Sophistication At Its Finest

Winner & New Prompt Contest - Due Wednesday, August 13, 2025

40 Lines


INSIDE AN EVER-WIDENING
CIRCLE, BEHIND A WALL OF MOONS,
was a cocoon hanging from a branch,
ready for a gentle, calming, and graceful
butterfly to appear. Peace was in the air.
I could sense a world full of wonderful
characters, intelligent, brilliant, and
sophisticated.

ENCOMPASSED IN A STAR,
Sophistication was in its finest.
Silhouettes of higher-classed
people were expressing how
well their highly-fashioned
method of dressing compared
to the way the folks around town
were dressed. It went to their
heads; they thought they were
better than anyone else, but they
were still getting too big for their
britches. Sometimes, we couldn't
help but laugh, since they were so
elegant in the way they spoke. They
were too good for us. They became
very snooty, with what they would call
lowlifes. They were perfectionistic in
the way they talked and behaved.

Their mannerisms were so elegant; it made you
TERRIFIED OF THE SUN. Every move was
precisely exquisite; you had to stand up straight
and tall. Every breath had to be freshened with
expensive mouthwash, it appeared. One couldn't
walk in their footsteps, no siree!

In your own style and appearance; it made you
TERRIFIED OF THE SUN. Feeling good about
yourself was nonchalant.

ENCOMPASSED IN A STAR made you feel
aware of who you are. The star put its shining
light around you, saying that you're fine just
the way you are. The stars love you no matter
what you look like.


Written by Anna Marie Carlson
Preferred Author
Tuesday, August 12, 2025