Once Upon a Time
Shadows crept,
then grew bolder
dreams were born,
then grew older,
blood boiled,
passion ebbed
now spiders dangle
from silvered webs
in dusty corners
where mice skitter
through this-and-that—
history’s litter.
Those were the days,
they once said,
the toasts of ghosts,
our dead.
A quadrille for dVerse. The prompt word is bold.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Very nicely done! Good use of the word bold!
Thank you very much, Dwight!
nicely penned.
Thank you!
I love the thoughts of those ghosts around us.
Thank you so much, Björn.
Some places it seems you can feel them.
“in dusty corners
where mice skitter
through this-and-that—
history’s litter.”
LOVE these lines….and then the “those were the days” ….and the ghosts appear. Enjoyed this one very much!
Thank you so very much, Lillian! Big smile on my face. 😊
Everything grows old, and, eventually, withers, away, and that once upon a time became, a faraway, dream of, long, long, ago.
Very true. Thank you!
I like the contrasts between when they were alive and robust and how they are now, like residue, anymore.
Thank you very much, Lisa!
You’re welcome, Merril.
This is a very emotive poem. It feels bleak and Munchian.
Thank you, Liz.
I thought it was bleak, too. 😊
You’re welcome, Merril.
Nicely done. I especially like the rhyming pattern in this piece.
Thank you so much!
“dreams were born,
then grew older”–
that really resonates with me. (K)
Thank you very much. I imagine as we get older, it does resonate more.
Gives me chills. Beautiful and bold writing.
Oh wow! Thank you! 😊
You’re welcome. 💜
This is just so good.
Thank you so much!
I love this, Merril – the rhyming sceme, the condensed language: my kind of poem 😊
Thank you so much, Ingrid! High praise, indeed!
This marvellous treatise on time is well summed-up by Ingrid
Thank you very much, Derrick. (I just found this comment in my spam.) 🙂
I love the way you stretched out those 44 words into four stanzas, each perfect in its own right. I especially enjoyed the rhyming, and the lines:
‘dreams were born,
then grew older’
and
the ‘dusty corners / where mice skitter’ – amazing sound in that word!
Thank you so much, Kim!
It was difficult to get the right fit for the ending and still keep it within the word count.
I like the word “skitter,” too. 🙂
What a lovely rhythm and rhyming-evocative in all ways.
Thank you so much, Susan!
Very imaginative poem for the word ‘bold’. I like the first verse about the dreams being born and growing older…it brings to mind old photograph albums where you turn the pages and wonder about the people who lived in those times. You see pictures of the people young and carefree, and yet, they have passed from this life long ago. It brings to mind that we must live our dreams day by day…
Thank you so much, Linda.
I wasn’t thinking of an old photograph album, but I absolutely can imagine it. And who knows–I did take notice of some old photos at my sister’s a week ago. . .
WOW! This is just top notch, so much so succinctly – I love this!
That you so much for your enthusiastic comment! It made my day! 😊
I like the idea of shadows growing bold.
Thank you so much! I’m fascinated by shadows.
Brilliantly done, Merril! I love this and the rhythm just flowed…
Thank you very much, Dale.
That first stanza just came to me like that. 🙂
I love it. 🙂
😊
a carpe diem Merril from that first marvellous stanza – especially loved the toasts of ghosts
Thank you so much, Laura!
Merril this is excellent! I like the sequence from shadows to dreams to the toasts of the dead!
Thank you very much, Colleen! 😊
You’re welcome.
Paints a vivid image in a very few lines, with an intense imagery evocative of a sense of lost time. The rhymes are also otherworldly!
Wow–thanks so much, Jay!
Wonderful, love the pic too!
Thank you so much, Rene!
😊
And soon we will have our turn to tell of “our good old days.”
I like the progress, keeps us looking forward.
..
Thank you, Jim.
This was so amazing to read! Such a beautiful piece. ✨
Thank you very much.
Lovely! I toast your ghosts and mine!
Thank you! 😊
those were the days ❤️ im haunted by memories
Thank you. They can definitely speak to us.