http://slow.writerscafe.org/chickenfishen The original writings of author Sams en-us Copyright 2026 WritersCafe.org 1775943050 WritersCafe.org RSS Generator 15 I could see where the soldier was going to take his next step, because the stone beneath his feet was marred from his never ceasing guard.His shoes clicked loudly with every step. His clothes looked stiff, like the clothes a highschooler would wear in the spring musical. His rifle looked old and use.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3130977/ http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3130976/ tw: references to suicide http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3130752/ Dusty and dryAll the colors look the same To me.Pastels, all prettyAnd pinkishScratchy as I Smear it Across the pavement.No matterHow hard I tryEverything I makeTurns out dull.The harder I pressThe more it snapsIn my hands.Wobbly, wonky linesMy knees hurt,Dug in by pineNeedlesLitterin.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3130749/ It’s a DaisyCHARACTERS Elli- Cast as an actor of any gender. Wears a tank top the same color as their skin and white leggings. 16 or younger. Curious and bright, always moving and wanting to explore new things.  Nox- Cast as a woman actress in her mid twenties. Dressed in a whit.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3130713/ Waiting in the doctor’s officeBiting your nailsThe clickClockTickingOf an itchy clockLegs bouncingLonging to paceThe length of the roomGrimAnd inevitableKnowing there isn’t enough timeThe hotHumid breathOf the reaperOn the back of your neckRavens and VulturesSpiraling up In the.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3130089/ I hated Mrs. Jones. I found her boringAnd never did theWork she assignedNo matter how Naturally english cameNothing could saveMy grades Because I justDidn’t care enough to Try. Remember?I wore a whiteDress forFirst communion.Your dress was Yellowed from ageSince i.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3129075/ I never felt right, before. All the clothes fit, My body drew no eyes All of those worries, all gone to waste To think, if I had stayed Rotting in my own mind Against the world, fighting constantly No doubt, I wouldn’t have survived No doubt, I would have ended up empty You might wonder what .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3129061/ How is that funny?Over and overThe same jokeHilarious and RedundantSo out of placeI’ve never felt soDifferentBefore, I could pretendBut now I Am out in the openAll they doIs touchAnd screamAnd talk aboutEach other.All I ever hearIs screaming.I regretTrusting it wouldWork outBut at le.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128966/ “Nox, you just missed London!” “Did I?” “Yeah, she was just here to check in on us.” “Huh. Did she say anything new?” “Nope, just asked if we were doing okay. She really wanted to make sure you weren’t sad or upset here or anything.”.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128876/ Walking through the bright, deafening hall, I feel sort of relieved. Finally, I can simply go back to sitting at my post, I can go back to visiting Aesop and Vulpis, I can go back to not thinking about the madness behind these doors.  Every door I pass, I remember the poor soul trapped behind.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128874/ “London! Hey, we were just talking about you!” “Hello, Elli. Where is Nox?” “She’s sleeping right now, she was getting a little tired.” “Alright. How have things been since my last visit?” “Oh, fine, I guess. We just sit around and talk a .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128811/ Sitting near the gate,Watching closely The road is Wild and windingAnd there are weeds In the crevices.The wind cariesA cruel chillAnd the air is oldAnd there, Sitting at the Edge of the worldIs a ravenStanding guard.Silent and stonyFeathered and lonelyThe raven has been&nbs.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128810/ Lilly used to visit every day. She would look for him, call out his name, cry for her brother. Now, she hardly ever has the time. She has a house, a husband, a life.  She has almost completely moved on. She has accepted the stories whispered around her, that he ran away, that he got lost in th.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128808/ The Ant Hill, the Pork Farm. all names I’ve made up for their rooms. Aesop’s room doesn’t have a name, because he’s still sane. He’s in one of the few rooms left that I don’t dread visiting. One after the other, I enter, then I leave. Everyone goes mad here. Eve.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128671/ “Nox, don’t you think it’s a little weird that we haven’t seen the Lady in such a long time?” “What lady?” “You know, the Lady. I forgot her name. She shows up sometimes, and just stares at us for a bit, then leaves. She always looks so sad.” &l.