Happy Ten year Anniversary!!! And welcome back from the summer hiatus today we celebrate by having a special guest host, one of the co-founders of this community Brian Miller
“Ah, good day! It’s good to see you.”
“Yes, I’ve been here before. It’s only been a bit of time”
Fingers play across the pits & nicks in the bar//smoothed even by other hands & varnish//and…
“Only a bit of time.”
“So, they asked I tend the pub tonight. I take it most everything is where it was. Rags to wipe up. Glasses. I got this.”
Eyes drape the pictures pinned to a moment on the walls//seeking a warm waft of familiar voices & visions
“Hello, old friends. Hope to see you around tonight & if not that the wind still lifts your spirit.”
“Ach, enough maudlin. Let’s drop some jingle in the juke box and spin some wax to chase away the silence.”
Tonight we will be writing Quadrille, at its most base, it’s a poem of 44 words — using some form of a provided key word. I am fairly certain they gave me this one intentionally because in my day, I have been known to write rather long winded.

Tonight’s word is JUKE.
It’s not a word used terribly often these days. It rose in popularity in the States around the 1950’s with the establishment of JUKE JOINTS and development of JUKE BOXES. These days you hear it more in the sports world, when a player JUKES another, to fake them out, on the way to scoring a goal. Its origins though can be traced back to the 16th century in Scotland.
So, let’s look at a few definitions…

Juke (/jo͞ok/) verb. – 1.) dance, particularly to a juke box 2.) to make a move to deceive (an opponent) 3. to fake out of position 4.) to bend in a supple way 5.) to bend the neck; to bow or duck the head.
Juke noun. – 1. a small roadside establishment that plays music and provides refreshments (Also known as a juke joint) 2. a feint
It’s got a few slang meanings as well…
Juke verb. – 1. to steal something 2. to stab someone
Juke adjective. 1. (Creole) wicked; or disorderly

Feel free to play with the word: Juked, Juking
There’s even a few puns in there. I am not Juking. But that one is so bad that I made someone feint.
“Someone get the smelling salts.”
Oy, anyway did not want to make it too easy for you.
Happy Anniversary everyone! Let’s get the hips a swaying to the rhythm //of words. Let your voices rise & SinG!
Keep in mind your quadrille can be any style or topic. 44 words exact, not including the title.
Here’s how to join in:
- Write a poem of exactly 44 words (excluding the title) and post to your blog.
- Click on Mr. Linky and add the direct URL and your name.
- Add a link to dVerse to the bottom of your post, so that others can find us.
- Read and comment on the work of others.
Hello all and welcome back from a bit of hiatus… great to be able to visit this poetry-juke and dance with words with you all .
Hi Björn, nice to see you – what a nice indian dinner we had when we met in sweden in 2019
Mmm…was in India right before the pandemic…had some good food….
It was very nice, and Stockholm showed itself with great summer weather. I have not yet been to India, but I work a lot with people from India in my work. If I go there it would probably be either Delhi or Bangalore I think
Happy happy 10th anniversary dVerse!!! Hooray & cheers!!!!
[Pass the wine, cake and sandwiches. We got some delicious buffet in this side.]
Thanks for hosting Brian!
Thanks to all our pub hosts and poets friends!!
Mmm…down with a buffet. Its about dinner time here, so i am a might hungry. Gotta save room for the tilapia though.
Hi Grace, nice to see you as well – buffet sounds awesome – i’m hungry like a bear 🙂
Has it really been 10 years. Man I feel a bit old at this point. Ha.
Happy Anniversary dVerse!
So, ready to sling drinks & words. I will even supply some quarters for the juke box…lets go!
I read back the July 2011 posts and it made me sentimental. But its been a good journey! Our archives are actually amazing and filled with lots of resources.
I wasn’t even writing poetry back then… and I’m amazed to see all the poetry that we had passing through the bar over the years.
So lovely to read you, Brian. Congratulations everyone on ten richly poetic years. I smiled when you said you feel old, Brian. I retired from Poets United just short of ten years, and immediately fell into Being Old – I now move as slowly as an old tired turtle. And am enjoying the pace. Smiles.
Haha. Enjoy that pace wild woman. I guess it eventually catches up to all of us. Good to see you friend. Smiles.
Just checked, and my first linkup was in December 2012 actually… quite some time ago.
NIce – wondering if that juke box will take Euros as well 🙂
Indeed.
And its raining Pizza today, since Italy won the Euro.
🙂
10 years: what a milestone! I’m a newbie. Great to meet you Brian! If you give me a quarter I will play some Chuck Berry…
Woot woot. Excellent choice.
Newbies. We like newbies. Will coast on by here in a few.
Hmm….tried to tag in claudia’s post but would not take….grace? bjorn?
Claudia is in Mr. Linky, smiles.
Thanks so much!
SO nice to see you, Brian. 🙂 I am grateful for your co-creation of this ol’ pub of poetry. Happy 10th!!! “Juke” is such a great word to play with. Will be back soon with my completed quadrille.
Hope life is treating you well!
