The Procession

Summary

The website content presents a prose poem titled "The Procession" by J.D. Harms, accompanied by a writing prompt and a list of contributors.

Abstract

"The Procession" is a prose poem published on March 17, 2021, which delves into themes of self-doubt, societal roles, and the search for identity. The poem, illustrated by an expressive photograph, reflects on the narrator's experience with smoking as a non-smoker and the allure of risk-taking behaviors. It touches on the desire to stand out and be seen as a risk-taker, despite the potential health consequences. The content also includes a prompt encouraging writers to explore sequences of events, whether real or imagined, and to embrace literary creativity. The piece concludes with a call to action for writers to engage with the prompt and tag the author, along with an announcement of updated submission guidelines. A comprehensive list of names is provided, presumably of individuals who have contributed to or are associated with the content.

Opinions

The narrator expresses a complex relationship with societal expectations, particularly through the metaphor of smoking.
There is a sense of irony in the desire to contribute to an "asthmatic epidemic" while still valuing the ability to breathe.
The poem suggests a collective search for a meaningful exit from societal norms, with an emphasis on personal identity and legacy.
The author, J.D. Harms, conveys excitement and anticipation for the creative responses to the prompt, indicating a supportive and encouraging stance towards fellow writers.
The inclusion of a diverse list of names implies a community-driven approach and recognition of individual contributions to the creative process.

17 March 2021 Wednesday Prose Poem: in order

Doubt is such an ugly colour on me, followed by red, anything orange-ish…

The best is the cigarette, even though I’m not a smoker. Once, a woman said that watching me smoke made her wanna start. I said, yeah, that was me too

experiencing the other side of the diner, hazy friends, waiting for those particular tables, we wanted to contribute to the asthmatic epidemic, create distant shots of ourselves

as risk-takers who could still breathe. Hades. We’re all just searching for the best exit we can manage, trading names and shirts so we can make sure we’ve done something right.

Prompt:

For today’s prompt, you can either invent a sequence of events or detail something that actually happened. The idea is to get swallowed up by the process of antecedent, consequence, even if they don’t, ahem, seem to follow. Be creative, be ekphrastic, continue to soar to fantastic literary heights. I’m already excited about what I’m gonna read! Tag me in it (J.D. Harms), and, as always, rock on!!

(As an FYI, please check out our updated submission guidelines.)