I’ve been on this pirate ship, locked in a cabin, for ten days now, and there has been no sign of land, just the ocean as far as the eye can see. It’s a relief to spot a whale or a bird through the porthole, allies to a young girl trapped in a world of blood-thirsty and hot-blooded men, with their cutlasses and rum, a potent combination. Being just fourteen years old, I have no skills. For flight or wings to skim the waves effortlessly, like the wind itself, I would have to make friends with a frigate bird and send it, a faithful messenger, for help. And just as I think that, I see one soaring high above me, with its striking scarlet throat and enormous wings, a sign that we are close to land. Please help me escape this hell on water.
Kim M. Russell, 12th May 2025
This Monday at the dVerse Poets Pub we are writing the dVerse form called Prosery with Merril, our host for today. We take a line of poetry and include it in a piece of prose no longer than 144 words. We must not insert words into the given line; however, we may punctuate it.
Merril says that she has been looking at American poet laureates, and has chosen to focus on the current one, the twenty-fourth, whose term appears to have ended in April 2025: Ada Limon. She has chosen one of Limon’s poems called ‘The Magnificent Frigatebird’:
“I have no skills for flight or wings
to skim the waves effortlessly, like the wind itself.”
writing in north norfolk 
I have hope for her, it sounds like she is in a really bad place at the moment. The title reminded me of that novel by Stevenson…
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But with a twist.
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So skillfully written, Kim. I think this is a book I’d enjoy reading. Somehow, I think this young woman will survive and escape.
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Thank you very much, Merril. I think she will too, but it won’t be straightforward.
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You’re welcome, Kim.
All the more interesting!
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Well done! The change in punctuation does you well here. And these words, “hot-blooded men, with their cutlasses and rum, a potent combination” add peril to the situation!
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Thanks so much, Lill!
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MAGIC rescue! Thank heavens. A teen alone with those lusty pirates certainly needs one!
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I agree, Helen.
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Very nicely written, Kim. Kudos for using both the prompt and Merril’s bird picture as well.
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Thank you, Dwight.
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Oh, I hope she is rescued! 🙂
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Me too, Carol!
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More! We want more!! Turn Stevenson on his head and give us a female heroine Kim…
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Thanks Andrew!
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hope she gets to be rescued
much♡love
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And much love to you, Gillena.
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oh my gosh, my protagonist (I) is also a 14 yo who looks more like 12 (still trying to locate a photo of her). And she’s also in a boat. Oh my… at least your girl found hope in that bird she spotted. Of course, I think hope is the most life-giving force we have. It is hopeless for my confused girl 😢 Thanks so much for letting me read your stellar work, Kim. Bless you.
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Thank you for reading, Selma. I’ll be over to read yours shortly.
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Wrote it. Going live in 30 minutes, Kim. Thanks beforehand
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You did a great job with the prompt, Kim. Very nice.
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Thank you, Robbie.
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My pleasure
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That was awesome, Kim! I could see that turning into a longer story.
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
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Thanks Yvette!
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Hope in a frigate bird, I love the way you tell this and the way you kept the tension.
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Thanks Paul!
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