Assessment:

Plot/Idea: Events in this text are spare, yet carry significant symbolic weight: an old man carves a bowl and picks up colored marbles along his solitary walks. Pictures hint at greater narrative threads, like one of a girl in a hospital room, but ultimately these are not concretely drawn together.

Prose: The prose is clean, tight, and economical, with very few words wasted.

Originality: The descriptions of the marbles are eloquent and vivid. There's a parable-like quality to this work that will resonate with readers who value more philosophical works. 

Character Development/Execution: The old man's character dominates the story in the story. Readers may wish for a greater layer of complexity, though the simplicity of storytelling is often moving and profound. 

Date Submitted: August 25, 2022