Mouth-watering goodness.

                                                                                                     Author: Elliot

Image: Half dozen chargrilled oysters. (here) 

Lovely oysters 

Mouth-watering goodness.

Not unlike 'uncooked' sushi 

Great on the taste-buds 

but daring to take a risk. Why?

Not being naughty 

but it tastes good! 

So what will it be?

Not easily available. 

Might as well

Cheaper by the dozen. 

Twelve pieces, please!

(44 words)

Note: To write a Quadrille in 44 words

and to include the word 'twelve'

Lisa at d'Verse Quadrille : happy-dverse-twelfth-anniversary/

Often walked the path of wonders

                                                                                             Author: 阿橋 HQ

Image: The 'Black Leopard' Shatin 

Orchid Show, Hong Kong  (here)

10 of 12 given Wordle words: 

walk, spins, pick, wishing, bruised 

visit, potions weeds woods keeps

Often walked the path of wonders

Had been through many spins

Plucked from the pick as starters

Wishing what the heart could bring

Bruised with frustrations of many years

Through the many visits that were begun

What became of the potions collected

For the thirst of discovery left undone

Was there then a similar set of weeds

Found in the woods brought to light

Flowers and leaves collected for keeps

Black orchids found were cause for delight

MMT's The Whirligig #430

A good dream is a bonus for good living

                       Author: Hennie Niemann

Image:  In the Land of Dreams (here)

the 10 of 12 given Wordle words:

 patch eliminate immense correlate spectacular 

outnumber shopping plastic movement  winner

To patch up a gap in the extension

To eliminate an immense show of confusion

Flashes to correlate mixed ideas

Emerging for a split second or longer

Then disappears into Davy Jone's locker

There are spectacular dreams that appear

Foretelling of what’s coming in the future

But it outnumbers images that instead emerge

Causing havoc in the minds of the lost

A good dream is a bonus for good living

Bad dreams are the aftermath of bad intentions

Getting mixed up in shopping for ideas

Prodding the plastic show of human feelings

Self imposed in movements of passion

A winner in classic fashion in myriads of colours

In the realms of the subconscious 

Lisa at MLMM's wordle-329/

I'm not given to mischief

                                                                                            Author: Paul Sapiano                                              Image: The Black Widow (here)

Note: The Black Widow so-called 

as it will devour its mate after mating

the 11 of 12 given Wordle words:

dim twitch mingled drifts call split 

words shattered shallow spell gaze 

You call me a dim twitch is that it!

I’m not given to mischief

Neither am I a conceit

But I can well cause grief

I mingled in lots of drifts

More manly than even any man

His call to  have a fling

I said that suits me fine

I’m not of a split element

Nor words had me shattered 

Ridicule me and in an instance

You’ll end up battered    

Not shallow nor under a spell

My gaze cause a lot of pain

My man told me to fizzle

Gobbled him later that’s my gain                          

Barbara's Sunday Whirl. Wordle#611/

He spied a visual he dreaded

                                                                                               Author: Acabashi

Image: Image: A Finished Meal (here)

the 10 of 12 Wordle words:

chase drifting flow draft linger 

pass fray how sign spell 

To the kitchen he headed
To chase a drifting thought
But it broke his little heart
He spied a visual he dreaded
The flow of the draft 
That lingers slowly pass 
brought him into the fray
He could only muse in dismay

A bad sign, it spelled trouble

A room-mate had just left

An empty plate on the table
Brought home to consume

None left of the earlier edibles

He lost, it was one down
A fatal mistake he quipped
Should have tucked in earlier he frowned
His buddy rifled the goodies indeed

when he inadvertently dozed off  

Sanaa's at d'Verse OLN#341 LIVE two-opportunities-to-join-us-live/

Brenda's Sunday Whirl Wordle#532

Note: An event that happened during student days

A reposting of an earlier post (here)

bidding for a clue

                                                                                   Author:  Biswarup Ganguly

Image:  A Kaleidoscopic 

Reflection of Colours  (here)

to set in motion

looking for a solution

bidding for a clue

is Hope as cool as blue?

or such a blinding red

bloodshot a fiery dread

not that,  surely a green

a smoothness of Spring

not forgetting yellow

cowardice a little mellow

but flashed and flushed

on the canvas at last

at the hands of artists

beauty of hope is bliss

Happiness in seeing 

and reflecting on happenings 

of colours in paintings

Sarah at d'Verse : Poetic Tuesday

what-colour-is-hope/

Liberation of ideas

                                                                    Author: U.S. Department of the Treasury

Image:  Serious discussions (here)

Liberation in thoughts, are much maligned nonetheless. What is conceived
as idealistic and lovable are good. But passing through the test of time though 

are the outcome practical and achievable.? It is still therefore not acceptable as 

it may not work the way it is intended. All goes to show dreamers are all in 

our midst and they end up as armchair critics not wanting to venture out and 

show good results in real terms.

