At dVerse Lisa is hosting Prosery, a piece of prose of 144 words, inviting us to use a line from a poem by Zora Neale Hurston which comes from her work ‘How Does it Feel to be Coloured Me’ in ‘World Tomorrow’ (1928)
dVerse Poets – Prosery – Finding Ms. Zora Neale Thurston
“Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.” Carl Jung
Shucker’s Delight
No, I do not weep at the world – I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife. I find it occupies me best of all. I’m a shucker from way back and I have my own rhythm and movement, a time honoured practice of holding, inserting, twisting and opening. So simple, every action economical, a form of meditation, I love the concentration, one slip and I might lose a finger – I have wounds to show for every lapse. Wounds where I surrender focus to the searing hurts of humanity. This is no escape, just a respite, a regathering from the morass of pain felt in tones of colour, known in cries for justice, that which bleeds from the despair of prison gates. If I didn’t sharpen this oyster knife I fear the world would possess my emotions and blunt my innocent dance of freedom against power.
Copyright 2021 ©Paul Vincent Cannon
All Rights Reserved ®
parallax 
Wow, Paul! This is probably one of the most original prose poetry pieces that I have ever read. Well done and imaginative.
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Thank you so much Pat, that is wonderful, and thank you for the reblog too 🙂
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My pleasure. It is getting several likes and so far, no comments.
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Well, if they read it I’m happy, I think the like/comment thing is always icing on the cake really.
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This made me smile – there is no topic too slippery for your imagination.
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I love ‘a form of meditation’ and ‘innocent dance of freedom against power’ … Your prosery piece is amazing.
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I like the idea of oyster shucking as a kind of meditation, and also the wound prompting the shucker to meditate on humanity’s pain.
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Thank you for picking up on that Ingrid, yes, the central thought I began with. I love Thurston too, such an inspiration.
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Gorgeous prose, Paul. The dao of oyster shucking. Those distractions can be so harmful to peace of mind and sense of purpose. You captured those so well here. Great response to Ms. Hurston’s prompt line!
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Thurston is amazing, great inspiration – many thanKs for that Lisa.
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You’re welcome, Paul 🙂 fyi, her name is Hurston, not Thurston.
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I think I’ve combined her and Howard’s names 🙂 thank you 🙂
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🙂
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Words are powerful, yet so moving and beautiful!
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So appreciate your response to this Amy, thank you.
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🙂
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this is absolutely brilliant!
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Thank you so much, really appreciate your response.
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You’re welcome 🙂
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Excellent response to the prompt! I’ve been struck by how good the work has been from this particular prompt. A testament to Zora Neale Thurston’s insight into the human heart, I would say.
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Yes, such an inspiration, thank you so much Liz.
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You’re most welcome, Paul. I’ve put “How It Feels To Be Colored Me” on my reading list so that I can see the context for the line that resonated so strongly with people.
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So many books …..
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Thoughtful and poignant.
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Many thanks for sharing that.
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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🙂
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Always a pleasure to read and share your posts with followers, Paul!! Have a great day!
😊👍✨✨🎉
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Brave Imagination!
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Thank you 🙂
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Reblogged this on NEW OPENED BLOG > https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Much appreciated Michael.
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Thank you as well, Paul! Wonderful to read very important poetry. xx Michael
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A very amazing poem, Paul! Back to the essentials. xx Michael
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Yes, back to essentials, thank you.
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😉 xx
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Damn Paul!! It’s really good.
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Thank you so much.
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“Wounds where I surrender focus to the searing hurts of humanity,”… oh my goodness.. yes! I feel this and resonate deeply! 💝💝
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Really appreciate that you have shared how this affected you Sanaa.
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Another great poem
>
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Thank you
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wow! This is great, Paul! Well written, well done!
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Many thanks Carol, much appreciated.
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