The mountain’s lament – For Friday Fictioneers

· by · in flashfiction, Friday Fictioneers. ·


Sometimes I can still feel the acrid smell of burning flesh, and see the flames of God’s terrible wrath. I saw what happened on the day of desolation and heard our neighbor’s screams. Imprisoned in this rock of bitter salt, I saw my husband growing old, I saw my daughters incestuously plagued, but still this foundation of religious zeal. I’ve seen wars and persecutions. I’ve been a powerless observer of this world, where all of Sodom’s sins have since redoubled. I still regret, I still repent, for when I disobeyed and turned around, and forever parted with my husband Lot.

Copyright – Danny Bowman

Copyright – Danny Bowman


For me the image of Lot’s wife came immediately. And once an idea is stuck there’s no way back. I’m curious if anyone else came up with the same.

Friday Fictioneers is a wonderful group of bloggers who every week gather around the same picture and write a story of 100 words. Go to Rochelle‘s page for more info, and join if you like.
—


—
March 5, 2014

61 responses to “The mountain’s lament – For Friday Fictioneers”

  1. Very nicely done–I wouldn’t have ever thought to tell a story from Lot’s wife’s perspective post salt pillar.

  2. Bjorn, this is a beautiful prose poem. You might think of dropping Lot’s name at the end. I don’t think it is necessary and not having leaves the poem a much broader expansiveness. >KB

  3. Such a stroke of genius writing from Lot’s wife’s point of view. Pity she’s rarely credited with a name. I believe it may have been Adith or Irith. Very well done.

  4. Oh, very well-done, Bjorn! That Biblical story has so much to say for today, but no one ever looks at it from this perspective. So creative of you.

  5. I don’t think I’ve ever read something from Lot’s wife’s perspective. Very interesting take, darling.

  8. This was very unique and really well-written! At first I thought I was looking at some kind of post-apocalyptic/futuristic story, and when I hit the last line was like, “OH!” And I read it again and again. Never thought one could write something from Lot’s wife’s point of view—especially at that point in her life. You pulled it off with flair!

  11. Bjorn this was a terrific take. Lot’s wife didn’t occur to me but now after reading your story the salt pillar is all I see when I look at the photo.

  19. i was wondering if that was where you were going…very cool…ugh, imagine to have to watch now all your life, stuck inside that mountain which will out live us all…

  22. You saw what no one else saw until you pointed it out–now all we can see is the pillar of salt. Very well done, Bjorn, and you’ve told the story in just the right language.

  24. Ah, the pillar of salt. I don’t suppose it occurred to many of us that Lot’s wife felt or saw anything after being transformed like that. Now that I think of it, it s indeed a tragedy to end up that way. Creative take on the prompt, Bjorn!

  31. I enjoyed your story very much and it “prompted me to ponder” which I think is a gift. Kurt Vonnegut once described Lot’s wife as a very human character of the bible. 🙂

  38. Ever since I was a kid, I found the story quite haunting. Cities erased from the face of the earth and a loved one almost making it but turning into a pillar of salt… it will never cease to horrify me. brilliant take Björn. 🙂

  42. I think Lot’s wife was forgotten as a person because she was turned into an object lesson. Very sad. Nice take on this picture, though! You managed to turn her BACK into a person for us. 🙂

  45. So clever. This is such a great take and a compelling story. I feel sorry for Lot’s wife and all she had to witness.

  48. Heavy stuff, loved the biblical attachment 🙂 i apologize for my lateness haha it’s been an absolutely busy week.

Leave a reply to draliman Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.