In the Garden
Did I have an ally? Would Susan help? Even as a raw recruit, I knew she was more than a secretary. She was a silver trout who slipped between one’s fingers. I—we– followed her because we knew she knew how to stay out of the net, how to get home.
She had been retired. I’d tracked her down to her country cottage, where she lived with her sister, surrounded by a colorful garden. We had tea there. A stone statue, some mythological creature, a goddess perhaps, sat on a nearby table.
Susan nodded as I spoke. Agreed there might be records somewhere.
Was she telling me pretty lies?
I wanted to believe her. I pray to God that she may lie forever. With unopened eye—its only one–the figure on the table glared at me. Waited for my answer. Daring me.
Prosery for dVerse. This is a continuation of my never-ending spy story. Your guess is as good as mine where it’s going. 😂 The line we were to insert into a prose piece is
“I pray to God that she may lie
Forever with unopened eye”
from Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “Sleeper.” I have to say, this was a very difficult line to insert into prose, for me, at least without going full out Gothic.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Oh, I love the way you split the lines, I can really feel the tension even if the garden is lovely there is a coldness from that statue staring.
Thank you so much!
And the plot thickens nicely. I like you comparing Susan to a silver trout that knows the way home.
Thank you, Li!
You’re welcome, Merril 🙂
For having difficulty, I’d say you did a wonderful job here! I like the mythological statue having one eye.👁️
Thank you very much, Melissa!
Fine with me if your spy story never ends 🙂 I like this gothicness of this piece, and you worked those lines in very well. So intriguing!
Thank you very much, Marie. I’m so pleased you enjoyed it! 😊
Terrific line ” She was a silver trout who slipped between one’s” fingers. “
Thank you very much, Debi!
You worked the line in marvellously, Merril! I read another piece written to that prompt and it’s remarkable how two very different works come to a similar conclusion!
A line in your prosery reminds me of the silver trout that becomes a ‘glimmering girl’ in Yeats’ “The Song of Wandering Aengus,” which you and I discussed in the comments section of my post about one song adaptation of the poem, where you told me of another rendering of the poem.
Thank you so much, Steve! It was a very difficult line to incorporate.
I maybe had Yeats in the back of my mind.
Yes, I remember that discussion! I first heard Judy Collins do a version–before I knew the Yeats poem.
That is a difficult line! But you placed it perfectly. I like all these glimpses from different times and places. A mosaic puzzle, this tale. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe. The tale is a puzzle–maybe one of your collages!
A good comparison.
🙂
Hi Merril, a fun piece. I love The Sleeper. It is my favourite of Poe’s poems.
Thank you, Robbie.
It has some good lines, but way too many exclamations for my taste. 😀
That was masterful…really nicely set up.
Thank you so much, Ain!
Well done – I spied it was a continuation of the never ending serial
Thank you very much, Derrick.
This chapter of your spy story is in a different vein, Merril, and I love the lightness of the garden in contrast to the darkness of the subterfuge. The painting you chose also helps to create that atmosphere. Your heroine definitely needs an ally, but can Susan be trusted? I live the phrase ‘silver trout who slipped between one’s fingers’.
Thank you so much, Kim. I appreciate your close reading! 😊
I can’t wait for you to publish them as a novel, Merril!
Thank you so much, Kim! I’m not sure if that will ever happen, but I so appreciate your enthusiasm!
You’re most welcome, Merril.
I love the phrase…
This is a fantastic chapter, Merril! I love how you inserted this oh-so-difficult line. I was all gung-ho to participate but oh man… I’ll see if I can get the wheels churning a tad better 😉
Thank you so much, Dale.
I wasn’t going to do it at first because I thought the line was so difficult, but then I felt challenged. Haha!
It is a very difficult line. I don’t use the word God in anything I write… So, I have to figure out how to incorporate it in a way that works for me. Eesh.
Nothing nonfiction I’d write would involve God or praying, and the line just sounds very 19th century poetic. But go for it! 🙂
Right! 😀
Susan sounds like a complex character, Merril!
Thank you, Ingrid. I think all spies must be.
I have to admit that I love the tea party painting…It is a great picture
for your spy story. I know you are having fun with it! 🙂
Thank you so much, Linda! I was pleased to find the picture. 😊
I’m always happy to see a new prosery episode. This line would make a great book title: “my never-ending spy story.”
Thank you, Liz.
Hmmm–a little bit too real-life or breezy for me. 😊
You’re welcome, Merril. 🙂
so mysterious! I love it. Spies? Double agents? Love that you have us guessing. The ending brings in foreboding, so well done.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment!
💜
I must agree with everyone who commented on “a silver trout who slipped…” It’s a brilliant description.
Thank you so much!
Yes…a most intriguing chapter in your spy not a novel
Your “lie forever” intrigues me, as I find its meaning differs from Poe’s.
A Right on!
Thank you, Resa!
Yes, I deliberately did not write something with Poe’s meaning. 🙂
You are beatnik cool!
😂😂
👩🎨
Wonderful execution of the prompt Merril. 🙂✌🏼🫶🏼
Thanks, Rob!
Oh, sooo good. one eye… fantastic read. and the photo is pretty. One never knows what’s going on really. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you very much, Selma!
The spies are back! I agree with everyone else, Merril. I love the description of the silver trout!
Thanks so much, Colleen!
Beautifully written
Thank you.
Yes, the silver trout. There is an underlying tension from the outset and hovers.
Thank you, Paul.