Strikethrough Key

Needless to say, I’ve been buried in revisions with my novel, Fascination, which is due to my editor by mid-August, and so I apologize to all my friends for neglecting my duties as host. If I missed your pen last week, please message me a reminder.

This Petite Pen is a bit different as it was written for a contest on AllPoetry that asked for 50 words or less using the word “Scrutiny.” I’ve added in a painting by Edward Burne-Jones that might also spark some reflection. If you feel inspired to pen some brevity that takes a long hard look, be sure to ping back this post so that all can enjoy your introspection.

Happy Tuesday!

Strikethrough Key

Scrutiny,
the strikethrough key,
cut in half paragraphs,
a katana reading.
“Trim the fat,”
but the backstory’s sizzling,
the meaty aroma
of fresh pound keys.
I diet on bisected phrasing,
learn to ‘kill my darlings,’
pull the pretty weeds.
Treasure the pleasure
and the pain
of cleaved creativity.
Scrutiny.

WC: 50

Petite Pen~Misky
ImaginedSpace.~Writing Whatnots

17 responses to “Strikethrough Key”

Narayan Kaudinya

Lovely !

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you. I wield a heavy sword today.
  
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Tom

A great description of proof-editing. Some vivid imagery here, K – suits the subject 🙂 Good luck with it all!

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thanks, Tom. I appreciate your well wishes. The end is in sight, which keeps me plugging away at it. 😊
  
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  1. Tom
    
    I know the feeling 🙂 it’s that last 10% that’s always hardest to wrap up, because you have to tell yourself it’s all complete & can’t be improved anymore. I’m sure it’ll be a wonderful book! ❤
    
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  2. K.Hartless
    
    Time to burn the reserve energy and cross the finish line. Thanks for cheering me on, Tom. 💜
    
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  3. Tom
    
    You got this, gurl! *waves pompoms*
    
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Carolyn Crossley VixenOfVerse

Great description of editing. Good luck with it all. ❌❤

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you, Carolyn. I appreciate that very much.
  
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  1. Carolyn Crossley VixenOfVerse
    
    You are welcome. ❌❤❌
    
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Jeff Flesch

Scrutiny lies
in the eyes of the beholder
may we be bolder
than before
taking a pause, and a breathe
to consider circumstance
and
the relation between
you and me, and the seen
and unseen
a mystery
Scrutiny.

Your poem made me smile deeply. I loved it, and then penned mine. So much fun, K. 💜

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1. K.Hartless
  
  You capture that reflective instinct we have to really look at something not just glance it. In this case, there is not just a visual connection but a spiritual one. I love this. 💜How lucky am I to have you pen these brevity pieces alongside me? Thank you, Jeff.😌
  
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  1. Jeff Flesch
    
    Thank you kindly, K. 💜 It’s such a pleasure to write with you. Each and every time. 😌
    
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writingwhatnots

Great image of the author slicing and shaping -I imagined a butcher’s shop lined with fat sheaves of paper. I so enjoy reading your Petite Pens, they encapsulate life so vividly.

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you, Marion. I enjoy your brevity as well. The strikethrough key. I love it as I cross things off my list, but it also feels sad to see sentences sliced that way in a story or flash. It is a bit like a butcher shop around here lately. Let’s hope I’m leaving the prime meat. 😉
  
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  1. writingwhatnots
    
    I’m sure you are ☺️
    
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Cindy Georgakas

This was a gem of a poem K and love your reflections in your poetry as you tackle yor novel!
love it!
💖

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