Everything’s turning,
making my head spin.
Another month gone;
here we are again.
Those twelve princesses
just keep quadrilling
back to the beginning
of their romance with the moon.
Everyone asks
will it be ending soon?
And when it does,
how will we know?
Kim M. Russell, 10th July 2023

The Twelve Dancing Princess, ‘On the way to the dance’ illustration by Kay Nielsen (1886-1957)
It’s Monday and we’re back at the dVerse Poets Pub after a short break with the Quadrille, as well as celebrating our twelfth anniversary.
Lisa is our host, and she has given us a lot of information about the number twelve to spark our inspiration for a quadrille, a poem of just 44 words (not counting the title), which must include the word the host provides – today it’s ‘twelve’. Being a bit of a number-phobe, I skipped the mathematical part and went straight for calendars and fairy tales.
I like this a lot, though I do not remember that fairytale… I had to go back and get the synopsis… maybe I could be that old soldier.
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Smiles.
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One of my favorite fairy tale stories. Love this merry go round filled with fun!
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Thank you, Grace! It’s one of the stories I used to read with the children where I used to volunteer.
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Kim, I am delighted that you titled your poem “Lunation.” What a wonderful word it is. I very much enjoyed to smooth flow of your poem down the page. Also love the illustration you chose to go with.
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Thanks so much, Lisa! I was practising for my Poetics prompt tomorrow with a one-word title.
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You’re very welcome, and awesome on the twelve lines (I missed that!)
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And my poem has twelve lines!
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I love your fairy tale poem, and “lunation” is such a great word!
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Gorgeous image, Kim! The moon and dancing princesses, stuff of fairy tales.
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Thank you, Jane. I love fairy tales.
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What a BEAUTIFUL artwork, and I love! your poem.❤️🫶🏻✨
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Thank you Melissa!
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Excellent! Loved the inferred cycles of the moon. ❤
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Thank you Susan!
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“Those twelve princesses
just keep quadrilling
back to the beginning”
I love that.
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Thank you Shawna!
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I am not familiar with the twelve princesses I did smile that they just keep quadrilling – around and around. An romancing the moon gives it a mystical feel. I googled the fairy tale and it is quite enchanting. Thank you for sharing that story.
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Thank you! I’m glad my poem led you to the story.
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I don’t know that story but I love the drawing going along with your words!
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Thank you Christine!
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Very nicely done, Kim!
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Thanks so much Dwight!
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You are welcome!
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This was one of my favourite fairytales as a child! A lovely take on the prompt, Kim 😊
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Thank Ingrid, I’m glad you liked it!
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Oh yes, a poem meant to make the reader think. My estament for you poets to wan is when your pens run short on ink and your Muse grows old and frail in her brain.
Love it, Kim. Thanks for peeking in on mine.
..
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Oh, I love this fairytale. The mystery and the worn-through slippers. Everyone needs a few of these sorts of secrets and unforgettable nights.
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That makes me happy!
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😀
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And the seasons just keep coming, round and round. I like this one, Kim. This part especially, “Those twelve princesses
just keep quadrilling.”
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Thank you Ali!
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Lovely poem.
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Thank you, Maria!
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Love it Kim! Lunation conjures some madness around it! It certainly does with a question in the close!
Hank
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Cheers Hank!
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What a delightful poem.
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Cheers Eric!
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Amazing both our poems went the wsy of the 12 princesses.
Much💜love
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Great minds…
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This is my kind of poem, Kim… it makes me think! ❤
~David
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Thank you, David!
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“Oh my giddy Aunt!” is the phrase your poem rang in my head – delightful combination of the fairy tale and the number twelve…
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Thank you!
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Enchanting!
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Thank you Sara!
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