Greetings, fellow breathers of the written word. De Jackson here, aka WhimsyGizmo. It’s time again for my personal favorite of all our prompts, the Quadrille. This tiny little puff of a poem is an invention of dVerse’s own design: exactly 44 words, including one word we provide.
Today, I want you to give your poems a bit of a gasp.
Gasp. Gasping. Gasped.
Will your poem gasp in surprise, or gasp its last breath? Will you play with an invented word or meaning of your own? (For example, what would it mean to “gasplight” someone? How would you feel after drinking some bubbly gasperilla? Can success be “within your gasp?”)
Here are a few last gasps of inspiration:
Is the Q new to you? Here’s what to do:
No need to gasp in panic! The Quadrille is really quite simple when you boil it down: Pen us a poem of exactly 44 words, not counting the title, and literally including some form of the word gasp. Post your piece on your own blog, and link here using the Mr. Linky icon below. Then breathe your way around the blogosphere to gasp in delight at some of the finest poets around. The Quadrille is open all week, so don’t forget to come back later to read (and write) some more!
**A quickly gasped note from De:
I’ve got a family thing today and tomorrow, so sweet Sanaa will be bartending for me. (Thanks again, Sanaa!) I should be back around on Wednesday. Happy poeming, all.
And as “we both gasp in the evening air”…
(The Who)
And here’s a good “Weird” 70s/80s mashup for ya:
(Jumpin’ Jack Flash is a gasp, gasp, gasp)
Polkas on 45, Weird Al Yankovic:
(Hope that one gave you a good laugh.)
sanaarizvi said:
Welcome to Quadrille Monday, everyone!
On the menu, we have a variety of drinks and horsd’oeuvres namely cheese curls with cabernet sauvignon, champagne and smoked salmon or if you prefer we also have raspberry scones with a coffee of your choice.
Hope you all have fun writing to the prompt! De will join us soon! ❤️
paeansunplugged said:
Hi Sanaa! Thanks for stepping in for De. What a fun prompt.
The menu is very tempting but it is bedtime for me. Could you please save some scones for me!
sanaarizvi said:
Will do, Punam! ❤️❤️ See you tomorrow 🙂
paeansunplugged said:
Thanks, Sanaa. The scones were yummilicious!😊❤️❤️
sanaarizvi said:
You’re most welcome! ❤️❤️
Helen said:
Thank you Sanaa and great prompt De! I am in the mood for coffee and scones this afternoon … Cheers.
sanaarizvi said:
So good to see you, Helen 😀 Coffee and scones coming right up! Happy Monday ❤️❤️
Gillena Cox said:
Happy Monday everyone
Much💜love
sanaarizvi said:
Happy Monday, Gillena!! ❤️❤️
Grace said:
Hi De! Thank you for the Q word. Hi Sanaa, thank you for hosting on behalf of De. For myself, it will have to be raspberry scones with ice-cream. I will make my rounds in a bit.
sanaarizvi said:
Raspberry scones with ice-cream for the lovely lady 😀 Happy Monday, Grace ❤️❤️
Grace said:
Happy Monday!
sanaarizvi said:
❤️❤️❤️
merrildsmith said:
Thank you for guest-hosting, Sanaa! The menu sounds delightful, but I’ve been baking Hamantaschen (little pastry/cookies with filling) for Purim. I’ll only be around for a little while because we’re going to do a Zoom Purim with our kids tonight!
sanaarizvi said:
That sounds fun, Merril! 😀 Have a wonderful time with your kids ❤️❤️
merrildsmith said:
Thank you! ❤️❤️
sanaarizvi said:
You’re most welcome ❤️❤️
sarahsouthwest said:
Lovely prompt! I’m gasping for a drink now!
