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Welcome all poets! This is Michelle (Mish) bringing you today’s quadrille prompt.
I was thinking about recent events and how we’ve become so caught up in all of it. For some, it has been quite stressful. Besides these worldly matters, we continue to face our own personal struggles. My heart goes out to many of our team members at dVerse who are currently dealing with loss, family illnesses and other challenges. I am inspired by their courage as they continue to dedicate their time in spite of these difficulties.
Often in these times, we can lose sight of ourselves. Sometimes we need to step back to find a new perspective. Sometimes we just need to b..r..e..a..t..h..e.
Today I would like you to take a deep breath. Seriously.
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In…..through your nose….1, 2, 3, 4…and
Slowly out….
Empty your lungs.
Empty your mind.
Relax.
Deep breathing exercises help us relax and reduce the stress and tension that we carry daily. It is a natural way to bring us back to a sense of calm. Here are a few websites with techniques and tips for deep breathing if you are interested.
http://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/body-mind-spirit/stress-anxiety/breathing-three-exercises/
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/relaxation-techniques-for-stress-relief.htm
I would like to offer you the word “breath” or “breathe” for this week’s Q44. You can use other variations on the word, such as breathless, breathtaking, breathable or get creative with word-play. Your quadrille does not need to be about breathing. Just remember to include the required word.
I leave you with one of my favourite songs by Anna Nalick that reminds me to exhale when things get rough.
If you are new to dVerse, here is how it works:
- Write a poem that consists of exactly 44 words, not including the title. Include the word “breath” or “breathe”.
- Copy and paste the direct link to your poem into Mr.Linky.
- Drop into the pub, take a seat, relax, say hello.
- Visit other poets and comment on their work. Return again later in the week to read more.
- Take care, everyone.
dVerse 
Hello everyone!
Hope you are having a non-stressful day. I honestly can’t say that I am …..*deep breath…deep breath*…but a little distraction of 44 words might help. 🙂
I managed to finish my poem right when it opened… 🙂 A bit breathless.
I was checking if yours was already up 🙂
Well pull up a seat and catch your breath, Bjorn. Passing you a tall drink of water, slice of lemon. 🙂
Taking a deep breath…whew….Just perfect word for today and this week Mish ~
I think its important to pause, step back, gather ourselves again and step forward ~
Happy Monday from cold winter Ontario ~
Here all the snow is gone… and quite warm again…
Hi Grace. Yes, we do need to do that…to carry on. Sometimes it’s ALL we can do.
Brr…I am not liking the cold. Not ready for it.
Too cold and the wind was so strong too ~ Keep warm Mish ~
I have been driving my friend (who had a stroke a few yrs. ago) to her various appointments. Sometimes we walk since the weather has been wonderful ….well until now!
That’s kind of you Mish ~ I agree the weather this week is very cold and roads slippery ~ I have an officemate telling me she lost control of her car this morning on her way driving to work ~ Thank goodness no one was hurt~ Take care ~
Happy Monday from very rainy Norfolk, Grace. It’s chilly here too.
Love to dance… but I went a little dark anyway.
Hi Mish! Sorry that your day isn’t stress free. I’m here on time this week because I missed choir. I really like the prompt, which fits in with an idea I had during my visit to Wroclaw last week. I’m going to post in a minute and will come back to read a little later.
Hi Kim. Sounds great! Always nice when a previous idea finds its way to a prompt. Looking forward to reading your response. 🙂
🙂
I had a friend tell me constantly, “Don’t forget to breathe. It’s the surest sign that you’re alive.” There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of that advice. It has helped in many regards, no more than right now. I continue to breathe and try staying vital. I’ll see if I can find some words for you today, Mish!
SO nice to see you, Walter. Thanks for taking the time to drop in.
Remembering to breathe seems like simple advice…but there is wisdom there, for sure. Looking forward to your words. No pressure. 🙂
Hi Walt. I keep reminding myself of that same advice!
Hi Walt! There’s a Kate Bush song called ‘Breathing’ that seems apt for this prompt. Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzlofSthVwc
I enjoyed the video that ladyleemanila shared as well. 🙂 I thought of using Sting’s “Every Breath You Take”…..which would have taken the content of the prompt a different direction, but I do love that song.
I agree, that’s a good one.
Thank you Mish for this wonderful prompt! I’ll be back later when the house is still to read nad comment. I’ve posted mine
Thank you, Toni. See you later on the trail. 🙂
Bjorn or Grace…I have to slip out for no more than 1/2 hr in about 15 min. to drive a friend to an appointment. Would one of you be able to cover for me?
I will be here for a while more before heading to bed… 🙂
Thanks Bjorn.
