A Quadrille
In the form of 3 American sentences:
In this world, fair does not enter into it. Make do with what you have.
Go out and take action. That is the only way to get by in life.
People won’t have time for you if you’re one to always whine and complain.
What’s an ‘American Sentence’?
Allen Ginsberg, inventor of the American Sentence, felt that the haiku didn’t work as well in English. Ginsberg decided to remove the line structure of the haiku, maintaining the requirement of 17 syllables total. He felt that removing the line count freed the American Sentence up for the idiosyncrasies of English phonemes.
The requirements:
- Composed in one line;
- Syllabic, 17 syllables;
- Condensed, written with no unnecessary words or articles;
- Complete sentence or sentences;
- Includes a turn or enlightenment.
d’Verse Quadrille #140:
‘Let’s Go To The Fair!’
The above three American Sentences are my take on d’Verse’s Quadrille challenge #140.
The Quadrille is simply a poem of 44 words (excluding the title), and it can take any form. This week’s challenge was to use the word “fair” in a Quadrille.
Let’s write poetry together!
When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.
–Ben Harper (b. 1969)
Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!
The Skeptic's Kaddish 🇮🇱 
nice blending i agree!😃 all of them ring true somewhere in mind!😃
💖 Kunjal 💖
Reminds me of my daughters’ complaint of “It’s not fair!” To which I always replied that life isn’t fair. I think most of us never accept it though. (K)
🤎 Kerfe 🤎
Three American sentences and infinite truth revealed! So hard to practice the “don’t whine,” as I like to vent from time to time! 😆
💘 Tricia 💘
Amazing! Each stands alone. Each a perfect American sentence. Cover the given word “fair” and, most impressive, total exactly 44 words. Applause from my corner of the world!
💙 Thanks, Bev 💙
fair most certainly doesn’t enter into! Thanks so much for explaining the american sentence, I had no idea what it was about …
💛 Kate 💛
Nice blend / manipulation of form(s) Brother!
💚 Ron 💚
Beautifully done, David! 💝💝 I agree, going out and taking action is of absolute significance!
Thanks, 🤎 Sanaa 🤎
David,
Why am I not surprised that it was Ginsberg that invented the “American sentence”? All three work beautifully as American proverbs here.
pax,
dora
💜 Dora 💜 – thank you!
Great words of wisdom, David. I love your title!
dwight
🤍 Thanks, Dwight! 🤍
You are welcome!
How very clever, making 3 American sentences fit into a 44 word Quadrille. Kudos. I like Ginsberg’s creation, but the long(ish) structure is hard for me to fit into my regular rhythms.
how about your irregular rhythms, Glenn? 😉
❤
David
Nicely done David!
❤ Linda – thanks! ❤
No, it cannot always be fair… but that of course doesn’t mean it should be unfair, which is not the same thing.
I don’t think it’s a matter of “should” – at the end of the day, each of us has just one life, and nobody else will take responsibility for it.