The Versesmith

  dVerse #228   Write a quadrille and post it on your blog or website. Our inspirational word this week is " fish ."  She is fishing for complements once again. She baits her hook with clever words designed to flatter me. Once upon a time she reeled me in, a trophy catch. Now I gasp for freedom’s breath. If ever did you love me, throw me back! ©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  

  Poets and Storytellers United Friday Writings #187  "...write a poem of celebration, whether of a person, a thing, an event… Optional extra: do it in the form of a Sapphic ode." I got the syllables right, as for the meter?  I have no idea!  If not, it's a syllabic poem celebrating cooler days! ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson I rejoice in the cooler days of autumn,  when faces lift to October's soothing breath. With dying light, the season's hush appease a summer weary soul. ©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved   #syllabicpoetry #poetsandstorytellersunitied #sapphicode 

  Ronovan Writes Cinquain Poetry Prompt 10: TREASURE is your inspiration.   after too many days of scorching sun garden  withered wilted harvests wanting sweet rain  ©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved   #ronovanwrites #cinquain #poetryprompt #syllabicpoetry  

dVerse's #227 The word we are writing to today is turn or a word that has turn in it. Pen us a poem of precisely 44 words (not counting the title), including some form of the word turn. image public domain 44 Words I imagine whispered voices down nameless alleys hurried steps on the cobblestones a shadowy figure seen over my shoulder billowing black cape rancid breath warm on my neck his mouth agape teeth wet with blood paralyzed I cannot turn is this terror or pleasure? ©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  

  Poets and Storytellers United Friday Writings #185 " ...find inspiration in the following quote: “Don’t be afraid to start over. This time you’re not starting from scratch, you’re starting from experience. ” You always make the same mistakes time and time again. Hoping your results will change,  they only bring you pain. You never learn your lesson or try a different route. Never do you pick the nice, you always choose the lout. You say you want to change your ways, you’ve learned from your mistakes. Then you see a handsome guy and fail to use your brakes. I can’t keep listening to you bemoan your dismal luck. While I see red flags flying high, you claim to be love-struck. I don't believe you ever tried to start again from scratch. I see a lazy user, you see quite the catch.  Experience is not your friend, although it is for most. You proudly introduce your beau, as though he’s worth the boast.  Please think it through the next time, before you jump in deep. That w...

  Friday Fictioneers   "The Challenge: Write a complete story in one hundred words of less." Mine worked itself into a story-poem. photo prompt © Roger Bultot 100 words Please don’t. I said, don’t ! Turn off the TV! You know the dog is afraid of boom-booms, why would you add more when there are enough outside right now! Look at him! It’s not funny. He’s shaking and drooling and won’t go outside to pee before bed. No, I won’t drag him out! I’ll clean up his accidents. You’re cruel. I wouldn’t force you to face your fears, and you understand what’s happening, he doesn’t. You are a jerk. I hate you. I really do. Yes, I love the dog more. Go, or I will. And, I’ll take the dog. ©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved Only two things in this are true.  My dog, Mickey, is very afraid of fireworks, which are, unfortunately, legal (with exceptions, but people ignore that and bring the banned ones from out of state) in Oregon from June 23 through July 6.  He also will ...

Ronovan Writes  Cinquain Poetry Prompt 8: RELEASED is your inspiration. image " Slack bitch ." He's drunk again. Too long I've held my breath,  feigned sleep. This night I gain release,  break free. ©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved   #cinquain #ronovanwrites #syllabicpoetry 

  Poets and Storytellers United Friday Writings #184: Let's Go Formal  "Your (optional) prompt this week is to write a limerick, a ballad, or a sonnet – or to write on the subject of formality without necessarily doing so in formal verse (or even any kind of verse). If you choose to write a sonnet, the particular kind is up to you (Shakespearian, Petrarchian, Clarian, Curtal, American ...) but please do let us know ." I have attempted to write a Shakespearean Sonnet.  This is actually my first sonnet attempt, so be gentle with the comments please!  Harvey , in author's collection  I'm surrounded by faces on the walls. They watch me go about my daily chores in the dining room, parlor, and the halls, reflected in glass above the drawers. The darkness of night obscures them from view, mere reprieve from their contemptuous glance. Safe again 'til daybreak's pale light breaks through to catch the last of midnight's eerie dance. By radiant ...