Lillian here. Delighted to host Prosery Monday at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe.
But FIRST: TWO IMPORTANT ANNONCEMENTS to all dVersers!
1) THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, dVERSE WILL BE LIVE, hosted by Bjorn. If you’ve not done this before, it’s amazing! Just go to the dVerse site and read Bjorn’s message on December 10th. As always, post one poem of your choosing (there is no required prompt for OLN) and in Bjorn’s message, he will have a link to join everyone live (similar to Zoom). We are usually live from 3 to 5 PM, Boston time. It’s amazing to put faces with names and it’s truly like we’re in a real pub. Well, except for the drinking! Everyone who posts a poem and joins us live, is invited (but not required) to read their poem aloud. Come for the entire time or just drop in as you’re able!
2) dVerse will have our holiday break from December 21 to January 1. While we’ll miss everyone, we hope you’ll enjoy this time off to rejuvenate and feed your poetic muse!
AND NOW FOR TODAY’s PROMPT in PROSERY! REMINDER: PROSERY IS NOT POETRY!
PROSERY IS a piece of short prose that includes a line from a poem. I will give you the line, and then you incorporate it into your prose piece. Your prose can be either flash fiction, nonfiction, or creative nonfiction. YOU CAN NOT WRITE A POEM for this prompt. AND, your prose should be no longer than 144 words, sans title. It does not have to be exactly 144 words. But it can be no longer than 144 words.
YOU MUST USE THE LINE I GIVE YOU BELOW, IN THE BODY OF YOUR PROSE. You may change the punctuation and capitalization, but you are not allowed to insert any words within the line itself. You can add words at the beginning and/or at the end of the line; but the line itself must remain intact.
Okay! Now that we’ve got the definition of Prosery Monday down, what line did I choose and how did I choose it?
My family has given me a number of poetry books over the past few years, many times as a Christmas gift. At this time of year, once the house is decorated and my Christmas cards are in the mail, I enjoy knitting and reading while listening to various holiday CDs. On the day I wrote this prompt, I decided to pull out Louise Gluck’s Faithful and Virtuous Night. I know Bjorn was very excited when she won the 2020 Nobel Prize for Literature. My son gifted me the book for Christmas 2015 – just eight months after I began writing poetry and started my blog, lillian the home poet. So the book itself is quite special to me. I haphazardly flipped it open, landed on page 30 and there at the top of the page was her work entitled Afterward. The first line of the poem is “Reading what I have just written, I now believe” WOW! Doesn’t that statement come to mind sometimes when words just flow out of you and you stop, read them and think, where did that come from? So for today’s prompt, somewhere in your 144 word or less piece of prose, you must include the line “Reading what I have just written, I now believe”. Remember, you may change the capitalization and punctuation. You may add words before and/or after the line, but the line itself must remain intact!
And since you are all my dear dVerse friends, before going over the rules and providing the Mr. Linky link, I invite you into our home for a bit of Christmas cheer!
New to dVerse? Need to be refreshed on the rules? Here’s what to do:
- Write a piece of prose (fiction, nonfiction, or creative nonfiction) that is 144 words or less in length, and includes the line “Reading what I have just written, I now believe”.
- Post your prosery to your blog AND add the exact URL for your poem to Mr. Linky below.
- REMEMBER to either TAG dVerse in your post, or include a link at the end of your prose that leads readers back to dVerse (https://dversepoets.com).
- If there is no Tag or link back to dVerse, I will gently remind you to add it or remove your post from Mr. Linky. Sorry to be so harsh…..but this is just part of the requirements AND it will bring you more readers and lead more folks to dVerse so they can participate as well!
- REMEMBER: IT MUST BE PROSE, NOT POETRY. Again, sorry to be so harsh, but if you write a poem, it will be deleted from Mr. Linky because it does not follow the prompt. I will however, invite you to resubmit a piece of prose that does follow the prompt. We definitely appreciate your participation in dVerse and want you to join us often!
dVerse 
Happy Prosery Monday fellow dVersers! I’m listening to Christmas music, sitting beside our tree and looking forward to reading some prosery! Let the writing and posting begin!
Thank you, Lillian for the prompt and your heartwarming invitation into your home. A Christmas filled with poetry and music sounds just perfect for me. I am enjoying a cup of festive cheer tonight, although the prompt took me to somewhere dark.
