First (poem)

Been thinking all week on a prompt from Lisa this past Monday, a new quadrille idea (dVerse 44 word poem) to include, this time around, the word “coax” and I really just had nothin’.

But then when I got home tonight I gave it another thought and suddenly remembered something that I had written quite a number of years ago (30 plus now) but could never find the copy of over all that time and so many moves, but something that had gotten a compliment, back then, from a well known, well published local poet and professor who frequented the cigar shop my fiancé managed and who agreed to take a moment to read after I convinced Danielle to ask him the big ask, if he would be so kind.

Now, I still have never found that copy but tonight some of it came to me, including the lead in of the title (I always remember that) so I thought to revisit and rework it then as best I could and it was a short bit, certainly one that could fit a quadrille.

So, my altered version (including “coax” replacing “feel” and meeting a 44) but still there in spirit and pretty close, I think, to the original.

The compliment from him, by the way, written in pencil at the bottom of the poem? He said he thought that it was complete.

That was pretty big.

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First

A girl leaned older

Outside the store

holding up a wall with a bent knee left foot

and a cigarette with a right hand lilt

and a waking sudden me

with both

through a smoke clouds glance  

coaxing me to something  

I didn’t know

A Petal’s Grace (poem)

A new Quadrille prompt at dVerse Poets this week, this one from Lillian, a 44 word poem, not counting the title, that is to include one word directed in the prompt.

Lillian’s word?

“Petal”

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A Petal’s Grace

Sitting alone outside the Market

he counts people

not known

together with those gone

in slow

hurries

from one stand

one world

to another

a young girl

holding her mother’s hand

pauses and smiles him

a petal

from the rose held under her balloon

The Failed Painter (poem)

New quadrille prompt this week at dVerse Poets from De Jackson (WhimsyGizmo) and the word to include for this latest 44 word dVerse special?

“Much”

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The Failed Painter

I amended you the canvas

that one proving

again  

I am no painter

no artist

not even willing walls

of new heart’s homes  

edging tape, drop cloths

always

balled, tossed

but it needed

not much

just subtle signature

later

like forger or vandal

again

Oh, to the Stars … (poem)

The latest Quadrille prompt at dVerse Poets comes from Kim, the Quadrille being the 44 word dVerse specialty with a word to include.

The word this prompt?

“Rumpus”

(yes, I still look up and dream)

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Oh, to the Stars …

They spark blinkled star sprinkled

dust

down

tinkled tickled

keys

in silent

song  

.

those sparks

to wrinkled gaze

those notes

in twinkled ears

still

after all these years

.

such a racket

such a rumpus

Oh, if only to hear

once

can you join us?

Fish Tales (poem)

A Quadrille prompt at dVerse Poets earlier this week from Mish, another 44 word poem with a prompted single word to include. The word this time around?

“Fish”

The prompt explains, more in full, Mish’s inspiration.

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Fish Tales

They hung

flung

high in the air

where they stunk of

fish

too long in the sun

tales

spun

fish oil charlatan

from podium

none worthy of consumption

‘cept for willing blind deaf dumb

with fetid wine and green crawling buns

fishing false salvation

On A Shelf Between … (poem)

Newest Quadrille prompt at dVerse Poets from Lillian, dVerse’s 44 word invention just, with each prompt, to include one particular word.

This time around? The word sunrise.

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On A Shelf Between …

They live inside,

worn flowers between pages

of a red velvet picture book

with prettied painting of a sunrise

in a box

between

letters and monuments

on a shelf

between

sweet still scented scarves and wool socks

behind that hat you wore so well

Songs of Angels & Devils Or Devils & Angels (poem)

New Quadrille prompt this week and this one from Kim. It’s that dVerse Poets 44 worder that asks to include one word.

Here?

“Quiet”

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Songs of Angels & Devils or Devils & Angels

One sang itself as quiet

One sang itself as noise

Another tuned truth

While another lyric’d lies

Yet another was fear of light

And that one? Fear of night

Yet they sang, sung together

To confound

Leaving us decipher songs, sing on/of our own

Sheets (poem)

New Quadrille poem prompt this week at dVerse Poets from Mish

The 44 word (title not included) dVerse Poets specialty that asks you to include one word.

The new Quadrille prompt word here?

“Tangle”

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Sheets

Turning over and over sheets get tangled

in creases

that cut my toes  

in wary dreams

always trying push them whole

disguising away monsters

smelling blood in their air scare stares up from around the foot of the bed

at a child’s grown feet

These Bangs (poem)

A new Quadrille poem prompt at dVerse Poets to begin the week.

A 44 word dVerse poem that, this time around, asks to include the word “Bang”.

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These Bangs

Big ones that begat this life

to

smaller ones

softly floating wispy cloth plush petite over imploring eyes that begat beauty

on mountains I sounded song

from peaks   

I louded

bangs

until this

another

faded in bangless valley’s whimper

but lingering echo

these bangs