“Tweet me not weary in this whirligig of time.” She stabbed the Styrofoam cup with the stick end of a small American flag. “I’m homeless by design unmet by need. You need not apply.”
The politician’s flunkie grimaced. “Ma’am, we’ve been told to clear the area.”
“Nobody’s here. Starbucks brothers in the Amazon, sister’s Facebooking. Red Zone, Blue Zone, Ozone. Google it.”
“They’re armed,” he warned.
“Say, Moby Dick’s back from the dead. ‘Sometimes the great bones of my life feel so heavy.’ Tell them Ambergris is worth a fortune.”
“Ma’am?”
“Eyes and pearls. My home’s on my back. Your bones are too light. ‘From hell’s heart, I stab . . . .’”
A shot rang out. The bag lady crumpled, fell.
“’Ye damned whale’,” said the flunkie, winking at the FBI agent. “’I don’t give reasons. I give orders!’”
Written for dVerse's Prosery: Bone Weary -- 144 words utilizing the line: "Sometimes the great bones of my life feel so heavy." All other quotes are from Moby Dick by Herman Melville.
This Jolly Beggar 
i am going to have to come back later ane read this again. loved it
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Thank you so much. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
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Thanks for joining in!
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Excellent. I wish I’d read *this* one to GInsberg. This works.
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Aww thanks! Ginsberg would howl at that!
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Oh my goodness, this is pretty remarkable! I think I have to think on it a while — which is the measure of a danged good write!
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Quite a tribute and a measure of your kindness. Many, many thanks, Beverly. :>)
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What an interesting take on the prompt! Sadly this does happen more often than we comfortable folks realize! The answers are not easy! Well done!
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Not easy at all, but where we have sown division we can also sow peace and compassion if the political and social will were there. More and more, it seems not. Always appreciate your comments, Dwight. Thanks!
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You are welcome. Yes we will hope for the best!
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Certainly encapsulates the attitude of those in power towards those in need. You might say it’s exaggerated, but actually, not that much. (K)
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The powerful are growing more so, and venal and corrupt, but less wise and compassionate.
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This is absolutely brilliant! I enjoyed the natural flow to this one 😀
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Well, you’ve made my day, Sanaa! 💝Always honored by your generous comments. Thank you! 🙂🌷
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You’re welcome! It’s a pleasure to read your words 😀
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💖
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A great piece of prose …. would love to see it continued.
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Silencing voices, cancelling fellow citizens dooms our republic. Perhaps the story could continue another way. Thank you so much, Helen, for your kind comment. Truly appreciated. 🌷🙂
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I’m just imagining William Shakespeare doing some quotes near the White House and getting mown down by an alt-righter. I feel so sorry for the bag lady.
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I do too. Power in the hands of a few is a threat to all of us, especially the most vulnerable. Thanks, Lisa. 🙂
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You’re welcome.
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I find it chilling how flippant those in power can be towards something they cannot comprehend… maybe power and cowardice go hand in hand.
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I tend to agree with you, thus their inclination to suppress freedom of expression/research/artistry/speech/lifestyle; they fear what they cannot control automatically.
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So unbelievably clever!
-David
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Thank you, David, for reading and your affirming comments always!
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Hopefully, unity is on the horizon, making this outcome less likely.
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Hard to restrain the political/media momentum towards tyranny once it’s begun, no matter who’s in power. I imagine one half of the nation will feel the force of that. (Sorry, that’s just how pessimistic I feel right now.)
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I think you’re on the mark with “half of the nation.” There is one great divide going on right now.
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It’s been building over the last decade or more. The next four years will be the test of our shared values of freedom and justice for all. We’ll see. 🤞
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This was poignant and powerful! So often we fear/despise what we do not understand. It is a true shame. Well written!
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Thank you so much for your generous comments! You’re right, that tendency is in all of us, but not all of us wield such absolute power to destroy lives.
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Oh wow, Dora! This was fantastic. I really feel for the poor woman and loathe the “order follower”…
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So do I. Glad you liked it, Dale!
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Very much so.
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Such a powerful telling of what can happen when the need for following the rules (order) overrides compassion and our humanity.
Well done.
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Louise, thank you for your kind comments. It does seem as if humanity’s natural pull is in this direction, and we never learn from history where this leads.
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