Tags
44 words, Guiness World Records, Joseph Fry, Neil Young, origin of candy, Quadrille, Sugar Mountain
Hello sweet poets! It’s time to do the Q! Mish here as your host as we write our last quadrilles for 2022.
With many of us around the world celebrating the holidays, it had me contemplating something delicious for our muses to nibble on.
CANDY!!! I like CANDY! Do you?
Before you dive right in, here are some fun facts.
The Origin of Candy
Believe it or not we can give credit to ancient Egyptians who made the first version by adding fruits, nuts, dates and spices to honey. Modern candies came to America from Britain and France during the early 18th century. We can thank an English chap by the name of Joseph Fry for inventing the first “candy bar” or as we refer to them in Canada, “chocolate bars”. Fry discovered that by mixing cacao butter, cocoa powder and sugar, he could make a paste. The paste went into molds and voila!
The Largest Candies in the World
Imagine a giant butterscotch candy weighing 1.6 tons (3,527 lbs.) measuring 1.54 m (5.02 ft) x 1.54 m (5.02 ft) x 45 cm (17.7 in)! This monstrosity was made by Nadar, a candy factory in Trondheim, Norway in 1997 and still holds a Guinness World Record.
It took over 3 hours to make the longest string of licorice. Lakritsfabriken, a candy store in Helsingborg, Sweden and Scandi Candy in Vellinge, Sweden worked together to set this record in 2012. It was 1,702 ft.9 inches long.
The world’s largest candy cane was crafted by Fabiano’s Chocolates and Ice Cream in 1998 at Lansing City Market, Michigan measuring 11 m 14.7 cm (36 ft 7 in) long and 10.1 cm (4 in) in diameter.
Lollipops Came From Lolly Pop
Though many American companies claimed to be the first to bring us the modern “lollipop”, according to a book called Food for Thought: Extraordinary Little Chronicles of the World, it was George Smith from New Haven, Connecticut that invented these little wonders on a stick in 1908. He named them after a well known race horse, Lolly Pop.
Source: www.candyhistory.net
Candy is nostalgic and we all have our favourites from childhood. Pixie sticks, candy necklaces, string licorice, Bazooka gum, jujubes and candy cigarettes were only a few of mine. I think I rode my bike almost every day during the summer to the “corner store” for “penny candy”. It was just as entertaining to pick it out as it was to eat it from those tiny paper bags. Candy brings back memories. We associate it with celebration, happiness and positivity. Oh now I have that Sammy Davis Jr. song in my head….
Who can take a sunrise?
Sprinkle it with dew
Cover it with chocolate and a miracle or two
The Candy Man
The Candy Man can
The Candy Man can ’cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good
Oh, who can take tomorrow?
Dip it in a dream
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream
(chorus)
The Candy Man makes everything he bakes
Satisfying and delicious
Now, you talk about your childhood wishes
You can even eat the dishes
Who can take the rainbow?
Wrap it in a sigh
Soak it in the sun and make a groovy lemon pie
(chorus)
Let’s sweeten up our quadrilles, shall we? Pop a bit of candy into your poem. Use it as a noun, verb or adjective. As always, the theme and style of your poem is open. Just remember your quadrille should be exactly 44 words, not including the title and include the word “candy” or a derivative of the word.
Here’s how to join in:
- Write a quadrille as described and post it on your blog or website.
- Enter your name and direct link to your poem in Mr. Linky.
- Follow the links to other poets. Read, comment and come back later as the prompt is open all week.
- Provide a link to dVerse so others can find us too.
- Drop in to say hello in our discussion below.
- Have fun!!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Good evening from a wintry Sweden… I think I need something warming.
Mish said:
Welcome everyone. I have a “candy bar” set up today with every candy you can imagine. Tell me your favourites!
Mish said:
Hello Bjorn…perhaps some hot buttered rum or I have hot cocoa with candy cane garnish.
sarahsouthwest said:
Scrumptious prompt, Mish!
Mish said:
Hi Sarah! Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for joining in.
msjadeli said:
Hello Mish and All. I planned on writing a list poem to your prompt but then Iggy Pop, a Michigan boy, inspired me otherwise. Favorite candies: butterfinger, Russell Stover’s Mint Dream, and seafoam are some favorites. A hot mug of coffee with Califia Barista oat milk please to go with the tasty chocolate 🙂
Mish said:
Hi Lisa…a piping hot cuppa coming up. It looks (from google) that your sea foam candy is what I’ve always called sponge taffy? Interesting. Sending you treats!
msjadeli said:
Is the inside hard, crusty, and orangish color with holes in it? I think the sugar burning makes it dry? Not sure never made it before, only consume it. Also forgot to say how much I love that Neil Young song. I’ve written about it on my blog.
msjadeli said:
Yes it is this but covered with a thick layer of chocolate!
https://worldsmostfamoustaffy.com/blogs/news/what-is-sea-foam-candy
Mish said:
Yes that’s it! I love it with the chocolate coating…..and Neil Young’s Sugar Mountain is a special one.
msjadeli said:
❤
lillian said:
How sweet it is! 🙂
Mish said:
Hi Lillian 🙂 Would love to know your favourites.
rogblog666 said:
hi mish
hi poets
sitting drinking hot chocolate in a snowing England. being reminded of a summer tune from my teenage years.
great prompt.
read you all soonish
rog
Mish said:
Thanks for dropping in rog 🙂
M Jay Dixit said:
Hi Mish, thanks for hosting. I had sweet fun with this one! ~ Jay
Mish said:
Aww that’s great, Jay. Will be by later to read.
