I came to Prose to write.

I stay for

the community

I have found,

dare I say,

the friends,

for the writers

who move me

to laughter

and tears,

who inspire me,

make me think,

and feel,

who,

through their

words,

their characters,

the worlds

they imagine

and the

world they inhabit,

let me

SEE them.

I stay

to bear witness

to the tales woven by

gifted storytellers

like

@Huckleberry_Hoo,

@rlove327

and

@SamWebster

whose every next

story

I await with bated breath;

to wordsmiths like

@Mazzmyrrheyes

whose masterpieces

of lyrical poetry

should be mandatory reading,

her work is a treasure,

with every poem

a gem;

I am thankful to have

the ever witty poetry of

@EstherFlowers1

to keep me laughing

or crying

always thinking;

so too,

the rhythmic rhyming

of @fudo who

also tells a great story

(but keeps deleting them);

I stay for the stories

essays

poems

of @BonnieBoo,

@TW, and @finder,

the gutwrenching

pieces

of @undermeyou;

@anarosewoood and

@sandflea68's

poetic flair;

for

@WhiteWolfe32,

a talented storyteller

whose poetry

makes me bleed,

and the prolific

and kind

@Mnezz.

And for

all those

I haven't named

but who have

enriched my life

by sharing

a little of

themselves

here....

It was a

very lucky day

the day

I found

Prose.

I feel I have done this before, but it somehow seems necessary. I will try to do it a bit differently.

I am Chuck, a long-time Proser (I am here because my wife liked my writing and encouraged me to find a way to share). I have included links to some seemingly ancient posts that tell about my introduction to theProse site. The first link was written soon after my initiation to Prose. The next was on why I decided to stay at Prose rather than continuing to write on some other sites I was also experimenting with at the time. The last one is years later, and is a fun description of how I felt mentally after trying to answer at least one ”Prose Challenge” a day over a prolonged period of time (my writing brain was in a wrung-out place). You may find the links interesting, you may skip them altogether, or you may even go watch television instead of reading any of this - no matter - lucky it is for you that I exist here entirely for your whim.

https://theprose.com/post/252367/prose

After three years I still feel very similarly to how I felt when I wrote that. Three years? The time stamp on the post states, “January 19, 2019.” I feel like it was longer ago than that? Surely I have been around longer than that? Could it be that I edited it on 1/19/’19 (back when you could still do that? Jeez, how I wish you still could… edit, that is.)? It must be that, but regardless…

My friend, mentor, and Prose conscience, dctezcan was kind enough to hit “like” on that long ago post. I don’t believe that anyone else who did so is still around? Or at least active. Good writer’s gone, they. Or if they are still around I don’t see their posts as often as I would like, and I miss them for it. That is what Prose seems to be to me now; comings and goings, which is unfortunate for me, as mine is an old soul that craves stability. This particular “Challenge” (or “Vehicle”) that was scatter-shotted out as an e-mail has proven effective at drawing back some familiar names and voices. I like that. Do it some more, Prose! Perhaps some of them will read a few lines for nostalgia’s sake and decide to stick around, maybe even post a poem or two? Once a writer, always a writer! But as with any business it is the relationships that keep people coming back, so go ahead and reach out. No need to break shy on us now.

https://theprose.com/post/254778/an-old-prose

I have been around far too long to list all the writer’s I enjoy on the site. It would only water them down to try. Besides, I have not kept record and would surely leave off some wonderful people and writers, but I will do this, as recognition can be motivational and inspirational when applied sparingly, and when given for a specific behavior, so I will offer a short list in hopes of retaining some talent to my third home (family, work, Prose):

I was drawn into Prose by Mazzmyrrheyes, Undermeyou and tornesornerob. They transported me to different places and feelings with their words. Theses writers baited the hooks that pulled me into the boat. I thank them for that, even as it may cause some to revile them ;).

I love the relationship dctezcan and I have built over the years. “The lovely-talented-kind-and intelligent” dctezcan. A friend who is single-handedly showing the Prose world that admirable adjectives in front of a name beat-tar out of pronouns.

