I have promises to keep.
My little horse just needs some rest. I feed him oats. I listen to his voice.
My horse, we still have miles to go before it’s time to sleep.
It’s getting dark, but how could you know that properties belongs to someone else. To someone who dislikes us passing through.
I have promises to keep.
My little horse you are my friend, not like my wife who left and whose footsteps we have followed here.
My shotgun is my friend, and revenge is almost mine.
We have miles to go before we catch the bitch.
The first I thought about when I saw the picture was Robert Frost’s poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. I have always wondered why he would be out and sneaking past the village with his horse so I added a sinister twist to the narrative.
Friday Fictioneers is run by the skilled author Rochelle Wisoff-Fields who selects the picture and set the bar (high). We mere mortals follow and do our best to come up with a 100 word story.
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December 14, 2016
Björn Rudbergs writings 
There’s almost a nursery rhyme quality to this that makes his murderous intent almost dreamlike
Interesting … Frost’s poem has that dreamlike quality… so I guess it seeps through
I am cracking up over you calling it “my little horse” and feeding it oats. 🙂 The shotgun euphemism is probably better. It sounds like you’re going to show her who’s boss by ravaging her. But I’ve probably got it all wrong.
Clever how you tucked away that hidden “b itch.”
Ha.. I just used the great Frost poem and twisted it a bit(ch)….
Ha ha. Well good for you. 🙂
Well, that certainly took a dark turn!
Our winter nights are very dark…
I love that Frost poem – and the version Eric Whitacre set to music. Was listening to it earlier today, in fact. You’ve certainly put a new spin on it for me with this deceptively simple piece!
It’s one my favorite poems as well… I didn’t want to kill it, but sometimes there is a bad part of me acting on myself.
Interesting to relate it to Frost. It blends as you’ve intended. Sometimes the resolve to seek justice can be very intimidating
Hank
Justice, revenge or plain bullying… i guess it’s a matter of who’s view you take.
A clever, and unnerving piece. Well done, Bjorn.
Unnerving indeed.
Sinister take on the prompt and the poem, great character voice and a good twist. Well done.
Ha.. yes it’s fun to take something sweet and turn it sinister.
Giddy-up. You’ll catch her.
Indeed… but first I must enjoy the hunt.
Goodness me, so many killings among the fictioneers this week. Will there be anyone left to write about next week, or will all the authors be behind bars?!
Maybe not a killing yet… she can probably be convinced to come back
It started out quite sweet which made the last line even more hard hitting. Nice one!
That’s what a twist is… you never see a dagger before you feel it.
I recognized the Robert Frost line. I was quite moved, then you killed it with that last line. I have plenty of ammo, if you need some.
That is what I hoped. If you recognize it immediately it’s even more effective.
Robt. Frost is one of my favorite American poets.
Dear Björn,
Now that was Frost with a murderous touch of poetic justice. Love it. Very clever, sir.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Justice served with force… 🙂
Oh dear oh dear.
The first line gave me a false sense of good tidings.
Comfort can be lulling.
Most unnerving…. You set us off so gently
I love to start gently… catch you unaware.
And you do!
Not what I was expecting. Quite a jolt…
Ha.. yes sometimes you have to jolt a bit.
I was holding my breath all the way through this fearing for his beloved horse.
The horse is quite safe… it’s the eloped wife i would care for
I’m more worried about horse!
Great stuff, Bjorn.
But why not an axe?
Too messy… shotgun goes quicker.
But I might settle for a buzz-saw
i hope he asks first before he shoots her. 🙂
She just might follow him back to their little dark and lonesome shack
Quite the sinister twist, indeed. I hope he doesn’t find her. Violence is not the answer, no matter what she did.
I agree… and just maybe the horse will kick his butt
Oh dear! This started out so poetic and then you hit me with that ending!
The end always hits hard
I get that he’s a bit upset. Quite a dark ominous piece of poetry you’ve written, Bjorn. I would enjoy reading more.
Isadora 😎
I think he gets lost in the wilderness and freeze to death. His wife comes back and saves the horse.
Nice twist!
I like that poem too.
One of my favorite poems.
Wow, the end leaves no doubt!
Maybe there’s still some hope…
Whoa, that started so peaceful and lovely and what an ending. I can see the madness shine out of this man’s eyes. Great twisting of the poem, Björn.
The mystery of going through the woods in the evening has always made me wonder.
Nice way to end on a frosty note 🙂
Ha. Nice or maybe worse.
Bitterness at its best!
Crazy bitter maybe
Well done!
Thank you
He’s in no mood for mercy and going to great lengths for revenge. He must really hate her
Or he just feels like she is a possession
Of course, he might be intending to kill the “bitch” (after seeing to his itch), and then kill the horse, and finally himself! But probably he intends to tie her up in an old sack, so the poor horse will die of exhaustion having to carry the warring couple back home. Either way, I’m feeling the most sorry for the horse D:
Well done. An excellent take on the Robert Frost poem.
I memorized this poem as a child, and still say it to my kids, so many times when we’re in the forest. Love it. You have taken this to such a very different and dark place, Björn; I love it!
It’s one of the most loved poem ever, and I hope it’s not been destroyed for you.
NEVER! You really showed some brilliant twists and turns of phrases though.
I love that poem and all of its mystery, and I love the way you wrote your version of its story