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.
© 2021 experimentsinfiction.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!
Experiments in Fiction 
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. ❤️
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Thanks Joni ❤️
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You are very welcomed. ❤️
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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.
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Turning the cheek is really hard to do, but we definitely need a kind of defiant resolve when faced with irrational hatred.
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Yes, I agree.
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It is scary that we have to be bombarded like that… having something to defend yourself and still not use it is real strength.
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Yes, the temptation must be enormous!
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I’m not sure I believe her! Nicely done, Ingrid.
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😏 thanks Sarah!
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Love the strength in this piece!
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Thank you Jaya!
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It is always good to be prepared! Gret verse
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Thank you Beverly!
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“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.
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My pleasure Glenn, thank you!
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Powerful … loosen the grip !! … “It’s hard to hold the hand of anyone who is reaching for the sky just to surrender” .. Leonard Cohen
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Perhaps that is the answer! Thank you Ivor 🙏
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Serious issues, yet a tad of lightness in the ending.
Happy Monday
Much💛love
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I always try to add that! Thanks Gillena ❤️
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You build up so much tension in just a few words. Chilling. (K)
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Thank you Kerfe – I tried!
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I can feel the struggle in this, and that ending! 😲 He better watch out!
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I’d say so!
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The language, the message, the resolve of the character- strong piece! Love this.
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I’m smiling Ingrid… 🙂. Love the gallows humor ending here! 👍🏼
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A good story Ingrid… great ending.
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Wow! Very intense! I was right there with you in the telling.
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I was taken by the poetic prose. And such a strong character! She really picks her battles, choosing an internal one of turning the other cheek rather than overt resistance. For now.
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This prompt is attracting heart-wrenching and intense posts. Very well-written!
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Damn. This is an intense write, Ingrid. I say – use the knife!
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The future hangs in the balance…
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Grim times call for grim measures!
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Indeed! 🔪
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Oh this is so good! A two-edged sword is more effective than a carving knife, but I too, have held many.
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Thank you Mary!
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Very powerful piece. Excellent construction!
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Thank you Gabriela! I’m glad you like it ❤️
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‘”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.
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Thank you Cheryl!
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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.
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Just like the farmer’s wife 😅 thanks Ain!
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Ingrid .. love how you interspersed those wonderfully positive lines. Hoping the knife is unnecessary.
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Thanks Helen: me too 😅
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Yes, I have been fortunate to spend weeks in the Lake District .. wonderful memories, so long ago.
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Oh how lovely: Wordsworth country! Whereabouts? I was back for a month in the summer.
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“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.
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It is indeed adapted from that prayer: I make use of it a lot.
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powerful and truly and an intense piece.. loved it Ingrid!💖👏👏
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I’m glad Cindy, thank you! ❤️
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You’re sooo welcome!💖
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sooo welcome always Ingrid!💖
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So intense! Truth and kindness are powerful! Bravo.
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Thank you 🙏
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intensity is 144 words, helping me out of a writing funt
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Great to hear!
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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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Thanks Dale! Yes, fingers crossed🤞
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This is amazing Ingrid. So powerful. You are a talented writer.
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Thank you so much Deborah: it’s so much harder to sustain this voice over the length of a novel though!
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You don’t need to. You can write beautiful prose but it should pepper your story. Otherwise it would be too rich to digest.
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That’s a very good point, thank you!
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Well done, Ingrid. Definitely contains things to think about.
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Gorgeously written. Catches at the heart. I loved this more than I can say.
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Thank you Jude 🙏
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