Chasing Lions
Intro: up to 50 words (delete this text and enter your own)
The Christians are chasing lions with God on their lips and spite in their hearts.
Yesterday the overran downtown, suffering massive casualties in the process.
I admire their zeal.
I admire their singleminded passion.
But I cannot join their ranks.
The lions meanwhile are back in the jungle-licking their wounds.
Word has it their leader is dead, victim of a landmine.
But this has yet to be confirmed, the details remain sketchy.
Maybe a rumour, maybe a fact.
I like their style.
I like their commitment.
But I cannot be a lion.
Last night I was ordered to choose.
Christian or lion, take your pick.
As I could not decide they took me away.
Away to the Coliseum.
To await my fate.
It shouldn’t take long.
Sadly, the “Not sure” button. But I have no competence in judging poems.
I am a bit confused by this: it has been categorised as ‘flash fiction’ but it may be construed as poetry, perhaps even prose poetry.
The label is immaterial as it doen’t get my vote. Sorry.
I agree with Ionicus; to me it was more of a poem than prose (though you could argue that it’s an unimportant distinction. ) I thought it was interesting but didn’t quite “get” it.