While they can be shown to be an active participant in many encounters
formal or otherwise at the end of the day it may just be a release of hot air.

The process entails lots of arguments and many may end up as time-wasters. 

However we are not rid of some such elements in the course of discussions.

It may help to ease off tensions though as they do provide some lighter 

moments often necessary at times.

It takes all kinds but

fruitful discussions demand

some maturity 

 

Frank's at d'Verse Haibun Monday-liberation/

Been in the offing

Image 1: On the morning of departure, one last time ( Norman, Imran, Kimie and Daniel)

Image 2 :No, not to be. They came back again to the house for a big yarn, just minutes to go

               (Daniel, Norman, Imran and Kimie)

Been in the offing quite some bit
None would want to think about it
Young minds might not realize the pain
They knew good friends would meet again!

They knew young Daniel would move out
To L.A. it had been touted
The neighborhood kids took it plain
They knew good friends would meet again

They cycled with all shrieks and squeals
Or kicking football on the field
They were around with all the din
They knew good friends would meet again

The day came sadly last Tuesday
The day young Daniel went away
PS3 now played with restrain
They knew good friends would meet again

Norman and Kimie set their minds

Next stop would now be Anaheim

Apologies, hopefully the above meets the prompt needs:

Note 1- A reposting of a Kyrielle written in 2012 (here) 

comprising of rhymed quatrains and a couplet maintaining 

8 syllables in each line and with a repetition of the last line)

Note 2 - Fast forward 11years after, both of Hank's grandies 

are reading for their Bachelor of Engineering, Norman in his 

Final Year (B.E Electronics) and Kimie in his Second Year

(B.E Mechatronics - with emphasis on AI (Artificial Intelligence)

and Robotics.

Bjorn at d'Verse : MTB

with-john-donne-and-his-heroic-sonnet/

A Treasured Memory

                                                      

                                                                              Author: Hank

Image: Hank's own soft pastel sketch 

on an A4 size dark drawing paper

a treasured present 

received long ago
a box of water colours

it signaled a change

appreciation rekindled
from lines and shadows
of depths and perspectives
into images transformed
of complex measures later

in hues of oils acrylics 

and pastels

created colours of life's beauty

(44 words)

Lillian at d'Verse  - Quadrille : come-imbibe-with-me-today/

Time flies even though when time stops

                                                                          Author: Pedro Ribeiro Simões 

Image: A Loving Couple (here)

Through bright days and of darkest nights,
We share our laughter we do things right

With open arms, we offer support,
In times of need, a comforting lot

In your warm embrace, I was often caught
Time flies even though when time stops

Through thick and thin, we'll always remain,
Linked by feelings of a love that's blind

No distance or time can break our ties
For in our hearts, friendship will not die.

For you, my dearest, I'm forever grateful,
A treasure unmatched, a bond so wonderful

Laura at d'Verse : MTB - when "we" writes poetry/

to be written in couplets

For he had strayed, with lessons to learn.

       

                                   Author: Musfiqswajan

Image: A Sad Boy (here)

the 12 given Wordle words:

boy, naked, pole, punishment, late, older, 

shower, smiling, touch, faded, ritual, shining

A shout in the dark and a tale so bold

Of a boy, once carefree, his story unfolds

Naked he stood, innocence on display,

Beside a wooden pole, there to stay

A punishment awaited, cruel and stern,

For he had strayed, with lessons to learn.

The hour grew late, the moon older awhile,

As destiny's shower played, him with a smile

With touch of class, his scars slowly faded,

Ritual of strength awakened, long ago jaded.

Shining in that quiet moment, where shadows blend,

He found solace within, his ego on the mend.

MMT Sunday's Whirligig#426.

