It Was Only a Dream

Response to prompt #46, "The Antidote." You know how you don't know what you're going to write about, how you're going to approach a prompt until you just do? It hits you, seemingly out of the blue, but not. The ideas have been brewing, and every time one of your brilliant Trailbrazen sisters posts a piece of writing, an article, or simply makes a comment, she adds to your inspiration.

It Was Only Just a Dream

"Take this," she whispers in my ear, a bright white light radiating from her. "It is the cure for the things that ail you, torment you."

I take stock of the pill cupped in her hand. It's the size of two prenatal vitamins put together, and just looking at it makes me gag.

"What's in it?" I ask, not sure if that will make a difference.

She looks at me knowingly, as if she anticipated my wariness. Yet, she remains patient as she answers me. "It's packed with good stuff: patience, compassion, understanding, empathy, gratitude, perseverance, faith, and most importantly, love."

"Oh, yeah," I say, adding a huge eye roll. "Love cures everything."

"Not just love alone, but all the things that go with it." Her impossibly bluer-than-the-sky eyes pierce my armor of distrust, bore a hole in my hesitation.

"Are you giving me a choice?"

"Not really."

I attempt some humor to diffuse the horror of having to swallow such a large pill. "Does this come in liquid form?"

"I'm afraid not."

I sigh.

"It's a slow release pill," she explains. "It will sustain you for the rest of your days, the antidote to your frustration and sadness and irritation."

I swallow hard. She hands me the pill, along with a golden liquid.

"What's that?" I asked, eyeing the glass suspiciously.

"This elixir will help the pill slide down and will help you digest it," she says. "I'm not going to lie to you, this is a hard pill to swallow. It means the end of your complaining and judging and bitterness."

"What if I'm not ready to give all that up?" I cry.

"You are."

I put the pill in my mouth, gagging as I chase it down with the liquid. It helps, but it doesn't make it pleasant. It hits my stomach like a rock, and I fight not to wretch it back up.

She smiles as she moves away from me, ascending slowly and quickly at the same time into the darkness.

I awake with a start, trying to shake off the chills that have taken over my body.

It was only a dream. I tell myself. Just a dream.

I place my hand protectively over my stomach area, feeling as if I've swallowed a rock.

A distant voice whispers, "You now have the antidote. Go in peace."

It was only a dream. Just a dream.

Lost and Found Looking for the Antidote

Answer to Prompt #46

After musing for quite a while on the antidote, I fell upon this line by Barbara and find myself writing the answer for this prompt. I used the monostich form because I feel it picks up the anxiety produced by thinking about these things!

Lost and Found Looking for the Antidote

  

…I think

of Chet Baker singing “Let’s Get Lost,” and I know

what he means, because more and more I know

where I am, and I don’t like the feeling…

--Barbara Hamby “Ode to Barbecue”

This poem has temporarily pulled me away from my project because

of the line above, although I actually may be fine with where I am, but

it still struck me because I’ve been thinking a lot about the antidote

to our nation’s ills, and it seems like there is a simple answer

somewhere and, yes, I know and believe the only problem

we ever have in any situation is the love we’re not giving; I know this,

but it sure hasn’t made it easier because then I see I’m not loving

enough and that super sucks, and today I was reading the

Fourth Mindfulness Training in Buddhism which begins

“Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability

to listen to others…” and doesn’t that about sum it up because I think

we are probably all guilty a bit on this aspect, and finding the will

to deeply listen to someone you think is saying crazy-ass things

is insanity if not anxiety producing; at the same time, I am aware

loving speech and deep listening is an answer – Eureka – there it is,

the way to the greater good,  and the true remedy to all of this is

found when I walk outside and look up to the wide blue sky,

and doesn’t that teach us all we need to know about everything? 

Prompt #46: Antidote

Watching the news, perusing Facebook, and just listening to "ordinary" people converse is enough to drive a reasonable person mad these days. Find (or create) a news story or situation you find completely outrageous and create an antidote. It doesn't have to be medicinal--anything that counteracts the stupidity will work! As always, you have free range on choosing prose, poetry, fiction, or non-fiction. I just figured we could all use a remedy for something right about now.

Here's some videos to inspire you: Jason Mraz and Black Crowes.