Hi, everyone. It’s Quadrille Monday! This is a dVerse creation—a poem of exactly 44 words, not including the title. It must contain the given word. The poem can take any form: rhymed, free verse, or even a Haibun.

I often think of the quadrille as a sort of fun poem, and perhaps this can be a rest from writing villanelles and other tricky forms. But a quadrille can be serious, too. I’m giving you a word that will allow for all sorts of possibilities. Can you to rise to the occasion?

Yes, I’m asking you to use the word rise. April here is a month of plants rising from the ground. But when I started thinking about it, I came up with so many ways the word can be used. Bread dough rises—and matzoh does not. Balloons, birds, kites, airplanes, and spaceships all rise into the sky. Perhaps a thought arises in your brain? Or more seriously, think about uprisings of protest and rebellion—many which happen in the spring.

Both the sun and moon rise (and set), and sometimes our feelings do, too. John Donne imagines the sun spying on a pair of lovers, and the female narrator complains of how the rising sun means that they must part so that the man can go to work. Donne’s “Break of Day,” I learned is an aubade, “A love poem or song welcoming or lamenting the arrival of the dawn” (Poetry Foundation).

Finally, Maya Angelou’s poem of rising never fails to stir me. Here’s the poem.  And here’s a Google Doodle animation with Dr. Angelou and others reading it.

Arise, dVerse Poets! Here’s how to join in the quadrille fun:

*Write a poem, of any style in 44 words, not including the title. Include the word or derivative of the word, “rise”.

*Click on Mr. Linky below. Add your name and the direct URL to your poem.

*Visit the other poets by clicking on the links to their poems. Read and comment.

*Please link back to dVerse from your site/blog.

*Have fun rising!