If I were a stick bug
dedicated to the Megastick
Today, I fall in love with another stick in the wind. She wobbles high above me in the canopy. I consider that the twigs are her legs, and the leaf scars are bisections of her belly. She is brown and beautiful. I creep up the strangler fig. I flicker my wings, though they are too small to carry me. They are slivers of shimmering dusk. I want my love to see them. She will love them if she sees them.
On the way to my stick love, I consider my length. I consider that I have never seen a crawling thing as long as me. The moss mantis is as minuscule as my green foot. The leaf weevil is a speck of dust in my compound eye. You could stitch one hundred fairy lacewings together to form one of my precious hind wings. None are as long or as lean as me.
I must create another wobbling, stickish thing with her. Stick babies! Twiglets! My love, I am coming! She wobbles again. I draw near to her. But in the light of the moon, I see that she is not a living stick. She is without eyes, or spiracles, or beating heart. She is but a branch, swaying in the warm Borneo winds.
It has taken all night to creep up this tree. I could mourn the time lost, the forsaken leaf snacks, the wilted dream of a stickish companion. After all, I do not have much time left. But in the end, what a lovely thing it was to hold myself so delicately—this tree, my wooden effigy, my towering twin.
A freewrite inspired by Fantasy Prompt #16
Time: 120 minutes
Song of the day: Please Stay, The Cryin Shames
Dedicated to the Megastick
Campers, I need to tell you something. While writing this piece, I learned an insect fact you will not believe. Listen up and listen good.
There exists a rare species of stick insect called the Phobaeticus chani, or the Chan’s Megastick. MEGASTICK. (Let that sink in). The species is native to the island of Borneo and has been known to grow up to 22 inches long. For those of you at home, THAT’S A TWO FOOT LONG LIVING STICK. Bro, call it what it is. That’s a branch.
This isn’t the best part. Take a guess at when the Megastick was first identified? When do you think we discovered and taxonomized this perfect specimen? Okay fine, I’ll tell you. 2008. TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT. They live so high in the canopies of the Bornean jungle that entomologists didn’t know they existed until 16 years ago. And better yet, we’re having a hard time finding more of them because they look SO MUCH LIKE STICKS.
Fantasy Prompt #17
Find a comfortable space
Set your timer for 20 minutes
Sink into your imagination
Remember: It is safe to write from the depths of your soul
A fantastical wardrobe: The people in your world wear specific garments. Describe their clothing, how it reflects their culture, and its purpose—whether enchanted, high-tech, climate-adapted, or symbolic. Bonus: draw a picture or create a mood board
You’re always invited to share your freewrites in the comments or into my DMs. It brings be great joy to know you’re out there creating.
In megastick we trust,
Madeleine
two new obsessions unlocked: the megastick and your page
dang. so much respect for megastick. Just when I thought I wanted to leave this planet. I'M BACK.