Tags

,

Lillian here, delighted to host dVerse today, the virtual pub for writers around the globe!

WARNING! TODAY THIS SITE IS NOT FOR POSTING POETRY!
So if you are thinking about posting your poem for NaPoWriMo here, do not.

Why? BECAUSE THIS IS PROSERY MONDAY AT Dverse and Prosery is not poetry!
It is not prose poetry; it is not poetry of any kind. What is it then?  See below.


WHAT IS PROSERY?  It’s a new genre of creative writing originated by dVerse. There are four caveats for Prosery Mondays:
1) Your post must be prose, not poetry. Most people post what is commonly called Flash Fiction. Occasionally someone writes prose that is memoir or nonfiction.  
2) Your prose/flash fiction must have a beginning, middle and end…just as a story does.
3) Your prose must be succinct: no more than 144 words in length, not including the title. 
4) Your prose must include a specific line of poetry which the dVerse host provides in their prompt. The line must be included in your prose exactly as the words are written in the given line. The punctuation may be altered, but the words and their order must be identical to the line as given.

Ready for the specific line of poetry I’m asking you to include in your prosery post today?   
The line for today is If you are a dreamer, come in.
The line is from Shel Silverstein’s poem, Invitation, as published in his wonderful book, Where the Sidewalk Ends. This book, and a second titled A Light in the Attic were favorites of my children. Be sure at the end of your prose to give credit to Shel Silverstein for the line!

Shel Silverstein is an American writer, poet, cartoonist, songwriter and playwright. He is best known for his cartoons, songs, and children’s books. His books have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold more than 20 million copies.

Here are two of his poems to enjoy!

FALLING UP

I tripped on my shoelace
And I fell up.
Up to the roof tops.
Up over the town.
Up past the tree tops.
Up over the mountains.
Up where the colors
Blend into the sounds.
But it got me so dizzy
When I looked around,
I got sick to my stomach
And I threw down.

DIRTY FACE

Where did you get such a dirty face,
My darling dirty-faced child?

I got it from crawling along in the dirt
And biting two buttons off Jeremy’s shirt.
I got it from chewing the roots of a rose
And digging for clams in the yard with my nose.
I got it from peeking into a dark cave
And painting myself like a Navajo brave.
I got it from playing with coal in the bin
And signing my name in cement with my chin.
I got it from rolling around on the rug
And giving the horrible dog a big hug.
I got it from finding a lost silver mine
And eating sweet blackberries right off the vine.
I got it from ice cream and wrestling and tears
And from having more fun than you’ve had in years.

So — meet me where the sidewalk ends! You’ll find the burgandy door to the dVerse pub wide open just waiting for your prosery post! 

New to dVerse? Here’s what to do and the rules we use at the pub! Pay close attention to rules 5 and 6!

  1.  Write a piece of prose (flash fiction, memoir, nonfiction) that is 144 words or less and includes, word-for-word, the line If you are a dreamer, come in.  You may alter the punctuation in the line, but you MUST use the words exactly as given, in their exact order as Silverstein used them.
  2. Do give credit somewhere on your post that the line is are from Shel Silverstein’s poem Invitation as published in his book Where the Sidewalk Ends.
  3. Do NOT write a poem! The easiest way to think of prosery is as flash fiction.
  4. Post your prosery to your blog AND add the exact URL for your poem to Mr. Linky below.
  5. REMEMBER to either TAG dVerse in your post, or include a link at the end of your post that leads readers back to dVerse (https://dversepoets.com). 
  6. 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!