Decay: A Creative Prompt

All things decay, even unstable atoms.

The more you look at this winter rose, the deeper you are drawn into its life. The twisting dead canes, the spots of mildew—and then the rose itself, perfect and triumphant amid death.

Without destruction, there is no creation.

Without death, there is no life.

Without decay, there cannot be rebirth.

All things based on carbon, all life, at some point lose form, die, decay and return to earth.

Leaves become humus, home to earthworms and sow bugs. Mushrooms invade your compost heap, spinning their ever-exploring threads. Maggots and flies and ants gorge on animal life, the parts that haven’t already been consumed by predators and crows.

All things decay, even unstable atoms.

Every day, we are closer to our own decay. But it’s not something we think about much, nor should we. Instead we are about drawing lilacs out of the dead land, bringing up vegetables in our gardens, tending our children, feeding our goats. Helping to reverse the process of decay. It’s about life.

Return to nature

Life leads to death
Death begets life—
A snake chasing its tail,
A mole dead in its burrow.

Wipe your face now, come out
And walk on the grass—
Soil and leaf mold and earthworms,
Dead keys to new life unfolding.

How can we picture decay, write about it without triteness? Is there a way to draw it?

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Click here to read Rigid, the previous creative prompt.

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Read more from Fran at Becoming….

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