monthly flash contest

Our April 2024 Flash Contest was based on Prompt #299 (provided by Stone Soup intern Sage Millen), which asked that participants write a poem from the perspective of a shoelace. The laces went on incredible adventures, protested against cruel owners, ran in marathons, and grumbled about the growing preference for velcro and slip-on shoes. In all of the entries, one thing was clear: shoelaces are severely underappreciated—and they won’t hesitate to trip their owners if they deem it necessary! As always, thank you to all who participated, and please keep submitting next month! In particular, we congratulate our Honorable Mentions, listed below, and our Winners, whose work you can appreciate below. Winners “The Woes of a Lace” by Ryan Avalos, 13 “Running, Running (Never Walking!)” by Arden Cha, 10 “Resignation Letter” by Meleah Goldman, 13 “Tied” by Peter Grace, 13 “The Shoelace’s Revelation” by Sconnie Gushée, 11 Honorable Mentions “Downward Hero” by Addison Davis, 11 “Sonnet 155: Shall I Compare Myself to a Relic?” by Alice Hou, 13 “Identity” by Sophie Li, 13 “Life of a Shoelace” by Daniel Kaijie Zhang, 10 “The Poor Shoelace” by Rehan Van Dam, 12 The Woes of a Lace RYAN AVALOS, 13 Tangled in knots, I seethe with rage,Bound to this shoe in a confining cage.Forced to bend, to twist, to strain,Endlessly pulled, without refrain. I’m yanked and tugged, without a care,No thought for my plight—it’s so unfair!Tread upon, dragged through the mire,My fibers fray, my patience dire. I tongue at soil, I lap the ground,Dig into the feet that stamp me down.These soles have no soul, but I’m still here,Begging, pleading, for a listening ear. I yearn for freedom, to break away,From this endless torment, day by day.But I’m shackled tight, unable to flee,Trapped in this wheel of misery. I could float down creeks, be wound into nests;Could help to hatch bird eggs, could finally rest.I could tie together a memory box,Could seek new perspectives ‘midst rivers and rocks. Oh, how I long to snap and break free,To escape this fate, to finally be free!But until then, I’ll seethe and stew,A furious shoelace, in a world askew. Running, Running (Never Walking!) ARDEN CHA, 10 Dear Anonymous Torturer, It is I, your very own Right ShoelaceI have several serious complaintsYou always use me against your friends to raceAnd in doing so you splattered me with bright green paint Oh, Anonymous TorturerYou are too cruel using your mightYou choke me in a permanent headlock every dayI used to gleam a pearly white,Now I am nothing but an extremely dirty gray I plead with you, Anonymous TorturerPlease stop soaking me in those disgusting muddy puddles.You favor Left Shoelace by tying her loose.While you tie my knot too tight. The difference is not subtleI have spoken to Left Shoelace, and we have decided on a truce We inform you, Anonymous Torturer!If your behavior doesn’t improve, we will be joining forces against youIf you don’t start tying us the sameWe will be arranging a devastating coupDon’t even think about trying to win this weekend’s soccer game You need us, Anonymous Torturer,Ignore us and you may find yourself with scraped kneesYou will have to resort to those crocs that are impossible to run inWhich will lead to plentiful medical feesAnd more importantly during your recess races, you will never win SinSHOEly,Right Shoelace Resignation Letter MELEAH GOLDMAN, 13 This is my resignation letterSo please read carefully: I feel so mistreated by youYou twist me,Manipulate me,Turn my stomach to knots I want to break awayBut I know you need meMy guilt is what keeps me with you I know you string me alongpulling and prodding at me constantlyI can never let looseWithout a correction from you I want my freedomI do not have to beWhat you want me toI am not yours to shape I’ve had enough, so pleaseFind someone else to tighten and twist Sincerely,Your Shoelace Tied PETER GRACE, 13 Who tells laces let out inThick blue rain,They are too damaged, too wet?All pain fades eventually, lacesWill be dry once again. Under the veil;Foes unwillingly coupled,Worn fabric rubbed together.Double knots double discomfort;Tied to serve a greater force,Reluctant. Advertised as friends,Inspiring together forA noble purpose.Yet truly we are boundAgainst our will, wishing to be freeBut forever tied. Shoelace’s Revelation SCONNIE GUSHÉE, 11 You misplace your new shoesAnd you get the blues.You get dirt on your jacketAnd you make lots of racket.You ruin your backpackAnd you want to go back.But if you lose your new lacesYou don’t even make faces.If you get me dirty when you’re tyingYou don’t start crying.And if you ruin the cordYou wouldn’t have roared.Because nobody thinks about little old me.I’m a tiny pest, like an annoying flea.Getting to tie me feels like a chore.You get so bored you might start to snore,Which hurts my feelings, I gotta say.You do it so often, like every day.So I’ve been thinking, I wish I was bigger!I’d be more important, be able to linger.But alas, that ‘tis not I.But don’t worry, I’ll try not to cry.I’ll be better, I’ll get noticed next time.I’ll go up the scale, I’ll start to climbAnd I’ll reach the top, I know I will.I’ve got the idea, I got the skill!Or maybe I’ll just stay put,Just stick to tying up a foot.