Seven times the wound I bound,
seven times I wound it round
with white-stitched cloth, now blood-red
drowned–
the legacy of war.
Now, here the hero lies near death—
seven times, I conjure fate
hesitate with breath abated—
for furies wrath, to even scores.
A quadrille for dVerse. Lillian has asked us to use the word wound.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Well, Merril….if you were here in my living room, you’d have heard an audible sigh and the words “Oh wow” uttered when I finished reading this. The pacing, the repetition, the use in both instances of meaning of “wound”…The juxtaposition of the white cloth now red with blood….
A powerful write indeed.
And an “oh wow” here for that comment, Lillian! Thank you so much. 💙 Those first two lines came to me right away last night.
This is exactly what Lillian writes, so very powerful, and I do love how you used both the tension in wound and the wound afterward.
Thank you so much, Björn!
The word legendary comes to mind as I read this- this is stellar writing, Merril! 💝💝
Thank you so much, Sanaa!❤️
Well done Merril. Hero lying near death does create a deep wound in the soul!
Thank you so much, Dwight. Yes, I imagine so.
Superbly evoked poetry
Thank you so much!
You’re welcome
You deserve more than seven rounds of applause for this, Merril.
❤
David
That is very kind. Thank you so much, David!💙
Nice one!! Luv the cadence of the chant.
Interesting image.
Happy Monday
Much💚love
Thanks so much, Gillena! 💙
The legacy of war. The dreadful legacy of war. Well written.
Thank you so much, Beverly.
I really like the repetition of seven, it gives a feel of the mythical or ritual. Nice work.
That was my thought as well.
Thank you!
You’re welcome!
I really like the repetition of seven, it gives a feel of the mythical or ritual. Nice work.
Thank you very much.
I love this ……….. I write more often than I realize about the horror of war. Living through Vietnam and a husband there for one year left an indelible (red) stain.
Thank you so much, Helen. I’m sure that must have been an indelible experience for both of you.
I didn’t know anyone in my family who had been in combat until my son-in-law, who was deployed three time in Iraq and Afghanistan (before he knew my daughter). No physical wounds, but definite mental/emotional ones.
Oh, I love the triple 7’s and the artwork that accompanies this quadrille. The spell cast and the consequences rippling out from your verse. Wonderful.
Thank you so much! 💙
I love reading this out aloud – so well done with the pacing, definition and theme. I agree, this was like casting a spell.
Thank you very much, Grace. That’s how I felt while writing it.
Great work indeed, MS. We’re on the same page, I think.
Thank you very much, Ron.!
Merril there is the feel of incantation where ancient wisdom speaks. The artwork is just as arresting.
Thank you very much, Lisa!
I love Odilon Redon, but I never used this image before.
You’re welcome.
This is not just a great quadrille — this is a great poem in general. The rhyme and rhythm are perfect, as is the wordplay in the first few lines.
Thank you so much for your very kind words!
I’m with Lillian… oh Wow!!
Thank you very much!
🧡
Wow!
Thank you! 😀
Great writing in this piece.
Thank you so much!
Oh my gosh this is beautiful. I find myself reading it over and over and I love the way the words form as I say it ☺️
Thank you so much! That is such a lovely comment! 💙
I love the repetitions and rhymes in such a small space.
Thank you very much, Luanne!
So very powerful – weaving meanings and rhymes.
Thank you so much, Derrick!
I read your quadrille aloud, like a spell, seven times, and it filled my mouth with sounds and rolled off my tongue! I love the rhythm, like an army drum, the use of compound words, the contrast of ‘white-stitched’ and ‘blood-red’, and the image of a war hero, bandaged and dying is tragic and powerful.
Wow–Kim! Thank you. I appreciate that so much!
Excellent use of the prompt, Merril! This has the feel of a mythological incantation: Homeric 🙂
Thank you very much, Ingrid! 💙
You know I love this one. Exactly in phase with my thoughts too. Isn’t that a sweet-looking Cyclops though? Redon couldn’t even make his monsters look fierce.
Thank you! 😀
He is kind of a sweet monster. 💙
Very 🙂
Oh wow! This is powerful and brilliantly done. The pacing, the mood, the nod to mythology is all excellence.
So atmospheric – brought to my mind a witches’ chant (Macbeth?). Brilliant.
Thank you so much! I thought of the witches in Macbeth, too.
A nice one.
Pat
Thank you, Pat.
Nemo – No One – cursed Odysseus. What a bothersome fellow, he. Quite delightfully done, thank you.
Yes, a very bothersome fellow.
Thank you very much.
I concur with the comments of your other readers. A brilliant poem that sent shivers down my shine and made my breath catch in my throat.
Wow–I so appreciate that, Liz. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Merril!
The score is never even, it just goes up and up. The mythical chant is very effective. (K)
Thank you very much!
Wonderful! I love it! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Thank you so much! 😀
Lillian pretty much summed your poem up for me 🙂 Your poem so well fits the image and yet the image to me is so abstract that I’m just stunned by your poem.
Wow–thank you very much, Marie! 💙
An intense poem, full of wounds, bright with blood and vengeance. Wowie.
Thank you so very much!
So much packed in this. I love that the number 7 is symbolic for completion and how it increases the tension in its repetition and the expectation of imminent closure – a closure the reader is longing to abate with his very breath. Beautifully done.
Thank you so much! I appreciate your kind words!
So great and beautiful!
Thank you!
WOW!
Merril,
You worked the theme, beautifully! A most enjoyable read. I read it 3 times for fun.
Wow! Thank you so much, Resa! 💙
😀 x
😀