Today Mish is in charge of prompting for the Quadrille. What is a quadrille? It is a form unique to the dVerse Pub. It has exactly 44 words, excluding the title and it must use the prompted word in the body of the poem. Not a representation or definition of the word, but the word itself. I have been going through a lot of changes. I have been thinking that most of what I write is crap. Plain and simple. It is part of the process – some of it is actually good. So today I am writing my manifesto in 44 words using the word “rock”. That is the prompted word: rock. Use it, skip it, throw it, paint it, build with it, dance to it, build a fire with it.
throwing rocks
A boy with a rock slew a giant years ago.
What is your giant?
What will you slay today?
Intolerance? Racism? Hunger?
Sexual abuse? Animal cruelty?
My poems are my rocks.
I am letting them loose today.
Let loose the brave poems.
*Yūkan’na koto.
*Japanese for: be brave as in bushido
piles of rocks in Japan – public domain photo
Nov 20, 2017 @ 13:56:30
He did well with his rock….I fear I would need mighty boulders at the moment and they are too heavy for me to lift..XXXXXX
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:13:02
It was only a small stone. He thought he needed a boulder but he didn’t.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:18:10
I am now looking for a small stone. XXXXX
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:18:33
Good for you!
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:16:10
Proud of you.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:39:26
Thanks!
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:20:08
I think it was Madeleine L’Engle who said something like, if in the beginning she knew what a bold thing it was to write, she would have been to terrified to start.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:20:39
*too
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:23:47
I am not terrified to start. Others are I think, I am happy to begin a new phase of my writing.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:28:33
But have you noticed how few writers out there today are actually saying something? There is a lot of PC rhetoric, selling-type print, regurgitation, and writing to please, but very little bold, authentic, free-your-mind-save-the-world type stuff. I guess that’s why I read poetry:) Anyway, way to not be afraid and to go for it.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:30:47
I am too old at this point and have passed through too many fires to be afraid at this point in my life. I have shed hubris and angst. And yes, I have noticed how few writers are actually saying nothing. I am one of them.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:26:04
I think I’ll try throwing a few surface to air missiles.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:27:06
Go for it Jane!
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:28:32
I have a few strategic targets.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:38:15
I’ll bet you do! I don’t have any targets in mind at this point but let the day get older…
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:40:09
I have so many in mind I’ll have to get the Pentagon in on it 🙂
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:40:38
No. surprise them…
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:44:30
Good idea. They can have the first one.
Nov 21, 2017 @ 19:52:24
Go for it, Jane!
Nov 22, 2017 @ 07:53:00
Wish I could.
Nov 22, 2017 @ 08:16:45
🙂
Nov 22, 2017 @ 14:14:24
Yes you can!
Nov 22, 2017 @ 15:02:19
🙂
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:48:06
I think there have been a few who forgets about glass house before throwing the rock though.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 15:55:02
Yeppers. Those on both sides of the coin.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 16:30:49
Great metaphor. I guess we weaklings can’t lift the boulders around us, only the little pebbles that are within reach. And prayer.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 16:52:54
Lots and lots of prayer. Actually, I had a long long email conversation with X. Most beneficial.
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Nov 20, 2017 @ 16:31:31
If nothing else, you’re making ripples. Great energy here. Some giants need slaying.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 18:14:19
Yes they do.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 17:02:33
I like the idea of poems being brave rocks to throw.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 19:55:13
So do I.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 17:28:28
As you know, /my poems are my rocks/, arrows, barbs, and I’ve never been shy to throw them into the fray or the abyss. You rocked the prompt, producing cohesion and provoking thoughts.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 17:33:24
Thank you Glenn. I actually had you in mind when I wrote this. You know I am not into political rants and I always try to be positive but…feel free to critique my poems. You don’t always have to be nice. Yes we all need validation and to be honest I am considering taking the comment box off my poems. I realize most of my stuff has been crap and I heartily and sincerely thank you for all of the kind and positive comments you have made on my poetry.
