This August has been a glorious
rumpus
a van Gogh palette
of blues, greens and ochres.
The little apple tree is a woven buzz
of waspish ruckus
as premature apples cause
a sugary fuss.
Stubbled fields hum with heat.
Tired sunflowers bend heads, deadbeat.
Kim M. Russell, 25th August 2025
Today I’m hosting Quadrille Monday at the dVerse Poets Pub and we’re kicking up a rumpus.
We are writing poems of exactly 44 words (not counting the title), including the word ‘rumpus’, a noun that means a noisy disturbance or row, one I’ve always wanted to use in a poem since my daughter and I first encountered it in Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.
writing in north norfolk 
It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I really like the second stanza a lot.
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Thanks so much, Melissa.
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I love how you made the rumpus being that explosion of colors rather than noise.
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Thanks, Björn. I’m pleased you got that.
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You painted a pretty picture there, Kim. One to mirror the master.
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Thanks so much, Lisa.
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You’re welcome ❤
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Delightful poem
Luv the Van Ggth image
Thanks for dropping by my blog
much♡love
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Thank you, Gillena, and much love to you.
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BLAMMOgood, Kim (esp Stanza 1, which intros one of my fave Vincents). Thanks & more thanks for the cool prompt.
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Thank you for your appreciation, Ron. I’m glad you enjoyed the prompt.
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Your Van Gogh choice is one of my favorites! It matches your autumn poem so well!
I particularly like these lines, “The little apple tree is a woven buzz / of waspish ruckus.” My dad sucked at pruning his fruit trees, so picking was a hassle and the apples on the ground attracted aggressive wasps, hornets, and blue bottles.
This is a very nice poem.
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Thank you so much, Aaron.
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You are very welcome!
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Loved this! Summer is loud.
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Thank you, Susan. Yes, it’s oud even on quiet days, a different kind of quiet to winter.
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Kim, your imagery is always so pleasing. I had a heck of a time using the word rumpus. I kept defaulting to ruckus! Thank you for a fun Quadrille.
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Thank you, Colleen. I’m glad you persevered!
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You painted a beautiful rumpus with your words Kim 💕
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Thanks very much, Ange.
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Nicely done quadrille.
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Thank you, Maria!
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I could see it all! Riotous gardens. Great take on rumpus and ruckus.
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Thank you!
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You have captured the wild rumpus of summer’s fading colors. Such an interesting word to put into a poem.
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Thank you, Trudessa. It’s a word you don’t see very often these days.
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Oh, glorious indeed!
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Thank you, Rosemary!
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Awesome quadrille, Kim!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
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Thank you, Yvette!
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LOVE your van Gogh palette for fall AND your quadrille prompt, Kim!
My mind first went to “Where the Wild Things Are” so I had to write on that 🙂
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Thank you, Lynn!
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Glorious art, glorious quadrille … altogether Glorious!!!
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Thank you. Helen!
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I love your use of ‘rumpus’–brilliant colors bursting!
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Thank you, Sara!
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That’s my favourite rumpus for sure, I could feel and smell the moment. Glorious.
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Thank you, Paul.
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Very welcome Kim
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Kim, I can almost see those stubbled fields and drooping sunflowers in the late-summer heat…
~David
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Thanks David!
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🤗
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