The reaper perches on her bedpost, obsidian feathers secreted in the ebony of night. Below him, the woman lies supine, one leg extended, toes pointed. Her thin arms arch upward in a dream, supple as wings in spite of the brittleness of her bones. He understands her grace, the persistence of her soul’s dance.
Moderato e maestoso. Her lips part as Tchaikovsky swells in her head. The scène finale. The reaper cranes forward, immersed in the sublime pathos of the song. She dips her chin in gratitude, elegant white feathers and fingers cupping her heart. The reaper weeps and splays his black wings. Her dream ripples across the lake and she glides into the golden light, forever a swan.
**
Thanks to Sue Vincent of the Daily Echo for another mesmerizing #writephoto Thursday prompt.
Myths of the Mirror 
This is ridiculously well written bravo
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Thanks for the visit and comment, Shane. I like photo prompts. Short and sweet 🙂
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Oh Diana…. That was stunningly, gloriously, goos-bumply beautiful. Sigh… mega hugs.
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Thanks for the lovely comment, Teagan. Glad you liked it! Hugs back at you. 😀
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Your description is fitting for a swan, Diana. The words flow and are full of grace. Lovely 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks so much for stopping by, Suzanne. So glad you enjoyed the little piece. ❤
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Exquisite writing, really lovely ❤
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Thanks so much for the lovely comment, Nathalie. I had fun with this one. ❤
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You’re very welcome, Diana – it is beautiful ❤
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Wow! Such a stunning flash.
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Thanks so much for the visit and comment 🙂 I definitely enjoy doing these. They’re a wonderful distraction when I should be editing!
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Beautiful and brave transition. Great piece.
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Thank you. I do like these photo prompts and flash pieces. They’re quick and fun 🙂
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And your answers to them are brilliant 🙂
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Your words just melt, lovely
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Thank you for the great comment, Lynn. Have a wonderful weekend, my friend. ❤
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Ahhhhhhhhhhh, as the soul dances. Your fingers dance your words and imagination across the page/laptop into our hearts.
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😀 Thanks for the great comment, Pam. So glad this one got you in the heart! Happy Writing. ❤
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This is so beautiful, Diana 🙂
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Thanks so much for the visit, Judy! I’m glad you liked my little flash piece. The prompt was quite evocative 🙂 Happy writing!
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It certainly was! 🙂
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This is beautifully written.
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Thanks for reading. I’m glad you enjoyed my take on the photo.
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Beautiful Diana! I love the ending especially.
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Thanks for reading, Antonia. Very loosely drawn from Swan Lake. I’m so glad you enjoyed it ❤
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[…] D. Wallace Peach at Myths of the Mirror […]
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😀
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[…] Continue reading : The Swan #writephoto […]
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Thanks again for the reblog, Sue 🙂 Keep the prompts coming!
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If I ever am in a position where I need a defense attorney who is only given 100 words to make my case … I’ll be on your doorstep.
This felt like a story, a painting, a poem — and a live moment — all in one.
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What a great comment, although I don’t want to be anyone’s defense attorney! Ha ha. I enjoy the freedom of these prompts, Erik. They’re short and, in a way, effortless because they stand alone. Thanks for reading 😀
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Funny: when I was younger, my father used to tell me I was “wasting my brain” because I didn’t choose to become a doctor or lawyer. And I always said (and lived out), “I could be those things. But being able isn’t a reason to do them, because I would hate both.” LOL
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I agree. Plus the world couldn’t function if we were all doctors and lawyers (especially lawyers – lol).
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Totally dazzling blaze. What a lovely, interesting go up against this photograph incite..
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Thanks for reading and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed the response to the prompt. These are great fun. Have a lovely day 🙂
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An absolutely stunning poem Diane. Words cannot do justice to the beauty in this. Speechless.
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Well said, I agree! 🙂
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Thanks so much, Dina. I’m delighted that you enjoyed it 😀
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Swan Lake. 🙂
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Yes. I haven’t heard the music or seen the ballet, but it did come up as part of the inspiration. 😀 Thanks for reading!
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I always enjoy your flash fiction, Diana.
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Thanks for reading, Sean. I do like doing these. They’re quick and I can just dive in. 🙂 Happy Writing.
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The details are the reason this creates such a lovely image of black-winged death observing white angel-winged swan. I admire your giving the reaper his gentlemanly personality. He rises above the ordinary in his depiction through your eyes, Diana. Wow, I am in awe!
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I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Robin. I wanted death to be gentle and compassionate. That is my belief anyway. ❤
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Absolutely stunning flash. What a gorgeous, unique take on this photo prompt.
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I love doing these photo prompts, Sarah. They’re quick and keep the writing fresh in the midst of more grueling tasks. So glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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Wow! Very nice, Diana. You do a magnificent job with these photo prompts. Be proud! 🙂
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Thanks so much, Mary. I find these quite fun to do. The inspiration isn’t always there, but when it is, I like to give it a try. Happy Writing, my friend ❤
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This is so elegant and beautiful, Diana. I could hear the music. I loved it!
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Thanks, Lana. Funny how these stories bubble up. Glad you like it! Happy Writing. ❤
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The Reaper does not choose, merely collects and shepherds those onto the next adventure. Sometimes those souls need be dragged kicking and screaming… and yet sometimes, they sour into the next adventure with grace and poise.
