by Kimberly Blackadar

Member since:
October 8, 2009

What is a Man? (SatWE, FWE, FFCC)

December 10, 2011 04:00 PM UTC

views: 0 | 14 people recommend this | comments: 48

What is a man?

A complement

to the other sex

and like two halves,

man and woman,

form a whole.

What is a man?

A competitive being

who strives to

run faster,

throw farther,

leap higher.

What is a man?

A smooth-tongued

predator who offers

delicious compliments

to impressionable ears.

What is a man?

A human being,

further defined by his

chromosomal map,

yet his very soul,

like a fingerprint,

swirls with distinction.

What is a man?

No explanation

will suffice

so let every man,

through his actions,

define himself.

The SatWE Challenge:

Challenge: Write something (prose or poetry; fiction, nonfiction, or essay) that tells me what you think makes a man. I’m really looking for fun here, but you can be silly or serious, as you desire.

The FWE Challenge/Prompt:

I want you to write something—anything you want and in any style—using all four of the below words correctly.

Farther/further

Complement/compliment

Find more about: kimberly blackadar, satwe, fwe, ffcc

Find Gather groups: Not Gathering Dust, Gather Writing Essential

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14 people recommend this post

Allen H.

Liz H.

Lynn P.

Patricia J.

William Dotani

Angela A.

Sandi S. Dec 10, 2011, 4:14pm UTC

I like how this ends. Let him define himself! Really well done, Kimberly. Bravo.

What is a man? A blessing... a powerful, unique, loving companion.

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 10, 2011, 5:00pm UTC

Thank you, Sandi, and I like your definition.

reply to this comment

Pam Brittain Dec 10, 2011, 4:20pm UTC

I can't compete with these. This is really wonderful.

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 10, 2011, 5:03pm UTC

I always think that, Pam. We never like our own responses as much as others. Maybe it's a sign of humility. Anyway...I'm sure you have a great response to share!

Pam Brittain Dec 10, 2011, 5:05pm UTC

Only that every man I've known that gets a new tool acts like a 7 year old with a new toy. You're right - I love these responses.

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 10, 2011, 5:11pm UTC

My husband delights in going to Home Depot. He usually doesn't buy anything; he just browses.

Pam Brittain Dec 10, 2011, 5:16pm UTC

Giggle - that's the seven year old I'm talking about.

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 10, 2011, 6:00pm UTC

Lynn P. Dec 17, 2011, 2:10am UTC

Pam, the secret is don't compete. (We're women. We don't have to. lol) Upload yours, before daring to read anyone elses. ;)

As for Home Depot? If heaven really was what everyone on earth wants it to be, Mom would be in heaven at Home Depot. She loved a trip to the hardware store like I like going to the craft store. She never got to experience that which we call "Home Depot." lol

Pam Brittain Dec 17, 2011, 6:34pm UTC

Home Depot and Lowe's - two of my favorite stores.

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karen vaughan Dec 10, 2011, 4:24pm UTC

Some one who is strong silent but knows what you need sometimes before you need it and will laugh at your lame attempts at humor and whos fave phrase is yes dear.

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 10, 2011, 5:05pm UTC

My husband only says "Yes, Dear" when he's annoyed with me, and it pretty much nullifies the saying's purpose. :)

karen vaughan Dec 10, 2011, 6:25pm UTC

my first hubby said it just to irritate the crap out me, i guess that says much about why he is my ex.

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 10, 2011, 6:44pm UTC

Being married means getting on each other's nerves every now and then. I have to think I probably deserve it when he utters "Yes, Dear." I can be a little bossy. lol.

reply to this comment

ben Surbana Dec 10, 2011, 5:08pm UTC

Thank you for your poem, Kimberly. It inspires me to declare this:

A man is best defined by his compassion by sacrificing his ego-centricity. To the world, this is often seen as weakness, but to the Divine, it is his greatest strength and a full measure of his authenticity.

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 10, 2011, 5:14pm UTC

Yes, compassion and humility measure a man's worth. Well said, Ben.

reply to this comment

JOHN BECK Dec 10, 2011, 5:33pm UTC

Well done, Kimberly.

"A competitive being
who strives to
run faster,
throw farther,
leap higher."

Sounds like some women and girls I know, probably some here on Gather.

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 10, 2011, 5:53pm UTC

Yes, I'm one of those competitive types, John. Thanks for reading and commenting.

reply to this comment

Len Maxwell Dec 10, 2011, 5:48pm UTC

Very nicely done and I particularly liked the last stanza. It was also neat to see you combine the prompts from two different days; I'm going to have to see about doing that as a challenge some time.

