I’m Kim from Writing in North Norfolk, welcoming dVerse poets to this month’s second Quadrille, in which we take any meaning of one word and transform it into 44 poetic words.
Living so close to the North Norfolk coast, I am used to sea frets, cold fogs that suddenly roll in off the sea between April and September. They

Photo credit: David Russell
occur when warmer moist air moves over the relatively cooler North Sea, causing the moisture in the air to condense. Sea breezes and easterly winds then bring frets to the coast of North-East England, where they can move inland for several miles, drifting ghost-like across fields and roads.
The word ‘fret’ has its origins in Old English fretan meaning to ‘devour or consume’ and is related to the Dutch vreten and German fressen.
Its verb form means to be constantly or visibly anxious, or to cause anxiety to someone . It also means to gradually wear away (something) by rubbing or wearing away (‘what shape the sea has fretted into the land’) or to flow or move in small waves (‘squelchy clay that fretted between his toes’).
The noun ‘fret’ means a state of anxiety or worry (‘why would anyone get themselves in a fret over something so simple?’)
In art and architecture, a fret is a repeating ornamental design of vertical and horizontal lines, such as the Greek key pattern, and in heraldry it is a device of narrow diagonal bands interlaced through a diamond. The adjective ‘fretted’ means decorated with fretwork (‘intricately carved and fretted balustrades’). The origin of this meaning is Old French frete – ‘trelliswork’.
A

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nother meaning of ‘fret’ is a ridge on the fingerboard of some stringed musical instruments (such as the guitar), used for fixing the positions of the fingers to produce the desired notes.
I found quite a few samples of poems which include the word ‘fret’; it was difficult to choose but, in the end, I came up with the two excerpts and a complete poem:
From ‘S. I. W.’ by Wilfred Owen:
Perhaps his Mother whimpered how she’d fret
Until he got a nice, safe wound to nurse.
Sisters would wish girls too could shoot, charge, curse, . . .
Brothers — would send his favourite cigarette.
From ‘By The Fire-Side by Robert Browning:
The chapel and bridge are of stone alike,
Blackish-grey and mostly wet;
Cut hemp-stalks steep in the narrow dyke.
See here again, how the lichens fret.
Safe
by Christina Rossetti
SAFE where I cannot die yet,
Safe where I hope to lie too,
Safe from the fume and the fret;
You, and you,
Whom I never forget.
Safe from the frost and the snow,
Safe from the storm and the sun,
Safe where the seeds wait to grow
One by one,
And to come back in blow.
I also found an example of the word in the lyrics of ‘Virginia Woolf’ by Indigo Girls:
Some will strut and some will fret
See this an hour on the stage
Others will not but they’ll sweat
In their hopelessness in their rage
This week I’d like you to take any meaning, form or compound of the word fret, and write a poem of exactly 44 words (not counting your title), including the prompt word.
Here’s how to Quadrille:
– Write a poem of exactly 44 words, including the word fret.
– Put your poem on your blog and link back to this post.
– Link it up to our Mr. Linky.
– Don’t forget to check the little box to accept use/privacy policy
– Visit other blogs. Enjoy some amazing poets. Comment. Come back later this week and write another one, and visit some more. Comment some more. Create as many poems as you please, including ones with all the words. The Quadrille lasts all week, so don’t fret!
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Hi Everyone! I am opening the pub for Kim as she has a pressing commitment. I hope everyone had a great weekend!
Hi Lynda! another definition of the word “fret” is wearing away. Thank you for filling in for Kim.
Yes, I saw that- Yours is wonderful.
Hi everyone and thank you so much, Linda, for holding the fort. It’s been a difficult day but I’m ready to be fortified by some wonderful quadrilles. If it gets late, don’t fret because I’ll be back early tomorrow to continue reading and commenting.
Anytime Kim. Always happy to help!
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Hi Linda, Kim, and All. Kim, I appreciate the research on fret. Never knew it was all that. A word rich in possibility. It is another cloudy day out there but warmer. If it gets warm AND sunny, my peonies might even open!
Peonies! I would love to see some pictures when they do open. Mine still have no buds. But I can’t see them very well at the moment as the recent heavy rain has caused the garden to turn into a jungle and we haven’t had the tiem to do anything about it.
OK, I will post pics when they open. I had one red one open back when I went to Ann Arbor to theirs, and they are way way ahead for some reason. Hoping once you get your workstuff done, you can get out there to yours.
Hi Kim & Lisa, I recently wrote a haiku series (troiku) complete with a peony photo 🙂 https://madhatterpoetry.com/2019/06/14/tickled-pink/
Thank you for the link, Lynn!
You’re welcome…thanks for stopping by 🙂
Just went to your page. Lovely, Lynn!!!
thank you 🙂
You are welcome 🙂
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I came home with some things to do… but now my Quadrille is up …
Thanks for hosting Kim! I went to
the dark side today. Will read in AM with ny morning elixir!
I have to go to bed soon. I didn’t sleep well last night and got up really early this morning. I hope to get a better sleep tonight. Sleep tight, Lill.
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Thanks for hosting, Kim! This is a great prompt, and I learned something new – about your sea frets.
Thanks for taking part, Crystal. I love sea frets. They’re like ghosts.
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It is possible my pingback isn’t working. Here’s my first quadrille: https://wtfaioa.wordpress.com/2019/06/17/quadrille-fret-6-17-19/ Thanks for the prompt; it was fun!
Thank you for joining us. I’ll be over to read shortly.
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Well, I feel like all I do these days is fret, what with reading (or avoiding) the news….
There’s much to make us fret.
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A unique prompt word. For my title I used the German word “freten” das dummkopf–devour the idiot; another jab at T45. I’m always impressed how much many of our compeers here can pack into 44 words.
Your quadrille made me chuckle, Glenn.
Thank you for hosting Kim. I postec a couple…
After a better night’s sleep, I’m up again to read and comment. I’ll be over some tiem this morning.
By the way Kim, you’re cool…!
That is so sweet of you 🙂
Posted one for Miles Davis.
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Well, I can’t figure out this pingback/trackback thing (we’re talking for decades here) so here’s the URL: https://xanhaiku.wordpress.com/2019/06/18/dont-fret/
I’m sure I’ll find it. I’ll be back again tomorrow morning to read and comment!
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Thoughtful word choice–thanks Kim!
🙂
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Evening, Poets! Thanks, Kim, for pubtending Quadrille Monday! I may be a day late, but I’m not a dollar short. So how about that Bergundy? 😉
You’re never late – the prompt is on until Sunday. 🙂
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Hey all! Thanks for the prompt, Kim. I was looking through some of my older poems, and one thing that struck me was, how my titles so rarely repeat. I make no effort to have unique titles, it just seems to work out that way.
Thanks for joining us Eric! That’s one thing I haven’t given much thought to, repetitive titles, and you’ve given me food for thought.
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Very Nice Quadrille word Kim. thank you. I posted late, but chose not to worry. 😉
You’re not late, Lorna – the prompt stays open until Sunday and I’m always delighted to read your work. 🙂
Sorry, Lona, your name came out as Lorna – the gremlins strike again!
Rrrrr. Hehe
I think I will only hve time to Quadrille this week, will read the other Quadrilles this weekend. Should be good.
I’ll be over to read soon. All of the quadrilles have been fantastic this week and have made my little reading breaks worthwhile. I have had no time to do any writing this week and will probably not be around on dVerse or anywhere else until the middle of July. It’s that time of year!
See you in July then 🙂
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