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Introducing: THE COPPERPLATE AWARDS, an annual writing challenge powered by Prose. The categories: Short Fiction (500 word minimum) Creative Nonfiction (500 word minimum) Poetry (250 word minimum) Write about the subject of TEMPTATION and submit your entry for ONE of the above categories to be considered. Tag the category for which you are submitting in your entry (#poetry, #shortfiction, #creativenonfiction). Submissions will be evaluated by Prose and a trusted panel of judges based on form, content, fire, and creative edge. Deadline: February 1, 2016 First place winners in each category will receive $500 and an iPad. Runners-up in all three categories will receive writerly swag (stay tuned for details). Winners will be announced on April 1, 2016 and prizes will be distributed on or before April 15.
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Jerry
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Tempted Anyone?

To most men the symbol of the ultimate temptation is the mermaid. The female form represents life, home, love, companionship and warmth. The fish tail is experience, survival, food, wanderlust and nature. In short, the mermaid encompasses almost all the needs, dreams, thoughts and realities a man needs to survive. We can attach man's temptations to these words. Man is eternally tempted by all the things that comprise life. Could it be that man's very existence can be attributed to temptation?

Don't be confused about temptation. Temptation is not desire, nor attraction, nor need, nor any function man requires to live his life. Temptation is life. Temptation is the essence of being. Temptation is a basis for man's soul. It will be temptation that leads man to eternity. Temptation is a word that very poorly describes an inner yearning of humankind. That inner yearning is basic to humans and drives us all forward. Does this seem to present temptation as being God?

Pre-creation, procreation, life, all human experience is driven by temptation. The sciences and the arts are dominated by temptation. The choices humans make are determined by temptation. Temptation is like the glue that holds us all together. Temptation can be ignored but only if we are willing to die. Yet even when we die we turn to dust which becomes a temptation to become nothing all the while actually requiring us to live eternally in the infinite distance and time of the Universe.

Whoa, there, horsey! What brought on this tirade that seems to make temptation some grand human attribute? The classic definition of temptation is “the act of tempting or the state of being tempted especially to evil”. The classic definition is accurate and proper but it is not all inclusive. Temptation is the bright colors of the male bird. Temptation is that certain smile a wife gives to her husband. In short anything that attracts can be considered a temptation. Whether such temptation leads to evil depends on much more than the temptation itself. Mainly it is the will of the observer or the recipient of temptation that decides the morality or propriety of each observance.

Temptation, oh temptation. Thy name alone brings me memories of loves and lusts long left behind. I find myself needing to be tempting more than the object of any temptation. Temptation it is that brings me the ladies of the night. The sweet, tender souls that lay at my side and allow my caresses to pique their needs. The beautiful, voluptuous ladies than will hold my hand and take my kisses and plead for more. The ladies are all I live for in my prolonged existence. They make tomorrow worth waiting for. When I awake I will use the day to prepare myself for spending another night with the ladies. I will let temptation take control of my mind and follow it to the rewards of being one with another. Temptation, now and forever. Oh, temptation.

Come with me sweet lady. Join my bed. Let us be together what neither of us is alone.

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