Greetings, my poet friends. This is Victoria, thrilled to be hosting a Quadrille for the first time. Put on your dancing shoes!
As I write this, a bit ahead of time, March is making its presence known in a final fling of unruly weather. At home in Reno, I understand that snow made its way over the Sierra, putting an abrupt end to the early spring. Here in the desert, wind howled outside. Palm fronds cover the grass, birds fly in place and we take down the hummingbird and bird feeders that are risk of becoming UFO’s. But out on the water, beauty now surprises as the wind calms into a breeze and the sun sets gently, shimmering on the rippling surface of the pond.
And, voilà, the scene offers me the word I ask you to use in today’s quadrille: shimmer—to shine with a soft tremulous or fitful light. Choose it as a noun, verb, adjective—any form of speech that works for you. Remember—the word must be included in your poem that will be exactly 44 words—no more, no less.
So settle in with a notebook and pencil, or however you create, and join us:
Write your piece in 44 words exactly, including the given word in any of its usages.
Put it on your blog and link back to dVerse by accessing Mr. Linky at the bottom or this post. The link will be open for a week.
Visit other poets and comment on their work.
Above all, enjoy the process.
Remember, the link will be open all week!
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Welcome, everyone. I look forward to see you all shimmering with delightful poetry. Don’t forget, you have all week to post.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Wonderful to be here… though my vacation shimmered with snow… 🙂
Victoria C. Slotto said:
And wonderful to have you back. So glad you had a good vacation.
Grace said:
Happy to see you back Bjorn ~ No need to go far for snow as we have them in our backyard now ~
kanzensakura said:
And my car shimmers with yellow pollen!
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Mine too.
lillian said:
ah…….snowing here in Boston this April 4th! Ugh….4 to 6 inches predicted. Oh cruel temptress Spring!
Grace said:
Shimmer…what a lovely word Victoria, full of shimmering possibilities ~
Thanks for hosting ~
Victoria C. Slotto said:
It feels good to say, too.
kanzensakura said:
I like these Quadrilles so much. And we have had such wonderful words for the prompts. Thank you Victoria for “shimmer”…and your photo is perfect!
Victoria C. Slotto said:
They are a lot of fun, aren’t they?
kanzensakura said:
They have become one of my favorite dVerse features.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Shimmer is a wonderful word, and so versatile… as noun or verb or even adjective
kanzensakura said:
Quadrilles are wonderful Bjorn. I am always excited to discover the new word. It is an excellent feature here at dVerse. Thank you.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
My only complaint–too many words to choose from. I could do one of these a day!
kanzensakura said:
I know. So many words, so little eternity in which to write.
Linda Kruschke said:
Great word! I’d already written my quadrille based on the NaPoWriMo prompt and was just waiting to see if I could modify to fit your word in — and I did! It meant I had to cut out some little words, but I think it made for a tighter ending. Off to heat up my lunch now. I’ll be back. Peace, Linda
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Love it when you find the word useful… 🙂
Victoria C. Slotto said:
I love adapting poems that I’m not happy with to fit to the Quadrille.
Linda Kruschke said:
I wouldn’t say I wasn’t happy with it before adapting it, but the need for brevity improved it, I think.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Of course…just a trick I use to redeem work I’m not satisfied with.
Linda Kruschke said:
It’s a good trick to have in one’s poetry arsenal.
lillian said:
Ah…..flying two birds with one poem (rather than killing two birds with one stone). I did the same 🙂
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Smiles.
Pleasant Street said:
That is a really pretty photo Victoria, inspiring all on its own
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Shimmer is a word that’s a painting in itself…
Pleasant Street said:
that is so true
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Thank you. We have some great photo ops here.
Bodhirose said:
Hello everyone! I’ll be posting mine in a little while. Thank you, Victoria for hosting our sixth Quadrille and for a word with so many possibilities!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I look forward to read yours Gayle…
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Can’t wait to read it!
whimsygizmo said:
Gorgeous photo, Victoria, and a delightful word to play with today. I’ve posted my first (we all know I can’t do only one Q44), and visited all of the amazing poems so far. I love where this is taking us…
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I might do a second too… but need to prepare for poetics tomorrow too…
Victoria C. Slotto said:
I’m thinking the same thing. Quadrille does lend itself to that.
lillian said:
Thanks for hosting Victoria! Nice to chat with everyoe on this blustery snowy (you read that correctly) April day in Bosont. Where oh were are those aquamarine waters of Bermuda? Alas, only in photos and memories now…..
Victoria C. Slotto said:
And you knew leaving Bermuda what you could encounter, right?
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Hate to tell you it’s 90-something here.
whimsygizmo said:
Oh, man. Condolences on being “home,” Lillian. We have a saying we use for several weeks after arriving “home” from Tahoe, especially after our summer trek, when we get to stay 2-3 weeks…”This is SO not Tahoe.” I feel for your first few weeks of “This is SO not Bermuda.”
kanzensakura said:
I will probably do another Q44 (I like that!) as well. As my world is shmmering with way too much yellow pollen, I have to take a lie down for a vicious headache but will be back to read, comment, and hopefully comment. See you later, all you lovely shimmering poets!
