[ def-luh-greyt ]
Verb
- To burn rapidly with intense heat and sparks being given off.
- To cause (something) to burn in such a manner.
Let’s Write…
** Either a story beginning, a story ending, a piece of flash fiction, a poem–inspired by the word, deflagrate, where does it take me? Where does it take you?
There was life born from the violence before him, and he loved to think about it. A spectacular and dangerous reaction of iron oxide and aluminum that melted the tips of the steel rail. Sparks shot in all directions like miniature fireworks.
His heart raced as he watched through a pair of heavily shaded glasses. It was like looking at the Sun. Another bit of violence and fire that gave life–he thought.
The sparks began to die, and the light dimmed drastically. Teddy removed his glasses to watch the remaining flames fade away.
Nodding his head, and two other men stepped forward to complete the weld, inspected that the two ends of the steel had now melted together. Teddy didn’t need to be there, really. His men knew what they were doing, but he couldn’t resist. Sometimes, he needed to watch to remind himself of the smallest steps, the smallest links in the giant chain that was their final goal.
Teddy walked away and looked towards the horizon. The steel rail would connect, one link at a time, and soon his view would hold two straight lines coming to a point in the distance, like an arrow pointing to the future.
All roads lead to Rome–he thought, and then laughed. He didn’t care for the center of this operation, New York. Teddy didn’t look back at the rail they already laid. He didn’t look at where they came from. Teddy dreamed of where they could go next.
Notes/Thoughts/Ideas
Well, that was fun for me! A little nod to the novel Atlas Shrugged–a controversial story in terms of philosophy. The essence of that novel, to me, is in my short story here: a celebration of innovation and creation. All the rest aside, that’s what I take from it and love about it.
That’s sort of what this #everyday exercise is all about. It’s not to dive into issues of politics or philosophy, although I may at times dip my foot in the waters there. It’s about celebrating and embracing creating every day.
And, celebrating your creations as well! That’s why I ask you to share whatever it is you do. Inspired by the word, let it prompt a bit of art with no real thought of “where is this leading me?” Just a chance to create for the sake of creating.
What do you think of Deflagrate?
Did I hit the right emotion in my story to celebrate innovation and creation? Let me know what you felt from it!
Leave your thoughts, your own story beginning/ending, flash-fiction, or whatever in the comments! Where did deflagrate or my story take you?
If you want to read something that celebrates creating, check out my short story The Man From Nowhere.
Today’s word is from Merriam-Webster.
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