Helen said:
Hi there! Hot chocolate with a peppermint stick swizzle sounds good. (I took candy to a place no one should go. LOL) Cheers.
Mish said:
Hi Helen…sorry for the delay. An extra peppermint stick for you. Looking forward to reading your quadrille. 🙂
M said:
Hey Mish, ‘sweet’ but no candy in my quadrille, so didn’t link up. Thanks for the inspo, though. ~ M
Mish said:
You’re welcome. 🙂 Thanks for dropping in. The prompt is open all week, so maybe the candy will find it’s way into your muse.
rothpoetry said:
Thanks for hosting, Mish. What a sweet prompt. Chocolate is always hard to beat, so tonight I will have a chocolate milkshake.
Mish said:
That’s a great idea, Dwight. Might have to make two of those. Cheers!
rothpoetry said:
Thanks!
Ali Grimshaw said:
Mish,
Thanks for hosting and warming up my day with poetry. I have been at home sick and your prompt was a treat.
Wishing you joy.
Ali
Mish said:
So nice to see you, Ali. I hope you are on the mend! A hot lemon tea with lemon for you.
Mish said:
Should have read “hot lemon tea with honey”! But extra lemon wouldn’t hurt either. 😉
Ali Grimshaw said:
I appreciate that. It is one of my favorite drinks.
I am enjoying the poems everyone has shared so far. It is a welcome change to work.
Mish said:
That’s great, Ali. We need those breaks! Enjoy.
Rob Kistner said:
Thank you for hosting Mish. Candy brought only one thing to mind for me, and it doesn’t cause cavities… 💋🙂✌🏼🕊
Mish said:
Thanks for joining in, Rob. Cavity free candy would be the best kind. Will be over soon to read. 🙂
paeansunplugged said:
Hi Mish! What a sweet prompt! I am salivating at the thought of all the delicious verses!
I will have a hot chocolate instead of my morning tea this morning.
Mish said:
Hot chocolate with dollop of whipped cream and candy cane sprinkles for you, Punam. Enjoy the poetry trail. 🙂
cognacproject said:
Mine’s a little NSFW… I couldn’t help myself… this was the first thing I thought of when reading the word “Candy” hahaha https://cognacproject.wordpress.com/2022/12/13/i-never-told-my-ex/
Mish said:
Thanks for adding yours to the mix. 🙂
Jim said:
Glad you, Mish, I needed this one. I’ve been absent, we’ve been traveling. London and then a Cruise back to Fr. Lauderdale, Florida and then home to Texas after an Alligator photo hunt in the Florida Everglades.
Chocolate is my all-time favorite candy, red hots next.
Merry Christmas!!
..
Mish said:
Chocolate is mine too, but those red hots….yikes. An alligator photo hunt ? Sounds interesting….and a bit frightening.
pvcann said:
i remember as a child hoping for candy of some form at Christmas. On that score I was never disappointed, less desire these days, but I do indulge. Thank you for the prompt Mish, I need a whiskey – liquid candy 🙂
Mish said:
I saved some Salted Caramel Crown Royal just for you, Paul. Thanks for joining in. 🙂
Peter said:
My entry is about Candy Dulfer, a Dutch saxophone player.
Mish said:
How interesting! Can’t wait to read.
Peter said:
I also posted my entry on ello.co which may be interesting to you. Please check out https://ello.co/peterbouchier/post/cg1zynri1so-o2dsipdynq
kenhume31 said:
Hi Mish et all! This was a tasty, Candy flavoured prompt, really enjoyed it! 😋😁👍 Just posted my contribution over on Mr. Linky. Hope ye enjoy the read! 🤞🙏😁📖
Mish said:
Hi Ken…glad you enjoyed the prompt. 🙂
D. Avery @shiftnshake said:
Hello. I made it! Sort of. Thank you for the prompt and the Neil Young, one of my all time favorite artists. It will be a bit before I get to make the rounds and read the others’ poems.
Mish said:
No worries. The quadrille prompts are open all week. Enjoy. 🙂
Stacy MS said:
hello! i used to visit this site many moons ago. i have returned! my poem is about stars and candy…aren’t they all sorta the same? hope to visit some great poems this week! thanks in advance for your visit to mine!
Mish said:
Hi Stacy 🙂 Welcome back to dVerse! Enjoy the poetry trail.
poetisatinta said:
I loved playing with this thanks 🙂
faithfullyyours2017 said:
hi mish my take on ‘candy’ is here https://wordpress.com/view/thepoeticmeblog.wordpress.com
Jay said:
You drove me to the oven! All this talk of sweets, and I’m trying to be good leading up to the holidays lol! Thanks for the prompt 🙂
kittysverses said:
Thank you Mish, for hosting the last Quadrille for the year. Couldn’t resist the opportunity of linking up my 44( though late). Happy holidays! 🙂