Somewhere dark is a-okay as long as one comes out at the end of the tunnel into the light! 🙂
Hello Lillian and All. Wonderful photos of holiday cheer at your place. I know your prompt is going to inspire wonderful prosery!
Thank you! Looking forward to lots of reading tonight! Did you notice the American Girl doll dressed as St. Lucia? That is a Swedish custom…on the night of December 13th, the oldest daughter in the home dons white with a red sash, and a crown with candles on her head, and delivers saffron buns to the family! I think Bjorn will like that photo!
Normally S:t Lucy’s day (December 13) is celebrated in many ways, from daycare centers to the public display where Lucia is chosen like in a pageant. The red sash is supposedly from the way she was originally slashed, and the candles in her hair is a symbol of her being burnt at the stake.
My daughter-in-law sent me a link with the story of St. Lucy. I’d known all about the Santa Lucia festivals — we went to Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois….with deep Swedish Lutheran history. There was always a Santa Lucia festival. That’s where I learned about it. My husband (Hallberg) is Swedish. His grandfather Hjalmer immigrated from Sweden. My son named his son Jakob Anders to keep the Swedish heritage alive, at least, in the name. 🙂 I do make Swedish pancakes with ligonberries every Christmas, as well as cardamom bread 🙂
Holiday traditions are comforting aren’t they.
After reading what it symbolizes I take that comment back!
Hello Lilian, that line was a very easy line to incorporate into prose. Mine always wrote itself this time. I hope to see many at the bar on Thursday. If you have a headset for your computer I do recommend that you use it, and if you prefer you can install the app Google meet on your phone or tablet, it might work better depending on where you are.
I’m looking forward to joining in again! This time I’ll know to post my poem first 🙂
Writing our own truth! I love it! That is what poets do!! Great prompt, Lillian.
Glad you like the prompt! Should produce many diverse reads 🙂
yes, for sure!
Hi Everyone! Thank you for the wonderful prompt, Lillian. Thank you, too, for sharing your Christmas photos. I did notice that American Girl Doll right away with the St. Lucia crown. I know the Gloria Dei/Old Swedes Church in Philadelphia normally does a St. Lucia service–probably not this year. I didn’t write anything Christmas-themed.
Christmas themed not required or expected at all. Eons ago, when we lived in Iowa City, Iowa, we went to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. 🙂 Small world….probably a very common name for churches?
Yes, I imagine so. I read the marriage records there way back when for my dissertation. 😀
Sounds like an interesting dissertation!
Marital discord in eighteenth and early nineteenth-century Pennsylvania. 😀
That does sound interesting!
Thank you!
Your knitting is magnificent, thanks for the tour of your seasonal decorations and good to see you so healthy Lillian! I’ll have a ginger tea please?
Really enjoyed this prompt, the prosery is a great idea to have a break from poetry!
Ginger tea coming right up! Ah….you noticed my afghan on the back of our couch. I made two last year – 1 for my daughter and 1 for my daughter-in-law. I finally got mine done in time for this Christmas…..don’t think there will be another one. Glad you enjoyed the prompt!
thanks for the tea, it looks so warm and toasty and it’s knitted with love!
It is indeed! I love wrapping up in it with a good book.
makes me smile!
Happy Monday. (Noted Thursday 10th live)
Much❤love
Glad to see you at the pub today, Gillena!
I love that Saint Lucy doll, with the wreath on her head! Your house looks like fun. 😀
I do love decorating for the season! 🙂
Will be back in morning to catch up on reading and commenting! Loved the prompt, Lillian 💝
So glad you liked the prompt, Sanaa. See you in the AM – we can sip on our tea/coffee together!
Yes please 🙂 coffee sounds wonderful! Love the photos you have shared with us here at the pub. Feels like Christmas.. feels like home! 💝
I apologise for arriving late to the party and for only staying for a short while. A close friend of mine has found herself in a quandary and I’ve been trying to help her over the telephone. However, I will be back first thing to continue reading and commenting.
Not to worry, Kim. Pub will be open for a while yet….and then I’ll leave the key under the potted poinsettia by the door for any latecomers. Will return in AM with fresh brewed coffee for all.