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Nov 20, 2017 @ 19:19:29
A well-placed rock felled Goliath, and so many words-as-rocks have shattered the glass houses of hubris of so many. Keep slinging, poet!
Nov 20, 2017 @ 19:20:47
Will do!
Nov 20, 2017 @ 19:24:33
I like the reminder to slay the giants of negativity and racism ~ For me, its a reminder to be kind to everyone ~ Let them loose ~
Nov 20, 2017 @ 19:54:47
Yes it is.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 20:01:13
Poetry gives us a voice and the power to use it like little feathers in the wind or like a rock slinging, high flinging machine.Your poetry is far from ****….can’t even say that word in the same sentence as your poetry. Dear lady, you inspire me with your work. I like to think I let loose too within a poem, shed light on my thoughts, opinions, with a little rant now and then. Here’s to brave poems!
Nov 20, 2017 @ 20:39:23
And you do write bravely. This poem shows your true heart. Thank you for your kind words. But really Michelle, a lot of what I write is….blase
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Nov 20, 2017 @ 21:00:24
Perhaps to you…but we are entitled to our opinions 😉 Your poetic journey is your own. Be adventurous! I am only the reader.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 21:03:15
:-)…yes ma’m
Nov 20, 2017 @ 21:05:43
Nicely done.
Nov 20, 2017 @ 23:59:24
Yes! I love the idea of our poems being our rocks with which we slay injustice.
Nov 21, 2017 @ 00:14:39
Another writer suggested that she throw up surface to air missiles! I’d prefer to let loose a special gas that causes us to be nice to each other. Alas, I don’t think that will ever happen.
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Nov 21, 2017 @ 06:20:50
Great battle cry!
Nov 21, 2017 @ 06:30:11
??
Nov 21, 2017 @ 08:41:09
It’s a call to arms.. to ‘let loose our brave poems’ – a battle cry 🙂
Nov 21, 2017 @ 09:05:00
My poems are my rocks.
I am letting them loose today.
Let loose the brave poems.
Let them have their say! We give vent to those voicing out against all the woes of human weaknesses and failures! Yes, Toni, there are lots to be said!
Hank
Nov 21, 2017 @ 12:24:19
Yes indeed. We writers have enormous things to say whether people want to listen…or not.
Nov 21, 2017 @ 11:43:42
This stirred me, Toni! I would like to see the giant abortion industry fall and the shedding of innocent blood end! Women are its victims too.
Nov 21, 2017 @ 11:54:04
Sad but true and it is a big business. I personally don’t believe in abortion except in certain cases. But I also believe in freedom of choice for the women to decide for themselves. Kind of a mixed bag, hey?
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Nov 21, 2017 @ 11:58:31
Thanks for your reply! I think we make the choice before conception what we do with our own bodies; afterwards, there is another body involved…basic biology.
Nov 21, 2017 @ 12:15:19
Yes you are right. So many issues. So much to consider. I am glad it isn’t up to me.
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Nov 21, 2017 @ 13:42:59
That’s right! Tune up that arm and let fly!
–coal (Fireblossom)
Nov 21, 2017 @ 13:45:54
I get lots of practice throwing rocks at the nightly invasion of raccoons storming the bastions if our trashcan…it is hard not to hit them, just bounce the rocks close to them.
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Nov 21, 2017 @ 19:55:29
It is important to speak out against hate, intolerance, etc. Throw those rocks!
A character in a play I just saw set in Amsterdam just after WWII, reflects that she should have said spoken out–too little, too late.
Nov 21, 2017 @ 20:38:31
Throw with all your might!
Nov 21, 2017 @ 22:24:44
WONDERFUL, Toni.
Nov 21, 2017 @ 22:29:19
:-). Thank you De.
Nov 26, 2017 @ 07:32:12
Don’t stop throwing your rocks, Toni!
Nov 26, 2017 @ 13:32:48
Well done!