Hello dVerse Poets! Today we’re writing prose instead of poetry. This is a dVerse prompt called Prosery. To participate, you take a line of poetry that I give you and insert it into your prose. I would prefer using a poetic line as inspiration, but that is not the prompt! So, do make certain you give attribution for the line and the poet.

For Prosery, your prose—fiction or nonfiction—may be up to 144 words, not including the title. Some people like to make it exactly 144 words, but that is not required. You must not alter the words, change the word order, or insert words into the line. However, you may change the punctuation.

Got it?
OK. So, here’s the line:

“The granites and schists
Of my dark and stubborn country.”

–Nan Shepherd, “The Hill Burns”
from In the Cairngorms (Edinburgh: The Moray Press, 1934)
https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/hill-burns/

I learned about Scottish poet Nan Shepherd in this fascinating essay by Oliver Teale in Interesting Literature,
https://interestingliterature.com/2025/12/first-female-writer-british-banknote/

This line made me think of the winter darkness those of us in the northern hemisphere are experiencing now in December, but the line can also be used metaphorically. It’s short, so it will not take up many of your 144 words!

If you’re new to dVerse. Here’s how to participate:

Write a piece of prose, fiction or non-fiction, up to 144-words, using the given line.
–Post your story on your blog and link back to this post.
–Enter your name and the link to your post by clicking Mr. Linky below (remember to check the little box to accept the use/privacy policy).
–Read and comment on your fellow storytellers’ Prosery pieces. We all like to have our work appreciated. There will be a great variety of wonderful stories, I’m certain!