In the street of the sky night walks scattering poems
— by e.e. cummings, from “IX- Impressions”
“In the street of the sky night walks scattering poems. Dawn will write a new one soon,” she said that night as we walked, arm in arm, our necks craned, looking up, bare feet scuffling the uneven gravel path that silenced to sand. Beach grass wind-sighed yet was drowned in the roar of stampeding waves pawing at the shore.
“We’ll jump on our sky ponies’ backs and lasso them,” I said while spinning around to face her, pulling her into my arms. We embraced as if it were the last time. And it was.
The next morning, I found her clothes folded neatly on the driftwood log where the grass ended and the beach opened like a runway to heaven.
She’d decided to join her sargasso-haired sisters in the muffled swoon of the deep, crab-bait-to-be, with octopi soon slithering through her ribcage.
[144 words]
images taken at Lake Michigan beach in July 2013
Linda Lee Lyberg is today’s host for dVerse’ Monday Prosery. Linda says:
Write a story of 144 words or less (not including the title). The story must have a beginning and an end, and should not be poetry. Sounds easy enough right? Here’s the twist: You must use the poetry line I have given you within your story. You may alter the punctuation, but you must use the line in its entirety without inserting any other words.
Tao Talk 
This is so sad but so very beautiful. Love the way you described the death in the ocean, joining the sargasso haired sisters.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Bjorn, thank you very much.
LikeLike
Your story is lush with wonderful imagery Lisa. A sad, ending, but also freeing.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, Dear Linda ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome. 🙏🏻😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicely done, Lisa! I love the use of sound in ‘bare feet scuffling the uneven gravel path that silenced to sand’ and ‘Beach grass wind-sighed yet was drowned in the roar of stampeding waves pawing at the shore’. But the ending is quite horrific. Where can I find a sky pony?
LikeLiked by 3 people
❤ Thank you, Kim.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re more than welcome, Lisa!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an amazing write….what an amazing illustration. I am smitten with these words, “Beach grass wind-sighed yet was drowned in the roar of stampeding waves pawing at the shore.” The imagery is divine.
LikeLiked by 3 people
❤ Thanks Lillian!
LikeLike
So romantic… until that slithering!
LikeLiked by 3 people
So you’re ok with the crab-bait-to-be? 😉 Thanks, Ken!
LikeLike
It is so hard to find a Silkie with poetic inclinations. Nice gender switch for the protagonist, but you could have written as a woman with a Merman. Most Mermaids are a bit evil, drowning the lusty sailors. This one was the exception it seems.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Glenn! Good to see you. Love your comment. There’s an exception to every rule, you know that…
LikeLike
OMG. That last paragraph is tense.
Happy Monday.
Much💛love
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks much, Gillena!
LikeLike
Quite disconcerting and sad for the lover left behind. What a whale, I mean, crab-bait-to-be, tale!
LikeLiked by 2 people
You know I didn’t think of her as a selkie until Glenn mentioned it, but I believe he’s right. Maybe she swallows octopi whole, while they’re still slithering…
LikeLike
That’s what I thought until … well, she’s a very unusual selkie 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sad, beautiful imagery–and cool photo, too!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Merril!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So dark and dangerous Lisa, but delightfully so! Great tale you’ve spun around the proffered prompt phrase. You blended it seamlessly into your piece. Bravo my fridnd… 👍🏼🙂✌🏼🕊❤️
LikeLiked by 2 people
So glad you enjoyed it, Rob, thanks, buddy!
LikeLike
I thought selkie right away too. Lovely description of the beach. (K)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, K 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, your words are gorgeous, Lisa! But the last line – breathtaking and heartbreaking. The prompt seamless. Bravo.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Raivenne, thank you ❤
LikeLike
A beautiful tragedy! You die d a great job with this prompt!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks much, Dwight!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You really didn’t die d a great job, you did a great job!:>)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sad, but there’s something a bit heroic about it too.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks much, Jane.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So well written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much.
LikeLike
The imagery is in high gear with this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank, Max!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel bad because I cannot give better comments…but I’m learning more and more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reading and commenting is appreciated. No worries, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So beautifully written Li.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks much, Sadje.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome
LikeLiked by 1 person
A fascinating piece of prose, Lisa ….. by land or by sea!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Helen!
LikeLike