Quality of Silence

                                                                                           Author: Tomascastelazo

Image: Peace and Tranquility (here)

The quality of silence, is an accepted grace,
It speaks volumes, though none are expressed

Presence is felt despite sound being misplaced

Often misconstrued of not showing interest

The quality of silence, is an accepted wisdom

Not to unsettle the apple cart, and peace is maintained

The richness of silence is often said to be golden,
For within its depth provocation is restrained

In the quality of silence, is an accepted principle
Where the stillness of intrusion makes things stable

Kim's at d'Verse  Poetics-quality-poems/

Still Early in the Evening

                                                                                          Author: John S Turner

Image: The Rising Moon  (here)

Prosery - to include the line:
"An early moon is just a piece of change
in the softening sky. “  — James Masao Mitsui, 

Still early in the evening. The brightness of day is slowly giving way to softer shades. It appears to be  masking an impending mysterious night which is slowly broken by a rising moon in the horizon. An early moon is just a piece of change in the softening sky. It appears small like a twinkling diamond that quickly takes command.

Reflecting on many episodes in life, small turning big quickly is accompanied often by disasters and calamities. Looking forward to something good and rewarding can often end up in bad consequences when out of control. Nature is the ultimate balance if it chooses to be. More often than not it takes its own course and man is helpless.

There are instances where human intrusion saves the day but more often than not human factors in the equation may well contribute to more undesired circumstances.

(144 words)

Merril in d'Verse Prosery  - breathing-and-moons/

when they were young.

                                                                          Author: Pedro Ribeiro Simões

Image:  A Loving Couple (here)

the 12 given Wordle words:

cheek new apple journey mouth touch 

grief dreams hunger pain melt burden

dancing cheek to cheek 

with a new apple of the eye 

to embark on a journey, 

uncertain but for a taste of life

there were mouth watering 

episodes for every likely touch,

when they were young.

but there were grief, sorrow or joys 

for dreams that couldn't last.

hunger for love was the incentive

though pain may linger or melt

a reminder that broken hearts 

did carry burdens for 

those inexperienced

Mish at d'Verse OLN  #340/

MMT at  The Sunday's Whirligig Wordle #425

was just horsing around

                                                                                  Author: Photo by Karl Kuntz

Image: Wild Party  (here)

the youngsters being wild
on the dance floor
were just horsing around
thinking it was easy to dance
aping with leaps and jumps
bugging the wits of old couples
who still held on to the grace
of holding hands and dancing
close together
but eventually and unwittingly 
hounding them off the floor

they on their own did not 
cause a scene but wormed 
themselves slowly away 
from all the din of present day 
wild dancing moves

Let them enjoy themselves
after all we were also young

once ourselves so they reasoned

Sarah at d'Verse  acting-like-animals/

a gentle kick

                                                                                              Author: Nikodem Nijaki

Image: Hot and Colourful  (here)

to awaken the taste buds,

sprinkled lightly,

transforming dishes, 

hot peppers and spice

a gentle kick,

symphony of peppery delight,

a flavour's trick.

peppering adds zest, 

a culinary take

enhancing meals, 

a pinch, a sprinkle, 

a burst of surprise

peppering, 

the chef's secret dice

(44 words)

Punam's at d'Verse : Quadrille

pass-the-pepper-please/

glowing in the night

                                                                                                   Artist : Diggie Vitt 

Image:  Burning Love (Muse #198) (here)

a burning bouquet 

glowing in the night
akin to love that ignites 

but with this fire 

comes a price

for a burning love 

a flaming episode

is causing more pain 

in the inside

strangely though

knowingly embraced 

this searing heat 

is a treasured welcome

in many instances

for the love 

that eternally burns 

without a doubt

Carrie in The Sunday Muse #261

Cubism

                                                                               Artist: Thorvald Hellesen

Image: Suitor. Figure with Bouquet” 

painted in 1917-1918 (here)

The world of art unveils its grand design,
There appears a visionary, a maestro of the 

canvas, Thorvald Hellesen

The world presented in fragments 

an innovative form, in Cubism

Breaking boundaries, defying the norm,

In allowing for Thorvald's insistence

for the past and present to fuse 

into each other 

it creates an interplay to get 

the viewer to indulge 

in moments of puzzle-solving

Faces appear in fragmented glory,
Each angle tells a different story.

