Lillian here, hosting our final Quadrille Monday in 2019. Hoping you’ve all had a grand year, enjoying the diversity of prompts, posts and personalities at dVerse.
And I would be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to thank Grace and Bjorn for all they do here. They are, after all, the backbone of this endeavor!
Well folks, we are officially in winter and that means in the natural world, many animals are hibernating in close cozy dens or burrows. Many of us humans are enjoying the process of “nesting” – homes aglow with candles; snuggling down under warm afghans, perhaps some made by favorite aunts, mums or grandmothers. For me, I especially enjoy getting our home ready for the Christmas season. Our tree is what I call a “memory tree” – with ornaments made by our children, grandchildren, and one made by my brother some 70+ years ago. Among the other ornaments are a glass ball with Lillian printed in perfect white block letters by my kindergarten teacher (I’m in my 7th decade!); a beautiful and very fragile glass pink bell given to my mother when she was born; and a barely intact airplane that I carefully put near the top of the tree each year. It was given to my father when he was 5 years old. Yes, our home is aglow with the Christmas spirit!
By the way, did you know we are members of Old North Church in Boston? It’s Paul Revere’s church, built in 1723. The original stairs are still intact, leading up into the steeple where that famous lantern was waved: one if by land, two if by sea. That phrase was made famous in Longfellow’s poem, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere which commemorates the night of April 18, 1775, the eve of the Battles of Lexington and Concord during the American Revolution. Literally thousands of tourists visit Old North each year. Many worship with us on Sundays as it is a practicing Episcopal church in addition to being a historical monument. For me, it is most beautiful on Christmas Eve at the 11 PM service. It is only one of two times per year when the candles are lit in all the original brass chandeliers and wall sconces. A huge tree with tiny white lights is set upon a roof outside the large window above the altar. The church literally glows inside.
So my dVerse friends…for this last quadrille of 2019, let us all use the word “glow” or a form of the word in our poem of exactly 44 words, not including the title. Some may choose the more somber side of the word, as in “glower” – totally up to you! For me, I’m all aglow, waiting to read your words – and wishing you all a very wonderful holiday season and a peaceful, healthy New Year!
New to dVerse? Need to be refreshed on the rules? Here’s what to do:
Write a quadrille (a poem of EXACTLY 44 words, not including the title) AND include the word “glow” or a form of the word within the body of the poem. A synonym for glow does not fulfill the prompt. It must be the word, or a form of the word.
Post the poem to your blog
Add the exact URL for your poem to Mr. Linky below.
REMEMBER: either TAG dVerse in your post, or include a link at the end of your poem that leads readers back to dVerse (https://dversepoets.com).
IF THERE IS NO TAG OR LINK TO DVERSE ON YOUR POST: I will gently remind you to add it or remove your post from Mr. Linky. Sorry to be so harsh…..but this is just part of the requirements AND it will bring you more readers and lead more folks to dVerse so they can participate as well!
Welcome to our last Quadrille for 2019! We’re expecting a snow storm tonight in Boston….so I’m getting the pub ready with hot chocolates, wassail, and in honor of Bjorn, glogg! Hoping to put a glow on everyone’s face tonight!
Hello… here we need all the glow we can get. Darkness is so deep. It’s dark when I leave for work and darker when I get home… wrote something lighthearted
Ah yes…..Scandinavia this time of year …. well, glad I chose this word for our last Quadrille then! Good to see you, Bjorn!
Thank you for hosting Lillian. We are minus O for the whole week so it is bitterly cold here too. Hot chocolates would be great. Thank you for being part of our team!
Love the dVerse team, Grace. My pleasure to serve — hot chocolate coming right up!
I might add…..I am operating on a new Microsoft Surface laptop rather than my ancient MacAir….and having lots of trouble adjusting….getting in….making bookmarks….renewing page for views etc….so hoping everyone will have a bit of patience with me!
Hi dVerse Poets! Thank you for hosting the final quadrille of the year, Lillian. Even though I’ve been feeling kind of blah this holiday season, I do love the glow of candles and lights. Christ Church in Philadelphia looks very similar to Old North Church–not that I’ve been there during a service. Happy Tea Party Day! 🙂
Good to see you Merril. Well…..hopefully having the word “glow” for our prompt will get everyone into a cheerful spirit….unless they decide to glower!
EVERYONE: I am on a new Microsoft Surface laptop and struggling….Changed from my old first generation Mac Air. Still learning here and have not figured out how to “refresh” the page etc….SO
HOPING everyone will have a bit of patience with me this go around! I’m glowing with embarrasment that I’m not as fleet of finger on this new contraption!
That’s a wonderful word for the time of year, Lill! I don’t envy you the snow storm at all – try to stay indoors and keep warm. Hot chocolate and glogg are just the ticket! I’ll be reading and commenting for the next 20 minutes and then I have to disappear until tomorrow morning. I’m looking forward to an all-round glow!