No worries Mish ~ And I will take over when Bjorn sleeps 🙂
Thanks Grace. I will be back very soon. 🙂
Back online. Thank you, Grace and Bjorn.
Nice prompt….I am just in.
Nice to have you Paul…:-)
Thanks, Paul. Glad you could join us. 🙂
I had to try my hands in trying to write one using all the words….
Yay! I was hoping you would, Bjorn. I was thinking about how the next quadrille will hit the half-way point for the words. It will be uphill from there, I think….but a great challenge.
I just added one. Nice prompt.
Thanks, Frank. Will be over soon to read. 🙂
Happy Monday from Ohio! It’s chilly here, and we are more and more often able to see our breath…a sure sign that winter is setting in.
Thank you for hosting and for the lovely reminder. 💜
Hello Kay! Thanks for joining in. Cold here as well. I am about 3 hours north of Ohio. Thanks for your comments on the prompt.
Very cold here with the chilling wind as well ~
Brrrr! Cheers with something warm in a mug. 💜
Hey! How’s everyone doing? We had our first freeze this week, the geese are back at our playa lake for the winter, and Thanksgiving is in a few days here. Wishing you all a lovely week ahead. Thanks for the prompt this week, Mish! 🙂
Our Canadian Thanksgiving was in early October…but I’ll be celebrating with my husband’s American family this week. Thanks for joining in! 🙂
A perfect prompt for my return home (and to the world of the Internet). Thank you so much for the prompt, Mish, and for all of your thoughts and prayers during this last few weeks.
So sweet of you to join in, VIctoria. You are still in my thoughts and prayers. ((hugs))
Hey everyone,
Hope you are having an amazing day so far, sharing my poem “Winter-tide.” Thank you Michelle for the lovely opportunity ❤️ this one’s for you 🙂
PS: I ll be back in the morning to read and comment ❤️
Lots of love,
Sanaa
Hello Sanaa…sorry I missed you coming in. Will be by later to read your quadrille. 🙂
Hello everyone. I really like this prompt and the poems I read so far have been very good. Be back to read some more.
Thanks for stopping in, Arcadia Maria. I agree…some exquisite writing today. Looking forward to reading yours too.
Good Evening, I decided to play along to the beat of the blues, I look forward to breathing in some fresh poetry 🙂
Hi Truedessa 🙂 Glad you could join us. Will be along soon to read yours….sounds interesting!
Late to the party {I am in my happy place, Lake Tahoe, for the week}, but happy to breathe in some blue, with all of you. Thanks, Mish!
Middle of the night here. I find myself stuffed up and hard to breathe. I’ll be by later this morning to breathe in all the lovely entries.
Take care, Brian. 🙂 No hurry, no worries.
I haven’t ever done this before but was determined to have a go…it is my first ever.
Welcome to D’verse Alison !
Welcome, Alison 🙂 So glad you joined in. Hope to see you again.
perhaps the wind is mother earth breathing…
i had some difficulty with this one, a few good ideas but mostly strained and stretched too thin to try and make the word count. Seems like it’s better to have too much and trim it down than to have too little and have to keep going. So I did make a small poem, on the topic, but not a quadrille. So that does not count, so i didn’t put it in mr linky. You might like it anyway, called Spouse of Life
I like the thought of mother earth breathing..
Sometimes those quadrilles are a challenge, working with a specified amount of words. Better luck next time…but I will swing by to read your poem because I do love the title!
Thank you for the wonderful prompt Mish! I wrote it in two breaths this morning and it did not want to be edited so I am taking my own advice and keep it simple. It is a lot milder today in the Highlands and I will swing by soon to read :o)
Thanks for dropping in, Xenia….sorry I missed you. Our weather is getting much chillier. Had some flurries on the weekend. Will be by soon to read your poem. 🙂
Keep warm and see you soon, I will pour some chai ☺
Thanks for the prompt, Mish. 🙂 Poetry is a good way to take a breath.
Nice to see you, Imelda. I agree, poetry can be very soothing to the soul…and a good release. 🙂
took a long cold one from memory but very fresh – great prompt Mish
Thank you, Laura. 🙂
Ok, came up with a little something. I once heard the advice to ‘restrain the merely clever’, but don’t worry I didn’t do that this time! The word is there though I might not be readily apparent. Hope you all are well.
Such a surprisingly versatile form, the quadrille. I love it. And how obliging of you to give me my title! From which all else flowed, as I regularly engage, with others, in the ritual my poem describes.
haha….glad to oblige, Rosemary. Will be over soon to read. 🙂
Thanks for joining in. I love these quadrilles too!
Hi Mish–a timely topic. we may actually become stronger with the increased uncertainty surrounding us. Thanks for the prompt…I’m about to post 🙂
Hi Janice. I like that perspective. You may be right! 🙂