In the tender gray,
I swim undisturbed.
by Celia Dropkin,
from, “In Sullivan County”
In the tender gray, I swim undisturbed
Your challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to incorporate the above quote into a piece of prose. This can be either flash fiction, nonfiction, or creative nonfiction, but it must be prose! Not prose poetry, and not a poem. And it must be no longer than 144 words, not including the title. (It does not have to be exactly 144 words, but it can’t exceed 144 words.)
One More Winter
She tried to focus on the morning scenery covered with pristine newly fallen snow. It was smokey gray now through the prism of her ancient eyes. Her heart raced as fun filled memories flooded her brain. Sliding, most often on her belly, effortlessly in high-speed tumble bumble ‘rat races’ as crystals danced in the air beside her family and friends. Over and over one game inspired another!
As the matriarch of her tribe, instinct whispered to her that this winter was her last. Now, infertile and infirm much of her time was meant to be spent alone. It was just as well, she was tired. As she slipped into the half-frozen life-giving river a calm peacefulness spoke to her.
“In the tender gray, I swim undisturbed.”
She couldn’t feel the cold or fight the current anymore. Final blessings gifted from Nature to elder otters.
144-words
https://dversepoets.com/2022/12/05/dverse-prosery-on-this-day-happy-december-5-birthday-poets/
For other authors’ pieces using this prompt follow the link below:
https://www.blenza.com/linkies/links.php?owner=dversepoets&postid=29Nov2022&meme=13019