The Emperor's New Clothes - A Quadrille
It's Quadrille Monday at dVerse . Pen us a poem of precisely 44 words (not counting the title), including some form of the word puff. Rather than puffy things, like clouds, puffball fungus, or puffins, I though of those who are puffed up with pride. THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES He doesn’t walk, he struts, or strutted years ago, now slowed and stumbling, unsure of where he is. Always proud though. T hat hasn’t changed. If anything it’s grown with puffery shouted from the dwindling crowds. Do we pity? I don’t. He’ s pitie s no one. ©2026 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved #dVerse #quadrille #44words#poetryprompt