The Emperor's New Clothes - A Quadrille

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 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.

That hasn’t changed.

If anything it’s grown

with puffery

shouted from the dwindling crowds.

Do we pity?

I don’t.

He’s pities no one.

©2026 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  

#dVerse #quadrille #44words#poetryprompt

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