Pearl Diver

“Hey, you! Don’t let that tower topple.” It is the most Head Chief has said to me in eight months, so I give him a nod and pick up my pace.

The job is simple. Sop up the slop from the bottom of the used pots and pans and wring the muck into a container marked, “Next Day’s Special.”

I am basically a human squeegee.

Anyways, I’d only taken this shit job to save up for my next SIM. Last year, it was a safari in space.

In time, I sit thousands of feet above the sea. Ski the cloud slope. Sip cocktails made with holy water. Stroll streets of solid gold in style.

Before I know it, the rag is heavy with today’s gravy. I squeeze it extra hard to make sure every drop gets transferred, but in my mind, I’m in paradise.

d’Verse Poet’s Pub | Prosery: Meditation (144 words exactly)

Artwork: Lowell’s Story

“In space in time I sit thousands of feet above the sea”
From May Sarton, “Meditation in Sunlight”

52 responses to “Pearl Diver”

msjadeli

Oh, K, I love how you spun that line. Very Matrixian or Total Recallian. Our brains are marvelous gadgets that can get us through just about anything.

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1. K. Hartless
  
  Thank you, Lisa. I think there’s a part of how much we lose track of reality when there’s a virtual reality we’d rather be in. I’m so glad you enjoyed my flash piece.
  
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  1. msjadeli
    
    You’re welcome, K, and can’t argue with you on that.
    
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Colleen M. Chesebro

Holy water cocktails! I love where your mind goes. What a great tale!

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1. K. Hartless
  
  Thank you, Colleen. I’m surprised it hasn’t been done yet, honestly. I am grateful for your feedback.
  
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Gillena Cox

Wow!!! this is amazing

much💜love

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1. K. Hartless
  
  Thank you, Gillena. Your positive feedback means a lot. 💜
  
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beth

wow!

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1. K. Hartless
  
  It’s dystopia and utopia rolled into one. Thank you, Beth.
  
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Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

I really cringed when I heard how you cooked next days special…. love the dreams.

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1. K. Hartless
  
  Thank you, Björn. Those specials always scare me. Get through a nightmare to enjoy a dream is what’s really going on here.
  
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merrildsmith

A wonderful and unique take on the prompt! Thank you!
I hope this person gets the virtual trip, and I hope I never eat at that place! 🙂

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1. K. Hartless
  
  Indeed. I think we all can learn a lesson there about ordering the “special.” But it seems we get through so much to relish in our escape these days. I had a great time with this prompt. Thank you, Merril. 💜
  
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  1. merrildsmith
    
    You’re welcome, and thank you, K. 💙
    
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sarahsouthwest

That’s brilliant! Brilliantly realised.

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1. K. Hartless
  
  Thanks, Sarah. It was really fueled by my fears that this sort of thing could easily be the future. I appreciate your kind comments. 💜
  
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ben Alexander

KK, you never fail to impress and please with your writing ~ this is super creative 🙂

Sincerely,
David

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1. K. Hartless
  
  So kind of you to say, David. I’m grateful for your kind words.💜
  
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Tom

Very powerful story with such vivid descriptions imagined 🙂 Brilliant contrasts you weave here between her grimy reality and pristine dreams.

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1. K. Hartless
  
  Thank you, Tom. I had this character in mind, and it was easier than other times to make 144 words stick. I appreciate these thoughtful comments. What sort of trenches are we willing to crawl through for a few moments of bliss?
  
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  1. Tom
    
    Very much so. 🙂 A punchy and poignant tribute to the sludge we gotta wade through to reach our lofty dreams ❤
    Here, you dropped this 👑
    
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  2. K. Hartless
    
    It’s lovely when things just fit together naturally. 🪢 I’m lucky like that, sometimes. Thank you, Tom. 💜
    
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utahan15

shit the operative word
caca
schisse

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John

Mmmm gravy! 😋

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1. K. Hartless
  
  Well, it’s all in the imagining. Or should I say, reimagining. Thanks for stoping by for a taste of this one, John. 💜
  
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  1. John
    
    You’re welcome. Sorry, that just popped into my brain. 🫢
    
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  2. K. Hartless
    
    I love it. Can’t go wrong with me. I’m the opposite of easily offended, and often easily amused. 😉
    
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  3. John
    
    That’s cool, thanks, K! 🍻
    
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memadtwo

How many of us have worked in such divided spaces, ones that you have so beautifully realized in your words. (K)

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1. K. Hartless
  
  Thank you, K. It’s strange, but I feel a real kindred spirit for this pearl diver. In a way there’s so much of what we endure to make some imagined (or real) paradise. 💜
  
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Christine Bolton, Poetry for Healing

I love your detachment from what is happening. We should all try it sometime. Great storyline for the prompt K. ☺️💕

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1. K. Hartless
  
  Indeed. You aren’t doing that already? No, i do find I’m able to detach more now than in the past from a tough or tedious situation. I don’t imagine paradise though, only solitude and the time to write. 💜
  
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  1. Christine Bolton, Poetry for Healing
    
    Yes, I am thankful for that too. Keep on writing! ☺️💕
    
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Tricia Sankey

Only you could come up with holy water cocktails! 😆🍹 The meditative vibe worked for me in this! 👏👏

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1. K. Hartless
  
  Thank you, Tricia. Cheers. 🍸
  
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  1. Tricia Sankey
    
    🥂 💓
    
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rogblog666

been there squeegeeing in a kitchen you are so close to the truth with the nightmare that is that life. the special here is the dream of escape.

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1. K. Hartless
  
  One my first jobs was cleaning pots and pans at a restaurant, so I think that’s were some of this may have resurfaced from. Thank you for reading and connecting with my piece.
  
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  1. rogblog666
    
    👍
    
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poetisatinta

I just love this story brilliant, I especially love the phrase ‘ a human squeegee’ 🙌

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1. K. Hartless
  
  Thank you. It was all a sort of happened, but I also like this idea. I appreciate your kind comments.
  
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rothpoetry

I squeeze it extra hard to make sure every drop gets transferred, but in my mind, I’m in paradise. The mind is a wonderful thing. Not sure I want to try the daily special ever again! :>)

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1. K. Hartless
  
  Oh, how lovely, Dwight. Your comment inspires me to squeeze every drop of good from my own day. Yes, I say, the special is a brave choice, indeed. Thank you so much for swinging by to read my words.
  
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  1. rothpoetry
    
    You are most welcome!
    
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kittysverses

Fantastic take. 🙂

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1. K. Hartless
  
  Thank you, Kitty. I was so behind in comments, I just kept going, but I’m glad I got a chance to circle back around to this piece. I am grateful for your positive feedback.
  
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  1. kittysverses
    
    No worries, You are welcome, K. 🙂
    
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Tanmay Philip

Captivating. The contrast between fantasy and reality, inner and outer is brought out so well.

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1. K. Hartless
  
  Thank you, Tanmay. I think sometimes I’m not far off from this character. Getting through the gritty and just waiting for those moments of bliss (which for me is usually writing). I am so glad you enjoyed this flash.
  
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Karima Hoisan

Loved this and the YouTube was the perfect compliment…Great story telling Kate!

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Bridgette

Really love this one! We may have to do a job we don’t like, but we get to control what we are thinking about while we do it!

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1. K. Hartless
  
  Indeed. Thank you, Bridgette. I was teaching some indefinite pronouns earlier but mentally on a yacht in Marigot Bay. 💜
  
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