I thought I’d write this quadrille (prompt word “magnet”) in anticipation of Halloween with its cornucopia of bat wings and eerie skeletal thrills. Quadrille Monday at dVerse limits each offering to 44 words, so be warned!
She walks in a drysalter’s den
wearing death, her subfusc,
scattering acedia’s magnetic coils,
like iron filings shot hard
against fate’s blind eyes,
their littoral currents crashing
against her noon day commerce
of herbs, bone dust, pharmacopeia,
against concinnity escaping
fruitless desire, skulking caitiff.
Read more quadrilles at Mr. Linky.
This Jolly Beggar 
“She walks in a drysalter’s den
wearing death”
This is mesmerizing to me and so utterly captivating. You really do show us all how poet-ing is done! This is a fantastic piece, and again, that first line I had to read over and over before moving on with the rest of the poem. It captures the reader greatly putting them in a trance. As well, the genius imagery of “bone dust” and “skulking caitiff” are incredible. So beautifully penned. ❤ ❤ ❤
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Lucy, you overwhelm me, thank you so much for your generous praise. This one i wrote with your poetic flair in mind, and I’m so very glad you like it. 🖤🖤🖤
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Beware skulking caitiffs at all costs. A timely write!
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Haha! Timely in more ways than one, I agree 🙂
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Wonderful poem Dora and I love your doggie 🙂
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She’s precious to me 😉Thank you, Rob.
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“wearing death”
What a fantastic phrase. So so good.
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Thank you so much. And thanks for the “magnetic” prompt 🙂
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Magical prose, otherworldly, and the skulking caitiff, what a great way to end a poem with such mystery. A great read!
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Thank you, Tricia.
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Your welcome 🍷
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I like your alchemist: especially a female alchemist is a very intriguing character. Suitably spooky as well!
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Thank you, Ingrid. I did my best to give her a warrior aspect as well.
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Such fabulous wordplay in this one! 💝 I love; “their littoral currents crashing against her noon day commerce of herbs, bone dust, pharmacopeia.”
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Thank you much, Sanaa. So very glad you liked it!
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You had me with the title….and then really grabbed me with the first line! Well done!
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Thank you, Lillian! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Of course “wearing death” is a wonderful phrase (and so fitting) for a set of such a workshop. I think there will not be gold this night either.
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No, no gold, but all sorts of assaults against fate. Thanks for reading and commenting, Bjorn 🙂
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This has a dusty musty feel to it, like the back of an apothecary’s preparation room. Now I’m going to look up those four words I didn’t know!
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Heh. I took a page out of Lucy’s book for this one.
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I could tell 🙂
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Wearing death–what a great image that is. (K)
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Thank you, Kerfe 😀
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