For the rave of the day then

a branch of abstract art 

emerges for acceptance

Lillian at d'Verse  an-artist-gets-his-due/

The Relics of a Recent Past

                                                                                                         Author: anon

Image: Hung in a Row (here)

Leather bell strap, worn and weathered by time
You've witnessed tales of bravery, and tales of woe,

Through deserts, mountains, and valleys you did go

.
In rugged lands you ventured out , tied to a steed,
With each stride, a melody, a rhythm in the air,
Guiding weary travelers with a jingle everywhere

Cowboys riding in the country you followed
A faithful companion, a guardian from the start
Symbol of connection, bridging worlds far apart

weejars at Mindlove Misery's Menagerie photo-challenge-465/

still a big question!

                                                                                        Author: Ankita15dombe

Image: A Loving Couple  (here)

There she was standing forlornly with looks of expectations and concerns written all over. Waiting for a friend she later confessed shyly.

Amidst the bustling corridors and lecture rooms, our paths met. I remember the fluttering heartbeat, the nervous glances, that preceded the first approach. She, the freshie lost in her thoughts and I the senior ever hoping for a 'victim'.

Those carefree days, when time was often a neglected luxury the world outside seemed distant and irrelevant. We indulged in the simplicity of playful banter, oblivious to the responsibilities that awaited beyond the campus gates. 

When college life drew to a close, warmth of courtship transformed to uncertainties, It served as a reminder of the impending options and choices open before us. But it strengthened the transformative power of young love into something bigger. So we thought!

This memory stays with me, like a treasured relic from a bygone era. But sadly whispers of innocence of fleeting moments and possibilities fizzled into nothingness. Time may have carried us on separate paths, but the memory of our courtship in college shall forever be a cherished treasure. Just wondering what the intricacies of life would have been on the road not taken!

Emotions nurtured
Blessed feelings when it lasted

But life could be cruel

Frank at d'Verse Haibun Monday-memory/

whispers through the haze

                                                                                                   Author: Colin Kinnear 

Image: A Misty Morning  (here)

the 10 of 12 given Wordle words:

only yearning surrounded submissive 

heat  parched misty chill unending past 

In the realm of poetic verse to create,

Only words woven with care and grace,

Yearning whispers through the haze

Surrounded by mysteries, within the mist,

Each word a guiding star lighting our way,

With submissive heat where secrets held sway.

Poetry offering solace we shall never forget

Let the parched misty chill be far away

In the unending past not bothering in any way

Brenda's at The Sunday Whirl wordle#606/

dawn of a new day

                                                                                                Author: Tim Marchant 

Image: A New Day  (here)

A Starter with:

"She peeked back over her shoulder to check that the coast was clear"

She peeked back over her shoulder to check
that the coast was clear,
her eyes darting given to fear

As she stepped forward, determined 
her heart raced at an unsteady pace,
concerned of the coming days

Her footsteps gingerly progressed forward
echoes fading into a  deep abyss,

but just a glimmer, a moment of bliss.

She peeked back again to check,
and found the courage to forge her own way,

stepping into the dawn of a new day

weejars at MLMM story-starter-saturday-mix

A Cowgirl on the Plains

                                                                                                             Author: anon

Image: Cowgirl and Horse (here)

On the wild plains where the warm wind blows,
Beneath the wide-brimmed hat, a weathered face,
A spent cowgirl, but still with her feminine grace.

With saddle and stirrups, she mounts her steed,
Through rugged country and prairies she'll roam,
In search of freedom, a place to call her own.

She finds solace in the untamed wilderness,
Roaming her bids in unchartered territory
With lots of imprints bound to memory

Carrie's at: The Sunday Muse#260.html

unjustly confined

                                                                                              Author Diego Delso  (1974–)                                    Image: Saigon River, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (here)

In the realm of courage, where dissent presides
A spirit arose, ascending undaunted in flight
Tran Duc Thach, a voice with unwavering might,
A poet, a scholar unperturbed, a beacon of light.

With his pen as a sword, he battled the pains
Fueled by a vision of will that justice sustains.
He dared to challenge the powers that be,
In pursuit of a land where all could be free.

Behind bars and walls, he was unjustly confined,
Even though his spirits may still be ill-defined

But for a poet's voice it is not easily suppressed,
It transcends the confines, it cannot be oppressed.