Ah I cant wait to see what you come up with. Juke just has a sound to it.
An gee thanks, who would have ever thought?
Happy Anniversary to dVerse! What a fun prompt Brian- thank you. I harkened back to my days growing up in Texas where beer joints and jukeboxes are prevalent.
I only remember juke-boxes from roadside cafes in the sixties here in Sweden…
NIce, I like Texas. Has spent time a little bit all over. And met a wonderful couple from ther eon a vacay in Florida this year. Will be along soon.
Hello Brian and All. Am feeling refreshed after the vaca and ready to rock and roll during the 10 Year Anniversary celebration of this beloved poet’s pub called dVerse. Brian, it was fun learning about all of the many definitions of what seems like a simple word on its surface. You pulled from the depths with it. Glad to see you here again and hope to see you more often. If you’re pouring tonight, I’ll take a pint of Magners please 🙂
One pint on the way. Sipping a glass of EzrA right now so will try not to slur my words. Smiles.
Have a lovely evening!
Thank you, Brian, and Cheers!
Happiest Tenth Anniversary dVerse Poets! 😀 How time flies! I have learned soo much here since 2015… gosh.. 💝 and so lucky to be amongst such a talented and cordial group. Grace, I will take you up on those sandwiches 😉
Going to make my rounds now! Thank you so much for hosting, Brian! Good to see you 🙂
Enjoy the rounds…and thanks for bringing the heat a bit tonight. Ha.
Time does fly. My oldest leaves for college here in about 4 weeks. Oy.
Thank you for a glorious prompt 😀 College! So much to do till then, I wish you memorable moments 💝
Always.
NO WAY is your boy going to college! O.M.G., now I really feel old. When we did our interviews your boys were youngsters. Smiles.
I know. It is so crazy. Time waits for no one.
Ten years! That is definitely quite an achievement. Thank you for hosting, Brian, and it’s great to meet you.
Hi, Everyone!
Welcome. I am an Oldy, from back in the day when we had to write poetry walking uphill both ways to the pub. Lol. Have a lovely evening!
And it was always through the snow, even in the summer. 🤣
Yes, indeed. Haha.
Barefoot.
🤣
Brian! What a huge treat for us today … your poetry, your stories have inspired, entertained and educated me since I launched Poetry Matters way back in early 2000’s! Cheers!
Wine spritzer please ……
Shhh…you are giving away my age helen. Smiles. It is good to see you. I snuck in and took a peek at your words earlier today. Found you through poets & storytellers united. Good to see you carrying on after PU.
Cheers. Drink coming up!
Happy 10th anniversary, dVerse! And MANY thanks to Brian for co-founding this fabulous pub! And of course, for hosting our first quadrille of our tenth year!
FUN word to start us off with after our summer hiatus.
And tomorrow you will get to be hosted by claudia, my cohort in crime of starting all this…well, you will get to read her tonight, hopefully. She brought a dragonfly into the pub….smiles. Enjoy your evening!
Happy anniversary!! Is it really 10 years already? How awesome!!! I’ll have a beer and off to read some of the poems—
You may want to take a beer on the run around the room…some good stuff…and good to see you old friend.
as one of the newest dverse visitors it is good to meet you Brian. loving te whole experience i have been writing for a while but only sharieng for the last three years. i have learnt loads fro you wonderful people. great choice of word fo a tenth annerversy party.
AH well glad to have you, and glad you found this little water hole on the edge of cyberspace…unwind, enjoy reading…see you on the flipside.
thanks
Hello, everyone! I’m glad that DVerse is back from its hiatus. 😀 This week’s prompt is fun; thanks for providing the definitions!
Most def. I had the word first and found so much more about it.
Ah, so nice to stop by and wish dVerse a Happy 10th Anniversary. Good to see you, Brian. It has been a while. And Claudia, Grace (thanks for the heads up), Bjorn, Sanaa, and of course my good buddy, Sherry. Wishing you all a good celebration and another ten years. Where oh where has the time gone!
Mary, so lovely to hear from you. Hope all is well. I know, 10 years just sprinted by.
Really shocking when you think how quickly ten years goes.
Hey mary. It has definitely been awhile. So good to see you ! How are you? Life is good I hope.
Can’t complain, Brian! Still writing poetry periodically but not into sharing much in the blogosphere any more! Hope all is well with you too.
glad you are still putting pen to page…i do, sparingly….far too many papers to write, and hopefully only a few more years of that…ha.
Hello Mary – soooo nice to see you! Hope life is treating you well
Yes, life is going fine here. Hope the same is true of you!
So wonderful to see you, Mary! 💝 Hope everything is good at your end 🙂 Yes, where has time gone? I was a newbie once haha. Will catch up with you soon 🙂
xoxo
Now bedtime… I hope you continue to have fun…
Sleep well…will be dinner soon for me…
Aaaahhhhh…
Oh now that sounds intriguing….
Happy Anniversary dVerse! So wonderful to see you here Brian. How are you?
I am good. Life is good. Finished my doctorate. Getting my prinicpal’s license this yaer. My oldest is heading off to college. Kinda crazy you know.