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Get the rest you need and get rid of the headache, Gayle. So sorry the pollen is doing that to you.
kanzensakura said:
My asthmas and allergies hate this time of year….
whimsygizmo said:
Mine, too, Toni. It’s ROUGH. Feel better.
kanzensakura said:
Migraines, asthma, hives…bah. No wonder I love snow.
Jennifer Wagner said:
My first Quadrille. Great word! Thanks for hosting, Victoria. Happy spring 🙂
whimsygizmo said:
They’re addicting, Jennifer. 😉 I loved yours.
Jennifer Wagner said:
Thanks, De. Yours was fantabulous!
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Hope it’s the first of many, Jennifer!
Jennifer Wagner said:
Me, too. They’re fun 🙂
Pleasant Street said:
I think I have been very fortunate to not have allergies. I hope everyone not feeling well gets better soon.
I am still kind of new. Is there a rule about getting it onto Mr Linky the first day? I didn’t get many visits last time so I wondered if that was why
whimsygizmo said:
No rule on posting the first day. If Mr. Linky’s open, posting’s open and somebody’s still reading.
Can you let us know what you mean by “last time?” I just looked up the last Quadrille, and I don’t see an entry from you. (I also don’t have a comment from you on mine, so I assume you didn’t partake in that one.) Hoping you’re not having issues linking up…
Pleasant Street said:
It was Tuesday’s summit prompt and I posted Wednesday. I never mind or feel badly if there aren’t comments or likes, I was just surprised that it was only read twice.I thought maybe I did something incorrectly.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
I notice that when I post later there seems to be fewer comments. I think it’s because people may move on to other sites, other prompts. Those of us who host do try to get to everyone who joins in although I know sometimes I think I’ve visited and have missed someone. There’s also the blogger-wordpress issue that sometimes makes it harder to comment.
Pleasant Street said:
I don’t mind if no one comments. I just want to read and share. I think WordPress is a wealth of words, don’t you?
whimsygizmo said:
I heart WordPress. 🙂
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Me too, De.
whimsygizmo said:
I was unable to participate last in last Tuesday’s prompt, but have clicked over, and your link works fine, but your comments are “closed.” Maybe that was the issue? Also, I don’t see any comments from you on anybody else’s links for that day (unless you commented under a different name?). Maybe you had a glitch of some kind?
Pleasant Street said:
Nah it wasn’t an issue because only two people visited haha. It’s fixed now and I wasn’t trying to create drama, back to my original question, I was just asking
Victoria C. Slotto said:
I just went back to your summit post and found comments closed. Maybe if you leave them open a bit longer you will see better results. Also, the best way to get comments, for the most part, is to comment on others. Most people try to return visits…I know dVerse staff takes this quite seriously. Unfortunately, some bloggers just post to get read and receive comments. That undermines the purpose of community which is what dVerse strives to be. For myself, I don’t post a poem if I know I won’t have time to read others–such was my situation for OLN last week.
Pleasant Street said:
I’ll start over. I don’t mind not getting comments. It’s fine 🙂
I just wanted to share and when only 2 people visited I wanted to correct whatever I did mistakenly (like be late a lot! )
Pleasant Street said:
I didn’t know comments were off though. Thanks for letting me know!
whimsygizmo said:
Sounds like that was your issue, then. 😉 Glad it’s easily fixed.
And I agree with Victoria. I find I get more visits when I do lots of visits.
Pleasant Street said:
I don’t mind not getting comments. Only 2 people visited. I wondered if all was fine.
Pleasant Street said:
It feels weird to keep saying I am not fishing for comments, then keep getting told I want comments. If you read where this started that simply isn’t true. I’m not like that.
whimsygizmo said:
I’m sorry if you feel like I was telling you you wanted comments. That’s not what I meant, at all. I was just saying that my own experience is that when I visit other blogs a lot, they usually visit me back. And if I’m honest, of course I like comments. Don’t we all? Please know I did NOT misunderstand your original intent, was just tying to help you get to the bottom of it, and making suggestions.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Amen.
kanzensakura said:
No rule about posting. Unfortunately, the later you post, the fewer comments you get. Not all folk are good about coming back and checking for later posted links. We try to come back and check, especially the links that are up for a week. I hope you will get more comments, especially on this wow of a Quadrille you did. On one hand, the longer time links let people post easier and on the other, not everyone checks back – life, allergies, whatever why. To be honest, I like to check back and visit because I hope I will be visited back. yeah, I’ll admit it, I like those comments. But then, when I check back I read some amazing work from people. members of d’Team try to keep checking back. I know you post on a regular basis so you are one of the folks whose links I look for. I like shorter link times myself because it ends sooner. but then again, some people have to have more time due to work or whatever. I don’t know if this would work for you, but maybe check back during the week? That’s up to you and your schedule of course. Some people only read and comment the first day and then they don’t. Don’t know what else to say except I hope it doesn’t discourage you.