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I suppose that might be true, Matt. I think this reaper is well aware of the poignancy of life. When I worked in hospice this is how most of the lives ended. No kicking and screaming, just a gentle drifting away. 🙂
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So somber. You really know how to let it flow, Diana. Just an exquisitely penned moment.
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Thanks for the lovely comment, Kelly. This one came in a morning dream after seeing he prompt the night before. Glad you liked it ❤
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I loved it. 🙂
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Beautiful – and that pic makes the stress just float away.
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Thanks for reading, Teri. Sue has wonderful prompts that I find hard to resist 🙂
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Nicely done, Diana! And great imagery. I’ll remember it whenever I hear Swan Lake. 🙂
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I haven’t seen or heard that ballet, Julie, but it’s definitely what came up for me, sort of. All fun. Happy Writing!
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Wow, Diana, I’m blown away by this…sublime and I have to smile at your imagination at work. Glorious!
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Thanks for the awesome comment, Annika. I get such a kick out of these prompts. I study them, let them stew, and then who knows what bubbles up :-). Happy Writing, my friend.
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Wow, that was beautiful!
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Thanks so much for reading! I love doing these flash pieces. This one came in a dream after seeing the photo the night before 🙂
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Wow, leave it to you to welcome death with eloquence Diana 🙂
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Thanks for the visit, Debby. Who knows what lies beyond the veil. ❤ I have no control over what bubbles up with these prompts. It's always an adventure.
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You could write a book of short from these prompts. You have the gift. ❤
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Aww. Thanks. I don’t know. The photos are key. And I would need a lot more. It’s just fun as can be to do them right here on the old blog 🙂
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Equally fun to read. 🙂
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Simply gorgeous, Diana. Very dreamlike and inspiring.
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Thanks, Steven. Glad you enjoyed it, my friend ❤
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Very much. 🙂
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Oh how lovely to be sent off into the after-life as a golden swan! Wonderful writing Diana!
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Thanks, Kathryn. I was musing about Swan Lake with this photo (which I know almost nothing about) :-). It seemed to fit. Thanks for reading!
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Death with grace and beauty. Wonderful, D. ❤️ I could feel it.
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Thanks, Van. So glad you liked it. 😀
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Beautiful, Diana!
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Thanks, Bette. I have a lot of fun playing with these prompts. This one was so evocative! Have a great day ❤
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Lovely goosebumps!!
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Oh, thanks, Val. Goosebumps is good! Thanks for reading 🙂
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You are such a fantastic writer. You took swan song and elevated it to art.
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Thanks, Bernadette. I didn’t even make that connection to the swan song (that you so beautifully wrote about). I got caught up in Swan Lake and the gold and black in the photo. A great prompt, huh?
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She does have some photos that are very thought provoking.
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Absolutely beautiful, Diana. To dance with death to a song of beauty… Thank you.
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Thanks, Sue. I really do love your prompts. This photo was so unusual, I couldn’t resist.
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I ‘should’ have disposed of this when I uploaded the pictures…as a photo it is all ‘wrong’. But it was magical 🙂
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I’m glad you kept it! You never know.
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No, you don’t 🙂
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Truly great. Beauty and grace from now to eternity.
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Thank so much for reading, Russell. I do enjoy photo prompts. 🙂 You might try one??
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Exquisite, Diana. May death caress us all so lovingly when it’s our time to dance free.
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That’s my hope, Carol. Thanks so much for visiting and reading.
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Wow! This is wonderful, Diana. The final dance…
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Yes. Thanks so much for visiting and reading, Meg. ❤
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My pleasure!
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Absolutely beautiful!…don’t stop! 😊
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Thanks so much for reading. I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂 ❤
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Oo, I love this, Diana. Brilliant description and dreamlike sequence. 🙂
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Thanks so much for the comment, Dave. I enjoy these photo prompts quite a bit 🙂 Happy Writing.
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You too! I’ll be checking back at your blog. Fun to see you writing what I like to read.
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That was simply divine.
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Thank you, Richard. High praise from a master wordsmith. 🙂
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I hope you were looking in the mirror when you wrote that.
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Lol. 😀
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“The reaper cranes forward, immersed in the sublime pathos of the song.”–Gorgeous!
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The reaper loves us as he takes us away. Thanks for the visit, Carrie. Happy Writing!
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To you too!
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Oh this is good! Not that I’m surprised, obviously. Well played, D, quality piece of creativity 🙂
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Thanks for the lovely comment, Phil. Glad you liked it 🙂
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Top stuff! 🙂
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Thanks, my friend. I had to sleep on this one and see what came up in that half dream of the morning 🙂
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The theme was very similar to something one of the Fosseway Writers came up with in response to the Swan Song prompt. Both had similar underlying emotions but yours was way more succinct and poetic. 🙂
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Aww. Thanks. I like how there are so many different takes to these prompts. I’ve never seen Swan Lake, but somehow it snuck in there 🙂
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Wow! What an imaginative, dream-like presentation!! Superb interpretation Diana. The grace and the melody could be heard from your words. Loved it. 🙂 keep inspiring dear friend.
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