I have remained here in large part for Posey’s poetry, and EstherFlower’s rhymes. The two of them generally invoke differing emotions, one dark, one light, but they always invoke something.

I look forward to stories by rlove327, Mfrobs, and SamWebster... they who understand that if you care about what you write, you must care about how you write it.

Prose would not be the same without Mnezz, Thereisnospoon, Finder and fudo. What a presence they add to the site.

I am glad that excellent writers like TW, KMCassidy, and that long gone girl whose username I can’t remember, but who changed her profile picture weekly to feature a new bikini… yikes! Those of you who have been around awhile will likely remember the one I mean. Anyways, we do not always align ideologically, but I truly appreciate their talented writings (Prose can always use more of that) that force me to reconsider my mule-headed positions.

https://theprose.com/post/366881/hidden-gems

I miss the Prose Challenges of the week and month, but I can do without all the serial killer themes (I greatly enjoyed the Fantasy challenge, as it left tons of room to wander around in creatively, so more like that please). For me, prize money is unnecessary. The opportunity to get the attention of other talented writer’s is plenty payment enough.

If you made it through to the end, thank you. If not… yea, I can see why, but regardless… I hope to see you around!

dear prosers, proseters, prosettes, proseteronõs and prose-gentlemen and prose-ladies, boys and girls and other animals. i have lately not taken part in much that was going on in this glorious , creative, fruitful and supportive assortment of brilliant artists and wordsmiths that have graced the scroll of this wonderous yet quirky website. SHAME ON ME!!!

i neglected much of what went on here, and allowed so much of the remarkable work that was created here to slip by my awarness. it is certainly not because it did not matter! so much of what is written here is enthralling, enriching, edifying and empowering. it is a shame of insurmountable magnitude that i was not able to keep up with all that was written here, poem essay or prose.. i know that i need make no explanations, and shall never make excuses (never to friends) , but feel that i must, as that i received so much encouragement from you , my friends and feel that i gave so little in return. truly this is a real mark of deep friendship and love; an unquestioning , unwavering support, while anticipating none in return. such are my friends here. and i am such an ALIEN, to only think of this in these terms and not enough in terms of the creative splendor shown in this website. perhaps the problem with being in such proximity and overlap between personal need for exchange and the greater need to simply appreciate the marvel of the work here is such that a period of absence has driven me to such distress. i hope it will pass and that i shall once again regain my objectivity and enjoy enough spare time to involve myself in this fantastic group of people and appreciate their work.

but lets get mushy, shall we? i intended to name this article 'lumps of sugar', were i referance something that @estherflowers1 wrote.

the lumps of sugar were suposed to represent outstanding writers that i know and enjoy in this website. it's a crude metaphor and a terrible way to express my appreciation and admiration to my fellow Theprosedotcomniks who are truly great writers. this falls apart though, because how could i name some as lumps of sugar. what would it make the rest?

perhaps strategically placed honey? or jam? (yes! jam in tea! try it!!) . maybe pastries?

enough! we don't need this dribble! everyone here, even the occasional robots that comment randomly, is amazing.

here are artists that are commendable . i want to point out that in no way are they alone . i just happen to know and love their work , in this magnificent league of giants.

@estherflowers1 is one of the very first prosepeople whom i have had the audacity and temerity to share articles with here. i admire her poems greatly. her style can be zany at times, but it never wants for depth, joy, wit, brilliance and innovation. she occasionally tries writing longer texts, and they are fantastic and if you manage to get an argument with her you are in for a treat. i will never agree with her attraction to star trek or Dr. Who, but it is the best sparring one could ever get. (i am hopeful she will start an an argument after reading this..). of course few people are as encouraging of works published here. i have a suspicion that she enjoyes writing words of encouragment as another way to tease her vast expressive range.

