It’s Prosery Monday at dVerse Poetry Pub. Today Merril challenges us to write a prose piece of no more than 144 words including the following quote:
“I am bombarded yet I stand.”
From Adrienne Rich, “Planetarium”
My piece is titled “Clipped Wings”.
Your ceramic bird fell and shattered like our dreams of a long, shared life. I didn’t mean to drop it – my fingers went numb. As numb as I’ve felt since you announced you were leaving. You opened the bedroom door and I quickly shoved a few pieces under the sideboard, fluttering wings beating in my chest. I am exhausted after hours of my tears and your tantrums, your shrill recriminations keening through the house. I am bombarded yet I stand here clutching a ceramic shard in my palm. As you brush past, I grab your arm and raise mine. A sharp blue feather flies to your heart.
Charlotte Hamrick 
Oh my, that ending cut right to the heart of the matter.
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I think I watch too much crime drama, Rob. 😆 Thanks for reading!
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It’s an act of nourishment, what you do, what you give, these close knit threads, engaging words – and doing this in the face of a blank page. Your act is generous. Me, out of sorts this eve, but even so, enough poetic clarity to penetrate my discomfort. Thanks needed being said. 🙂
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You are so kind, Neil, thank you! I hope your sorts improve. (((Hugs)))
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What a great story! Love the ending.. ‘As you brush past, I grab your arm and raise mine. A sharp blue feather flies to your heart.’
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Thank you, Carol.
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A chilling tale, but sometimes the punishment fits the crime…and this one is so beautifully painted. (K)
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thanks for reading, Kerfe 🌻
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Powerful! This made me think of how you know a relationship is pretty much over when you go numb, yet I think she is still hurting a great deal for that ending. The shards of a relationship can do so much damage! 😱
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Thanks, Tricia. I’m glad my point came across!
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I could never figure out how physically hurting someone heals emotional hurt.
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It doesn’t. It just piles hurt upon hurt. Thanks for reading. 😊
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You capture all the heartache, and then add a startling conclusion!
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Thanks,Ingrid 🌻
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Wow, Charlotte – I’d be afraid to leave you! 😉
🤍
David
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Lol, Ben 👍
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Charlotte–this is so beautifully written. I love how you managed to carry the bird imagery through the whole piece to that cutting (sorry) conclusion. SO good!
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Thank you, Merril! The quote was inspiring. 🌻
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You’re welcome! I’m glad you found the quotation inspiring.
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As others have said, great ending! I like how this piece starts in the past tense but ends in the present tense – brings the reader right in.
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I’m glad, Lynne. Thanks for reading! 🌻
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A complex tale you tell ~~ with an ending that seems fair! I enjoyed it.
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I appreciate it, Helen. 😊
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This is such a chilling tale. I loved the ending!
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I’m glad you liked it, Astrid🌻
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Quiate a tale. Maybe it would have been better to just let him go that have to explain how he fell on the “feather”!
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Maybe but it would make a much less interesting tale. 😉
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Eloquent yet chilling thank you
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Thank you for reading, David
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This is too relatable. Relationships can bring out the worse
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Yes, they can. Thanks for reading.
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What a brutal end… love how you used the bird imagery… and it got me to think about hope and how you shattered it all.
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