Good to see you Kim….loved those glowing pink skies in your post! Not to worry about not getting all the reading done tonight…..I’ll be reading the glow poems and the echo poems still … I’m a bit behind.
Hello Lillian and All — I very much enjoy hearing about the church you attend and that the original steps are still intact up to where the lantern was waved. Your tree at home is beautiful and has to make you glow as you regard it. Tis the season for old traditions and for beginning new ones if the old ones don’t fit anymore. I’d also like to thank Grace and Bjorn and the rest of the dVerse team and all of the poets who cozy up to the bar and commune in spirit with each other. It’s a special place! Lillian, one glass mug of glogg please!
Ah….good to see you here tonight! Glogg coming right up….would you like the almonds and raisins and dried fruits on the side, or in the glogg? Which reminds me of my husband’s elderly aunts who would never drink alcohol….ever! BUT, they always took a bowl of the almonds, raisins and dried fruit that had been stewing in the glogg all those hours to give it that flavor….and then they would get tipsy on the fruit! 🙂 George always had to drive them home….it was a tradition 🙂
My mother-in-law was the same with sherry trifle…
🙂
I’ll take them on the side, please. LOL on the aunts. Cheers!
Coming right up!
I echo the thanks to Bjorn and Grace, and the rest of the team. DVerse is one of my favourite things, and glow is such a wonderful choice of words.
Nice to see you Sarah…..I figure we can all glow with appreciation….and expectation as we start to read!
Thanks to all the hosts here especially Grace and Bjorn as this is my first year here I love the variety of prompts and rapport with others who do read and comment .. thanks one and all!
Lovely Church Lillian and as an Aussie I had no idea of the history … and we are experiencing a super hot summer with massive bushfires losing homes and lives! So very different to our northern cousins 🙂
We loved our trip to Australia and New Zealand several years back. At end of trip we stayed 5 days in Sydney and one of my most favorite places was Featherdale! They have wallabies just roaming where you walk. And….we actually saw a joey jump in and out of its mother’s pouch — up close! We were the only ones there and although my photos are blurry, they were blown up and hold a special place in our album from that trip!
what lovely memories, never heard of Featherdale but kangaroos and joeys are common sights as I’ve spent most of my life living rurally 🙂
Certainly see them occasionally here but big mobs near my family home 🙂
LOVE them! We’d read about Featherdale and learned that it has regional / indigenous animals rather than the big Sydney zoo which also has lions, giraffes etc. It was a bit of a challenge getting there as it is out of the city — took 2 buses I believe. But oh so worth it!
How fascinating, opened in 1972 and hear about it from a tourist … never heard of it before but sounds interesting 🙂
Hello Everyone- Lillian thanks so much for hosting! And to Bjorn and Grace, Thank you so much for all you do. Although I have not been a member for very long here at dVerse, I am deeply honored to be a part of the group! As some of you know, I am dealing with some health issues, and your words of encouragement and support have meant everything- THANK YOU.
….and we send more and more love and support! Expect the best!
hugs to you,
Lill
thank you Lillian! Joining in this morning. I went full on fantasy as I need a little fairy dancing in my life. 🙂
🙂
Thanks for hosting the last quadrille for 2019, Lillian. I added one, but on rereading I am not sure what it means. It does use the word “glow”.
I did make a comment on it…………..you made me smile here, Frank. Sometimes I finish writing something, look at it and wonder, “Where in the heck did those words come from????” ‘Tis a poet’s way. 🙂
Thank you to the dVerse staff who give us a place to share our poetry, our hearts and our souls. Let’s keep the bar light glowing.
Absolutely! 🙂 Quite the most wonderful poetry pub in the virtual airwaves! 🙂
I hope to visit your historic church someday, Lillian! My poem may feel a bit cold…please pour me warm wassail tonight 🙂
Wassail coming right up! One of my favorite festive drinks this time of year! If you do come to Boston, please let me know in advance. Would love to really meet you and take you to Old North for a personal tour! 🙂
Oh, that would be wonderful, Lillian! I will definitely keep that in mind if we plan a trip to Boston…thanks for the offer! 🙂
Storm is approaching Boston! Dinner is on the table so I shall leave the light on and the key under the pub’s welcome mat. I’ve also put some battery-operated beautifully real looking candles in the pub windows so the place is GLOWING…waiting from you to pop in and share some poetry with us. Fixings for drinks are behind the bar….and there’s some cocoa in the fridge – you just need to warm it up in the microwave behind the bar! Marshmallows in a small tin by the microwave!
See you all in the morning….we should have 4 inches of snow by then — and hopefully the sleet they are predicting will not materialize!
I’m glowing a bit myself, having started the evening with hot cider with rum, and moving on to a lovely Austrian white wine. Thank you Lillian for being such a great host all year, and for welcoming me into this delightful community.
You’re welcome and, it’s mu pleasure! Back this morning — snow coming down outside and I’m cozy now with Christmas music on and our tree lit so ready to glow with some good reads here!
