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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Posted by Bernardo Bolt Gregori on September 10th, 2011.
Or dying with more than his boots on–#:-) Excellent work, Nate.
Posted by Richard Osgood on September 10th, 2011.
One of the very best short-shorts I’ve read! Excellent, Nathaniel!
Posted by Autumnh on September 10th, 2011.
Lovely irony.
Posted by Cezarija Abartis on September 10th, 2011.
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!
Posted by Anonymous on September 12th, 2011.