Hello friends, poets, writers magicians,
Today it’s time for a new feature to write poetry. It’s not a new one, but yet we hope it can be something entirely unique.
The challenge combines two essential elements to have fun. The first we will base it on words. In this case a single word that has to be included in the body of your text. The second is that we want it to be limited to 44 words exactly including the given word. This is right in the middle between the 33 words of Trifextra and the 55 of G-man’s challenge that I think many of you might have participated in.
The name Quadrille leads us into dance, and therefore for this premiere the chosen word is dance. But I will not stop there but you have to use it as a verb with and object. So not a noun or transitive verb.
In dictionary.com I found three ways to use dance with an object.
- To take part in or perform a dance : She dances a quadrille
- To cause to dance : She danced him round the room
- To cause to be in a specified condition by dancing: “The dog danced itself to madness
You are free to choose tense of any of three meanings, and do it in exactly 44 words including the world dance.
So put on your red shoes…
- Write your piece in 44 words exactly, including the given word.
- Put it on your blog and Link back to this post
- Link it up to Mr Linky above. The link will be open for a week
- Visit comment and most of all enjoy the other entries
dVerse 
Welcome every one… I hope you like this new challenge… I will start to write mine now….
I also want to add that one can write a poem or a short prose, as long as its 44 words only. And you can write more than 1 entry ~ Thanks for hosting Bjorn ~
thanks Grace that was helpful advice
Looks like a great challenge, Bjorn. Thanks 🙂
Ah, I was so looking forward to this feature. I was one who took part in G-Man’s 55, and I really have missed that. So I am excited about getting involved in another such writing prompt. 44 sounds very workable! Looking forward to seeing everyone’s quadrilles!!
I like the fact that we start on almost equal base…
Shall we dance! La la la. Shall we dance!! (smiles)
Dance and swirl… what will you dance
I think I will do an Argentine Tango… 🙂
I for one enjoy tap dancing…..shuffle ball changes, wings, a little soft shoe with some sand thrown down on the floor….:)
Oh – tap dancing is so wonderful and I greatly admire those who can do it. I can do a buck and wing shuffle as part of a fox trot but real tap dancing – in my dreams. such rhythm and the sound – wonderful!
oh yes…..love making the sounds!!!
Hi Bjorn! Thank you for this. I love to dance. I love to write poetry. Perfect times two.
Ha.. we can let the words dance can’t we…
Ha, sometimes words dance better than feet do! Smiles.
I will put on my poetic cap and link up later ~ Looking forward to reading everyone’s share in a bit ~
Happy Monday ~
Oh I love this… My thinking cap is on as well… I hope you like the surprise.
And I immediately thought of David Bowie when you said to put on your red shoes –
Let’s dance put on your red shoes and dance the blues…
Yep but you have to use the verb with an object…. Let’s dance them shoes…
Starting to get those keyboard keys to be dancin’ on the ceiling!
I’m thnking Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz…..best red shoes in the world! Of course, not too much dancing. Unless one counts her trip down the yellow brick road! 🙂
Yes indeed. What fun!
And, now I have that song running through my head 😛
My thinking cap is on….steam is coming out of my ears! Will come back in a bit.
wow you are quick… I had no chance to get there as quickly… but we do have the whole week.
This was truly fun! Is this a form that you invented, Bjorn? It’s very conducive to the prompt word!
We have all participated in similar challenges before.. A couple of years ago some of were engaged in trifecta in 33 words…
Ahh. I wasn’t here. It is fun!
Well, silly me. I thought the trifecta was only in horse betting!
Good afternoon everyone! It feels good to get back into an abbreviated writing prompt again, Bjorn. I really did enjoy G-Man’s Flash Friday 55 and his comment to everyone to have a “kick-ass” weekend. :~) Can’t wait to read these 44 word gems!
Yes, me too, Gayle. No one could wish a ‘kick ass weekend’ as well as he could.