@finder has been guiding people here on prose for as long as i have been here. she has periods of remarkable productivity, where she writes amazing stories or poems, and other times she is less present. i think these phases indicate great transitions in her life and fuel her writing with powerful , very emotional experiences. moreover i think finder is one of the most supportive of new members of this site. her encouragement is something i always appreciate and cherish.

@huckleberry_hoo is so funny and i enjoy reading both his stories and essays. his intellect is fierce and its amazing to see how he picks apart ideas and carries them on.

it's just fun to read his opinions and his participation in the philosophy prompts is cruicial to the success of our inquiry.

i wonder how he'll react to the whole lump -of-sugar thing...

@fudo is ahead of his time. his ideas and humor are inspiring and he is so very supportive of other writers . it's hard to keep up with this guy; we get a fleeting glimpse of articles and stories he writes. the way my work with the cannibals is, i get reading in stolen moments between my lessons. i do not know why he deletes his work and it is sad, because i must have missed so much. please do not delete....

i think all will agree with me that @uschibear makes amazing challenges and posts. she is remarkable in her writing and is so supportive of other members.

I shall not dare forgetting @whitewolfe32, @danceinsilence , @handsoffire @sharondabriggs, @mnezz @bonnieboo @tooldtocare @rlove372 @dctezcan @ramonlcamino @jimlamb @valiantraptor47 @ceh4255 @eugenpetrascu @thewolfeden @bogdan_dragos @undermeyou @tw @lexicon and @sandflea68

so to all who are joining i just want to sttngthen your hands. you came to the right place if you want to improve your writing, get positive criticism , and read the phenomenal work done by this varied group. participate in challenges as you see fit, or create your own posts in freedom. you will find much encouragment and growth here.

Where to start? Where to end.

There are so many great writers here and I have had the pleasure of working with many of them over the last two years on collaborative novels.

sandflea68: She was the first person to ever comment on my work. Already an accomplished author, she writes with such immense magnitude, you find yourself unable to pull away.

anarosewood: Highly evocative writing that pulls you into her corner of the universe. Prose or story, her work pulls you in, where you don't want to leave.

Clarity: How one so young can write like a seasoned professional and has such a unique way of delivering her characters and scenes that draw you in from start to finish.

SharondaBriggs: Such a big heart she has, and her openness and honesty reflect in her words.

WhiteWolfe32: Young, talented and every bit as prolific a writer as I am. His style can be seen as eclectic and transformative in style.

EstherFlowers1: She is a humorist with a serious attitude. Oxymoron perhaps? She takes on a challenge and gives everything she has.

CalebPinnow: With an inventive mind and energy to spare, he writes in such a fashion you believe his words to be fact and draws you in.

Chacko_Stephen: A young man that has a friendliness toward anyone he comes across and this shows in his words. His wit as well as his serious side shines like the sun never setting.

Roses311Sublime: A religious man with a dark side ... LOL. He loves to try new things from doing voiceovers, to poetry to short stories. He does this I believe to challenge himself with the idiom, "I think I can. I think I can." And when he has, he ends with, "I knew I could."

Samina: Three years ago, or thereabouts, she was a somewhat shy girl getting her feet wet here. Since then, she has gone into graphic design work, creating a group called Inertia Teens for teens who need to talk about issues that are important, and she has her own YouTube channel, but it was Prose, and the support she received here that gave her the courage to expand herself and her writing.

Harry_Situation: He keeps us informed on new films, creates all sorts of challenges throughout the year. In doing so, he helps writers by raising the bar.

Undermeyou: Evocative are her words and they speak truth and a deep-rooted emotion.

Mnezz: Another young, talented writer with a heart of gold. I have found her to always being the first one to make a comment on someone's post.

slnmten: Another accomplished author of poetry who writes deeply and causes you to question what is going around not just in your life but the world as well.

There are others as well that need at least a mention: batmaninwuhan, rlove327, Uschibear, fudo, and HandsOnFire. Each in their own right, write to entertain and at times, have us question our own motives.

