An Impatient King (prosery/flash fiction)

A new “prosery” prompt at dVerse Poets from Sanaa, a 144 word piece of prose to include a chosen line from a poem, in this case, the line The future gathers in vine, bush, and tree: Persimmon, walnut, loquat, fig, and grape from the poem “Time and the Garden” by Yvor Winters.

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An Impatient King

An impatient King, always. Taxes before fields were plowed netting his peasants their meager fealty, wives before they had chance to know him as husband (though that impatience was prudent lest they all be found having leapt from towers before losing their heads) meats before they’d grown full for the butcher, fruits and vegetables ahead of ripening, even some children conscripted to his army before they were strong enough to fight, paying the price then as mere fodder.

The Gardener knew this, lamenting his own children’s losses, stripped too early from nature’s nurture “The future gathers in vine, bush, and tree: Persimmon, walnut, loquat, fig, and grape need their time” he thought “hemlock though?” he thought more “can be quite effective if harvested early.”  

You see, the Gardener was also impatient … for poetic irony, for poetic justice and for a garden’s proper time.



16 responses to “An Impatient King (prosery/flash fiction)”

  1. I love the poetic irony in this one, Stephen!

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      1. You’re most welcome, Stephen!

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Hemlock…. that was a nice twist.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks … much appreciated Bjorn!!

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  3. A powerful ending to this one!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you!! And thanks for the prompt and the wonderful post that went with it!

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  4. This is luminous! I love every word.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh, that’s wonderful V, thank ya thank ya!!

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Made me smile! Ok, a dark smile.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I like the gardener and their impatience, Old Henry (or insert other name) had it coming. I like the anticipation.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Paul!! And he did indeed have it coming!

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