I’m Kim from Writing in North Norfolk, sitting in for Mish and welcoming dVerse poets to the first Quadrille of November 2019, when we take any meaning of one word and transform it into 44 poetic words.

The word today is ‘keep’, usually a verb meaning to retain possession of something or someone; to store, cause to continue, take charge of, maintain or detain; to reserve, remain or continue.

As a noun, it means living, support, charge or care and, for those of us who enjoy a good story, the central tower of a castle or a stronghold. In addition, one can be a keeper, we can be in keeping, and we can have keepsakes.

One poem I found which includes the word ‘spark’ Is ‘Not to Keep’ by Robert Frost.

‘If’ by Rudyard Kipling begins with the lines:
‘If you can keep your head when all about you  
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you”.
You can read the whole poem here.

I rather like ‘The Keeper of Light’ by Michele Wolf.

And here are the Supremes:

This week I’d like you to take any meaning, form or compound of the word keep, 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 keep.
– 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. The Quadrille lasts all week, so keep coming back for more!