Islands in the stream
that is what we are, or
ships that pass in the night.
And when the stream has dried
of all it’s bitterness
an arroyo seco
is what divides us.
From one lover
who writes
to another
who does not read.
© 2021 Experimentsinfiction.com. All Rights Reserved.
Written for dVerse
Tonight it’s quadrille, and De is hosting. She has asked us to use the word ‘stream’ in our poems of exactly 44 words. The first thing I thought of when I read the word was the song by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton: by pure coincidence, De has used this in the dVerse prompt (I did not know this when I wrote the poem!) Make of that what you will. An arroyo seco is a dry stream, or creek, in Spanish.
“arroyo seco” sounds so much more beautiful than what it is, as words so often do. That dry stream sure doesn’t give those two ships much of a chance. Well done.
Thanks De! Not much of a chance at all 😳
Nice one
Much💜love
Thanks Gillena ♥️
a rueful retrospective Ingrid – a dry river bed between the lovers (brilliant analogy with reference to other beds) and that potent final line
Thank you Laura!
Lovely Ingrid!
Thank you Linda!
This is exquisitely drawn, Ingrid! I love the use of analogy here .. it goes so well with the theme! 💝💝
Thank you Sanaa 💕
Poignant with strong imagery. Your last stanza tears me up 🙁 (both meanings)
Me too! Thanks Lisa 😊
You’re welcome, Ingrid.
Sad but beautifully written. That uncrossable chasm. 🙁
Thank you!
Yes, the “uncrossable chasm”, a main stay for metaphors. Love dries up, and too often, never reinhabits the same stream bed again.
And all we have left are songs and memories!
well written as usaly .
Thank you Rog!
Your image and verse pack a punch in just 44 words! Well written!
Thanks Tricia 😊
Gorgeous, Ingrid. The selective illiteracy of a couple, mismatched. Much enjoyed.
Thank you K.
You’re most welcome.
Everyone has such a page in their book of memories, no doubt. You’ve said it so well….and in 44 words too!
So well written!
Thanks Lucy ♥️
Very well done… When it all dries up I see we have lots of stones to throw at each other! Sadly that seem to be what happens.
Quite often! Thanks Dwight.
Wonderfully developed, Ingrid, esp the closing image of the unread writ.
Thanks Ron.
Really lovely use of metaphors. ❤️
Thank you Joni ❤️
And when the stream has dried
of all it’s bitterness an arroyo seco
is what divides us.
That’s life. Love the reference to reality and true events, Ingrid! One therefore has to find ways and means on overcoming it!
Hank
Indeed we do! Thanks Hank 😊
Lovely words.
Thank you!
oh this was soooo cool and I love that you have such a broad breadth of work you can draw on from literacy to history and music that you made this beautiful connection. Love the song and these words “From one lover
who writes
to another
who does not read.”💖👏👏👏
Thanks Cindy: a bit of a sad one but there is room for that in my repertoire! 🥲🥰😅
yes and judging from the comments room for all of us in our repertoire for a bit of sadness as well. xo💖
❤️
I absolutely how you took the lines from the song and gave them all such depth of new meanings here. Those last lines sting.
Thank you Raivenne: I think it’s an emotive song so I just picked it apart a bit!
Wow Ingrid, this is beautifully expressive! The last few lines really touched my heart❤
Thank you Ishita 🙏❤️
well said Ingrid
Thank you Kate!
most welcome!
I like this!
A bit of realism never hurt anyone! Thanks Jane.
Reality seems to be what you want these days. I like what corresponds to my version 🙂
This one is so heartbreakingly beautiful! Ingrid, very well crafted. ❤️
Thank you so much Punam! I’ve had a busy day traveling so will be catching up reading and commenting as soon as I can ❤️
No worries. 😊 You are welcome.
I like the Spanish phrase, thereby insinuating ‘Latin hot-blooded” passion, which as one reads on has dried to dust.
It’s quite ironic when you look at it that way! Thank you Misky.
The sadness of misunderstanding / miscommunication! 🙁
It can be heartbreaking 🙁
🙁 🙁 🙁 Ingrid 🙁 🙁 🙁
I know!! I’ve had a busy day traveling so will be catching up reading and commenting as soon as I can…
Oh, that is beautiful, and those lines “from one lover who writes, to another who does not read” are so, so sad.
Heartbreaking, isn’t it? I’ve had a busy day traveling so will be catching up reading and commenting as soon as I can…
Wow!! This is painfully beautiful and you’ve rendered it well in just 44 words. Well done, Ingrid! 🙂
Thank you Kitty 🙂
Our paths echo nature in cycles of drought. You shared it beautifully.
Thank you Ali 🙂
Nicely done. And some say that telling it like it is is a good thing. 🙂
So they do! Thank you 🙂
Thank you!
Loved your quadrille … a bit of mental telemetry is called for here I think. Psychic phenomena. We must be able to communicate those deep, provocative, loving thoughts.
I too thought of Islands in the stream before reading the post trough. But no idea worked. So went another way instead.
Your Quadrille is splendid. I especially like the last stanza.
Thank you Helene!
We certainly must – and there is always a way, thank you Helen!
Such an ache of loss in these words. (K)
Yes, sometimes such things can be painful.
Arroyo seco….I love the use of this. Lovely write Ingrid ☺️
Thank you Christine 🙂