The bitter bottle #prosery #dVerse

He picks up the bottle, pours out of it a stream of bitter and slanderous lies. I stand for truth: I am bombarded, yet I stand, embattled, battle-hardened. The tirade of abuse hits like a hurricane, but my limbs are seasoned timber: I have weathered many storms.

Where there is hatred, let me bring love…

It’s a hard one to remember, in the midst of a storm, but remember it I must. If not, toxicity takes over, and my resolve crumbles into dust.

Bless those that curse you, bless, and curse not…

I turn the other cheek, but there’s a carving knife gripped tightly in my hand…

I didn’t say that I was going to use it.

© 202experimentsinfiction.com. All Rights Reserved.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Written for dVerse

Tonight, Merril has given us a line from the poem ‘Planetarium’ by Adrienne Rich to incorporate into our short prose pieces:

“I am bombarded yet I stand.”

This was such a powerful statement that it took me in a very definite direction. Do visit Merril’s post to find out more about Adrienne Rich, and try the prompt for yourself!

65 thoughts on “The bitter bottle #prosery #dVerse

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  1. Nice piece Ingrid. I really like:

    “The tirade of abuse hits like a hurricane, but my limbs are seasoned timber: I have weathered many storms.”

    Have a great week. ❤️

  2. I love it, Ingrid–especially those last lines!

    We do seem to be bombarded by hate–at least here in the US with the followers of our former president. I think there’s a fine line between turning the cheek and not standing up against hate.

  3. “Be prepared and always wear clean underwear, just in case,” my mother used to say. Our minds and our poetics run in similar directions today. You rocked the prompt, and put a smile on my face; thanks.

  4. Powerful … loosen the grip !! … “It’s hard to hold the hand of anyone who is reaching for the sky just to surrender” .. Leonard Cohen

  5. ‘”Where there is hatred, let me bring love.’ It’s a hard one to remember in the midst of a storm.” I love the way you have incorporated the quotes, Ingrid. I think the person might almost be forgiven if they do use that knife.

  6. I LOVE the grit and bitterness, even if it almost reduces me to tears. What a description of what is being poured!

    Strong last words. At the very end I noticed it was a “carving knife,” not just knife..how powerful.

  7. “Where there is hatred, let me bring love…”

    That sounds like an excerpt from the prayer of St. Francis.

    If ever I need guidance about turning adversity and pain into love and compassion, St. Francis is a very welcome set of guidance.

  8. This is such a powerful piece. It takes tremendous strength to not retaliate in kind. Let us hope she does not need the knife.

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