Languorous, lingering, luxuriant and self-indulgent. I never could have dreamed of such a day, before the other night, when he called me:
‘Ingrid?’
‘Yes?’
‘Are we still on for tomorrow?’
‘Why ever not?’ I asked: ‘What was the plan again?’
‘A picnic,’ he said, ‘by the lake: I’ll bring the sandwiches, if you’ll bring the cake?’
‘Of course.’ I said, and before he hung up he added:
‘And bring no book, for this one day, we’ll give to idleness.’
He has such a poetic turn of phrase! And such an idle day it was: the best of summer.
Written for dVerse
Tonight, I’m hosting Prosery, where we write short prose pieces based upon selected lines of poetry. I hope you enjoyed this flight of fancy! The lines are taken from Wordsworth:
And bring no book, for this one day
We’ll give to idleness.
Join us from 3pm EST!
Experiments in Fiction 
Oh that picture, and your beautiful poetic prose – I loved being immersed in both :)
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Thank you so much – I am glad you enjoyed :-)
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You are very welcome :)
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Marvelous in every way possible, Ingrid. Captures the moment with clarity. Plausible!!👏
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Thank you so much, Lamittan! 😊
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You’re most welcome, Ingrid. 🤗
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enjoyed that.
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Thank you!
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Summer stories are best right now for us northern folk. I long for a day like that.
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Me too 😊 it will hopefully be upon us soon enough…
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This is just lovely… great reason not to bring a book… being idle… summer is far away and this sounds perfect.
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Yes, I think I am dreaming of that warmth through the long, cold Northern winter…
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Beautifully written, Ingrid! Everything flows so smoothly… I can hardly wait to hear what happens!
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Thank you kindly, Dwight! Perhaps there will be a sequel…
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:>) That would be great!
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Allowing oneself to be idle on a summer’s day is bliss! 🌻☀️🌻☀️
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Thanks Tricia: maybe it will happen one day 😅
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I love the conversational narrative of this piece and how beautifully the final message of idleness and lazing in the sunshine takes me to summer!
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Beautiful, Ingrid. In my mind, I imagined Mr. Wordsworth himself calling you. 😀
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Thank you, Merril: that was the kind of feeling I was going for 😊
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Wonderful! Of course, if he ever did, could you be that calm? 😀
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Definitely not, considering the amount of time he’s been dead 🤣
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I was ignoring that. 🤣 I was thinking more of if you’d be all fan girl?
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Sorry, Merril – just a bad joke 😅 of course I would be awestruck!
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😀
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Like your lovely poetry, when you whisper soft days in nature, always with something behind, of course, you do so with prose also, and one is settled into the green dreamyness through your choice of sounds and meanings. This reads like a relaxation …not a relaxation something, just relaxation! Wonderful.
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As it should, Ain, as it should: thank you!
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oh this was awesome dear Ingrid… but I don’t think you could do it….
“‘Of course.’ I said, and before he hung up he added:
‘And bring no book, for this one day, we’ll give to idleness.’
He has such a poetic turn of phrase! And such an idle day it was: the best of summer.”
Or did you?
🤣💖💖
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Haven’t tried yet Cindy 😅
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Wow, our minds were on a parallel track. I could use your image for my prose as well; tis perfection, with words to spare.
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Many thanks, Glenn: I look forward to reading yours!
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This is very sweet, Ingrid :-)
<3
David
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Thanks David: it’s a sweet poem!
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ooh i nearly went with a pcnic when i read your prompt. then i remembered the photo i had taken on the way to work this morning. he line does tend to pull yu towards summer
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Thanks Rog! Look forward to reading yours, just need to get the kids to bed 😅
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good night kids
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The end circles back to the beginning so smothly. Lovely tale.
Much love…
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Thank you Gillena!
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Does sound a dreamy day. There is a lot to be said for a day of doing nothing. Wordsworth was certainly on to something. ✨
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I believe he was! Thank you Michele 😊
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I went the picnic route too, Ingrid! Great minds. Enjoyed :-)
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I can understand why you did! Thanks Sunra 😊
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Sounds perfect! (K)
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Thank you!
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Lovely!
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Thank you 🙏
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Everyone knows a gent has to be truly articulate and literate if he wants to be a real ladies’ man
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I think you’re right, Larry!
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Wonderful write, Ingrid. This is especially awesome, “ A picnic,’ he said, ‘by the lake: I’ll bring the sandwiches, if you’ll bring the cake?’” That’s so grand. 👏👏👏☺️
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Thank you, Jeff: I know it’s not supposed to be poetry, but I couldn’t resist that rhyme 😊
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You’re welcome, Ingrid. Always. Hahaha. I know that feeling well, happened to me yesterday when I went to write some “prose” hehe. I’m glad yours came out just as it is.
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Sometimes the need to rhyme wins over 😅
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Delightful Ingrid! ☺️
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Thank you Christine 😊
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Tomatoes are in full swing here so I’ll make a few tomato and basil sandwiches. Not a cloud in the sky either.
Loved your picnic. Felt fully in it.
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Sounds fantastic, thank you 😊
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Idleness is a wondrous utopian phrase
caressing the imagery of your summer haze
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Thank you Ivor 😊
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Wow, simply superb!
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Enticingly lovely and engaging Ingrid. I felt my spirit exhale — thank you! 🙂✌🏼❤️
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Thank you for your kind words, Rob!
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Thank you Jay!
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What’s better than a picnic on a fine summer day? I loved this piece of prose :D
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Thank you so much 😊
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Yup. See what you mean. It reads like a quote because it is a quote.
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It was the only way to sound ‘natural’
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I know! Because you hear the difference between prose and poetry. You prove your own point.
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Some of the best picnics are impromptu! Lovely, Ingrid. Now, go ahead and indulge yourself in an idle afternoon with simple food and good company! <3
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Thank you, Cheryl – I did exactly that 😊
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Beautiful, a delightful prospect indeed.
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Thank you Paul!
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Yes. Ideal. Loved. xo
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Thanks Selma 😊
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Lovely prose Ingrid
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Thank you Navin!
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That sounds like a marvelous day! LOVE the image too.
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Thank you so much Lillian!
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Oh, I love this and just the poetic phrase sets the atmosphere for the entire experience!
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Thank you Mary 🙏
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So lovely Ingrid!
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Thank you 😊
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That’s lovely. He sounds like a poet and the afternoon romantic.
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Indeed! 😊
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This was delicious, Ingrid!
This sounds like the perfect afternoon.
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Thank you Dale!
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Gorgeous, Ingrid! Who wouldn’t love such a day and what it may lead to! 😊❤️
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Thanks Punam 🥰
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My pleasure. 😊❤️
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Beautiful work! Some days you’ve just gotta kick your feet up and savour the peace and quiet. :)
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Absolutely! Many thanks 😊
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And bring no book, for this one day, we’ll give to idleness.’I love it. Reminiscent of a summer picnic. The conversation is also so nice that I thought it ended early.
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Thank you, Jane – maybe it did!
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You are most welcome, Ingrid!
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