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128669/ I don’t remember Helen ever losing her mind. For most, there is a breaking point. There is a moment that flips a switch, there is a flash of light before the deafening dark. Not for Helen. Hers was a slow, measured descent. In the beginning, I think I even had hope that maybe, just maybe, she.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128668/ Pigs will eat anything.What's for dinner?Gluttony, gluttony, greed and pride.Helen doesn’t like Pork.Pigs will eat anything.Pork is for dinner.Gluttony, sloth, gluttony.Helen, eat your dinner.Pigs will eat anything.The Pork isn’t cooked right.Wrath, gluttony, wrathHelen is sickPigs will .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128542/ Pigs will eat anything. What's for dinner? Gluttony, gluttony, greed and pride. Helen doesn’t like Pork. Pigs will eat anything. Pork is for dinner. Gluttony, sloth, gluttony. Helen, eat your dinner. Pigs will eat anything. The Pork isn’t cooked right. Wrath, gluttony, wrath Helen is s.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128541/ “What was the grass like, Nox?” “It was kinda itchy.” “Oh, come one, it couldn’t have been that bad.” “I mean, I didn’t hate it. It was pretty to look at. It was a cheerful color.” “What color was the grass?” “Green.&rdqu.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128540/ Salli went mad very long ago. Most of the people stuck in here do.  She fashioned herself a little valley, so small and so dry. She spends her days killing ants at her feet.  I tried speaking to her once, long ago, and she just turned and tried to catch me the way she catches the ants. Wh.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128539/ One after the other,  Flames and dirt. Blazing sun, dialed down. Sinister, viscous smile On the lips of  God. Scuttling, scared, The ants go about  Their duties and  Pray that  God. Doesn’t take much notice. In one hand, a doll. In the other, glass. The doll, for comf.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128381/ Once every year, I check in on all of my charges. It’s not a pleasant time, but it must be done. I see Aesop nearly every day, so I don’t really need to visit him.  So first, I visit the Ant Hill.  http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128380/ Foxes hunt rabbits And rabbits run to hide Foxes nip at dogs And dogs wither and cry Foxes chase birds But birds can leap and fly But foxes never pay any mind To the butterflies http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128379/ God, I can’t get the smellOf pool off my skin.My nose is going deafAnd my arms can’t feel no more.I scrub at the purple stainsIn the tub, myEyes drawn to the purpleBlotch in the crookOf my elbow.No one else bruisedQuite as bad as I did.I used to worry that I’d never bruise.Now It w.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128243/ If he had to go court these actionsI would be on the standI would be called to testifyHis love burned into my handI would tell them withEvery fiber of bodyEvery blood I've lostEvery tears I've droppedAnd i would tell themWithout a doubtThat the man is guiltyFrom love to nothingFrom promises to bluff.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3128166/ “We should decide real rules. We should have real rules.”“No. Then we can only play one game.”“But we’ll be playing a real game. I think it would be more fun, you know? You always, always win. But only because you change the rules mid game. And then you get mad wh.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3127834/ This is a song that I wrote while not paying attention in math class a couple of months ago. It's about someone I used to be best friends with. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3127830/ Winter is cold and cruel and so Unbelievably beautiful. Snow and Sunlight,Small delightsSprinkled among the Storms and wind’s blowsWhen you are inside, you can see the outside and appreciate the warmth.When outside, you look in and revel in the skyAnd the hard dirtAnd the w.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3127737/ The fox and the muttOne snapping at the other’s heelThe fox leaps, he yelps and he killsThe mutt whines and slouchesThe fox is the skyThe mutt is the mountainThe sky wails, it blasts, it beats the mountain’s sideThe mountain is dug in,It is chainedIt is leashedThe mountain isWa.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3127735/ Grass. And trees. And butterflies.A sky so blue, it looks like the ones you’d see in picture books.And butterflies.A family of birds, riding the winds, serenading the valley from dawn till dusk.And butterflies.Rabbits, brown and black, white and grey. Spotted, speckled, striped.Clovers and dan.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3127733/ “Nox, do you really never have dreams?”“No, never.”“That sounds so boring. How come you always want to sleep, then?”“I don’t know. I’m just tired all the time. I think that if I sleep a lot, then maybe some day I won’t feel as sleepy.