Ah, how beautiful! Love the story of the old church, and can almost feel the worn tread of the steps underfoot.
Left my contribution in the linky-thinky, and am now all ready for a big of good coffee with a touch of irish cream, if you got that on hand.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it glow …
Na’ama
https://naamayehuda.com/2019/12/16/eyes-aglow/
Ah….back at the pub this morning. Snowing outside. And oh yes….happy to serve an Irish coffee to you! Shall warm up the spirits 🙂
Yum!!! 🙂 And the hilarious thing is that I just sat down to check mail with fresh coffee in hand (sans alcohol–it is lunch time here … and I have clients to see — but the intention matters … ;))
🙂
Hi, Lillian, Bjorn, Grace, and the rest of the dVerse team! Thank you for the year-long prompts! They are indeed diverse and musing. May we all have a blessed holiday! ❤
So good to see you here….and oh yes. The name was chosen correctly, right? Since we are quite diverse and from literally around the globe! In our travels, I often wish somehow magically there would be a “brick and mortar” dVerse pub in every port we visit. How I would love to actually meet in person all our wonderful poets! 🙂
That would be amazing!! I agree with you! It would be so creatively inspiring to meet everyone here physically. For now let’s cheers to this virtual diversity! ❤
Dear Lillian, reading about your memory tree warms my heart. It carries decade-loads of memories. ❤ Thank you for this bright and shining prompt!
I have our tree lit now, Christmas music on, and settling in for some glowing reading! 🙂
eep! Too cozy!
Evening, Poets! Thanks, lillian, for this glowing prompt! 😉 I’ll be back tomorrow to catch up.
Ah….not to worry, Frank. Pub is back open now….key is back under the door mat. And I am aglow with the prospect of reading posts this morning with coffee in hand. And….I shall be catching up as well since I’ve done no reading on the the echo poems so have to have to get back get back to those . . . those . . . those . . .
Hi,
Looks like I’m a late one, but have it a Glow:)))
Hope I got the links in right. Enjoyed this!
I love your shared stories Lillian ❤️ The church sounds beautiful. Merry Christmas to you and your family ☺️
Thanks so much, Christine! I do love tending pub! Always glad to share stories and photos….and oh yes….our church will be 300 years and is a historical monument here in Boston — we feel privileged to belong to the congregation and be a part of the foundation as well. Foundation supports the facility itself as a historical treasure. Church body is Episcopal and has services every Sunday at 9 and 11. We always usher at 11 and people are always amazed to be ushered to a box pew. My favorite is the one with the plaque inside indicating Teddy Roosevelt sat there! I always ask people where they’re from….our congregation is actually quite small but we have thousands (literally) of visitors each year, many many of whom come to worship with us, regardless of the denomination or church affiliation. Most special to me is at the offertory, we sing the Doxology and then go right into the last verse of My Country Tis of Thee. With our fabulous organist on our historical and powerful organ, the place just booms with voices!
What a lovely thing to share with everybody! It sounds absolutely wonderful. You are very lucky to be part of something historic and beautiful. I’m sure you will enjoy it even more at Christmas time. Warm wishes. 🤣
Thank you for hosting our final Quadrille for 2019 Lillian and a very big thank you to you and all the team here at dVerse for the wonderful prompts throughout the year. I’ve linked a ruba’i-quadrille today, slightly bending the rules to accommodate the forty-four words! I fancy some chai with fresh ginger if you have any and will swing by in a moment to read xxx
Ah yes….I’m back at the pub this morning…key replaced under the mat…happy to serve us a chai with fresh ginger. Only wish I had some of my ginger muffins available to you. We just ate the last of them yesterday….and mmmmm….they are my husband’s favorites.
Not to wax poetic here (well….why not???)….tending the pub is a labor of love for me…I so enjoy it! And to meet folks who love writing, literally from all over the world, well, it is indeed a privilege.
Happy New Year to you! 🙂
Thank you dear Lillian, those ginger muffins sound delicious! A very happy New Year to you too! 🤗💖 xxx
Thank you for hosting and thank you for the prompt. I wanted to write something lighthearted, but for some reason The Girl with the Matchsticks popped into my head and demanded attention from my muse. 🙂
Sometimes the mind just flows and the words appear! Nice to see you here at dVerse!
Lillian — thanks for hosting! I am very late in linking, but my wife just brought my iPad to me here in the hospital… so I wrote a little piece to match my reflective mood. Don’t know how many others my stamina will permit me to visit — but I will try.
Oh Rob….I must have missed this news. Did not know you were in hospital. Sending positive thoughts your way and hope for healing.
Joining in a wee bit late but done, now going back to bed. (Flu here). 😉
oooh….flu is no fun. Feel better!
Thanks for hosting Lilian, and for your wonderful intro too.
You’re most welcome!
Testing to see if this will post in January 2020.