PHOTO PROMPT © Douglas M. MacIlroy
The wheatear came knocking
Each day he came to me
He twittered through the window
A happy sight to see
I had some nourishing mealworms
And left them on the sill
He gobbled at them greedily
Until he’d had his fill
He sang his gratitude to me
Each time he came to call
I gathered bugs and flies for him
I managed quite a haul
I left them out for his delight
And watched him grow and thrive
Pantry’s empty, he’s plump enough. I lure him inside.
The oven’s hot. I ring his neck. Do what I must to survive!
Word Count: 100
Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here
Poor old wheatear! So trusting. I love the title, too Clare – very clever
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Thanks, Lynn. Glad you enjoyed it.
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My pleasure
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This is great. I recall Gordon Parks writing about how during a starving St. Paul winter he squared off with a feral dog for a pigeon. Rough times indeed.
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Thanks very much. It hasn’t come to pigeon/wheatear pie yet. Hopefully it won’t!
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Brilliant. You lured me into believing this was a sentimental nature piece. Then, wham!
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Thanks Neil – that was my intention! 🙂
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Dear Clare,
Love the title. Seems like a lot of effort to fatten a pigeon. Perhaps there are more. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. If that’s all there is to eat…!
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A delicious ending there. Nice one.
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Thank you very much.
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No more songs of gratitude…
Into the oven and ready to serve.
Poor bird. But, survival of the fittest.
Stay safe.
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Thanks, Anita.
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Clare, you have a most delightful bad side to your writing.
Love this.
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Thank you very much. I’m a nice person really!
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I was loving it, and then… There are twists in the tale and then there are neck-wringers…
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Thanks, Sandra. She was ruthless!
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Initially you had me thinking about the bird man of Alcatraz. Not the rich with their dove cotes, whilst the poor made do….
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Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Oh no! You strung me along (like the bird) with your chirpy verse and then… bam! 🙂
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Yes, poor bird definitely should not have been so trusting!
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Haha, wonderful! Very well done Clare 🙂
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Thanks, Iain!
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Yes we do what we do to get food to eat… poor bird.
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Thanks, Bjorn!
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Has lockdown really come to this? Love the twist!
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Not yet, but maybe soon! Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Talk about an about-face!
This was so good, Clare. Wooing us with your gentleness… one must do what one must.
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Thanks, Dale. Much appreciated.
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That took a turn. I think I would now be skeptical about being your friend.
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Ha, ha! Only if I’m hungry!
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O.M.G. I hope his tiny tibia got stuck in your teeth! Powerful storytelling.
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Ha, ha! I’m still here and he was very tasty!
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🙂
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I was suspicious, then sure at the line “Oven’s ready.” Poor little bird. Really good writing 🙂
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Thanks very much.
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You managed your twist well, Clare, and I love the title!
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Thank you so much!
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I loved the flow of this piece right up to the turn and hammer blow at the end. Nicely done.
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Thanks very much!
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Giving away secrets. Pigeons are quite tasty! Well penned.
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I’ve never actually eaten pigeon – pheasants are lovely roasted!
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Clever poem on a gruesome subject to which I hope we are never reduced!
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Thanks, Liz!
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Sinister twist, a lovely bit of dark humour to help us through these dark times. Well done, Clare
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Thanks very much!
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Fatten him up, scoff him down. Yum!
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Thanks, Draliman.
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WoW! A poem! And what a brilliantly funny ending, thats a very talented write, love it and am slightly jealous!
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What a lovely comment to receive – thank you so much!
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Ooh love this!
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Thank you very much!
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My pleasure, Clare!
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