It’s the beginning of the end of autumn and winter is just around the corner – it’s also Monday and, at the dVerse Poets Pub, it’s time to write Prosery, the very short piece of prose that tells a story with a beginning, a middle and an end, in any genre of your choice. It’s flash fiction, with a limit of 144 words and an additional challenge is to hit 144 exactly. The special thing about Prosery is that we give you a complete line or two from a poem, which must be included somewhere in your story, within the 144-word limit.
As the month has just begun, I thought I’d look at November poems, and found this one by Rita Dove called ‘November for Beginners’. It caught my attention because she wrote it in November 1981, the month of my daughter’s first birthday. It’s a wonderful poem, with so many outstanding lines to choose from.
I particularly like the opening of this poem: ‘Snow would be the easy way out’, like a challenge to this notoriously difficult month, which is why I chose it.
Image by Nadine Chmel on Unsplash
I would like you to write a story that includes the following line(s) from that poem:
‘Snow would be the easy
way out’
You can read the complete poem here.
Image by Hide Obara on Unsplash
Here’s how to take part in Prosery:
– Write a piece of flash fiction of up to or exactly 144 words, including the given line in the order in which it has been given. You may add or change punctuation, but you may not add words in between the given ones.
– 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.
kim881 said:
Good evening poetic punters and welcome to the pub, where the bar is open with hot drinks and spirits to warm you up – unless you’re from down under – for you we have ice cold tinnies. I’m excited about reading snowy prose today.
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Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Good evening… we are deep in November already… dark and humid. I think the first snow will feel like a blessing. Today it is the Names Day of Gustav Adolf, and it is 391 years since the Swedish King with same name died at the Battle of Lützen.
I think I would like to have a cup of hot chocolate thanks.
kim881 said:
Hot chocolate coming up! It’s getting dark earlier and earlier here too, and we’ve had the worst storms and rain, although today was sunny but chilly.
msjadeli said:
Hello Kim and All. A wonderful kernel of writing to sprout poetry from. Will you please pour me a hot chai latte with a sprinkle of cinnamon please. A small plate of butter shortbread cookies to go with also if you have them 🙂
msjadeli said:
prosery that is, oops again. my fingers are like cows that have worn a path to the barn lol
kim881 said:
All available and coming your way!
msjadeli said:
Thanks, Kim and Cheers!
sanaarizvi said:
Hello Kim and all!
The clocks have changed 😂 so it’s an hour later than usual for me … will be back in the morning to read new entries.
Hot chocolate for me please ❤️❤️
kim881 said:
Hi Sanaa! I was completely fazed by the clocks last week. A hot chocolate will put you right!
sanaarizvi said:
Thank you! xx
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Helen said:
Love the challenge Kim! Hot buttered rum is my wish today😄
kim881 said:
I’m pleased you like it, Helen, and look forward to reading your prosery. Hot buttered rum is on its way.
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rothpoetry said:
Looks like an interesting prompt, Kim. Thank you for hosting. Some cold Fall cider would taste really good!
kim881 said:
Thanks for joining us, Dwight. A pint of cold cider coming up!
rothpoetry said:
Thanks.
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merrildsmith said:
Hi Kim! Thank you for hosting. It’s actually not too cold here today. But hot chocolate does sound yummy.
First time I’m being asked to log in on this page.
kim881 said:
I can drink hot chocolate any time, Merril!
merrildsmith said:
I haven’t had it in a while.
dorahak said:
A nice, Novembery prompt, Kim! Love it! I thought I’d do a little roman à clef in honor of one of my favorite authors, V. S. Naipaul. Hot chocolate would be nice, with marshmallows, if you have any!
kim881 said:
I’m looking forward to reading your roman à clef,Dora, and your hot chocolate, made with real chocolate, has a generous sprinkling of marshmallows. Enjoy!
dorahak said:
Yum!
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rog said:
hi kim
hi all
loved this prompt
it has a cold menacing feel to it
a large whisky to take the shivers from my spine please
catch you as and when i can
rog
kim881 said:
Welcome Rog! A large whisky coming up. I’ll see you on the poetry trail.
rog said:
cheers bottoms up
kim881 said:
🙂
Rob Kistner said:
Great prompt Kim, thank you for hosting! I would like a heated cider, with a fresh quill of Srilankan Cinnamon. 🙂✌🏼🫶🏼
kim881 said:
Thank you, Rob, and your cider is just warming while I look for the Srilankan Cinnamon. 😎
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Frank J. Tassone said:
Good Evening, Prose-writers! Thanks, Kim, for pubtending Prosery, and for providing such a luscious line!
How about some burgundy? 😉
kim881 said:
A burgundy to go with the luscious line? Coming right up, Frank!
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ren said:
thanks, kim for hosting. enjoyed the prompt, and another chance to practice my flash fiction!
kim881 said:
Thanks for joining us, Ren. I’m pleased you enjoyed it.
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pvcann said:
Thank you Kim, interesting line, and an intro to a new for me poet, wonderful. I’ll need a whiskey, I have to go sit and talk to someone, lol.
kim881 said:
I look forward to reading your prosery, Paul.
pvcann said:
And then I entered the linky wrong
blindzanygirl said:
I can’t even find the linky either, can you help ?
kim881 said:
Mister Linky is at the bottom of the prompt, right after ‘How to take part in Prosery’ and before the ‘like’ button. If you’re still stuck, send me the url for your prose including the prompt line, I can link it up for you.
blindzanygirl said:
Kim many thanks, I am totally blind and voiceover is not perfect
What do I do in future? Many thanks Lorraine
kim881 said:
Welcome to the d Verse Poets Pub! I’m just having dinner, I will link you up as soon as I’ve finished, Lorraine. I’ll also let the other hosts know that you need help with linking up to dIverse prompts. I’m sure they will be happy to help. All you have to do is leave a comment on the prompt page with your post’s url.
kim881 said:
My pleasure, Lorraine. I’ve linked up your post and sent an email to the other hosts to let them know what you’ll be doing when you want to share a post at the Poets Pub. I’m off to read your prosery!
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Rebecca Cuningham said:
Thanks for hosting, Kim. Great prompt!
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Woih said:
I really like the line provided. I was able to see a lot about how I viewed/experiemced life in the past compared to how I experience things now. Thank you
kim881 said:
Thanks for joining us. I’m happy the prompt line worked for you and look forward to reading your Prosery piece shortly.