All right, Prosers. Here is the moment for which you’ve all been waiting.

As you know, alongside our Partners, creating challenges is our responsibility. So, to further drive the evolution of Prose, we’ll be launching a new Kindle challenge each month. For May, we challenged the community to write 500 words about death.

Of the 66 submissions only the fiercest, most powerful pieces were chosen. We made selections based on several factors: grammatical soundness, originality, and attention to detail.

In total, there were 40 pieces of poetry and prose that made the cut.

Before we reveal them, we’d like to direct your attention to the newest Kindle challenge: theprose.com/challenge/2317.

For those of you that are not featured in Volume 1, now’s your chance to land a spot in Volume 2. Here are a few suggestions for you, based upon our experience with the first round:

1) Give your piece a title.

2) Double (and triple) check your spelling and grammar before hitting “publish.” This should include the use of appropriate formatting (paragraphs, indentations, quotations, etc.).

3) Avoid extraneous language for purposes of meeting or exceeding the word limit. The piece itself must be a minimum of 500 words. You may choose to provide commentary, such as author’s notes or signatures, but they will not be included in the final publication.

4) Any content that has been previously published outside of Prose, in part or in full, including excerpts, cannot be included in the final publication due to Amazon publishing restrictions.

To read the e-book you must download it from Amazon. You’ll notice that it costs a whopping $0.99.

Our intention was for this publication to be FREE, but Kindle Direct Publishing requires a minimum price. With that in mind, we want to make a fervent promise to the entire community:

All royalties collected will be used to create and publish more books for you, by you.

We would also like to reiterate that, as Prosers, you retain 100% of your original copyright. By agreeing to our Terms of Use (theprose.com/p/legal/terms), you agree to give Prose a permanent and exclusive sub-license to your work, but that’s legalese.

In layman’s terms, we have permission to share your work on our social media and promotional materials.

That allows us to show the world just how talented you are, which is why we’re here.

To download the e-book, visit:

(For Prosers in the US)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YNDY75O?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

(For Prosers in Canada)

http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00YNDY75O/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_ask_vP5QJ.1VCDA9W

(For Prosers in the UK)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00YNDY75O?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

(For Prosers in Australia)

http://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B00YNDY75O?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

You’re also encouraged to read all of the entries by visiting www.theprose.com/2230.

We would like to thank everyone that participated for their hard work. The Prose Anthologies are dedicated to this community, which includes each and every one of you.

Roses are red,

And violets are blue.

I would forget everything,

If you would too.

But bruises turn purple,

And tears remain clear.

So I'll always remember,

And you'll drown in beer.

"It's been a long day without you my friend, and I'll tell you all about it when I see you again". - R.I.P Paul Walker.

The love from everyone who has felt his impact, his weight, his love. Who would wake up early, and finish the Tokyo tape, just to now realize he has met his fate. I hope you are in a better place now, answering your call, you made us all smile, Rest In Peace Paul.

Winter is like a blanket,

Covering up the Earth.

Spring is like a flower,

Blooming From the Sky.

Summer is like grass,

Shifting in the wind.

Fall is like a leaf,

Dancing in the air.

Seasons Looks Like a circle,

Going on forever.

It had to go

Is what they say

It was old and sick

About to die anyway

But no matter what they try to do

Whatever they do to comfort you

Nothing can ever make up

For the loss of a beloved pet.

Nothing except

The gentle love of a caring parent

A shoulder to cry on

A warm, caring voice

Telling you that

They're in a better place.

I like animals.

How some of them are big and small,

But I only have one favorite out of them all.

The horse, the horse is the one I admire most of all.

The way I grew up with them when I was small.

I love riding and brushing there mane.

How shiny and wet it is in the rain,

And how they trot all around the grassy plains.

I would very much like to have my own,

Even though I have a dog and her bone.

I don't care much for color, like chestnut and bay,

But I would like to have a horse to ride and play.

Most importantly, the horse symbolizes me,

I was born in the year of the horse,

That's how I am filled with glee.

Most of all, the horse has been part of my life,

And that's why the horse is my favorite,

Even when I die.

The horse made me who I am,

Becuase I am me.

Blood

What does it mean

What does it do?

Does that keep you related

It's just complicated.

To love is to be related

By blood or by heart

You are related.

I'm stuck, I'm done, I've got writers block I've tried everything, I've hit my head with a tennis ball inside a sock, it connected with my brain with a mild "thok".

I came back all woozy, unable to walk. But I still had writers block.

I covered my skin in some dusty old chalk. I still had writers block.

I really did everything I could possibly dream. But I'm sorry, I still have writers block.