lamb’ is more the order of the day. 😦
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The first sentence is divine and campures completely the essence of what has been lost and the losses still to come. Bleak future, but a great read.
I’m early doors too: http://mysocalleddutchlife.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/through-the-grapevine-ff-200712/
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Thank you! glad you enjoyed it.
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Campures? Campures? Honestly, I cant even blame my iPhone for that one. I was going for captures.
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I guessed so, but I was becoming rather fond of that word… it has a nice ring about it. 🙂
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A bleak future that is all too likely in this day and nice. Nicely told, Sandra.
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Thanks Brandon.
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As the others have said, this is bleak and tinged with realism. Makes me feel quite somber but is beautifully written.
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Glad you liked it Emma.
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I hope you show your thorns! Nicely told…
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Thanks for dropping by! 🙂
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Beautiful writing to tell a horrible story! Excellent job!
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Thank you !
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Not so happy tale that is well told. Futile labour…hmm. Thanks Sandra.
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Thanks Raina.
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That last line was so good. It can be taken both ways, but I took it tragic way.
This was a pretty brilliant idea to use. Mostly what I love is the fact that they’re the only ones who have seen it since the event. Other people, that I’ve so far seen, have done withered crops too, but you do it well.
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Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.
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A world view none would hope to see and beautifully examined in such a short space of words and a new way to looking at the ‘withering’ 🙂
http://womanontheedgeofreality.com/2012/07/20/friday-fictioneers-the-grapevine/
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Thanks Linda!
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Lovely job. Great description and awesome understory in the space of 100 or so words. Mine is here. http://kaitlinandmichaelbranch.com/2012/07/20/friday-fictioneers-13/
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Thanks Kaitlin.
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You conveyed so much in just a few words. Yes, sombre, and cautionary, but also very well written.
http://www.lazuli-portals.com/flash-fiction/sweet-and-sour
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Thank you Joanna!
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Very well written! Thanks for stopping by mine
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Thank you!
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Oh my, how I have missed reading your fiction! The last line on this is so poignant. I’m kind of a fan of this kind of fiction, and you do it so well! I’ll try to catch up eventually with more of your work, but hey, it’s something to look forward to, even if I don’t have that much time right now. 🙂
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Thanks Judee; glad to see you back on line again.
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I didn’t understand it at first . I searched Simonsberg on the web and then your comments in the response to Doug. I needed that. i reread your prompt two more times, like tasting a delicate wine to get all the nuances, and how the last line keeps punching me in the gut, oh so delicately (I know a delicate punch is n oxymoron but):
In our hearts, we know we’re just another bunch of rosebushes.
Wow. What a profound statement and what a great allegory.
Thanks, Randy
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I’m glad you got it Randy. I think it was probably a bit obscure, but for me the rosebush at the end of the vine row is something I take for granted.
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Beautiful and horror-full at the same time. I can see how the people would think that their purpose was the same as the rose bushes. An excellent little story:
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/asylum/
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Thank you! Glad you liked it.
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Very lovely. Thank you for reviewing mine and I’m glad I got to read this as well. I love well-written dystopian novels. This sounds like the beginning of one!
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Thanks for dropping by Jennifer. 🙂
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Wonderfully written! I really liked it and I would love to read more!! I think that’s the best mark of a really well written Friday Fictioneer entry – that we want more! Good stuff!! Thanks for commenting on mine – http://theforgottenwife.com/2012/07/19/friday-fictioneers-july-20-2012/
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Thank you for commenting.
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I loved that first description, with just the right verbs used (jewelled especially) and the way the story gets dark immediately from there, but in a very realistic, post-industrial kind of way. Nice job.
Brian (here’s mine: http://pinionpost.com/2012/07/20/terroir/)
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Thanks Brian, appreciate your comment
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Sandra,
I loved the description of the raindrops on waxy leaves. Oh, how I wish we could see some raindrops here! We have rosebushes near our grapes and the darn Japanese beetles love them both. I love the analogy between the rosebushes and the three clearing the land. Sacrifical lambs indeed. Thank you for taking the time to read & comment on mine.
Here’s the link for others who might want to swing from that vine.
http://russellgayer.blogspot.com/
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We’ve seen nothing but rain here Russell; today’s the first sunny day in weeks. Thanks for commenting.
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I couldn’t agree more with “conceived by incompetents, combined by zealots.” But, ahh…what a painful view of a post-apocalyptic world illustrated by your white rose bushes.
~Susan (www.susanwenzel.com)
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Thanks Susan.
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well done!
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Thanks a lot!
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I like the last line a lot – just a bunch of rosebushes. I went back and reread the first and it was a great way to complete the circle.
Mine is here: http://erinleary.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/flash-friday-fiction-12/
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Thanks for dropping by Erin.
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I liked this story very much! I wasn’t familiar with the role of the rosebushes at the edges of the vineyard, so I learned something, too!
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Thanks Jan, glad there was something new here for you.
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A dark place Sandra and this story is really thought provoking with great imagery 🙂
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Thanks Gilly!
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I love it! You are able to paint a picture so well. A talent I am very envious of!
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Thanks for coming by!
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Great piece of flash fiction 🙂
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Thanks Karen.
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I feel like I got an education in 100 words. Very sad, and yet, beautifully written. The imagery is so real.
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Thanks Kris!
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I love the apocalyptic feel. My favorite line is “conceived by incompetents, combined by zealots.” Make s me think of chemtrails and the corrupt political agendas pushing for mass depopulation over a prolonged time so nobody can discover who is to blame, and no one is held accountable.
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Thank you Ilyan.
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Beautiful description.
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Thanks!
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Powerful story and great wake-up call–I’m so glad you explained why the rose bushes are planted at the ends of the rows of grapevines.
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Thank you – I wasn’t sure about this one.
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Beautiful description of a very bleak future.
Here’s mine
http://tollykitsjourney.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/vines-fridayfictioneers-flashfiction/
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Thanks, enjoyed yours.
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I really liked this one. The parallelism between the people and the rose bushes is powerful and sobering.
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Thanks, it makes you think – all these pesticides…
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Sad but it could be our reality. Sooner than we think. Nicely written.
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Thank you, you may be right.
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Like the canary in a coal mine. Good work!
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Exactly so! Thanks for commenting.
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I did not know about the rosebushes, vines, and beetles relationship. I liked your analogy a lot more after understanding but it was great to begin with even with my haze of ignorance.
As for your commenting on your blog. I don’t know why it would suddenly start doing that to you, but the spot to check is under your dashboard > settings > discussion OR maybe you’re not logged into your account when you’re leaving comments? Wish I knew better how to advise.
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Thanks for commenting Madison, I appreciate your taking the time. Your comment re the wordpress problem prompted me to try clearing the cache on the computer, and logging again. I’ll see if I’m asked to moderate this reply.
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I wasn’t! Yay! Thanks for the inspiration… again.
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Kudos to Sandra as usual. I mention rosebushes (roses) in my (non-fiction) story as well, but had no idea why they were planted at the grapevine trellis. Now I know. Well done. I’m #68 on the list.
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Thank you Lora, I noticed the roses in yours too. Nicely done.
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oh wow, we’re just rosebushes. that’s very pretty andmeaningful.
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Well done! Made me think of the canaries that miners would bring deep into the earth to notify them if the air became too toxic.
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Lovely piece of writing Sandra. I have to admit to likely bleak fiction, rather than ‘feel-good’. I had to have the rosebushes explanation though.
Thanks for visiting mine.
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