Written for dVerse Prosery – Luminous
Accountings. Our host, Dora, invites us
to write a piece of prose in no more than
144 words incorporating the following
line from “King of the River” by Stanley
Kunitz: “…and the iridescent image
swims through a mirror that flows.”
The lake had a way of forgetting things at dusk. She stood at the dock with her father’s compass in her hand, the metal warm from her pocket, and watched the water take the last light. Under the surface, a heron’s elongated reflection appeared, bent awkwardly, like something trying to remember how to be a bird.
She had come here to scatter her father’s ashes. That was the promise she’d made on that last day …. a promise she kept repeating on the drive up, past the old gas station with the ubiquitous flickering sign, past the turnoff she almost took out of habit.
The wind moved across the lake, and the iridescent image swims through a mirror that flows. She let go of the compass. It didn’t sink so much as arrive.
NAR©2026
This is “Compass” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Everything on the elephant trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicate, and may not be used without permission. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.
The Elephant's Trunk 
Nancy, you had me at the first line. A very well-crafted narrative. I’m glad she helped the compass get home.
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Thanks so much, Lisa. I’m glad you liked my story and appreciated the message about the compass. 😊
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You’re welcome.
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So very movingly written, Nancy, liquid with emotion and the shades of memory and loss. I love how you allow the interplay of light and wind and bird compose the woman’s sad reflections (literal and figurative) of her father and her last instructions from him. Beautifully done.
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Thank you so much, Dora. This was an intriguing and challenge literary quote to work with. I’m delighted my poem landed so well. I greatly appreciate your gracious comments and welcome feedback.
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Sets a mood for sure…the image of the heron’s reflection looking like something trying to remember how to be a bird. Wow!
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So glad this landed well. It took quite a few attempts to get that bird just right. Thanks, Liz!
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Chef’s kiss!
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Lovely sis!
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Thanks so much, cara sorella 🥰
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My mother’s ashes are all over the place, including some in the river whose flood took away her parents and sister in my infancy. Great write!
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Oh, what a heart-rending family tragedy, Ron. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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Oh, your lovely story reminds me of when my 2 Philadelphia cousins were over here a few years ago. … They had their mom’s ashes to scatter from the Eastern Beach promenade … Aunty Madge was a Geelong girl, and Eastern Beach was her favourite swimming spot. It was seven years after Aunty Madge passed, but my cousins had kept their promise, Nancy 🥰💕🌏
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Thank you, my dear friend, for you lovely comments and for sharing this wonderful family memory. The attached video is beautiful; I love it! 💙🥰🎶
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Yes, very special memories and I the fabulous song tonight my friend 🥰🎶🤗
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A beautiful and well put down story. I especially loved the part about the compass not sinking but arriving. I think it would be a lovely way to end too… To become part of the sea
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Thank you for appreciating my writing, Reelika. I’m pleased to know you enjoyed my story.
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A lovely story 🙂 Nance! 🙂
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Thanks much, CA ☺️
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Beautifully written Nancy
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Thank you, dear Sadje
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You’re most welcome
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