I haven’t written a Prosery prompt for a while, so this Monday I’m delighted to be hosting at the dVerse Poets Pub and asking you to write a very short piece of prose that tells a story, with a beginning, a middle and an end, in any genre of your choice. As it’s flash fiction, we have a limit of 144 words (not including the title); an additional challenge is to hit 144 exactly.
The special thing about Prosery is that we give you a complete line from a poem, which must be included somewhere in your story, in the same order and with no words in between, within the 144-word limit. You are, however, allowed to play with the punctuation.
One of my favourite modern poets is Seamus Heaney and, as his poetry is part of the GCSE English Literature curriculum, I had the pleasure of teaching a selection of his poems until I retired in 2014. I also have copies of some of his collections; my favourite is his debut, Death of a Naturalist, which includes the poem ‘Twice Shy’, a vivid poem that explores a young couple taking an ‘embankment walk’. They seem to have both had unpleasant romantic experiences, ‘Mushroom loves already / Had puffed and burst in hate’ but, rather than being bitter about their experiences, although hesitant, they are hopeful.
Free image found on Unsplash in collaboration with Getty Images
I really like the opening lines, describing the woman’s ‘scarf à la Bardot’ and her ‘suede flats’, and the intensity of the walk before they relax and enjoy each other’s company. It is a complex story in a misleadingly simple poem.
I would like you to write a story that includes the following line(s) from that poem:
‘Traffic holding its breath,
Sky a tense diaphragm’
You can read the complete poem here:
Here’s how to take part in Prosery:
– Write a piece of flash fiction of up to or exactly 144 words, not including the title BUT including the given line.
– Post your Prosery on your blog and link back to this post.
– Link it up to our Mr. Linky.
– Don’t forget to check the little box to accept use/privacy policy
– Visit other blogs. Enjoy some amazing writing, and don’t forget to comment.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Hello, now I’m back… how great it was to start with prose. I loved the ominous tone of the quote and went with that.
kim881 said:
Welcome back, Björn! I like ominous and cant wait t read your poem.
Pingback: dVerse — Prosery — Crone Power – Tao Talk
kim881 said:
Good evening all and welcome to Prosery! As the prompt lines have been taken from a Seamus Heaney poem, we have Irish fare: Irish coffee, cider, Guiness, a selection of potato snacks, Irish apple cake and Baileys truffles.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I would be very happy for a glass of Magners (with no ice)
msjadeli said:
Bjorn, Magners with ice would be a great faux pas, just sayin’ 😉 Cheers, my friend.
kim881 said:
I’ll put it in the freezer for a bit – no ice in cider!
merrildsmith said:
Hi Kim. I’m finishing up a work project, but I will try to post to this prompt at some point. Thank you for hosting. I looked up Irish apple cake. That sounds delicious!
kim881 said:
Try not to work too hard, Merril. I look forward to reading your piece
merrildsmith said:
Thank you. 🙂
msjadeli said:
Hello Kim and All (and Welcome Back, Bjorn!) It took me a minute to wrap my head around the evocative quote, but I like how my story turned out. One pint of Magners and some kind of salty potato snack would be perfect, please 🙂
kim881 said:
Coming right up!
msjadeli said:
Thank you, Kim. Cheers!
kim881 said:
Slainte!
Pingback: The Long Hours | Another Wandering Soul
Miriam E. said:
Hi Kim,
thank you for the wonderful prompt and the very interesting lines you chose – I am eager to see what everyone came up with. Thank you for hosting!
kim881 said:
Thanks for joining us, Miriram!
Colleen M. Chesebro said:
What a great line! Let me let it marinate, Kim. Irish apple cake sounds wonderful!
kim881 said:
Irish apple cake for you, Colleen, and I look forward to reading your marinated flash fiction.
Colleen M. Chesebro said:
Thanks, Kim.
rothpoetry said:
A very interesting prompt, Kim. Thanks for Hosting this evening. Hope it is cooler where you are. 97 F showing now on my computer at 5:00 PM!! I need a tall Root Beer Float!
kim881 said:
One root beer float coming up!
rothpoetry said:
:>) yum!
Lillian said:
Thanks for hosting, Kim. Irish apple cake sounds delicious….and perhaps just a glass of sparkling water? Love the line….and the poem too!
kim881 said:
Good choice Lill!
Pingback: switching places; – Mom with a Blog
Pingback: dVerse Prosery – Let's Write……
Ginny Brannan said:
It’s been a long time since I’ve shared here, but I still follow and read, and figured I’d give it a shot. I’m more poetry than prose, and I kind of took off with this, and then went back to discover I’d missed the two most important things: the required line, and 144 word count. Got the word count down, but split the line. Bjorn may remember me. Not sure about anyone else. As I said, it’s been awhile! Dinnertime here. I’ll be back to read and comment.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I do remember and I’m sure Grace do too… nice to see you back.
kim881 said:
I’m so glad you’ve joined us again, Ginny.
kim881 said:
Thanks for joining us Ginny. I look forward to reading yours.
poetisatinta said:
Kim a great choice of poet, I love his work❤️
kim881 said:
One of my favourites.
Pingback: No Receipt – Out of the Cave
Pingback: Fit of Travel – Yard Sale of Thoughts
Truedessa said:
Kim, thanks for the challenge. it’s getting late but, I will be back tomorrow to finish reading.
kim881 said:
That’s OK, Truedessa. The challenge lasts for the rest of the week. It’s morning here again and I’m just getting ready to read and comment. I look forward to reading your piece.
Rob Kistner said:
Thank you for hosting Kim. It’s been a most eventful day. There’s still 18 minutes left, so I’ve posted my new poem and a related new digital art piece. 🙂✌🏼🫶🏼
kim881 said:
I’m glad you made it, Rob. I look forward to reading your piece.
Rob Kistner said:
I just looked at the dVerse site and noticed an orphaned link shouldered its way ahead of my authentic post. My most sincere apology. Not really certain how that happened? 😳
Pingback: Sulphur – The Four Swans
Pingback: Mob mindsets – Reena Saxena
Pingback: Before the Storm – Life According to Sassy
Pingback: Unbothered – A Writer In The Room
Pingback: Isn’t That A Plan – Prose By Paul Vincent Cannon | parallax
pvcann said:
Hi Kim, many thanks for hosting and providing this prompt. I love Heaney. I particularly like his thinking – ‘Government of the Tongue’ has been a fave read. I went from a romantic theme to environmental one, so there it is … some Irish apple cake please and a whiskey too 🙂
kim881 said:
Coming up, Paul!
Pingback: Memory Lane – JJJ Interactive Books
Pingback: 16 August: dVerse Prosery – It's Still Life
Pingback: The Sunshine Without a Mask | Where Stories Can Spark Their Magic
Pingback: Gray Funk ~ prosery | rivrvlogr
Pingback: The storm broke – Keep it alive