People don’t take trips, trips take people” (John Steinbeck)

If Steinbeck says it, it has to be right, right!

Hello poets from all over the world!

Since this has been a long weekend for us in India (today being republic day here; the day we declared we are a democratic nation) we embarked on a road trip from Delhi to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.We love going on long road trips. Thankfully my kids enjoy going on these trips as much as we do.

I have realised family trips help us bond better and create some wonderful memories. But more than that we learn about different cultures, customs and cuisines, as well as develop a deeper understanding of history and environment. This helps children pick up new languages and appreciate little things.

So, for this Monday quadrille prompt, as you may have all guessed, I would like you to write a poem of exactly 44 words including the word trip. You can get trippy, get on an airstrip, strip your clothes or stand on a tripod, earn your stripes, serve tripe, paint a triptych…you get the drift, right!

I am sharing excerpts of three poems that I enjoyed and I hope they provide some inspiration, if needed.

My trip by Donald Revell

Of course, the river’s in California,

And the actor is dead now. Nevertheless,

This is the first of many hotels this trip,

And I find myself preferring wars

To smut on the networks,

Even as I find myself reading

The Pisan Cantos for the umpteenth time

Instead of the novel in my bag.

The poet helps me to the question:

Does anything remain of home at home?

I was the Map she used on her Roadtrip by Jonny Angel

She followed my veins like a roadmap,

said I was the trip of her lifetime.

My arms began the journey

Ego Tripping by Nikki Giovanni

I was born in the congo

I walked to the fertile crescent and built

    the sphinx

I designed a pyramid so tough that a star

    that only glows every one hundred years falls

    into the center giving divine perfect light

I am bad

Now go unleash your creativity but remember to contain it in 44 words. Share the link of your poem at Mr.Linky, link back to us, find time to read other poems to see if they have outstripped themselves this time! 😉

But most of all have fun. You have till Saturday 3 pm to join in. I might be slow in catching up with my reading as I will be tripping all over the sand dunes, but I promise each poem will be read.