Winter winds lash the trees,
the clouds sail, schooners
on an obsidian sea,
shimmering stars, sparkling dots,
pulsing to music of the universe,
echoed in our beating hearts–
stardust,
remnants of other worlds
gone for a millennium,
here in your arms curled around me.
I’ve never written a quadrille, but I was intrigued by the idea–a poem of 44 words exactly. This is for dVerse, and we were to use the word “curl” in the poem.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Best yet, I think. If we reach for the stars, we’ll get off the ground this year, taking the focus off ourselves. I think you had a different intent here, but that’s my extrapolation, given my word for the year today.
A quadrille – I don’t think I could write one even if my life depended on it. Exquisite!
Thanks so much, Marian. I like your interpretation with focus and this year, though I was just dreaming and going with the flow. Drifting with the stars, so to speak. 😉
You are SO talented!
Thank you very much, Cindy!
I like this, Merril, and I can understand how you wrote it, that just letting the words go where they want idea. Never heard of a quadrille. Will look up this prompt 🙂
Thanks, Jane. I think you will like writing one. I thought it would be difficult, but I guess I was in the right mood to just let it happen.
I’ll give it a try, just keep an eye on the word count and stop at 44 I suppose 🙂
Somehow my ending worked out right at 44, but then I went back and revised a bit.
That was a moment of magic 🙂
We need those moments. 🙂 Now it’s back to reality–I have to get some work done.
Sigh. See you later then 🙂
I’ll be back later. I have a few of your posts still to read. 😉
Beautiful, it dances! This is a form I will have to try (one of these days…) (K)
Thanks, Kerfe. It would be perfect with your art!
It would be…there will be more stars to come I’m sure (and dancing too).
Stars and dancing–and maybe some wine.
Now there’s an idea!
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What a piece! I absolutely loved this. Honestly.
Thank you so much, Shaun! It’s kind of you to let me know.
I could truly see it written on a print 🙂
Thanks again. You are boosting my ego! 🙂
Wonderfully descriptive Merril.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
Thank you, David. Hugs back to you!
Love this.. the conceit of the universe in that curl… reminds me of seeing the world in a grain of sand… nice to see you at dVerse.
Thank you very much!
Writing short is harder than writing long. Each word matters. Well done. My favorite phrase: “the clouds sail, schooners on an obsidian sea,”
Thank you very much, Carol. I appreciate your astute comment. It is more difficult to write short. I rewrote that phrase a few times, so I’m glad it worked. 🙂
I love the telescoping out and out…then back in to safety, comfort.
Thanks, Jennifer. It just happened that way. 🙂
This is a beautiful, rich and succulent Quadrille. I wish my first was this good!
Thank you so much, Oloriel, for the lovely comment!
I specially like the music of the universe echoing in the beating hearts ~
A beautiful response Merril ~ Nice to meet you at D’verse ~
Thanks so much, Grace!
( I was trying to comment on your blog, but I was having trouble posting my comment.)
This is great, Merril! Beautiful imagery and flow. We just saw a planetarium show with our grandchildren, and this poem reminds me of it. Here are some other inspirations for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLPkpBN6bEI and https://vimeo.com/73700767
Thank you, Shirley, and thank you for the video links. I remember watching Carl Sagan when his series first came out. My husband and I were amazed.
A lovely read. ☺
Thank you very much!
A lovely quadrille. I like the schooners on the obsidian sea and the reference to Stardust reminds me a song…adds to the romantic feel 🙂
Thanks! I thought of, “We are stardust, we are golden,” afterward. I guess there are lots of songs with stardust in them. 🙂
Yes I suppose there are… I was hearing the tune of a song by Hoagy Carmichael called ‘Stardust’:
And now the purple dusk of twilight time
Steals across the meadows of my heart
High up in the sky the little stars climb
Always reminding me that we’re apart
You wander down the lane and far away
Leaving me a song that will not die
Love is now the stardust
Of yesterday
The music
Of the years
Gone by…..
A classic.
So good that I expected to see a source acknowledgement underneath it 🙂
Awwww–thanks, Derrick!
I liked the phrase, “obsidian sea”.
Thank you very much!
I love this sooo much!!!❤️
Thank you so much!
Learned about your poetry and blog today through shared post from Kathy Pooler. She’s a blessing, isn’t she? Wow. As I read your Quadrille I was living the moment. Wondrous!😊
Kathy is wonderful!
Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving me such a kind comment. I’m glad you liked the poem. 🙂
This really is a magical poem, Merril! It had me swirling and twirling with some young man’s arms wrapped around me, listening to old records in a high school gym. Twinkling lights hung from the school building rafters. . .
Thanks so much, Robin. I’m glad my poem sent you on magical journey!
Your words send us out into the universe (so maybe not a gymnasium 🙂 ) under the open sky dancing instead. . . sparkling stars setting the beat, or pulse as you say, of the music playing. Second “take” on your really nicely turned quadrille, Merril.
Awww–thanks so much, Robin. I’m glad you wanted to revisit the poem. Dancing under the stars sounds fun. I guess we’ll have to wait until the weather gets a bit nicer. 🙂
You’re welcome! It is always fun to look at art and rethink how you interpreted it. Thus, revisiting your poem was like asking my mind to consider another thought or reaction. The stars are so beautiful in the picture you display.
My friend and I saw “Hidden Figures” tonight and saw the full moon in the sky. 🙂
The moon was beautiful. We haven’t been able to get to the movies. I do want to see Hidden Figures, but now Patterson is out, and I’ve been waiting to see that one, too.
A sweetly surprising ending.
Thank you!
44 perfectly enchanting words! Ah, I’m swooning. Just lovely, Merril! xo
Thank you so much, Rose! If I’ve made you swoon, then I did something right. 🙂
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