Written dVerse Prosery Monday – Bury Me.
Our host Lisa asks us to write a 144 word piece
of flash prose incorporating the line “Bury me
with the lies I told” from the song “Bury Me” by
Alejandro Escovedo. Here’s where the prompt took me.
The shell burst close enough to shake dirt into his eyes. Thompson pressed himself against the trench wall, alone since Carver took shrapnel yesterday. Or was it last week? Time had dissolved into mud and thunder.
The hole in his leg wouldn’t stop bleeding. The tourniquet hung loose in his trembling fingers. He thought of the letters he’d sent home …. brave, proud, making a difference. So carefully constructed, at times he found himself believing those words. His mother would frame them.
The sky dimmed to charcoal. Cold seeped through his uniform as he slumped sideways, the trench wall becoming his final resting place.
When the silence came, it was almost gentle.
He whispered to no one: “Bury me with the lies I told.”
By dawn, the rain had started filling the trench, and the war moved on without him, as wars always do.
NAR©2026
144 Words
This is “The Grave” by Don McLean
All text and graphics are copyright for Nancy Richy and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.
The Elephant's Trunk 
p.s. Nancy, please put this one in your special folder.
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Nancy, I can’t “like” this one. Tears are making it difficult to type. One of your best stories yet, probably because it speaks to every person who has lost a loved one in war. The way you incorporated the given lyric into your story, to speak to the lies that are told to get young people to go to war, is perfect. Thank you for making the time to write the story. I couldn’t listen to the whole Don McLean song, it was tearing me too badly.
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Very moving Nance 🩷
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I’m pleased to know it moved you, Ange. Thank you.
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❤️
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Oh, lordy, Nancy. Goosebumps.
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I take that as a great compliment, Lois. Thank you.
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oh for the bitterness of war, Nancy! xx
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There can’t be anything worse than war yet it’s still going strong. Thank you, Cindy
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Nice one
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Many thanks.
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Beautifully written and so sad, Nancy.
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It really is such a sad situation, Lisa. Thank you.
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That Don McClean song is a perfect pick. You echo the futility of the war of falsehoods so well!
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Thank you, Liz. This song really brought it home.
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What a way to go. A touching tale indeed, Nancy.
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My heart broke writing this one, dear Keith. Thank you.
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Oh, gave me chills, darling!
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Great compliment, my dear D. Thank you.
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A powerful and poignant piece. Beautifully written, Nancy.
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Thanks very much, Eugi.
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You’re welcome, Nancy.
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Strongly written, Nancy.
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Many thanks, Esther.
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Awesome stark waste
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That it is, Ron. That it is.
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Beautifully written, Nancy, and so appropriate at a time when your President seems to be gearing up to declare war on Europe!
I see someone has shared another song for the theme. I know you are aware of Mike Harding, but do you also know the original of the one already shared:
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Thank you, Clive. This is fantastic! 🎶
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It is, isn’t it. It’s one of the ones I share for Remembrance Sunday.
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A very sad story, and a very sad song, Nancy … War is so full of horrible stories …
The Pogues – The band played waltzing Matilda
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Incredibly moving, dear Ivor. Thank you. 🥰 🎶
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Oh Nancy, you brought tears to my eyes, … I can hardly see to type, … how many times?… this happened (is still happening ) so many times, to so many lives…Poppies, I see so many, ablaze, highlighting mud filled trenches…🎶listening to Don 🎶…💙
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Too, too many and no end of wars on the horizon. It’s a sad situation, dear Penn. Thank you for a beautiful comment. 💙
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A very moving story Nancy
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Thank you very much, Sadje.
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I think the worst part is that most of those lies where lies he was told.
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So many lives tragically destroyed because of lies. Thank you, Björn.
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Bjorn, exactly 😦 And so much pressure by family members to “go into the service.” At least that’s the way it was and still is for many in my family.
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This is so realistic, it’s horrific- very well written.
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Many thanks, Sweets. I appreciate your comments.
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