&rdquo.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3127727/ The fox and the muttOne snapping at the other’s heelThe fox leaps, he yelps and he killsThe mutt whines and slouchesThe fox is the skyThe mutt is the mountainThe sky wails, it blasts, it beats the mountain’s sideThe mountain is dug in,It is chainedIt is leashedThe mountain isWa.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3127603/ “You should ask her for a book.”Aesop looks up from the cards, puzzled. “Why would I ask London for a book?”Vulpis fidgets at the edges of the cards, frayed and weathered from all of the worrying and fretting. Aesop doesn’t like that he messes with the cards.“I th.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3127602/ “Is blunderous a word?”“I don’t know. It doesn't sound like one.”“But blunder is a word. And, you can add -ous to words. Tremendous. Horrendous. Treacherous. So, shouldn’t blunderous work?”“Those are mostly bad words. They’re all sad words... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3127414/ “I’m just saying, it’s an odd name.”“Well, I’m sorry, Vulpis, but I was having a really bad day, the day I named you.”“I know, Aesop. But, couldn’t you change it now? To something more, you know, normal?”“No. I like Vulpis.”&ldq.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3127412/ Aesop is sleeping. He has played his final game of the day, and he has shut his eyes, and he has curled up with his Lilly Doll, and he is breathing slow and deep.Vulpis is not asleep. Even though the lights in this plain room have dimmed, and even though it is finally quiet, his eyes are open wide.H.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3127283/ Grass. And trees. And butterflies.A sky so blue, it looks like the ones you’d see in picture books.And butterflies.A family of birds, riding the winds, serenading the valley from dawn till dusk.And butterflies.Rabbits, brown and black, white and grey. Spotted, speckled, striped.Clovers and dan.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3127111/ “London, has Lilly come looking yet this week?” I sigh. “No, Aesop. I’m sorry.” The poor boy tears up, slouching back in his chair and covering his face in his hands. No matter how many years he stays, he never looks any older than the day he arrived. His hair doesn&rs.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3127110/ “Hey, Nox, could you play some music?” “No, I’m not really in the mood.” “Oh. Well, can you tell me a story?” “No, Elli, I don’t want to tell you a story.” “Oh. Are we just gonna sit all day, then?” “Yes, that was my plan.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3126690/ Aesop thinks that Vulpis is just being a big baby. Last night, they went to bed extra early because Vulpis kept on saying he was so super tired, and same with the night before. Every time Aesop wants to do something, Vulpis is tired. Every time he wants to play a game, Vulpis is hungry. Every time .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3126450/ “Aesop, can we go to bed soon? I’m getting sort of tired.” “But that’s too boring! No, I wanna keep playing cards.” “We can play cards any other day! Why’s it gotta be right now? I’m terrible at this game, and you know it-” “Vulpis, .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3126444/ “Elli, you should really go to bed soon.” “Oh, yeah. I guess you’re right… but I’m just not very tired. Do you think maybe we could do something first? Before bed? To make me tired?” “No, Elli. I’m already falling asleep… you should just.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3126442/ A collection of stories, conversations, and scattered thoughts. This story takes place in a void, it has connections to the outside world but is insulated and self sustaining. Everyone stuck inside http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3126441/ I think I’m going insaneBecause when I look outsideAnd see the skyAnd the fire that is rainingNo one else can see itI think I am losing my mindBecause the floor is wet andMy hands are coldAnd I can’t sleepUnless the fan is onI think I’m crossing a lineSurely I’ve gone too far.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3126310/ How much have I spent this yearTrying to fix it?Jesus, half of my salary on this vet bill.What's the point?Bet it won’ t even survivePast Christmas.Weeks of work, down the drainTo fix itsDragging tailand back painIt’s rusty criesIt’s muddles mainNeutered it first,Then I took its cl.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3125850/ God knows that the world is wobblyGod knows that the wheat is wiltingGod knows that the seas are risingGod knows that the future seems bleakI think about those in the streetsAnd I worry for the cold and windI wonder how long they’ve been out thereI cry for how hard it’s beenGod knows tha.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/chickenfishen/3125849/