Pythian Games

Word weaving - Seashells

Posted in Uncategorized by traveller2006 on May 21st, 2007

The following is taken from the Wonder Word exercise. Instead of trying to find all the words contained in the list the objective was to try and weave into a yarn all the words contained in the list.

Here is my offering:

The boy paddled his boat along the shore where the water was white as waves crashed over the reef, his necklace of wild pig tusks glinting in the early morning sunshine. Here was his favourite spot in the ocean. He weighed anchor and cast his nets over the side. He knew it would be a while before anything bit so he slipped into the water. Down in the depths there was a huge variety of sea life: large marine mussels and gray oysters clung to the rocks in whose cavities glossy lobsters hid and crabs scuttled across the sand; snails trailed the rigid curves of their shells over the sea floor which was littered with pink clams, scallops and patterned cone shells of all shapes and sizes; shoals of polished prawns dashed from rock to rock in frantic search of plankton and sea slugs fat as cucumbers merely lay in obese repose occasionally exuding bursts of liquid which had earned them the less-than-complimentary name of sea squirts. A deadly puffer fish drifted in front of him. With no danger present its spines were retracted but at the slightest hint of danger its size could swell to that of a football and its spines would be fully erect. Several small flat turtles passed above his head casting small shadows on the silvery sand below him.

When his lungs were fit to burst he kicked out strongly to propel himself to the surface where he gulped hard to re-fill his lungs. He could hear drums coming from the shore. Part of him wanted to stay out on the seas and part of him wanted to hide. He disliked killing animals for money and knew that the drums signified the appearance of a rare type of land tortoise which must have wandered away from its usual habitat. The difference about this animal was that this particular species had a peculiar type of growth rendering its shell much larger than that of other tortoises. The natives were only too eager to sell this shell which was eagerly sought after for ornamental purposes. Thoughtfully nibbling from a dish of peas and walnuts he had brought with him he hauled in his nets and reluctantly headed for the shore.

 

Traveller

6 Responses to 'Word weaving - Seashells'

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  1. She Wolf said, on May 21st, 2007 at 4:32 pm

    I like the way you’ve written this. You have made vivd pictures with the wordsl

  2. lorigloyd said, on May 21st, 2007 at 8:51 pm

    Nice, Carol. You can use this as a start of a longer story. I want to know what the boy does now. Save the land tortoise?

  3. imogen88 said, on May 22nd, 2007 at 8:59 am

    Descriptive and thought provoking!

  4. Chefleur said, on May 22nd, 2007 at 10:00 am

    The boy, the tusk necklace and the drums on shore made me think of Lord of The Flies. I like the vivid underwater life you have described. You have inspred me to polish up my response to the word weaver - which is somewhat different!

  5. Barbara said, on May 31st, 2007 at 6:47 am

    Excellent beginning following a difficult initial constraint. What happens next?
    Bo

  6. jan2 said, on June 6th, 2007 at 12:16 am

    You have created a really excellent piece in so few words -particularly as you had to incorporate so many words. Clever.

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