bioflash: "Aroma Acupuncture"

The night Gerald the groundskeeper got fired from the zoo—“you’re overstressed,” his boss claimed—he decided to have some fun. Laughing with glee, he put hedgehogs with hippos, pit vipers with snow leopards, and naked mall rats in the leech pond. Peacocks got plucked by squirrel monkeys. Cheetahs and sloths changed their perception of time. The black panther knocked Emperor penguins around like bowling pins.

Gerald’s comeuppance finally arrived—never was there a more reluctant convert to Chinese medicine—when he got caught in the porcupine and hog-nosed skunk crossfire.

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More bioflash here!

One more pat on the back...

bioflash: "Bartleby's Return"

“You could flip burgers at McDonalds.”

“I would prefer not to.”

“My stag, this weekend, in Vegas!”

“I would prefer not to.”

“We can smoke in this strip club.”

“I would prefer not to.”

“Bottled water—half price at Walmart!”

“Britney’s singing on Broadway!”

“Our special today: no fat, ginger, grande chai latte with whipped soy milk.”

“Having an iphone makes everything easier.”

“The season finale of Survivor: Timbuktu is starting!”

“I would prefer not to.”

“Want to lead a simple life where your actions inspire community and growth?”

“That, I would prefer.”

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Bioflash found here!

Farewell, Paddy

Paddy (aka Paddykins or Padwon),

You were an old girl when I met you. Yet unforgettably cute and feisty with an indomitable spirit--and appetite. Your teeth were few but your experiences were many. I remember the time when our daily ritual involved me writing 2,000 words and taking you for an afternoon walk in Mokpo, South Korea. We managed 76,000 words worth of walks. I still recall the Koreans who were curious about you. You diverted attention from my long hair and beard to your white curls and adorable snout. The locals who tried to pet you didn't realize you weren't one to mess with. I can hardly blame you for snapping at them--I'd probably do the same if a stranger thrust their fingers in my face. You knew how to keep your boundaries, a lesson I'm still learning. Despite your size, you were the alpha-dog, keeping Xuxa (and Luna) in line.

Our adventures were many. That time we snuck you onto a bus, and didn't get caught until we arrived at the airport. Hiking around Alexander Falls on my birthday, carrying you in a bag over my shoulder. The low tide walk just outside White Rock. You made it all the way out to the marker (although you refused to go on another walk for days afterward).

Even though you could be a curmudgeon, you made your way into my heart. I miss you, Paddy.

Bioflash: "Water"

One oxygen atom and a pair of hydrogen.

Sparkling dew on a garden leaf.

Gentle rain casting circles on a lily pond.

The floating prism twisting colours into a rainbow.

Lenticular clouds capping a mountain range.

A billion individual crystal snowflakes.

Glaciers glowing blue as the ocean deep.

A river carving boulder into pebble.

A waterfall shedding mist as clouds of heaven.

A lake swimming with fins and fish.

An icicle dripping its liquid body into a driveway puddle.

White breath on a cold morning.

The well from which life sprang.

One oxygen atom and a pair of hydrogen.

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Bioflash found here!

Penticton: a poem

You can read, comment and vote for my poem, "Penticton", at the following location:

http://www.everydaypoets.com/penticton-by-lee-beavington

Cheers,
Lee

Wow!

Wednesday night, the Kwantlen Writers' Guild held their annual reading event, and also announced the winners of the creative writing contest. I entered two poems, and one piece for nonfiction and fiction, in hopes of placing in one of the three categories.

Beforehand, I was a little nervous about getting up to read in front of the 40 or 50 people present. So when my friend Tanya arrived, she promptly suggested that we dance in the corner where the music was coming from. Not a bad way to shake the nerves (despite being stared at by everyone in the room!)

My parents were also there. Reading three of my bioflash went fine, and after several other readings Sheila Hancock, the outgoing chair of the Creative Writing department, announced the winners of the contest.

"The judging was blind," she assured everyone. "For poetry, first place goes to Lee Beavington."

Needless to say, I was quite surprised. Poetry isn't my strongest suit, and I had just heard some very strong poets, such as Karen Ezra, give stellar readings of their work. Up I went to shake Sheila's hand and get a copy of the Kwantlen Writers' Guild journal, in which my poem appears.

Second and third place for poetry were announced, and then on to nonfiction. "In second place we have...Lee Beavington!"

Up I went again. Then fiction came, in which I held little hope, as I had submitted a fantasy-flavoured piece, and I assumed the journal catered to what some consider to be "literary". Sheila called out the winners.

"First place goes to Lee Beavington!"

Flabbergasted by this point, I went up and proceeded to apologize to the crowd. My current creative writing instructor (Aislinn Hunter--big thanks to her for organizing the event) called out: "Lee slept with all the judges!"

The annual creative writing scholarship went to my talented classmate Angela Kenyon (who also placed second in the poetry category). Congrats to her! Before they announced the winner of the scholarship, a short piece was read about each applicant, including me. My teacher, Zoe Landale, wrote the following, which was read by the incoming chair (and inspirational teacher galore) Ross Laird:

Lee Beavington is a writer with courage. Getting to the places which resonate with readers requires going deep into the places where we ourselves are uncertain, and shadows leap high on the cave walls. Lee is a person who cares about stories. He also has a great work ethic and goes back over and over his writing until it fairly gleams.

I've been beaming since last night.