You have reached a quiet bamboo grove, where you will find an eclectic mix of nature, music, writing, and other creative arts. Tao-Talk is curated by a philosophical daoist who has thrown the net away.
The granites and schists Of my dark and stubborn country. — by Nan Shepherd, from, “The Hill Burns” from In the Cairngorms*
Granites and Schists
She lay curled and still, a small figure lost in loose, white cotton folds in the graffiti-enshrined bus stop cubicle. A puffy-jacketed arc of bystanders with pointed phones surrounds her.
Sirens approach. Crowds are shooed. Yellow tape unfurls.
* * *
Twelve years old.
Why does she get assigned to my unit? Because we catch ‘em, that’s why.
While Jerry reads forensics reports, I meet with her family. They tell me there have been problems. Red spray-painted, “Go Home” on their front door. Their cat found hanging from a tree with a note, “You’re Next.”
I will never understand the granites and schists of my dark and stubborn country. The refusal of the intolerant to accept that our diversity is what makes us strong. That homogenization is for dairy products, not people.
Jerry texts, “I got something.”
We’re going to nail those bastards to the wall.
[143 words]
*Edinburgh: The Moray Press, 1934 top image link , artist Whittney de Araujo
Merril is today’s host of dVerse’ Prosery Monday. Merill would like us to write a 144-word story using the given line of poetry.
And holy moly, Lisa… you went right for the jugular on this one. Brilliant story you have told. It punched me in the gut thanks to your expertise with the written word.
I have to say Lisa I was confused because this all sounded so current, even the poem written in 1934, that I couldn’t understand how it couldn’t be about our current life in the US. You definitely point out some sad truths.
This is so very heartbreaking to read and sadly, could be very true. A news article here in Boston today reported that four people were taken out of the line awaiting to enter Faneul Hall yesterday. They were there for the naturalization ceremony/program where they would be sworn in as citizens of the US. Their family and friends were there to be in the audience and then to celebrate. They’d studied and passed all the tests necessary to become citizens. One woman had been in this country for 40 years. They didn’t understand why they were taken out of line until agents told them their citizenship applications had been rescinded because they were originally from one of the 19 countries Trump recently decided to stop all immigrations from. That was the only reason. And my added note, they were not white. How absolutely awful and cruel. My guess is the next step will be to claim, therefore, that they are not citizents and therefore here illegally and since these 19 countries have been cited by Trump, they will now be fearful of deportation instead of swelling with pride at becoming citizens. There is something terribly wrong with this country.
“The refusal of the intolerant to accept that our diversity is what makes us strong.” We have the same issue with the Far Right here – politicians whip up populist immigration memes just to win elections with no regard to the individuals even less to the truth you speak…
Something is wrong here… nothing to read.
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If you highlight it, you can read it. Methinks our friend accidentally put it in white print!
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Dale, I reposted it, will you please check it to see if it works right now?
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Nope! Do you use the block? If so, you’ll have to change either the background colour or the type colour!
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Yipes. Did you check my second linkup? As far as I know I always use “classic” and am doing it the same way as usual. Did something change with WP?
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I dunno… I still cannot see anything.
I have no idea!!
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I logged out and logged back in and cleared my cache. I see another comment from you that it’s working now. Thanks for letting me know <3
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💞
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<3
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Bjorn, will you please delete the one that has (second one) on it? Not sure what went wrong but I re-posted it.
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This was intriguing, with underlining darkness
much♡love
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Gillena, thanks much.
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I have now read it…. this was such a sad story…. it is so much darknesss when even children are targets (and perpetrators)
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Yes, it is. So much darkness is right.
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A tragedy that seems to be happening in so many places. So well done, Li. Thank you!
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You are welcome, Merril. Glad you were able to see it.
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You’re welcome, too, but the link has vanished in the Linky.
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Yay! You fixed it!
And holy moly, Lisa… you went right for the jugular on this one. Brilliant story you have told. It punched me in the gut thanks to your expertise with the written word.
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Thank you, Dale. I’m reading Virginia Giuffre’s book right now and it has both triggered and enraged me.
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Oh, and I wanted to say, perfect picture to go with your story.
I had to look her up. Oh, I can easily imagine you being enraged.
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Dale, thanks much. Glad you looked her up.
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I had to as I didn’t know the name!
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The link is in the Linky, and now everyone can read it!
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Awesome! WP definitely has a ghost in the machine. Thanks for letting me know, Merril.
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You’re welcome!
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I have to say Lisa I was confused because this all sounded so current, even the poem written in 1934, that I couldn’t understand how it couldn’t be about our current life in the US. You definitely point out some sad truths.
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Christine, I wish it was in the distant past, or, better yet, had never happened at all.
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right?!?!?
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This is so very heartbreaking to read and sadly, could be very true. A news article here in Boston today reported that four people were taken out of the line awaiting to enter Faneul Hall yesterday. They were there for the naturalization ceremony/program where they would be sworn in as citizens of the US. Their family and friends were there to be in the audience and then to celebrate. They’d studied and passed all the tests necessary to become citizens. One woman had been in this country for 40 years. They didn’t understand why they were taken out of line until agents told them their citizenship applications had been rescinded because they were originally from one of the 19 countries Trump recently decided to stop all immigrations from. That was the only reason. And my added note, they were not white. How absolutely awful and cruel. My guess is the next step will be to claim, therefore, that they are not citizents and therefore here illegally and since these 19 countries have been cited by Trump, they will now be fearful of deportation instead of swelling with pride at becoming citizens. There is something terribly wrong with this country.
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OH NO. My heart goes out to every person harmed in senseless ways because of that lunatic’s idiocy and fascist practices.
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Powerful and ‘complete’ story-telling – Jae
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Jae, thanks for the feedback.
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Wow, I’m speechless!
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Heather, I hope in a good way :)
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Such a sad state of affairs.
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YES. I totally disgusted by it. The innocent pay the price for the monsters at the helm.
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Absolutely 💔💔💔
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<3
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🥲
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*applause!*
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Lisa, you have presented us with the tragic truth .. truth we must not ignore and you did it masterfully in this prose piece. BRAVA.
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Helen, I wish it were fiction :(
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“The refusal of the intolerant to accept that our diversity is what makes us strong.” We have the same issue with the Far Right here – politicians whip up populist immigration memes just to win elections with no regard to the individuals even less to the truth you speak…
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As Pink Floyd sings, “there’s a lot of it about.”
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Catches in my throat. I do love how you tie behaviour to the rocks, stony resistance to love and acceptance.
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Paul, thank you. After reading today’s news, I’m at a loss for words.
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