While some may point out the similarities to the 12 Days of Christmas, they are way off base.
"Bird" + "ring" = birdring, which is a clear reference to cockfighting. "Colly" is the nickname of Cauliflower, the arch rival in the cockfighting world to the Kale Fields team. They "sent" a challenge (in the form of fried chicken wings), and now all of Carkoon is atitter with anticipation of the match.
"Sent" threw me. Is that in the 12 Days of Christmas? Something's afoot here, but I don't know what. Christmas in the Amazon era, where nothing is given, everything is sent?
french ... I wouldn't be surprised if it's in our attic. My husband was a musician in NYC years before I met him and collected a lot of "serious vinyl" back in the day.
It seems that in the original version of the 12 Days of Christmas song, the "calling birds" were actually "colly birds"--pronounced "coally" given their back color. Giving QOTKU the credit for knowing this kind of thing, I'm going with the 12 Days of Christmas connection.
Personally, I think the theme of the contest has remained unchanged from the beginning - How to Torment Writers. And especially because my original word list was NOT used - the, an, it, was, said.
It is another rip off of The Lord of the Rings. Lord Smaug was contemplating the ring when a colly bird stole it. He sent his minions after it. They used a series of bribes to find it. The rest is history as told in the 12 days.
By the way, King Cauliflower started as a cover band for King Crimson. They realized their mistake when they redid The Court of the Crimson King as the court of the Cauliflower King. It didn't even work on Carkoon.
The theme eludes me, but not the brilliance of the finalists. Somehow I missed the posts yesterday, but congrats to those mentioned for rounds 2 and 3. I'm really looking forward to the theme reveal, and the final final results!
Now, back to my regularly scheduled caffeine consumption. It's raining cats and dogs in San Francisco today.
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While some may point out the similarities to the 12 Days of Christmas, they are way off base.
ReplyDelete"Bird" + "ring" = birdring, which is a clear reference to cockfighting. "Colly" is the nickname of Cauliflower, the arch rival in the cockfighting world to the Kale Fields team. They "sent" a challenge (in the form of fried chicken wings), and now all of Carkoon is atitter with anticipation of the match.
"Sent" threw me. Is that in the 12 Days of Christmas? Something's afoot here, but I don't know what. Christmas in the Amazon era, where nothing is given, everything is sent?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteDid someone get a copy of The Complete Live Performances On Savoy with Charlie Parker At Storyville?
serious vinyl...I know it's on CD.
I like Forti's explanation.
ReplyDeleteI stand corrected. Original words said "sent," not "gave." I never sang it that way. But, I never sang "colly birds," either.
ReplyDeletefrench ... I wouldn't be surprised if it's in our attic. My husband was a musician in NYC years before I met him and collected a lot of "serious vinyl" back in the day.
ReplyDeleteColly bird sent ring.
ReplyDeleteNo? The theme isn't just a scramble of the prompt words? Well then I got nothing
Bowing to Forti on this one. I was convinced that this contest was writer torment in its purest form.
ReplyDeleteHa! I like Forti's explanation.
ReplyDeleteOr could it have been references about canaries sent down in a coal mine with the miners?
Or..or...could it be, it's about a heist for the ring that would rule us all?
ReplyDeleteKitty: Some of those treasures, could indeed be treasures. Enjoy them.
Lisa: Maybe it was "The gift of the Magi Miner?"
It seems that in the original version of the 12 Days of Christmas song, the "calling birds" were actually "colly birds"--pronounced "coally" given their back color. Giving QOTKU the credit for knowing this kind of thing, I'm going with the 12 Days of Christmas connection.
ReplyDelete"back" = "black" of course. Did I mention how much I hate writing on my phone?
ReplyDeleteAlso, up until the 20th century, the gifts were "sent" not given.
DeleteI got nothin'... I, too, shall bow to Forti.
ReplyDeleteColin, My brain corrected the word back to black in your first comment. Some editor I'D be...HA! More coffee.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think the theme of the contest has remained unchanged from the beginning - How to Torment Writers. And especially because my original word list was NOT used - the, an, it, was, said.
I think Colin might be on to something here... Or Steve, of course. King Cauliflower is hot stuff in Carkoon these days.
ReplyDeleteCarkoon has two or three suns... plus a couple of backups just in case. So everything's hot stuff there. ☺
ReplyDeleteColin! Did you just use an emoji? It's a whole new world. Next contest: emoji prompts?
ReplyDeleteThat's about the only advantage to using my phone to comment--I can use emojis ☺😆😈. Other than that, it sucks.
ReplyDeleteWhat Dena said.
ReplyDeleteTheme? 12 days of Christmas of course.
ReplyDeleteKathy Joyce: Please don't encourage her with the torment of an emojis flash fiction contest.
Let's see 4 emojis as prompts...no, too easy.
I know; a 100 emoji story!!!!!
I feel a headache coming on.....
It is another rip off of The Lord of the Rings. Lord Smaug was contemplating the ring when a colly bird stole it. He sent his minions after it. They used a series of bribes to find it. The rest is history as told in the 12 days.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, King Cauliflower started as a cover band for King Crimson. They realized their mistake when they redid The Court of the Crimson King as the court of the Cauliflower King. It didn't even work on Carkoon.
OBVIOUSLY the theme is Dragons. Again.
ReplyDelete-Always a joy finding another obsessor!
The theme eludes me, but not the brilliance of the finalists. Somehow I missed the posts yesterday, but congrats to those mentioned for rounds 2 and 3. I'm really looking forward to the theme reveal, and the final final results!
ReplyDeleteNow, back to my regularly scheduled caffeine consumption. It's raining cats and dogs in San Francisco today.