I’m trapped between mature queen beeches, beneath the litter of their crunchy mast. Their silver trunks are adorned with stag-horn lichen and bracket fungus, a tiny fairyland. Me, I’m a giant, one of a circle of stones haunting the landscape, a left-over from a long time ago. Sometimes the great bones of my life feel so heavy, casting long shadows when all I want is to soar with the crows in a wind-filled world. But I am firmly anchored to the soil, my limbs exposed to the weather, porous and cold.
Half-awake, I lie here waiting for spring, for flashes of golden shafts of sun, for bluebells to cast their heady scent onto the breeze and overhead blossoms to banish the pregnant clouds. Soon, my limbs will be draped with green moss and grassy fronds, a fresh new outfit for a giant like me. (144 words)
Kim M. Russell, 18th January 2021
My response to dVerse Poets Pub Prosery: Bone Weary
Linda is back with this month’s Prosery, a story of 144 words or less (not including the title), which must have a beginning and an end, and should not be poetry, including a given line in its entirety, with altered punctuation allowed.
Linda chose a line from ‘Spring Azures’ from the poetry collection Wild Geese by Mary Oliver: ‘Sometimes the great bones of my life feel so heavy’.
Free image of a sculpture from the Eden Project, Cornwall found on Dreamstime. All of my Eden Project photographs have disappeared.
Oh Kim…you’ve brought this giant to life for your readers. The details are quite amazing. I can picture him so very well….even without the image. And the Mary Olive line flows so well into your description here. And these words “when all I want is to soar with the crows in a wind-filled world” capture the plight of a stone sculpture who we can imagine as life frozen in stone. I enjoyed this very much!
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I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Lill!
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Wondrous telling, Kim. I can relate to this Giant’s, “Half-awake, I lie here waiting for spring, for flashes of golden shafts of sun, for bluebells to cast their heady scent onto the breeze and overhead blossoms to banish the pregnant clouds.”
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Thank you, Lisa!
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You’re welcome!
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Love this! I can visualize the giant “anchored to the soil”, with his “limbs exposed to the weather, porous and cold.” The yearning for freedom, for taste of adventure is so palpable here. Wonderful writing, Kim! 💝💝
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Thank you, Sanaa! 😉
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I really enjoyed this insight into the giant’s thoughts and feelings. How patiently she waits for spring, while practicing acceptance of her current circumstances.
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I’m glad you see her as female, Ingrid. She is one of Nature’s ancient children.
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I do love this giant which to me was the personification of an old oak. A tree it feels easy to identify with… a bit like an aged librarian.
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Thank you, Bjorn. The ancients are so interesting.
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Kim, you have given this giant such life with your beautiful imagery. LOVE!
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Thank you so much, Linda!
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I love this story told from the giant’s perspective. Lovely and full of great details.
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Thank you, Merril!
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You’re welcome!
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Also–that image. He does look like he’s pondering.
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🙂
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fitting tribute for a giant mother nature … love your imagery!
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Thank you, Kate!
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A quiet lovable giant, he is patient yet chrismatic
Thanks for dropping by to read mine
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Thank you, Gillena!
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I wonder if even the soaring crows, on their worst days, feel the weight of their bones, too. I’ll bet they do.
Awesome work, KR.
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Thank you, Ron. I think they do too.
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Your image is fascinating, making it a joy to write to. A clever and creative take on the prompt. This giant is a male, it’s chest is exposed. I see the giant as a troll frozen for eternity by a white wizard.
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Thank you, Glenn, Giants are so misunderstood.
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Your perfect words and boundless imagery make this an amazing piece of writing. I feel as if I know the giant!
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Thank you!
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The picture fits perfect with the prosery! He looks so over it all! Love it!
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Thank you, Mary!
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Those heavy bones and the flying crows got me writing a little poem…..
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I’ll drop by to read later.
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Not yet posted. Needs something more….
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Too depressed to read and comment this evening, just saying hello – be back when I am repackaged.
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A giant in a fairyland – I loved her prosery: sweet, sensual, and rich with hope as she waits for spring..
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Thank you, Dora!
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This makes me think about the stones in a new way. Would they fly if they could? (K)
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How did they get there in the first place?
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Perhaps they have already flown once and dream of it.
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This is so good – I loved it, Kim! (what happened to your photos?)
-David
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Thank you, David. They were stored on an old computer, which I forgot to back up to the cloud before it went to the computer graveyard!
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This brings to life what was, it seems, always alive, longing to be free yet finding satisfaction in what will be.
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I love natural stones, sculpted by time and weather.
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This is marvelous! Especially the POV you’ve told it through the giant’s eyes/voice. Lovely.
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Thank you, Louise.
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Awesome.. so well personified
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Thank you!
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By the way, I’ve come back here so many times to enjoy the wordplay… Good work.
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Thank you so much. It’s lovely to see you here.
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I absolutely adore the second half of your story. That is me to a T. Longing for spring and “flashes of golden shafts of sun” beautiful images, Kim
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Thank you, Debi. I’m longing for spring and will feel brighter when I see flowers and blossom.
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Wonderful imaginative presentation in verse reflecting the image you posted Kim.
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Loved every word of this …..
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Thank you, Helen.
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So descriptive and wonderful! I loved the imagery of “Their silver trunks are adorned with stag-horn lichen and bracket fungus, a tiny fairyland.” And the fairyland makes the giant seem all the bigger. Really enjoyed your take on the prompt.
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Thank you very much for reading and commenting!
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Oh how well you’ve brought this figure to life. Quite splendid!
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Thank you kindly. It was a tricky one, Marilyn.
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