On a walk I saw a dying cicada mating with a fully dead one. It was a silent act. None of the annoying buzz.
With a flickering of one wing, the dying bug ceased all movement. I wondered if it was necrophilia or one last chance to make a mark.
Nathaniel Tower writes fiction, teaches English, and manages the online lit magazine Bartleby Snopes. His short fiction has appeared in over 50 online and print magazines. A story of his, “The Oaten Hands,” was named one of 190 notable stories by storySouth’s Million Writers Award in 2009. His first novel, A Reason To Kill, was released in July 2011. Visit him at www.bartlebysnopes.com/ntower.htm.
Powerful story, Nathaniel! Love it!
Thank you very much for sharing!
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Or dying with more than his boots on–#:-) Excellent work, Nate.
One of the very best short-shorts I’ve read! Excellent, Nathaniel!
Lovely irony.
I’m glad so many people liked it as much as I did and saw the power of the imagery. A bit of a different speed from my usual approach on this site, and I love to see that kind of variety. Hoping to see lots more submissions of this quality in the future!