Congratulations on all of it! It’s wonderful…I wish you only great blessings.
Congrats Brian on your many accomplishments. Boys are all grown up. Hubby and I are almost empty nesters. But we are having fun with all the hiking and visiting parks for nature walks. There is a bit of a freedom as well.
Lovely to see you, Brian and Claudia. Thanks for starting this friendly pub. And many thanks to Bjorn and Grace and staff, for keeping it going these past years. You run a fine pub! I will try to drop in a little more frequently. I have been in hibernation for a while. Time to step back up to the bar!
Sherry, so good of you to join us. Love your take on the prompt. Thank you for your lovely greetings – you are also part of this journey! Take care.
Be back in a bit…gotta chop the veg for roasting…
Happy Anniversary, dVerse! Happy two-digits birthday to you!
And us. Who get to participate.
Hello Brian and thank you for hosting. And Claudia, too!
What an interesting choice of prompt. It had something to say, as is so often the case with these, eh?
Is there a bit of the good cider left in the cask? I’d love some!
Na’ama
Thanks for joining in the fun.
FYI. I keep getting an Unable to Load message when I try to comment on your page. It says the connection keeps resetting….will try again later, but here you go….
“Working with at risk students, this grabs my heart. I have known many that did this, and yet it still hurts. still stings. and one day we end up talking about it, and where to find your identity, which is not n the words of others.”
oh and cider on its way….
Thank you, Brian! Not sure why it gives you trouble! Please let me know if it continues and I’ll try to ask the ‘happiness engineers’ to figure this out. Meanwhile, thank you for copying the comment! Yes, as someone who also works with at-risk children, I am often heartbroken at the hoops they are made to jump through, supposedly for the entertainment of others, and at their expense. Bullying leaves lifelong scars. There is nothing funny or ‘children will be children’ about it. It is a red flag for a lack of empathy and/or risk in the life of the bully, the bullied, and the ‘join-along-ers.’ It need not happen.
Happy 10 year anniversary. That is quite an accomplishment. I hope you ordered a huge cake and have stocked up on lots of ice. I can’t be the only one in need of a cold drink.
Looking forward to reading what everyone shares.
Let the celebration continue.
Ali
Always up for a cold drink….especially as hot as it has been…
Happy 10th Annivesary to all the dVerse poets!! And a special toast to Brian & Claudia who first tended the bar here! Some of us are still hanging around…
Thank you lynn….me i just skulk in the shadows occassionally…. 🙂 have a good evening
Happy tenth anniversary … and cheers all. Since my second collection was published at the end of 2019 I hit an absolute writing blackhole. Never experience it before and am only just beginning to resurface and start writing once more. And tonight Claudia’s poem popped into my mail inbox ~ the first for along time! So here I am after an almost 2 year Dverse gap …. and I’m hoping the prompts can tease me back fully on to the path. Meanwhile …… slante 🙂
Welcome back. And its always good to pick up a pen and give it a go…we can put too much pressure on ourselves to make it perfect as it once might have been…but just let go and scribble…
The pub doors are always open, smiles. Congrats on your publication.
Popping through….anyone need a refill?
Water with lots of ice. Just came back from my walk. And now off to reading.
Happy tenth anniversary!! No drink for me just yet, it’s only 10am and I have to go teach a class.
ha. yes, drinking and teaching is no bueno
Happy 10th dVerse! I was on the fence about writing as I have been out finding pieces of me – but, saw Brian hosting and I had to come out to say hello to a friend.
I will take a cold pint, if the bar is still open.
Always for you friend.
Can you show me the pieces you have found so far?
Off to bed. Be back to read manana
Sleep well Brian
Good morning! Hope you all are well. About to jump back ont he reading trail. Coffee anyone?
YES
Hello again – grabbing a cup of coffee and catching up….
I am visiting every link. There are a few sites that will not accept my comments, even after several tries. Maybe check your spam file. But if you didnt receive a comment, just know that I read and enjoyed every poem.
That is so much appreciated Sherry – only very few people take the time to read everyone. Sending much love and big hugs!!!
I read everyone and now getting a bit of fresh air before poetics goes live in a bit – hope you will join in with your garden poetry 🙂
Alright. Next prompt is up. If you like in at this point pay some visits and I am sure others will pop over
Hello Brian and everyone else!
I just realized I forgot to say Hi, and thank you for being part of creating this marvelous place. I haven’t been here long compared to some, but I’ve learnt so much and already don’t know how I would get by without the community at the bar.
10. huh. Bri, Grace, Claudia – thank you for encouraging me back in – 13, was it? wow. This pub is a treasure, and y’all did good work, fine work, here, both then and since. Cheers ~
Better late than never so happy 10th anniversary dVerse! May we be here for another 10 or even 20! 🙂 Thank you, Brian, for hosting and making us dance with your juke. And thank YOU for building the foundation for this beautiful community. ❤
Good Afternoon, poets! Way late for the party, but happy to celebrate dVerse’s 10th anniversary! Thank you, Brian, for co-founding the pub, and guest hosting Quadrille #131!