And this is where I end. but they do not. They will continue to write, to entertain, to grab the heartstrings of our being.

Prose ... count your blessings you have people like these here.

I close this with something I posted last September.

When The Right Write Is Writ

Ramble I will with words far and near,

setting the tone, page by page,

stopping long enough

to enjoy a glass of beer.

Late into the night,

phalanges do fly,

clacking away at letters,

getting each word right.

Add-delete-add-add-add ...

delete-delete-delete,

a never-ending process,

until finished, it looks like a mess.

Hour upon hour,

day after day,

a paragraph here,

a chapter there.

Days, weeks, even months

travel past my thoughts,

until that singular moment rises up,

and the write has been writ.

No one else may know but you,

that giddy feeling that crawls through your being,

knowing you have reached deep down

and pulled from your soul ... perfection as you see it.

800,000 words.

5,000 ideas.

300 people.

They now sit on a shelf awaiting you to read.

I think another beer is in order.

A writer new to me has held me captive most recently with a spillage of ugly truths from the shadow side of humanity. His words are hard to swallow the possibility of, which is the hook that sunk me. A great writer delves into the human psyche to dig up and reveal bits of ourselves so that we can see our Reality. However twisted it may be, if it strikes a chord, the author has fulfilled his purpose. To connect. So often, words are careful, subjects avoided, or only vaguely referred to. Not with this writer. He is brave. No, courageous. Bogdan Dragos. Check him out.

Admittedly, I put this challenge off as I feel like the list will never be complete. My memory flickers at inconvenient times and I'm afraid of skimming over creators that deserve recognition. I'm going to *try* to keep it concise. My lust for metaphor is really getting out of hand....

@fudo has two styles that stand out to me, though his voice always remains so distinct. The first is a series of twisting thoughts. You're taken on a journey (sometimes humorous, sometimes dark) and at the end of it, you're left a little more vulnerable than when you started. The other style makes me think of the intros to shows like Samurai Champloo or The Boondocks- it has what I can only describe as deeply poetic musings wrapped up in an absolute lyrical VIBE. Fudo is a traveling bard that shares deeply or omits coldly as the moment dictates.

@batmaninwuhan never ceases to surprise me. The witty username is what caught my eye, and the uniquely absurd things that come from batman's brain always illicit a chuckle if not a full on laugh. Though the thing that intrigues me the most about how secretly thoughtful batmaninwuhan is. If you ask the right question in the right way, you will be gifted with a perspective equally as unique as batman's sense of humor. Batmaninwuhan is a philosopher that became bored with the seriousness of intellectual circles and now guises as a jester.

@Huckleberry_Hoo has a gift for imparting practical wisdom in a beautifully simplistic fashion. I mean this in the best way. Huckleberry speaks plainly and honestly, but spins tales that leaves you reminiscing on the similar moments in your own life- or wishing you'd been a fly on the wall for his. Huckleberry is the barkeep that offers you a drink to warm your bones and a story to warm your soul should you be willing to stay long enough to hear it.

@rlove327 is deeply reflective. Through his writing, you can tell that he takes the time to dissect his observations, his feelings, and his surroundings before fully expressing them. There is a level of analysis, but it is not cold and mechanical in the way of scientists or mathematicians. Rlove327 takes what he sees, breaks it down, and gives it back in a way that you are able to clearly view it through his lens. In this regard, @rlove327 is an artist, carefully adding brushstrokes so that we can see the world in same shades as he does, even for a moment.

@Finder is deeply pensive. Her works are a direct look into her mind, at least as much as she chooses to allow you to see in that moment. I wouldn't paint her as "no-nonsense", but she has an approach that is slightly firmer, more methodical, and more focused than many of the flowery, loosely ended perspectives seen in creative communities. She will stand by and watch you explore but should you ask for guidance, it will be given- and in no uncertain terms. She is observant, honest, and experienced. Criticism only comes should she deem it necessary, and it is delivered plainly but with empathy still. In this regard, Finder is a teacher, but one that never lost her passion for the medium she's chosen to pursue.