Pleasant Street said:
I wasn’t asking for comments. I never said anything about any of that. I don’t understand why this keeps getting told to me. You are making assumptions because of others in the past. But you know I visit and comment often, or share on Twitter or Google. Sorry I posted this at all. 😦 hiding now
ava said:
Don’t you hide, you adorable little shy girl. You are crazy awesome!!! I adore your work … and your bashful spirit. I think it’s quite becoming. 🙂
whimsygizmo said:
I’m with ava. 🙂
We’re all just here to share our words.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
I love this form so had to post a second one.
kanzensakura said:
I agree. I have one in my head that came to mind immediately but not sure if the way I use shimmer is correct…oh well – nothing ventured nothing gained.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
You’re a poet–you can use it however you like!
whimsygizmo said:
I have followed your lead, Victoria. 🙂 Q44 is my favorite.
ghostmmnc said:
Thanks, Victoria, for a wonderful prompt word! Hope everyone had a great weekend, and a great start to the week ahead! 🙂
Victoria C. Slotto said:
It’s only Monday?!
ghostmmnc said:
Afraid so, Victoria…still Monday here for another 3 hours! Glad I saw your reminder of tonight’s Quadrille. I love doing these, and didn’t want to miss out!
Bodhirose said:
I couldn’t leave a comment on Jennifer Wagner’s blog tonight. I saw that several people had but I can’t seem to engage the comment space there. So sorry, but really enjoyed your baseball poem, Jennifer. With four sons I was thinking at least one must play baseball. 🙂
Jennifer Wagner said:
Hi, Gayle! Hmmm…not sure why the comments issue is popping up, but thanks for coming by! I do have a baseball player among the lot…all of ’em have played, but my 16-year-old especially loves to play the game.
lynn__ said:
Hi y’all. I used “shimmer” in my title, not in my quadrille. But if someone can suggest a good way to work it into my poem, let me know in your comment (on my site). Thanks!
lynn__ said:
…edited it myself now 😉
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Title is fine–but I haven’t seen how you worked it in yet. Glad you are here.
lynn__ said:
Thanks…I added a bit of shimmer to last line 🙂
othermary said:
Thanks Victoria! :o)
Victoria C. Slotto said:
You’re so welcome.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
I’ll be back late on Tuesday–don’t forget we have all week for this prompt! Check back on newcomers if you can. Thanks all.
kim881 said:
Hi everyone! Thank you for the prompt, Victoria – I’m looking forward to reading the posts for this one. I’m sorry I’m late to the pub but, as you know, by the time I get to see the post, I’m winding down and ready for bed. I’m an early morning kind of girl. But that’s what makes the Poets Pub unique – it’s international and we are all doing different things at any given time in various parts of the world. Last night, as I was preparing to go to bed, the security light in our back garden came on, which usually means one of the cats wants to come in the back door. Only this time it wasn’t a cat but a very large hedgehog! It responded to my voice and came right up to the door step! have a wonderful Tuesday and I’m already looking forward to the next round at the bar this evening or, if you’re me, tomorrow morning.
By the way, Bjorn, I though I hadn’t seen any posts from you lately and then one popped up last night – that’s how I knew the pub was open but it doesn’t come up on my computer until much later. I hope you had a great holiday in the snow. 🙂
I will, as usual, read all your poems after I have posted mine. If you don’t get a comment, it’s because I also have problems commenting on some people’s blogs.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Glad to see you, Kim. You are not late as long as the prompt is open. And this one is open all week–time for another if you like.
Arcadia Maria said:
My first quadrille. Will check out other poems later today.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
So glad you have joined us, Arcadia.
Imelda said:
Thanks for the prompt, Victoria. 🙂 It is always a pleasure to be able to write a poem and to join the fun in here. 🙂
Victoria C. Slotto said:
You just expressed our goals: write (and read) poems and have fun!
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Good morning, all. Just back from a (miserable) round of golf and off to read and comment.
Walt Wojtanik said:
Trying to keep the all balls in the air in this month long juggling act! Finally got a round tuit!
Victoria C. Slotto said:
That was part of the problem, Walt. I couldn’t get my ball in the air. And we have 12 water hazards…one of which is the shimmering photo above. A cruel sport it is.
Walt Wojtanik said:
They say, a nice walk interrupted by a little white ball!
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Yep. But it is exercise. And we have 90+ yrs oldsters playing.
mishunderstood said:
I love the quadrille! Shimmer was a gem of a word to use as well. Thanks Victoria. 🙂
Looking forward to reading…hope everyone is having a better week than me.
3 words….squirrels in attic!
whimsygizmo said:
YIKES, mish! so sorry! Squirrels are rare here (Southern Nevada) so we love them. But I remember growing up in Ohio, where they were nothing more than common pests. Hope you’re getting it all easily solved.
Victoria said:
The squirrels and all the other little critters must have come up to us in No.NV!
Victoria said:
Dang. Hope your week gets better, Mish!
Arcadia Maria said:
Wrote another Quadrille.
Victoria said:
Bravo.