paper losses

“Although Kit and Rafe had met in the peace movement, marching, organizing, making no nukes signs, now they wanted to kill each other.”

—LORRIE MOORE, “PAPER LOSSES” FROM BARK

Why it’s beautiful

Smashing opposing ideas together, especially in an opening sentence, which this is, is surprising. And surprise is a classic hook.

I avoid overusing gerunds (nouns that end in -ing) because I don’t like the sound of their repetition. Except in here. I like them. The succession of marching, organizing, and making strengthens the punchline. Lulls you into a rhythm, then that rhythm turns on a dime.

I try to add sentences to this blog that are beautiful on their own, and this one makes that cut. But the next line is too perfect not to mention:

“They had become, also, a little pro nuke.”