So true, Mary.
A dancer at heart — started lessons at age 4 and continued till 18…….then at middle age (will let you guess what that was) auditioned with literally hundreds of dance students at the University of Iowa to dance for and with Gene Kelly (remember him?) at the half-time of their Big 10 (when it really was only 10) football game to Singin in the Rain! I was the only one above 20 who got in — 150 “hoofers” donned yellow slicker raincoats, black ballet shoes, black tights, and black and yellow umbrellas (Iowa’s colors are black and gold) and came out from the sidelines to form a giant umbrella center field and did a dance to Singing in the Rain, performed by the Hawkeye Marching Band of 100+! Quite the experience! So delighted to see this challenge…..although I took it a totally different way! 🙂
Wow. What a great story.. So cool.
Oh wow! As a band member playing behind dancers, majorettes, I can just visualize this. What a great experience that must have been for you. Now I am wanting to run to my lonnnnnng kitchen and do some solo dancing its length and back again, singing that wonderful song. Oh, oh, oh!
Thank you, Björn for the challenging prompt
Ha.. Yes short is fun.
I found it challenging to have an exact number of words. It’s a good exercise
I have learnt to do it by seeking out those challenges… Take out one word there, add another there.. But it’s a great exercise.
Yes that’s how I did it. I counted how many had to be removed and bet on the ones I could not do without
I have learned to whittle with Twitterature ^_^
I’m sure they did their best. It can be confusing.
Hellooooo. About to go do some word-dancin’. Thank for the fun new feature kickoff, Bjorn! Kickin’ up my heels, about to dance a jig, dance my muse across the floor, dance myself into oblivion.
Cheers and happy dancing to all.
Ok, I will put on my red shoes and dance the blues…
Good evening! This 44 word poetry is fun! Thank you Bjorn!
So much fun I triple dipped. 🙂 Thanks, B.
Such fun De 🙂
like it…
🙂
Thanks for joining us ~ However can you please review your share as it doesn’t contain the word – dance, which is our theme for the 44 word prompt ~ We will be deleting your link here if you are unable to edit it later for our 44 word prompt ~
I’m going to give this a go. Thanks, for letting me know about this challenge, Björn.
Looking forward to your 44 word piece ~ Nice to meet you Tara ~
Thank you, Grace. I participated in Trifecta almost from the beginning to its sad retirement. I’ve missed the micro writing we did there.
I loved trifecta 33 words as well… So we just tried something slightly different… Glad to see you here Tara.
Trifecta was, by far, my all-time favorite prompt site.
Thanks, Björn. I hope to do you proud.
Welcome! Glad you joined in!
I really enjoyed the challenge of 44 words and was inspired by the “dance”. At work now, but I’ll be back soon to hit the trail. 🙂
Great to see you.. this will be a recurring event.
I’m hitting the trail doing late reading, but the prompt is open for a week! I may do another if I have time – crazy week. It is wonderful to start this with such a fun word.
Thank you Bjorn!
Ha.. yes I thought it was a great word to kick off with …
Super word!
De is a wonderful crazy mad fun influence. I could not resist doing another, considering I used to close down discos on a regular basis… 🙂
So I want apologize for the rules being a little bit to strict. (or maybe even vague…)
I’m well aware that many of you didn’t read the prompt fully. To use dance with an object is not the most common way to use it… which is why I tried to encourage that use. I think using dance as an active verb often makes your writing stronger… it may force you into using metaphors and images.
You have to agree that:
He danced himself insane
sounds much stronger than:
He was insane from dancing
At least I think so… But I have not enforced anyone to follow the rules exactly… But please read the prompt more carefully next time. It’s not by coincidence I construct prompts. 🙂
All in all a number of great poems linked here… the next Quadrille will be held on February 8…
Bjorn, I was just wondering if I constructed my poem correctly and if not what should I have done? You can email me the reply.
Oh you did it perfect… 🙂