The Versesmith

 It's Haibun Monday at dVerse.   The prompt is " Write a haibun that references Halloween ." Starting in early October, the neighborhood ghouls and witches appear.  Mostly inflatables, but a growing number of gigantic skeletons as well.  Where do they the residents keep those during the off season?  These things are 12’ tall!  Maybe they leave them up.  I saw you can get Santa outfits for them on Amazon.  It will be interesting to see if Easter Bunny ears will be available come spring, or Uncle Sam hats for July 4th.  Come to think of it, patriotic garb on a skeleton is a good representation of what’s been going on.   You know... the Death of Democracy.  bones reach for the sky  as children screech on the porch feeding sugar-highs  ©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  

  Poets and Storytellers United Friday Writings #200:  "...write something about, or including, the number 10. And/or write a 10-line poem." I have written a 10-line poem using the word  decimate . Decimate : to destroy, to  remove one tenth f rom the Latin decimus, meaning ten image source  Rebellious ones in the Legions of Rome, be afraid. Decimation is upon you for your cowardice. Gather by tens for judgment, shake in fear. Pick your stone, and beg Fortuna her wheel pass you by. Her fortune is random, the odds in your favor. Spare you she may, y e t nine throw the ston es , n ine raise the ir clubs. Shared guilt, a lesson in obedience. ©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  

  dVerse Prosery : Oh, Umbrellas  For your prompt today, I’d like you to use the following lines in your Prosery: “What will I do there without my hands upon your summer face?” lines from the poem, Oh, Umbrellas, by Jeffrey Hermann Write a piece of prosery of up to or exactly 144 words, including the given line in the order in which it has been given. You may add or change punctuation, but you may not add or delete words. 144 words rainy city scene on newsprint, by Mary Pedri, in author's collection       S ummer was ending. I was told I was going to go to school in the city. I didn’t want to go. For all the glitz and glamor my mother insisted I’d enjoy, I knew I wouldn’t. I hate the city. It was noisy in the city. I preferred the country. The country… melodies of meadowlarks… chirping of crickets at dusk… f rogs in the pond (my brother called it The Lake ) croak ing to one another. In the city you couldn’t hear a bird to save your life. Tr affic, ...

Poets and Storytellers United Friday Writing #198: October Writes "...write poetry or prose from the point of view of October. Let October write and tell." Ahhh… to be the warming months of spring to welcome bud and blossom with heady scents of jasmine and the buzzing of the bees to hear the joyful cries of children sporting in green meadows deprived by long white winter No... instead of one last summer bird song one lazy afternoon my lot’s to bring a bitter breath a freezing death to flowers mere nodding heads on drooping stems come morning Alas… my displays of color (gone the greens) ocher russet gold and crimson last too short a time then f a l l in drifts unwanted raked and burned blown into grungy gutters Ahhh… to be a gentle April the month of poetry and prose to hear the multitude of cheers “ Spring is Here !” on eager tongues and know they cheer for me ©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  

  dVerse #233 : Bring on the Boo!  "...just 44 words, including some form of the word boo." I was having so much fun with this one I forgot it was to be only 44 words!  It is now...   On Hallowe’en night when the Goblins appear, window glass rattles, we cower in fear.  Ghosts and Ghoulies  moan “ BOO ” up the stair s , dragging their chains into human affairs.  In the dark hallways,  Ghouls and Wraiths wait, while Banshees and Hellhounds howl at the gate.  ©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  

 Poets and Storytellers United  Friday Writings #196 " ...for today's optional prompt, I invite you to write poetry or prose inspired by Autumn (rituals, foods, colors, celebrations… or anything that makes autumn memorable and/or special) ." ©2021 Lisa Smith Nelson summer's last hurrah  has come and gone, once again brisker nights arrive one more blanket on the bed  long sleeves and socks for morning  ©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved #autumnpoetry #autumntanka #poetsandstorytellersunited #fridaywritings #syllabicpoetry