sanaarizvi said:
Coming right up! 😀 Happy Monday, Sarah ❤️❤️
Rob Kistner said:
Great prompt De! Thank you for hosting. 👍🏼 Gasp took me to a sad romantic tragedy — but then, many things do. 🙂✌🏼🫶🏼
sanaarizvi said:
Heading over to read you, Rob! 🍹❤️❤️
Rob Kistner said:
Next — something completely different… 💃🏼
sanaarizvi said:
Yes, it’s quite something 🙂
rogblog666 said:
hi all
great prompt
was going through my photos this afternoon and my imagination took over.
night all
rog
sanaarizvi said:
Night Rog, see you tomorrow! 🍹❤️
rugby843 said:
sanaarizvi said:
Heading over to read you! 🥂💕💕
M Jay Dixit said:
Hi, De and Sanaa! Thanks for hosting and bartending. The weather took a turn yesterday and it rained and hailed! Anyways, I wrote this quadrille in a frenzy as soon as I woke up today. I hope you’ll enjoy it. I’ll catch up with everyone’s gasping poems later today 🙂 Awesome prompt btw!
sanaarizvi said:
I love rain! 🙂 So pleased you enjoyed the prompt, Jay! ❤️❤️
Na'ama Yehuda said:
It’s been a while since I quadrilled. Glad to have this welcome me back.
sanaarizvi said:
It’s wonderful to have you back with us, Na’ama! ❤️❤️
Na'ama Yehuda said:
Thank you!!! 🙂 What a lovely welcome! 🙂
sanaarizvi said:
❤️❤️❤️
kittysverses said:
Thank you De and Sanaa for hosting. Awesome selection of poems and an amazing prompt. 🙂
sanaarizvi said:
So pleased you enjoyed the prompt, Kitty! Heading over to read you 🍹❤️❤️
kenhume31 said:
Hey de Jackson et all! Just posted the link to my contribution over at Mr. Linky there. Hope ye enjoy the read as much as I’ll enjoy reading all the other contributions! 🤞🙏😁📖
sanaarizvi said:
So nice to see you, Ken 😀 I will be there in a minute! ❤️❤️
kenhume31 said:
Most obliged Sanaar! 🙏😁😊 And likewise to see you. 👍💦
kenhume31 said:
😁 Instead of 💦
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Hello, I missed the Quadrille yesterday, yesterday evening I went to a playwright reading… I do this every now and then and it is really engaging.
The play’s name was The Niceties and the writer was Eleanor Burgess.
sanaarizvi said:
Hello Bjorn! Good to see you. Hope you enjoyed the playwright reading yesterday 🙂
pvcann said:
Hi everyone, hope no one’s having a last gasp. I need a whiskey De, too much smoke in mine and I need a quencher.
sanaarizvi said:
Whiskey coming right up! 😀 So nice to see you, Paul! ❤️❤️
pvcann said:
Wonderful, glad to be here 🙂
sanaarizvi said:
Glad to have you here with us! 🥂💕
jazzytower said:
Thanks for hosting De.☺️
Pat
sanaarizvi said:
Our pleasure, Pat! Happy Wednesday ❤️❤️
Ar.Jenita said:
whimsygizmo said:
Hey, gang. Thanks again so much, Sanaa, for hosting these past couple of days. It’s been an impromptu family whirlwind in my world. Sigh of relief now, and making my way around to your poems in the next day or two. Also hoping to post my own. Thanks for your patience, and for writing for this Q! 🙂
sanaarizvi said:
You’re most welcome, De! ❤️❤️ Always here for you 🥰🥰
whimsygizmo said:
Thanks again for hosting these past couple of days, Sanaa. It’s been an impromptu family whirlwind in my world this past week. Breathing a sign of relief now, and coming around to read your poems soon. 🙂
sanaarizvi said:
We all face a whirlwind every now and then 🙂 Sending love! ❤️❤️
whimsygizmo said:
Na’ama, I can’t comment on your blog. here’s my comment:
The shape of this is as powerful as your thoughts…a canal of words, leading out.
whimsygizmo said:
Sadje, I also cannot comment on your blog. here’s my comment:
That last line is so telling! For some of us, it can!
lesleyscoble said:
Gasping good prompt! Here’s my response: