Lillian here, delighted to host our Monday Quadrille at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe.
WHAT IS A QUADRILLE? It’s a unique form of poetry created by dVerse. It’s exactly 44 words, not including the title. It includes a specific word in the body of the poem, provided by the prompter. Writers may use the exact word or a form of the word; but not a synonym for the word. For example, if the prompt word is “write”, we can use the word “write”, “writer” or “written” in the body of the poem. The word “author” (a synonym for writer) would not fulfill the prompt.
TODAY’S PROMPT
What do the following words have in common? Bass, agape, lead, minute, sewer and entrance. They’re all homographs.
Homographs are words with the same spelling, but different pronunciations and meanings. To work out which pronunciation and which meaning is appropriate, you must look at the context. Using the example words given above:
He plays the bass in the orchestra.
She loves to fish for bass.
His mouth was agape in shock.
People who donate to charity out of the goodness of their hearts are said to practice agape love.
The map will lead you to the treasure.
He drove the car with a lead foot.
Fleas are minute creatures.
Wait a minute!
She is an expert sewer, especially with tailored garments.
Yech! We need to have someone clean out the sewer!
She made her entrance via the door on right stage.
That music can easily entrance the audience.
SO WHAT IS THE EXACT WORD REQUIRED FOR TODAY’S QUADRILLE?
It’s WOUND. How did you just pronounce the word in your head when you read it? It can be pronounced in two different ways, each with its own meaning. It is indeed a homograph!
Want to make today’s prompt a bit tougher? Instead of just using one pronunciation/meaning of WOUND as one of the 44 words, include the word WOUND twice – as two of the 44 words – using both of its meanings/pronunciations and thus including the homographic pair. Whether you use the word “wound” once or twice in the body of the poem, the poem must be exactly 44 words in length- not including the title.
Not to wound anyone’s sense of poetic expertise, I’ll wind this prompt up with directions for anyone new to dVerse!
Here’s what to do:
- Write a Quadrille: a poem of exactly 44 words, not including the title, that includes today’s prompt word, “wound” in the body of the poem.
- We can use the word “wound” or a form of the word – not a synonym for the word.
- Post the quadrille to your blog.
- Add the exact URL for your poem to Mr. Linky below.
- REMEMBER to 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 back to dVerse, 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!
Happy Quadrille Monday!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Hello all… I had fun despite the word that made me think of blood… 🙂
lillian said:
Glad to have you back, Bjorn. Hope you enjoyed your vacation. Enjoyed the post with you in your “travel raft” — having been thinking about gifting my son with one. Was it easy to assemble and then break down and travel with?
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
It is very very easy.. it took less than 10 minutes… you have a big sack to inflate it with, and the paddle you put together in four parts.
lillian said:
Well, I’m sold!
Shalini said:
Hello everyone! It is a very interesting prompt lillian, surely something intriguing will be wound around it 😊
lillian said:
Hello everyone! Happy Monday! Having a bit of trouble with my computer so hoping it will allow me to comment…let’s try a few poems and see.
It’s a beautiful spring day in Boston….door to our balcony is open, geraniums are in bloom on our planter, and I can hear the birds even over the sometimes-city traffic!
Grace said:
Beautiful day here too. Sunny the whole week too. Thanks for hosting Lillian.
msjadeli said:
Hello Lillian and All. I knew I wanted to write about the birch tree we’ve visited the past 2 Sundays, and your prompt was perfect for it, Lillian. It’s lovely outside and feels better than spring. The dandelions are about done and besides there is planty of other pollen for the bees now. Am headed out in a minute to mow for the first time. Will head to the poetry trail for a bit first.
lillian said:
That first mow of the season….I always enjoyed that…not a chore the first time as the smell of new mown grass and the joy of spring and summer coming. Mid-summer….mowing not such a joy 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the prompt!
sanaarizvi said:
Loved the prompt, Lillian 😀 it’s rather humid here .. may I have a tall glass of lemonade? 💝💝
lillian said:
Lemonade on the bar counter, just for you, dear friend!
sanaarizvi said:
Thank you! 💝 Much appreciated 😀
Ron Rowland said:
Thanks for hosting. For some reason, my mind went to a strange place with this prompt.
lillian said:
Ah….that skipping out to a strange place happens to us all at some point! Going over to read some more now…..glad to see you here, Ron!
kim881 said:
Good evening all, and thank you Lill for being the hostess with homographs! I can’t stay as I have a migraine, but will be back in the morning to read and comment.
lillian said:
ooooh….only thing that ever works for me with a migraine and sleep. Rest, Kim. Take care of yourself! 🙂
kim881 said:
Thank you, Lill. I’m up again after a restless night’s sleep again. I’m going to try sleepy tea tonight.
lillian said:
🙂
Ingrid said:
Hello to Lillian all at dVerse! I enjoyed this prompt, and managed not to get wound up by it. Now time to unwind and enjoy everyone else’s poems…
lillian said:
Ah….even using the homographic pair in your comment here in the chat! Love it! 🙂 Actually, the homographic pair I really like are entrance and entrance….I think I might have to write a poem with those two words and put it up for an OLN post. Fascinating thing….homographs! 🙂
Ingrid said:
Oh, that sounds like a fine challenge also!
merrildsmith said:
A fun prompt, Lillian. Thank you!
lillian said:
Always happy to provide a little fun 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it!
merrildsmith said:
I did! 😀
rogblog666 said:
It is a soggy day here in Hemel Hemstead England. thunder storms and cycling to work not a good mix. so hot chocolate and a bit of word play have cheered me up. thanks Lillian for the cheeky prompt idea.
lillian said:
Glad you enjoyed the prompt! 🙂
Beverly Crawford said:
Soggy day in Indiana too! I apologize for double post. Blogger foul-up. If someone will remove the first entry, I’d appreciate it.
lillian said:
Oh Beverly…I am a DOOFUS! I removed the wrong one….the right one! I’ll go in now, while there is only one post to your name (the wrong one) and remove that. Then if you would be so kind (and patient) as to repost your poem to the prompt again, I’d really appreciate it!! SO SORRY! Senior moment….slippery fingers….or just GOOFED like a DOOFUS! Please repost…I loved your post!
