at midnight
bad news on the doorstep
fistfuls of purple blooms
birds fell from flight
trees faltered
limbs broke
a mortal forest in flames
no one heard anything
I can’t remember if I cried
birds fell from flight
halfway through that horror
I stopped breathing
he saved me and
we sang dirges in the dark
fistfuls of purple blooms
bad news on the doorstep
at midnight
Brenda Warren 2016
Notes: Elizabeth’s prompt was too dang hard for me, so I went my own route with it as a backbone. Three phrases from American Pie are in this piece: bad news on the doorstep, we sang dirges in the dark, and I can’t remember if I cried. Elizabeth also provided six words we could use in our work. I used halfway, midnight, mortal, purple, and forest.
undercaws 
I struggled following the prompt as I was reading it via my phone — I ended up using some of the chosen words.
I liked the repetition you used in this piece.
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If in doubt, do it “your way”. This one works.
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Prompts are never more than that, suggestions at best. I really like what you did with my convoluted instructions. I gathered them from things you and others have said and tried during these first 15 days. It was fun making it up. And you have to know, I’d never complain when someone does their own thing. I’ve been doing that for years, and the prompt proves that, lol. Your piece reminded me of a first person interview after someone has witnessed a tragic event. The short, but sharp details add to that effect, and yet it is very poetic.
Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com
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I appreciate your thoughts on this piece, Elizabeth. I might revisit it in a different voice later. Yes I do know your prompts are gentle suggestions and I’m grateful for them this month. You are helping me persevere!
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