For Kerry’s prompt at Real Toads, Art/Flash 55. Featuring the art of Tomasz Zaczeniuk, surreal artist and photographer from Poland.
The Last Worshipper
“Some things are more precious because they don’t last long.”
― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Dorian Gray heaved a deep rattling sigh –
He stood at the door of the temple. He was the last
person on earth he reckoned.
First the oceans flooded from all of the melted arctic ice.
Then the heat of the sun burned the seas to sand.
What good is living forever if one is alone?
He remembered this beach’s name – Whitby.
He called to mind the brightly colored bath houses.
Now all was silent.
He might as well go inside and go to sleep.
Hopefully he would sleep forever.
Tomasz Zaczeniuk, The Temple
used by permission from the artist
kanzen sakura 
Mar 03, 2019 @ 04:34:41
How intriguing that you selected Dorian Gray as your protagonist. The description is very apt.
Mar 03, 2019 @ 11:54:44
Thank you Kerry. In honor of my mother I went after and obtained my MFA this past summer, a year after she died. I have used Dorian in response to several of your art prompts. I did my thesis on the late Victorian era and composed about 14 poems on Gray, the trial of Wilde, and the hypocrisy of the times. It was most interesting and enjoyable.
Get Outlook for Android
________________________________
Mar 03, 2019 @ 05:53:46
Fabulous where the prompt led you…
Mar 03, 2019 @ 07:56:15
I really like your take on this. I could find no reason for this structure to be here, such a deserted desolate place. One place is left for resting, to sleep it off or more on.
..
Mar 03, 2019 @ 10:39:51
Exactly. Thank you Jim
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
________________________________
Mar 03, 2019 @ 08:09:36
There is such sense of loneliness so I can imagine only the immortals walking around in the sand after the seas been burned to sand.
We saw a lot of the same thing in the picture I think
Mar 03, 2019 @ 10:39:23
Yes we did. The last humans, the last knowledge…all of the desolation
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
________________________________
Mar 03, 2019 @ 10:19:56
This is gorgeously rendered, Toni! ❤️ Woww! 😀
Mar 03, 2019 @ 11:50:55
Thank you Sanaa
Get Outlook for Android
________________________________
Mar 05, 2019 @ 00:29:41
I feel the stark “aloneness” in this poem. It is really powerful.
Mar 05, 2019 @ 06:39:37
Thank you for getting the lonely aloness in this.
Get Outlook for Android
________________________________
Mar 06, 2019 @ 11:26:08
Brilliantly clever to bring Dorian into this write Toni, very cool. I went dark as well, but without the wonderful twist you added.
Mar 06, 2019 @ 11:44:05
Thank you Rob. He played an important part in my MFA thesis so I brought him out of the wraps for this prompt. I think most of us went dark with this. Such a gloomy pic.
Get Outlook for Android
________________________________