Lillian said:
Okay….all is good now! 🙂
Gillena Cox said:
Happy Monday everyone
much love…
lillian said:
LOVE your flowers in your post! Have a good week…stay safe, my friend!
T.J.S. Sherman said:
An interesting prompt, with an interesting word choice. I’m looking forward to reading how others interpreted it.
lillian said:
…and two such totally different meanings, right? Glad to see you here at the pub!
T.J.S. Sherman said:
It’s always a pleasure to hang out with such talented and creative individuals!
robtkistner said:
Yo y’all! Great prompt Lillian! Thank you for hosting… 👍😉
lillian said:
Glad you liked the prompt, Rob. The two homographic words I actually liked the most were entrance and entrance. I might have to write to them and put them up for the next OLN 🙂
lillian said:
Well….I couldn’t resist. Posted a second one to the prompt….more humorous using more homographic words than just wound. 🙂
Xan said:
Thank you for an interesting prompt, Lillian. It wound up getting rather dark. I’ll see if I was the only one!
lillian said:
Ah….isn’t it interesting how our pen can take us places we least expect? Glad to see you here tonight! 🙂
lillian said:
Leaving the pub for the night….but not to worry! As always when I tend the pub, I’m leaving the key outside the door, under the pot on the right of the steps. Come on in….imbibe and the only “tip” I ask for is that you leave some words behind 🙂 Do lock up when you leave so the next person can also find the key. I’ll be back in the AM with hot coffee in hand, coffee and coffee drinks and bloody marys at the bar. See you then!
Christine Bolton, Poetry for Healing said:
Hi Lillian! Great prompt tonight ☺️
lillian said:
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Ali Grimshaw said:
Lillian,
You got me going with this prompt. Thanks for the challenge. It will be really interesting to see all the different poems that come out of this.
Thanks for hosting,
Ali
lillian said:
Always glad to provide a kick-starter to the creative juices. Glad you enjoyed the prompt! There are indeed some very diverse approaches to wind your way through! Present tense of wound – hope I didn’t wound your sense of wordplay with that explanation! 🙂
Na'ama Yehuda said:
Hi Lillian, and thank you for this prompt. It couldn’t have come at a more apt time. … Na’ama
lillian said:
Always glad to provide a timely prompt! 🙂
Na'ama Yehuda said:
🙂
Masa said:
A lovely prompt by a most lovely poet. My thoughts came quickly and though I’ve been unable to find the time to do more than write it up and submit it, I’m very excited to begin perusing the 30+ submissions that Mr. Linky has for me! I think I may continue doing these clever dVerse prompts, if you don’t mind!
lillian said:
Oh my goodness….please do continue coming to the pub. We love having you! We’re a friendly bunch and do enjoy reading everyone’s posts. I’ve been here for 5+ years….6+ maybe? And I still learn something almost every time I log on. 🙂
jazzytower said:
Hi Lillian,
Thanks for hosting🙂
Pat
lillian said:
Always happy to tend the pub! 🙂
jazzytower said:
Hi Lillian,
Thanks for hosting🙂
Pat
De Jackson said:
Late to the party, and drive-by poeming for now. Back tomorrow to read. Thanks for the awesome word, Lill!
lillian said:
Ha! I like that – “drive-by poeming” …. not to worry. We all have to do that sometimes! Glad to see you De and also glad you like the prompt! We’ve wound up with some very diverse posts…..so when you wind up again, I know you’ll enjoy them. “Wind” – that’s the present tense of “wound” you know….gee, I hope I didn’t wound your sense of language being so long-winded and saying that! 🙂
Shalini said:
Hi, hope this is a pleasant read!
Paul Cannon said:
I love the challenge you have offered Lillian, thank you.
lillian said:
Glad you enjoyed, Paul. REALLY liked your post!
RedCat said:
Hello Lillian!
I didn’t have the time until today, but couldn’t keep away from the challenge. It was fun but a bit tricky to get both meanings in the same poem.
lillian said:
And you did it! So glad you posted today. 🙂
Jane Swanson said:
Whoops— didn’t read carefully concerning my first post. This was fun using homographs.
lillian said:
Glad you enjoyed the prompt. I’m always happy to hand out a little fun!
Anna Smit said:
Thank you for this neat prompt, Lillian. It was fun to have a go at a prompt again.
lillian said:
So nice to see you here, Anna. Glad you enjoyed the prompt!
kittysverses said:
Hi Lillian,
Thank you for this homograph challenge. Enjoyed much.
Thank you all for stopping by and reading.
lillian said:
Good to see you here, Kitty! Glad you liked the prompt!
ms pie said:
another great prompt….
lillian said:
So glad you liked it!