A quadrille
In the form of a Reverse Etheree
the barn had been her only home, padlocked,
dank, dark, with rats scurrying around;
rotten scraps of food even Rex
would only paw at thrown in
once daily. She, more beast
than girl, had crushed his
skull when Mister,
drunk, left the
door a-
jar
Etheree
- 10 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables;
- reversed: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1;
- double: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 9, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1;
- triple…
d’Verse Quadrille #144:
The above Etheree is part II of my take on d’Verse’s Quadrille challenge.
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 “shiver” 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!
He deserved it. For sure.
❤️ Terveen ❤️
How horrendous! I can’t really say I blame her for what she did…
💚💓 Ingrid 💓💚
Ouch… that was dark
💜💕 Björn 💕💜
Oh my, The plot thickens.
❤ Merril ❤