Good evening, Poets, and welcome to Prosery: the prompt where we write prose based on some given lines of poetry. This can be flash-fiction or creative non-fiction, but it cannot exceed 144 words in total (not including the title) and must not be poetry (no versification, line breaks, metre, etc.)
Now that the rules are out of the way, let’s take a look at the lines. I’ve taken them from Wordsworth’s ‘Lines Written at a small distance from my House…‘ which is included in the collection Lyrical Ballads, a groundbreaking poetic collaboration between Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, published in several editions between 1798 and 1802. The ‘Lines’ of this poem are addressed to his sister, Dorothy, and the particular lines I have picked out for you are these:
And bring no book, for this one day
We’ll give to idleness.

So now I’ve given you the prompt, put down your books and let your muses do the talking, just remember: prose not poetry! I will see you on the reading trail…
And before I go, a reminder that this Thursday’s Open Link Night will be live: link up and join us via Google Meet for a chance to read your poem out, loud and proud!
How to take part:
- Write your prose piece and post it to your blog.
- Mention/tag dVerse in your post.
- Add your link to the Mr Linky widget below.
- Be sure to read and comment on the work of others!
Welcome, poets, writers and idlers! I am really looking forward to reading tonight’s responses. It’s cold here in the North of England, so I’m offering up velvety rich hot chocolate (cream and marshmallows optional) alongside a fully stocked bar. See you on the reading trail!
What a BEAUTIFUL prompt….calls for a pint….!
Cheers Ain! 🍻
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Hello Ingrid and All. I much enjoyed writing to the line you chose for today’s prompt. Looking forward to the stories springing from this line. Am sipping on a hot cuppajoe so all set on the drink.
Thank you, Lisa: I just read yours and loved it, of course!
You’re welcome and thanks!
Oh this was fun… though my librarian is quite offended by this prompt.
Oh, yes: I imagine he would be most upset with Mr Wordsworth!
Hi Ingrid! Thank you for hosting today. I had some fun with this line. I’ll be back to read later tonight and tomorrow AM as we are off in the San Diego sun to a Martin Luther King Day celebration at the World Beat Center in Balboa Park.
That sounds wonderful, Lillian: enjoy it and see you later!
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Great line! I’ll see where it leads me. I’ve got a London Fog latte in hand and its a cloudy day, perfect for writing!! ✒️
Sounds great, Tricia: I look forward to reading you!
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Hi Ingrid! Thank you for the hosting and the prompt. I’ll have a cup of your hot chocolate.
One hot chocolate, coming up! Welcome, Merril 😊
😊
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thanks for hosting Ingrid – I guess I let my thoughts run away… so I better just have a soft drink, your choosing 🙂
One lemonade, coming up! Thanks for joining in 😊
I am going to have to step away from the bar for a little while in order to put the kids to bed! Please help yourselves to drinks and bar snacks, and enjoy the poetry. I’ll be back to read either later tonight, or in the morning.
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hi Ingrid
hi all
a hot choclate would be good as chilly in the south of england as well.
just spotted a spelling error in my ping back how embarresing.
rog
One belated hot chocolate for you!
Thank you
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Hope the kids’ bedtimes not delayed by the howling of a Wolf Moon? Past my bedtime so I’ll pass on a cherry brandy. Great challenge, Ingrid! Good night!
Sorry sorry sorry I should have used Mr Linky – have done so now
No problem, thank you!
Actually, they fell asleep quite easily, thank you 😊
Bring no book — some things would indeed be spoiled by a book Ingrid. That is what I chose to write about. It’s my soul’s favorite topic. Thank you for hosting my friend. Great prompt!
Thank you, Rob, and great work on the prompt!
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A delightful invitation to dally and enjoy. Thank you Ingrid.
You’re most welcome, Paul!
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Thank you for hosting, Ingrid. 🙂
My pleasure 😊
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Yeah, I wasn’t tooo late today. Been a hot day here so a cool beer would be nice.
Coming up! 🍺
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Hey, Ingrid, thanks for hosting. I have linked up my piece, I was not too happy with it but nothing else came to mind, not blaming the prompt line though, I think it’s very good!
I really like it, Jay – you wove it in seamlessly!
Thanks for saying so, Ingrid!
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Hi Ingrid and all. These past few days have been very cold in Northern India. Would love velvety rich hot chocolate.
My first attempt at Prosery. Couldn’t get the Wordsworth line out of my mind. 😅
Glad you liked it, Punam, and sorry I’m late with the hot chocolate: I’ve been out all day, and brought no book 😊
Never thought a “bring no book” prompt would work. Good news: it did. We all need to step away sometimes. Go on picnics… Thanks for hosting.
It’s cold here as well. Cocoa with Lots of marshmallows will do just fine. Thanks.
So glad it worked out, Selma – and here is a cocoa, sorry it’s a bit late, been out and about today 😊
Hi Ingrid! This is such a beautiful prompt and thanks to you, here’s me trying my first attempt at writing prose. I hope I do justice to these wonderful lines😊🌸
Thank you for taking part 😊🙏
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Hi Ingrid! This is such a beautiful prompt and thanks to you, here’s me trying my first attempt at writing prose. I hope I do justice to these beautiful lines😊🌸
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Hi Ingrid- Thanks for hosting. Wonderful prompt! Sorry I’m late- dentist appointment and another today. Will do my best to catch up on reading in the morning!
Thanks, Linda – I am playing catch-up too as I’ve been out all day 😊
Sorry i missed this, Ingrid. I had too many irons on the fire at one time.
Don’t worry, Shay, I am still catching up with reading!
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Hi Ingrid, I really enjoyed this prompt immensely–I hope I followed the instructions correctly 🙂 https://poetryifnothingelse.wordpress.com/2022/01/19/prosery-bring-no-book/
Thank you for taking part! I’ll be over to read shortly 😊
Thank you 🙂
I’m late again… but I made it!
You’re very welcome! I’ll be over to read shortly 😊
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I am new here, and just stumbled on this post. I thought I would give it a try, since I have never done anything like this before. https://ahoguey.com/2022/02/22/to-the-stars/
A lovely pice of writing! Welcome 🙏