Caught this book review on Newsweek:That’s So Romantic. And So Brief.
Summing up a life, a romance or a trauma so succinctly may seem like an abomination out of the Twitter generation, but it actually dates back to the 1920s, when Ernest Hemingway bet colleagues that he could write a complete short story in just six words. The result, “For Sale: Baby Shoes. Never Worn,” he reportedly called his best work.
I immediately thought of you 'Dopers.
The book referenced is on love and relationships, and there was a previous one that featured six-word memoirs. I don’t want to assign a subject here, though; just show us what ya got.
Here’s a couple of mine:
Born sane. Went crazy. Found peace.
I write and write. No money.
I can change my life. Tomorrow.
Jesus wept, but not like Judas.
We think we swim; fish know.
OK, y’all 'dopers bring it on.
In response to the memoir challenge on Newsweek’s website, I went with
As it turns out, I am.
Regarding the history of the form,
Hemingway’s best when he writes least.
These are seriously fun. The word count restriction lends to different structure than a syllable count form, like Haiku.
Christopher Reeve was Superman, paralyzed, dead.
Gyrate
January 30, 2009, 4:26pm
4
**She’s gone. So is the dog.
Six days to live, and broke.
Every midsummer they return to feed.
The clown hit the sidewalk face-first.**
Wanted to reply, but creativity lacking.
Why didn’t I bring more ammo?
Folly
January 30, 2009, 4:34pm
7
Earnest try. No more life left.
Folly
January 30, 2009, 5:38pm
9
Man screams to heavens. Why, God?
She was everything to me. Sigh…
Uh oh! Uh oh! Oh crap…
And the muderer is…Oh! Shiny!
She left. Never returned. I smile.
The secret of life! It’s math !
Just slogging it out: that’s me.
Still sleepwalking through a meaningless existence.
The old soldier returned grandmother’s ring.
The stained mattress cannot provide rest.
Dad hated smiling girls. They lie.
Lullabelle kept humble. Then she graduated.
And in the Hemingway vein:
Bride’s dress cheap: only slightly bloody.
Me: came to shit. Broken hearted.
Their weakness is something really simple.
Child is abused, get’s special reward.
Good triumphs over evil every time.
Litoris
January 30, 2009, 6:45pm
18
It was not what it was.
Life moves on. Even without him.
The dream went awry. I’m sorry.
The cake? It is a lie.
This is one of my favorites.
I see what you did there.