It’s mornig here, I’ve been up for over an hour, my tea is getting cold and I’m ready to read and comment!
I enjoyed the visit to your home, Lillian, and the prompt is inspiring. I look forward to seeing where everyone’s muse takes them!
Always have to have folks in for a virtual visit in these covid days!
Hmmm, I tried a ping but at least my link from there to here works.
https://myforever.blog/2020/12/07/and-its-free-try-this-challenge/
Hi Myrna. All you have to do is copy the exact URL (the one you’ve written here) and then click on the rectangle of Mr Linky, then put in your name on the first line and then paste the URL link on the second line. Then click on the little box below the list, then submit. I did that for you so now your post is on Mr. Linky. Folks will read it from Mr Linky…..most likely they don’t read this chat after they’ve put in their one comment so folks wouldn’t be clicking on your link here. Try it for the next prompt:
1. On your blog, click on the title of your post
2. Go up to where the URL is listed and copy the exact URL for your post
3. Come back to the dVerse page and click on the Mr Linky rectangle
4. You’ll be asked to put in your name and the link to your post…put your name on the first line; put paste the exact URL for your post.
5. Still there, look down a bit and you’ll see a little box you need to check before you can submit to Mr. Linky
6. And voila! Your post is on Mr Linky.
Don’t do pingbacks and don’t put your URL link here in the chat….but DO CHAT! 🙂
Hope that helps for next time.
Ah….I see you got your post onto Mr. Linky. So I just deleted the link to it I put in Mr. Linky. That’s all that’s needed….the link in Mr. Linky rather than in the chat. 🙂
So nice to see your smiling face ~~~~
Ah yes…..when we take photos in our house, just my hubby and me, we are maskless! 🙂 We’ve had no one in our home since March 12…..the situation for many of us I suspect. But as I’ve said to our children and grandkids, think of this as just a Pause…..once the vaccine is here, we’ll hit Play again! 🙂
OH great yet again i cannot make the live meet. but this time it is because i will be aat a monthly spoken word event i have been going to for nearly three years.(the ffirst place i ever shared a piece of my work aloud no less). if i make it back intime i will try to add on mr linky.
Ohhhhh…..we’ll miss you! Once we come back in the New Year (eeeegads how GLAD everyone will be to get into 2021!!!), we’ll have a live event once a month on a Thursday. So hopefully one or more of those will be convenient for you! 🙂
i am normall out every second thursday hope to join soon
I may have stretched the definition of “Prosery” by writing a truth that could be read as fiction. Thank you for the prompt, Lillian.
Interesting….I think many times fiction contains truths!
Taking the rest of the evening off – writing my Christmas cards.
I’ve left the key to the pub under the poinsettia pot to the left of the pub door. Come on in and help yourself to libations and definitely, leave a post or two as a tip!
I’ll be back in the AM with coffee in hand….hot chocolate available at the pub as well as tea in the morning. Hope to see lots more posts when I return!
Lillian
Excellent choice of text Lillian. (K)
Glad you like it!
hi Lillian, what an evocatively inspiring quote. So many things it could go, but it had a path for me, and so I followed. …
I will be happy for some coffee in the morning, too, when I’ll be ready to read others’ contributions, too!
Na’ama
Am just back in the pub…..coffee coming right up! I have mine in hand 🙂
Yay! Sip. Ah… perfect!
Good Morning Lillian- Thank you for hosting. Such a thought provoking prompt. Let’s see where it takes me. I hope everyone is staying safe and well.
Glad you like the prompt! I’m back in the pub this morning and so nice to see you here. Need any coffee? Have a fresh pot in the making and I’m enjoying mine now as I hit the reading trail! 🙂
Sounds great! A little cream please.
Back in the pub this morning! Looks like lots of folks used the key under the poinsettia pot and helped themselves to beverages, leaving a post for a tip! I’ll be reading now….and in and out today so keep ’em coming!
Thank you Lillian, an engaging challenge
Glad you like the prompt! Nice to see you here this morning!
🙂 glad to be here
I’m afraid I went dark…
Dark is okay….as long as we know you’ll come out into the light nearing the end of the tunnel 🙂
Always!
❤
Fun!
I played with the punctuation 😁
Thanks for the prompt, Lillian.
-David
Punctuation playing can be freeing! Thanks for stopping by the pub!