Thanks for taking the SatWE challenge and I'll feature this today on Gather Writing Essential.

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 10, 2011, 6:00pm UTC

I finally had a moment to write today, so I decided to kill two prompts with one response. Yes, you could do the same...perhaps the WWE prompt with another one?

Thank you for the comment and the feature, Len. I've been traveling so much lately and have been missing my SatWE ritual.

Len Maxwell Dec 10, 2011, 6:56pm UTC

Interesting thought. I have my challenges laid out for the next six weeks, but then I'll start paying close attention to yours and see if I can come up with something will tie into something you put up.

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 10, 2011, 7:57pm UTC

No pressure, Len, but it's fun to see how our prompts might inspire other prompts. After all, I set up my WWE like the SatWE model.

reply to this comment

Janet "Jax" B. Dec 10, 2011, 6:41pm UTC

I can't compete with that either....very good....deep, even.

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 10, 2011, 6:46pm UTC

Puh-lease, Jax. You don't need to compete with my response. You write with your own comical style--which I love!

reply to this comment

Larry H. Dec 10, 2011, 7:10pm UTC

thanks for sharin

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 10, 2011, 7:57pm UTC

Thanks for reading, Larry.

reply to this comment

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Dec 10, 2011, 9:42pm UTC

I particularly like the ending because I think it is the core answer to the question.

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 10, 2011, 11:20pm UTC

Yes, I think so too, Michelle.

reply to this comment

Priya P. Dec 10, 2011, 11:49pm UTC

Kim, this was really good, was reading it not knowing it was yours. I didn't even realize youhad used the four words; so perfectly they fit in :)

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 10, 2011, 11:58pm UTC

Well, not as perfectly as your four words fit in your poem, Priya.

I hope you're having a good night, and I was really impressed by your WWE this week. I couldn't believe it was real...so scary!

Priya P. Dec 19, 2011, 4:33pm UTC

smooth tounged predator - lol. just had to read this again. your words did fit perfectly!

It's scarier knowing that it's a true story, Kim so much more scarier at that time. Thought I would have a heart attack when his nose was pressed up to my window and it was dark outside. makings of a perfect horror story - as it did end up becomming.

reply to this comment

J. Reid Dec 11, 2011, 10:44am UTC

Smiles...

Thank you for submitting to: Not Gathering Dust!

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 11, 2011, 3:02pm UTC

Thank you so much, Johnice. I hope you have a wonderful afternoon.

reply to this comment

Richard Thuss Dec 11, 2011, 9:18pm UTC

I so much did not want to open this, fearful I would read a little male bashing, and I was wonderfully surprised by the beautiful few last lines. Thanks, Kim

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 11, 2011, 10:08pm UTC

Nope, no male bashing here. Thanks for reading and commenting, Richard.

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Angela A. Dec 12, 2011, 6:15pm UTC

Wow, you did a fantastic job on this!

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Make your own banner at MyBannerMaker.com!

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 13, 2011, 8:20am UTC

Thanks, Angela.

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William Dotani Dec 13, 2011, 1:33am UTC

Your third stanza made me laugh. Your final stanza is quite practical.

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 13, 2011, 8:21am UTC

Yes, William, the third stanza was a little over the top, but I, too, like the practicality of the last stanza.

reply to this comment

Patricia J. Dec 13, 2011, 2:52am UTC

This is a wonderful poem, Kimberly and I see you used the WWE prompts in it as well. Maybe I can catch up this week and get some writing done.

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 13, 2011, 8:22am UTC

Thank you, Patricia. I hope you get a chance to write as I always enjoy reading your responses.

reply to this comment

Andrea Pearson Dec 16, 2011, 10:07am UTC

That was really good - the four words blended in perfectly! I actually missed the use of "further" and had to go back. Well done!

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 16, 2011, 1:28pm UTC

Thanks, Andrea. It was a fun prompt.

Andrea Pearson Dec 16, 2011, 4:09pm UTC

Yay! :-)

reply to this comment

Lynn P. Dec 17, 2011, 2:12am UTC

Amen! ;)

Kimberly Blackadar Dec 17, 2011, 10:02am UTC

Thanks, Lynn.

reply to this comment

Liz H. Dec 17, 2011, 11:05am UTC

What is a man?

No explanation
will suffice
so let every man,
through his actions,
define himself.

There we go--Perfect!!

reply to this comment

Lynn P. Dec 17, 2011, 1:15pm UTC

I don't usually do this kind of thing, but I already wrote my response to Len's prompt this week and this time you'll definitely want to read it. You'll know which one, simply by checking out my posts and reading the titles. It's the title that automatically intrigues you. ;)

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