The dVerse Poets’ Pub released a new prompt tonight, right when I have a few minutes after a work dinner and before lights-out.
Yay! Writing poetry, whether good, bad or ugly, relaxes me. And – the determination of good, bad or ugly is in the mind of the beholder, like beauty.
The prompt, called Let It Snow, instructs participants to create a quadrille, a poem of any structure with exactly 44 words. Piece of cake! I was so into it that I created three. No, four. Snow is a great motivating prompt! And quadrilles are so friendly.
Quadrille Poem #1
The first was a poem for children, based on an experience at Little House in the Rockies in March of 2015 with my friend Kat-Woman and her boys. She was a lunatic playing with them in the snow while John (her husband) and I watched them from the warmth of the cabin with libations in hand. Pics are blurry, because, well, so is snow.
Snow is Our Friend, but Be Careful
snow can be fun
snow can be scary
snow melts in the sun
it’s slippery - be wary
you can build a snowman
(maybe a snow woman)
or make a snowball
(but don’t throw it at Mom)
snow is a toy
(but show it respect)
Quadrille Poem #2
This poem is based on my experiences in Norway last week. Feel free to laugh at me. I did.
Snow is a Nuisance
snow is a nuisance
on airplane wings
causing fear and delays
becoming icy on sidewalks
wrong shoes
driving my pratfall
in front of colleagues
who helped me up
and had the courtesy
not to laugh
(where I could see them)
snow is a nuisance
Quadrille Poem #3
This poem is semi-fictional, semi-autobiographical, in memory of a wonderful trip with a girlfriend who trusts me with her secrets, and whom I trust with mine.
Snow is a Metaphor for Lost Love
a whisper, a snowflake
a memory brushing against my cheek
that time we went to the Warming Hut
and you shared that story
about your past
the love lost
melting, momentary
like snowfall
but lasting, forever
like the frostbitten
memories of
ice crystal hearts
Quadrille Poem #4
Looking for my snow pics, I was reminded of a wonderful time in Boston on a business trip with two delightful female colleagues, when we really, really did become angels. Snow angels. In our business suits.
Good times.
Letting Off Steam in the Snow
snow angels, we were
at the end of
a tense boston business trip
all dressed in black. we were
like avenging angels
post meetings and thinks
post-dinner and drinks
why not play in the snow
like the angels we were
snow angels, we were
This was a wonderful way to shed a little stress, let off steam and relax tonight.
Give it a try: do you have a poem to share about snow? The folks at dVerse would love to hear from you. And so would I.
© Glover Gardens, 2023
You covered and responded to all the “snow” experiences. I can relate with the snow being a nuisance. The last one is so much fun with the snow angel photos. Thanks for sharing!
Loved the photos and each one of the poems which illustrate how fun, treacherous, lovely, and poignant snow can be.
I love all the wonderful stories, snow causes a lot of changes in life, and even here were we should be used to snow, the first days are usually crazy.
You really went to town on this prompt, Kim, inspired by snow, which brought out the child in you in your first quadrille. I’m with you in the second quadrille, snow is a nuisance, especially as you get older or you’re trying to get somewhere! My favourite is snow as a metaphor for lost love. My favourite line is ‘a memory brushing against my cheek’.
Kim, these are all such delightful slices of life! I really enjoyed this series.
Much love,
David
I love all your wonderful snow poems accompanied by photos! I am always amazed by the snowfall’s ability to awaken anyone’s inner child to dream and play once more. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
So much energy to write four poems! I enjoyed them all, loved the children’s eye view and grimaced at No 2!
Aww, I can feel the solidarity. 🙂 I wouldn’t mind if you laughed, though. It was a spectacular non-injury fall. ❄️
Beautiful, all four of them. Although I like the last one most, with the snow angels.
“post meetings and thinks
post-dinner and drinks”,
just perfect and
“Like the angels we were”
will go down in history. 😀
Great to be part of the same community now!