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101 Word Short Stories

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The Black Cab

June 15, 2023 12 Comments

By Fionntán Macdonald

The black cab rests in the driveway, still as a grave.

It’s quiet now, cold. Colour faded. Pistons still. It never roared, but once it purred.

It’s silent now. It carried them through the city, through the fire. Through the hail of bottles, bricks, bullets, bombs, and the rain.

It’s still now, the city. The black cab rests.

The black-clad figures walk from the house. The box rests on their backs. They carry him to a hearse the same colour as the cab he used to make purr. He doesn’t drive; he rides now.

The last ride he will take.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Andre Bergeron says

    June 15, 2023 at 6:16 am

    Wow. Quite evocative. Beautiful and fittingly spare.

    Reply
    • Fionntan Macdonald says

      June 21, 2023 at 3:56 pm

      Thank you so much for commenting! I’m so glad the piece made an impression on you

      Reply
  2. Cathryn says

    June 15, 2023 at 7:06 pm

    Hello Fionntán,

    Perfectly crafted; every word has a role and conveys mood and substance.

    Reply
    • Fionntan Macdonald says

      June 21, 2023 at 3:57 pm

      Thank you so much! This piece is quite personal to me and I agonised over each syllable so it’s wonderful to know it was worthwhile.

      Reply
  3. Heather Haigh says

    June 16, 2023 at 2:28 am

    So much conveyed with so few words. Very nicely done.

    Reply
    • Fionntan Macdonald says

      June 21, 2023 at 3:59 pm

      Thank you for saying so, I love micropoetry and microfiction and hope to write much more!

      Reply
  4. Pamela Cartlidge says

    June 22, 2023 at 3:31 am

    Poignant! I loved the alliteration.

    Reply
    • Fionntan Macdonald says

      June 28, 2023 at 8:14 am

      Thank you so much for your engagement! I’m so glad you enjoyed it

      Reply
  5. Jennifer J. says

    June 22, 2023 at 2:22 pm

    Beautiful!

    Reply
    • Fionntan Macdonald says

      June 28, 2023 at 8:15 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  6. Kelly Louisa Balliu says

    June 27, 2023 at 8:41 am

    I actually found this really sad..

    A super evocative piece.

    Reply
    • Fionntan Macdonald says

      June 28, 2023 at 8:16 am

      I’m happy to have inspired an emotion in someone with my writing,
      even sadness. Thank you so much for commenting!

      Reply

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