Six-word stories: Share with the IJ a short tale of what feels like poetry
“You are old, Father William,” the young man said/ And your hair has become very white/ And yet you incessantly stand on your head/ Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
It’s a poem I grew up with, thanks to my father who loved poetry and often recited poems, especially this one — written by Lewis Carroll and featured in his 1865 book “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”
Since April is National Poetry Month, let’s talk about what you consider poetry — in six words. Your story doesn’t have to be about an actual poem or a poet, although it can. It can also be an experience that feels like poetry to you. For me, that would mean being in the wilderness.
Please make it a story with a beginning, middle and end — not six adjectives, not a cliche and not advice.
If you want your story to run in the IJ, please:
• Write “Six-word story” in the subject line
• Send one story. Just one
• Include your full name and Marin town in the body of the email, no attachments
• Write your short story in the body of the email
• Use proper punctuation and spelling
• Use sentence style in one line
• It does not need to rhyme and ideally shouldn’t
Send to lifestyles@marinij.com by 5 p.m. April 14 and look for it in the April 25 lifestyles section and online.