She dreamed of becoming a famous poet. On her eighteenth birthday, she outgrew the foster-care system. She walked out of old man Henrys’ flat for the last time, carrying her journals, writing supplies, toothbrush, two pair of socks and underpants, two flannel shirts, and twenty dollars, all stuffed in her backpack.
In Central Park, she sat down and began writing about what she saw. Children playing tag; people jogging; women pushing baby buggies. As the sun set, she lay down on the bench, looking up. Just to get a different perspective. Everything was upside down. She saw how in the street of the sky, night walks. Scattering poems in her head, the stars blinked telling her it would all be okay. She’d sleep now. In the morning she’d stop in Starbucks and see if they’d hire a poet who could double as a barista.
Written for dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe.
Today Linda is hosting Prosery Monday where we’re given one line from a poem, and expected to insert that line, word for word, into a piece of prose that is 144 words or less, sans title. In essence, it’s the one time poets at dVerse write flash fiction! We may add punctuation to the line; but we may not insert into or delete any words out of the line.
The line Linda chose for us to use is ‘In the street of the sky, night walks. Scattering poems.” It comes from Tulips & Chimneys by E. E. Cummings and is the last line of IX- Impressions.
Photo from Pixabay.com
lillian the home poet 
It sounds like the beginning of something that can go very wrong but there are many opportunities as well.
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Opportunities are always good 🙂
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Lillian- this is divine. Love the way you used the line.
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Glad you enjoyed, Linda! Eyes are cattywonkers….only one eye corrected. So will only read for a bit.
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No worries- take care of those eyes!
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A soulful heroine if there ever was one. Despite her harsh beginnings, I think she’ll do ok.
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Me too!
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i wish her well in her endeavour as a poet.
enjoyed reading this
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Glad you enjoyed!
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Bravo. Nice one
Much💛love
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Thank you, Gillena! See you Thursday at OLN LIVE!
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A character study full of detail that gave me a glimpse into your protagonist’s life, Lill, and I love the scene you painted of Central Park. You wove the prompt in so deftly with punctuation.
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Thank you, Kim. Glad you enjoyed!
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The stars are a good place to start.
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Yes indeed!
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Poetry takes the foreground, and the protagonist’s back story, and present plight cover all the bases. It did occur to me that it is typical of young people to prefer Starbuck’s over a warm bed.
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If she can make coffee even half as well as you tell her tale, she in. Wonderfully unfolded Lillian. Thanks.
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Even a poet has to eat. Starbucks is a good choice for employment!
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I thought this might be a true story. You worked the prompt line in effortlessly. I hope good things come to her.
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This feels so very real and that’s why it work. How artists paths lay through avenues of coffee shops and restaurants along the way? You captured the reality check moment perfectly.
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Very nicely done, Lillian. A great story!
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Great visuals, Lillian. Like the opening of a film.
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If only it were so easy…the foster parents I know keep helping at least. I know many don’t, or the situation is untenable. There are no happy endings for too many. (K)
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