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  • Ayami Wins French Flash Fiction Competition

    Earlier this year, I submitted an entry for the annual French Flash Fiction competition run by the University of Oxford. We had to write a piece of fiction in French in no more than 100 words. I loved the challenge of thinking and writing in French!  

    I wanted to do something different, so I decided to do a riddle. I chose 'a smile' as the answer to it because it is universal and understood by everyone regardless of what language they speak.

    Here is my entry in French: Here's the English translation:
    Une énigme pour vous…

    Je brise la glace sans un bruit;
    Une étoile filante au milieu de la nuit.

    J’éclaire la journée,
    Mais je ne suis pas le soleil.
    Je travaille le mieux
    Quand tout semble désespéré.

    Je peux être en retard,
    Mais jamais trop vite.
    Je n’utilise pas de mots;
    La langue la plus pratique.

    Je me cache parmi les étrangers,
    Mais je suis seulement en train de reposer,
    Un diamant brut,
    Beau une fois révélé.

    Le reflet d’un coeur heureux,
    Je ne veux jamais dire adieu.

    Qu’est-ce que je suis?

    Un vrai sourire.

    A riddle for you...

    I break the ice without a noise;
    A shooting star in the middle of the night.

    I brighten the day,
    But I am not the sun.
    I work best
    When everything seems hopeless.

    I can be late,
    But never too quick.
    I don't use words;
    The most practical language.

    I hide among strangers,
    But I am only in the middle of resting,
    A diamond in the rough,
    Beautiful once revealed.

    The reflection of a happy heart,
    I never want to say goodbye.

    What am I?

    A true smile.

    I am thrilled that I won this competition and I would like to thank Mme Hulley and Mme Roujansky for giving me this opportunity and supporting me.