Paul at d'Verse Poetics-uncaging-the-poet/

whims that cloud our tomorrow

                                                               Photo by Adam Jones adamjones.freeservers.com

Image: Summer Rain Showers Moscow (here)

the 12 given Wordle words:
bitter, taste, wine, jaded, live, cup, sip, 

whims, swear, pluck, thorns, flowers

In a world of bitter moments and tastes,

We sip the wine, souls jaded as chastised

We live our lives in a cup of despair,

Lost in the whirlwind tour sadly unaware.

With each sip, we drown in our sorrows

Deserted by whims that cloud our tomorrow

We swear by promises, fragile and frail,

Yet reality's success never cease to fail

Despite the darkness, we pluck at our hopes

Unwittingly allowing the lazy thorns to gloat

For life, though bitter, still offers its flowers,

Fleeting moments, like rain in summer showers.

Bjorn at d'Verse : OLN#339-may-live-edition/

MMT at the Whirligig with Wordle #423.html

Two Kangaroos Down Under

                                                                                             Author: anon

Image: Mother and Joey (here)

In Down Under where eucalyptus trees sway,
Mother and Joey, frolicking in their own way.

Mother kangaroo, very bold and wise,
Guided her Joey with love in her eyes.
In the wilderness, they traversed with grace,
Her pouch a sanctuary, a warm embrace.

The Joey, full of curiosity and delight,
Eager to learn stationed himself by her side, 
They hopped and jumped a synchronized dance,
A symbol of unity, their bond enhanced.

Weejars at MLMM's photo-challenge#464/

Facing the looking glass

                                                               Artist William Merritt Chase  (1849–1916) 

Image: "who's the fairest of them all? " (here)

Facing the looking glass, reflections speak,

A lifeline for both the strong and the weak

Reflecting truths despite masks we wear

Post-Covid the empty gaze, a silent stare.

Seek not safe reaction but embrace what's true,

For beauty lies within, mirrored in you.

(44 words)

Merril at d'Verse  Quadrille - mirror-mirror-on-the-wall

Sunset of Hope

                                                                                           Author: Villy Fink Isaksen

Image: The Vanishing Brightness (here)

10 of 12 given Wordle words:

singe sunset shallows trickle beside demon reside 

cerulean  (deep blue in colour)

glimmer hint

Singe of their touch leaves a mark,
Reminder of their burning ways,
A never-ending, painful phase.

As the shade of sunset fades away,
The shallows of the mind do trickle,
A torrent of fear, fright and fickle.

Beside the demon's lair, they reside,
But the demons within their minds
Are a force that's hard to unwind.

The cerulean glimmer of brightness
Gives a hint of light in the dark
A beacon of hope with some luck

Brenda at Sunday Whirl.Wordle#605

Gliding in the Sky

                                                              Author:  Kamila Kansy of Vanilla Sky Gallery

Image: To be Free (here)

Special Note to Carrie,

It has been a wonderful encounter all these years

Thanks to you Ma'am, to Chrissa and Shay. Had 

always looked forward to seeing you all in the 

Muse. Will miss all of you dearly!  -  from Hank

A bird soaring high, and carefree

No cage, no chain can hold its wings

As it spreads them wide and sings

Songs to carry it as it glides by

Nature's instinct as its guide

A symphony of music, its pride

We live our lives too, never to deny

The opportunities that come our way

To soar higher, day by day

With strength, and a hopeful eye

Being free like a bird in the sky

Is a gift to cherish, as we try

Carrie at The Sunday Muse #259.html

Adorable Tulips

                                                                                     Author:  John O'Neill

Image:  Standing tall (here)

the 11 of 12 given Wordle words: 

tulips. ten, common spot wax, bulwark, 

poet, innocent, hawk, sleep, wrong

The tulips swayed dancing beautifully

Their ten petals were open to scrutiny

A common sight, were always adored,

A spot of colour as nature had offered

The wax of their petals, smooth and pure,

A bulwark to maintain for all good cures

Their fragrance a poet's delight,

A source of inspiration in the night.

But even in their innocent peek and grace,

Tulips could be a hawk's target at any place

Unaware of the unexpected attraction

Awkwardly located not meant to be wrong

Linda at d'Verse OLN - #338-summer-is-coming/

MMT at The Whirligig#422