
Merril D. Smith is over at dVerse hosting the Prosery Prompt for 5/10/22. She says:
Prosery is a dVerse term for prose incorporating a given line of poetry. This can be either flash fiction, nonfiction, or creative nonfiction, but it must be prose! Not prose poetry, and not a poem. And it must be no longer than 144 words, not including the title. (It does not have to be exactly 144 words, but it can’t exceed 144 words.)
I’ve chosen a prompt line from Sara Teasdale’s poem, “May Day.” I think this poem is a tiny perfect jewel of a poem. There’s a wistfulness to it—the beauty of May tinged with the realization that it, and life are ephemeral. Of course, I know May is different in other parts of the world, but the line does not mention spring.
dVerse: Prosery: Sara Teasdale and May
Here’s the line:
“For how can I be sure
I shall see again
The world on the first of May”
–From “May Day” by Sara Teasdale
“Hope”
The storm approached on cat feet, soft and silent, in the darkness of night. In the morning, it quilted my neighborhood in a shroud of snow. Trees glazed with frost lined the street, their budding leaves bitten black by the chill.
The wintery weather matched my mood. Yesterday, the news from the doctor was grim. Cancer, like a silent storm, was present in my brain scans. Like patches of white hoarfrost, the malignancy had spread to the frontal lobe regions of my brain.
“For how can I be sure I shall see again the world on the first of May,” I wondered?
Outside my window, clouds raced the wind against a pale sky. When a shaft of sunlight broke through the haze, my breath caught in my throat. An unusual winter rainbow stretched across the sky. The answer to my troublesome question? Hope.

I was moved by your prosery, Colleen.
I’m on a roll, today, Liz. Thank you. I’ve been gardening and needed a day off. The muse dictated this one. <3
Very obliging of her. 🙂
LOL! <3
This is beautifully written, Colleen, and very moving–and I certainly hope it is fiction!
Thank you for joining in for my Prosery prompt!
Oh yes, it’s fiction. It was my first thought after I read the prompt. I love flash fiction as much as syllabic poetry, so I’ll have to jump in here more often. It was an excellent prompt, Merril. <3
Thank you so much, Colleen! I’m glad it was fiction.😀
We usually have a prosery prompt once a month. I think I missed the last one.
I love your prosery spy romance. It would be great to see those all linked together. <3
Thank you so much, Colleen.
Maybe some day, I’ll try to link them. Probably not as a real book though.
That’s a shame. I’ve read some linked flash fiction that was every bit as good as a novel!
Since I have no idea of an ending–if there is one–it might be difficult. 😅
And for a novel, there would have to be so much more–plus years of research. I am VERY picky about historical novels.
I think you should see where it goes. Just let it be fluid.
😊
I felt the hope here!
Yes! Even in our darkest hours it’s powerful to find hope. Thanks, Sis💜💚💛
So good to have a vision like this to help hope on its way… I think hope has wings.
I agree about hope having wings. Thanks so much for reading.
Having hope brings magic into our lives. ❤️
It definitely opens us up to opportunities and options. 💜
❤️
We can never be sure of tomorrow. But a rainbow always provides hope. (K)
Yes, that is a fact! Thanks, Kerfe. 💜
Aww, spectacular. Hope, yes— because hope takes courage.
Enjoyed reading your prosery, Colleen. Lovely. 👏
Thanks, Selma. I appreciate the read. 💜
That was so beautiful! I loved the imagery and emotion in your prosery, Colleen! 🙂
Thank you, Yvi. I hope it wasn’t too over the top. <3
Not at all! It was perfect! 🙂
That was so beautiful! I loved the imagery and emotion in your prosery, Colleen! 🙂 (Not sure if this will be a repeat. It didn’t seem to post the first time.)
Thanks, Yvi. I know, WP is up to their shenanigans again! 🤦🏼♀️💜
Oh! Colleen that is beautiful and it has given me hope 💜
Wonderful! Thanks, Willow. This is fiction. We must always hang onto hope. 💜
Yes we must otherwise what is left 💜💜
Exactly… the songs are correct. Love and hope are the two constants in this world. <3
Very emotional read…..real depth to this..
Thank you. It’s fictional, but I didn’t want it to be too over the top.
I can also imagine the ’cause’ of the distress to be a memory loss issue.
Since I know of too many that wake the next day, not remembering even what day it is.
The hope is that that the current time or present moment is one of joy and not worry.
Glad it was the muses’ doing!!
Beautiful way to end my Thursday.