@Estherflowers1 is a truly joyful soul. The human embodiment of a sunflower, if you will. Even when delving into darker subjects, there is still a level of amusement and optimism that for lack of better phrasing, turns that frown upside down. Estherflowers1 shows us that curiosity never dies and a little bit of humor goes a long way. Her unapologetic bursts of unyielding personality put the stereotype of the moody, sensitive writer to bed and make me want to explore parts of the self that aren't so damn dreary. Not all of her journeys have been rainbows and sunshine, but she takes what she needs and moves forward. Estherflowers1 is a worldly older sibling; she flew the nest long ago, but always returns home with eccentric gifts and a story that she'll tell with a twinkle in her eye.

There are so many talented writers on this site. If you don't see your name on any of these lists or see the same few names pop up on different ones, PLEASE do not get discouraged. KEEP WRITING. There is somewhat of an ebb and flow to the community. I've seen beautiful pieces only for their authors to disappear for months on end, if not altogether and I've seen incredible regularly posting authors have pieces that fly under the radar. This is a vast and welcoming community to writers of all skill levels and backgrounds.

I am not going to tip toe around this. BonnieBoo's titles have to be some of the most ordinary, clichéd, and familiar phrases around. They grab your taste buds like chicken noodle soup, a hot dog, or a banana. Most people crave them at least some of the time. Inside the prose though, you get a lifetime supply of gourmet meals of your choice. BonnieBoo draws me in and fools me every time.

A narrow staircase leads us to a second-floor studio. We squeeze ourselves into the back as the instructor begins the warm-up.

I sway with the night air as it hangs in the few spaces between us. Our collective movements are clunky. High on excitement and nerves, I eagerly follow the steps. We form a circle. The instructor partners us up with a stranger.

"Welcome to Salsa Speed Dating!!" she shouts over the hum of forced greetings.

Boyfriend shoots me a look, "WHAT?! We're at a speed dating salsa class?!"

Bemused and shocked, I smile and say, "I guess so!"

A personality prone to tantrums, and a disorder that causes his hands and feet to sweat profusely, especially under stress, are culprits of the boyfriend's disproportionate reaction. Displeased with the unexpected plot twist, he and his clammy hands spitefully drift away from me as the music picks up.

I giggle at the hilarity of this rom-com-worthy moment. On-screen, it's predictable; a woman attends a dance class with a crotchety boyfriend, and the dance class turns into a salsa speed dating whirlwind. A few partners in, she finds true love's spark in someone else.

Not my luck.

With my comfort zone gone and awkward small talk in its place, I give myself to the moment. The circle undulates. We switch partners every two minutes. The boyfriend's head is on a swivel, throwing dirty looks my way; I'm sorry for his partner.

I return to the task at hand; I will have to summarize this experience for my summer college course. I know the strangers becoming intimate dance partners will take it to the next level.

Boyfriend takes himself out of the rotation. I stay put.

I'm many poor choices away from my rom-com moment.

Hello my pen name is FreshwaterFish

I am not a dish

But I can tell you this

Prose ain’t no swish swish b#%?!

I am not a daily visitor of Prose

That said these are the names that I chose

Finder and Misplaced_Pen

In Finder you will definitely find something

That gives you a zing

The eyes don’t see it but

The brain keeps going ding ding ding

Well in Misplaced_Pen

Welcome to the lions’ den

You don’t know what you will find

A bar ,a rhyme or just grime

So readers viewers whomever you are

I am FreshwaterFish

And my pen is my shooting star.

Hey friends! I’m fairly new to this community and I have to say that I’m digging the whole sort of secludedness of it. I really haven’t browsed too much yet but have read some stuff from @uschibear that I’ve really liked so far! To be honest I’ve been so out of practice with making any sort of art lately, I’m really hoping to just ignite my spark again and be me. I like To write mainly poetry but also short fiction as well.

So wish me luck and see you on the other side.

Xo