It's Still Life

23 Sept: dVerse Quadrille

petals floating on a pond

Petals (a Quadrille in an Imagist poem form)

Petals, arabesque and swaying.
Petals, brimming as bright as
a morning star.

Petals soft as scented heaven.
Petals’ sorrow plucked for joy.

“Loves me-loves me not,” cried
petals on black-eyed, doom-dark eyes—
petalled tongues whispering.

Petals wither
on the ground.
Petals the scythe
forgot.

Written for dVerse Poets Quadrille (44-words) in an Imagist poem form. Some artwork is created using Midjourney AI, and is identified as such in the ALT text or captioned. Images are copyright and not to used without permission, which I willingly give when asked, and when not for commercial use. Imagery and poems/prose ©Misky 2006-2025.

Misky

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25 responses to “23 Sept: dVerse Quadrille”

  1. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) avatar
    Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

    The manifolds of petals… so much (and so short)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      This is why I love Quadrilles. It’s a wonderful challenge to compress thoughts into as few words as possible. Glad you liked it.

      Like

      Reply
  2. kim881 avatar
    kim881

    The repetition of ‘petals’ is very effective, Marilyn, and this is the third, very different, take on ‘love me, love me not’. I love the simile ‘brimming as bright as a morning star’ and the play on an old in ‘petals’ sorrow plucked for joy’.

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    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Thank you so much, Kim. I’m delighted that enjoyed reading it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Spira avatar
    Spira

    As bright as a morning star.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Aye, AO. As bright as.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. Violet Lentz avatar
    Violet Lentz

    I agree with Kim I enjoyed the repetition as well

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    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Imagist poems rely on repetition, which is why love writing them Thank you for your lovely comment, Violet.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. avatar
    Anonymous

    Misky, this is a beautiful, haunting poem, using floral imagery in a vivid, emotionally complex way. There’s sorrow, longing, beauty and decline, all wrapped in a motif that is both delicate and powerful. I listened to the haunting music while reading and it sets your poem off wonderfully💕

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    1. poetisatinta avatar
      poetisatinta

      It’s Ange – not sure why I am anonymous 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Misky avatar
        Misky

        Sometimes WordPress does silly things. 🤗

        Liked by 1 person

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    2. Misky avatar
      Misky

      I am so completely overjoyed that you enjoyed this one, and that you listened to the soundtrack. Thank you, Ange.

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      Reply
  6. tenzenmen avatar
    tenzenmen

    Lovely first line. 👏

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Thank you!

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      Reply
  7. Rosemary Nissen-Wade avatar
    Rosemary Nissen-Wade

    I agree that this is a very lovely poem, complemented perfectly by the music.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Thank you, Rosemary. (and it’s lovely to see your name here again)

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. purplepeninportland avatar
    purplepeninportland

    A lovely poem with beautiful repetition.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Thank you, S. xx

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      Reply
  9. yvettemcalleiro avatar
    yvettemcalleiro

    The poem itself is great, but with the music, it’s phenomenal. Well done, Misky!

    Yvette M Calleiro :-)http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      I’m so happy to know that you enjoyed the music as well! Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. paeansunplugged avatar
    paeansunplugged

    What a gorgeous write!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Thank you very much.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. paeansunplugged avatar
        paeansunplugged

        My pleasure.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  11. Melissa Lemay avatar
    Melissa Lemay

    “black-eyed, doom-dark eyes”

    Such a sense of foreboding leading up to that impactful ending. At first read through, I thought it said “doom-dark skies,” which is equally as effective.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Thank you so much! 🥰

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Your comments are always welcome