Mother’s Voice
The breeze blows chill.
I sneeze, as mother taught me:
‘It’s cold. You’ll catch a cold!’
obedient still, against
both will and reason.
Well, I’m in my eighth decade.
Suddenly I let it go. All right, Mum,
old voice in my head, be there.
Hello, people, and thanks to Kit for inviting me to be a guest during June.
This poem is exactly 44 words excluding title, which is what the folks at dVerse Poets Pub, whom I sometimes play with, are calling a quadrille. (Dancing is not obligatory.)
I really enjoyed this, thank you. And now I'm intrigued by the quadrille form....
ReplyDeleteIt's versatile, and I find it surprisingly enjoyable to use. Seems like nothing much - just 44 words and that's it – but it makes for some interesting results. Thanks for the comment.
DeleteThank you Rosemary, you've inspired me. I'm going to try a quadrille for tomorrow. It can be so helpful to learn and to play with new forms.
DeleteCan I share with you, Rosemary, the quadrille is my favourite dance. I have been thinking how to possibly depict it in poetry. And here it is! 44 words. :) Our mother's voices. great subject, how we/they live on, echoes of generations.
ReplyDeleteSarah, how serendipitous! The first time it was offered at dVerse, we were asked to use the theme of dance, and many of us tried for a suitable rhythm to suggest the quadrille.
DeleteI'm also intrigued. I love your poem!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteWelcome to the blog, Rosemary. I like the idea of the mother's voice remaining
ReplyDeletelong after she is dead.
Thanks, Myron. Seems like a friendly place here. :-)
DeleteThe quadrille sounds interesting. 44 words. Any other rules or guidelines?
DeleteMyron, sorry, didn't notice this until just now. No other rules, no.
ReplyDelete