Roberta Writes – d’Verse, Finding the Light #dverse #prosery

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The prompt: Write a piece of prose, fiction or non-fiction, up to 144-words, using the line:

“where can we find light in this never-ending shade?”
–From Amanda Gorman, “The Hill We Climb”

You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/01/20/prosery-finding-the-light/. Thank you, Merril: https://merrildsmith.org/2025/01/20/prosery-galaxies-of-hope/

The Light

The forest sweltered in the heat. Droplets oozed from the dense undergrowth and the loamy, waterlogged soil squelched beneath our sneakered feet. The air lay heavily on us, coating our skins with slickness. Our lungs sucked in boiled syrup, thick and sticky in the gloomy twilight beneath the canopy.

Picture caption: Walking through the forest in 38C heat

All around us, the trees formed a closely packed barrier, forcing us to wallow on through the mud. Snaking tendrils, moist and slimy, slyly pulled our hair and sneakily wrapped around our ankles while the cicadas blasted encouragement. The noise rang in our ears.

Picture caption: This tree had long mossy tendrils

“I need some sun … and fresh air,” Bill muttered. “Where can we find light in this never-ending shade?”

Picture caption: This tree had a tangle of entwined tendrils

The trees did not deign to answer. The cicadas screamed laughter.

On we trudged, eyes downcast, muscles quivering.

The cicadas fell silent. Glancing around, we saw dappled sunlight ahead.

The Sound of the Forest YT video:

And beyond the trees lay The Grotto:

Picture caption: A beautiful rainbow in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall

Three videos of inside The Grotto. It was very wet, with water sparkling on the rock walls and undergrowth. There were also two waterfalls. You can hear them in the last to YT shorts.

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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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87 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – d’Verse, Finding the Light #dverse #prosery”

  30. It is a delightful story and beautiful forest/jungle photos and videos with the sounds of the forest and waterfalls. All together very atmospheric and it made feel like in a rainforest or on Venus in Ray Bradbury’s story All Summer in a Day (1954). You could only see the sun once in seven years because all of venus is a rainforest and it is constantly cloudy and raining.

    Back then they did not know how superhot venus is. Venus is closer to the sun but much hotter the Mercury which is a lot closer. Venus turned into to a superhot hell because of the greenhouse effect.

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    1. HI Thomas, I am delighted you enjoyed this. Drakensberg is not a tropical jungle exactly, but the climate during the summer is very wet and hot. It makes for a very humid atmosphere. I’m pleased you liked my description and photographs/videos.

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  31. This is such a richly immersive piece, Robbie! Your vivid descriptions transport me right into the heart of the forest, capturing the oppressive atmosphere and the eventual, magical relief beautifully.

    Much love,
    David

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