Willow-draped trickles
wear wet green strands,
fluttering naiad’s locks tickling
shaded pale fish bellies.
Ordinary magical stream
meanders; along its obscurest
banks gnomes and bullfrogs
picnic and play checkers;
where butterflies and birds
traverse undergrowth to
sip in mid-July’s drought
and thirsty violets tiptoe.
I went looking for a nice image to fit the poem but decided to do a quick video of a nearby stream instead.
De Jackson (aka whimsygizmo) is today’s host of dVerse’ Quadrille Monday. De says:
Stream us a new poem of exactly 44 words, not including the title, and working in some form of the word STREAM.
Tao Talk 
this is so lovely, Lisa! I want to find myself on its banks.
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Dale, thank you, it’s an ordinary yet magical place.
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I find that most magical places are rather ordinary :)
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:) I believe you, and your image contributions to #FF are proof that magic is there by the stories they generate.
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How sweet are you? :
Thank you. :)
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‘Ordinary magical stream
meanders’ – I love that! Give me some ordinary stream magic any day :-)
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:) Glad you like it, Ingrid, thank you.
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This is a masterpiece! Ordinary magical stream indeed. For some reason I felt very happy and content reading this.
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Helene, it makes me happy to know it brought happiness and contentment to you. Thank you very much <3
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Me too :-)
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I love the images you have created here Lisa. And the thought ‘thirsty violets tiptoe’- sigh- I wish I had written that!
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Linda, thank you <3
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“thirsty violets tiptoe,” is such a stunning image!! 😍😍 Beautifully done, Lisa!
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Thank you, Sanaa :) <3
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I love the first stanza!
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Thank you :)
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You hooked me with “gnomes and bullfrogs picnic and play checkers”, a fantasy moment, a magical twist of the mundane, sprinkling it with fairy dust, treacle, and poetic flora. This is beyond lovely, a genuine poem encased in the quadrille; wonderful work.
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I’m blushing after reading your comment. Glenn, you made my day <3
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First off, I have to say I’m envious of your nearby stream. There’s nothing “ordinary” about that kind of thing where I live!
Your words are just beautiful, and I LOVE the idea of bullfrogs and gnomes playing checkers together after a fine picnic. ;)
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Thank you so much for your lovely comment <3
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So much lovely sound for this lively stream. Enjoyed the vivid images you conjured in your quadrille, Lisa.
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So glad you enjoyed the poem, Karen, thank you.
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You’re most welcome. The poem was delightful.
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Beautiful! :)
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:) Thank you!
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:)
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So that’s what goes on with an “ordinary magical stream”! Sounds wondrous.
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Glad you enjoyed it, Beverly, thank you.
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Your little stream is about the size of mine… I love that you have flow…. mine is dried up. I like the gnomes and bull frogs playing checkers on the bank! Well done.
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Thank you, Dwight. I’m kind of surprised it’s still flowing right now with all of this heat.
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Looks like a beautiful spot for you!
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It is just magical on how the little creatures survive in the drought. It is magical in the way you described it, Jade! Beautiful!
Hank
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Hank, so pleased you enjoyed the little spot of heaven, thank you :)
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A lovely, picturesque poem Li.
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Thank you, Sadje <3
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You’re welcome
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I really like your ending here,
“where butterflies and birds
traverse undergrowth to
sip in mid-July’s drought
and thirsty violets tiptoe.”
Delightful.
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Ali, thank you, and glad you like it.
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Beautifully written, Li 😄
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Thank you, Shweta :)
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You’re welcome 😀
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Loved the image of gnomes and bullfrogs playing checkers. Such a fun poem!
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I had a lot of fun writing it, SilverGardenia :)
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Some beautiful verses that stir the soul. A joy to read! 💝
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<3 Many thanks, Tricia.
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Welcome, Lisa! 💕
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ordanary streams are always magical thanks
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:)
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I like that last line. The violets are still there, hanging on until next spring.
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Thank you, Jane.
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:)
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the last line especially poignant after that free and easy float downstream
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Thank you, Laura.
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Such lovely images, Li! I was transported to this magical place. ❤️
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Happy I took you there, Punam, thank you.
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My pleasure.
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Such a peaceful poem; it feels so easy to step into it.
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Thank you for the feedback, Misky. I’m glad it does.
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I loved the descriptions and the video, Li :)
“where butterflies and birds
traverse undergrowth to
sip in mid-July’s drought
and thirsty violets tiptoe.”
Beautiful images!
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Thank you and glad you enjoyed the poem, Kitty :)
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You are welcome, Li. :)
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a subtle but very clever and apt line, Lisa! <3
-David
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Thank you very much, David :)
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Oh I was already enamored with “wet green strands, fluttering naiad’s locks” then you brought inn the gnomes and bullfrogs and I simply fawned over the visuals and audio evoked. Bravo Lisa!
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Raivenne, thank you and glad you connected with it :)
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Oh, very nicely done. Descriptive with feeling.
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Thank you, Bill :)
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My pleasure.
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your quadrille delights my every sense … I want to traipse through all of it. every square inch of it.
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Maybe you would be invited to a game of checkers :) Thanks, Helen!
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No stream is ordinary and every one is magic…(K)
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Indeed!
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You picked me up and dropped me in nature with that!
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Good, my mission is accomplished :)
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That was fantastic Lisa. It reminded me of a spring I use to go to hidden away when I was a kid.
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Thank you and happy it did. Is the spring still there?
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Its back in the woods and because of snakes…I took Bailey around 8 years ago in late fall and I found it! Covered in watercress…great water… I want to go again and take pictures this time.
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Please do! It sounds like a neat place (if you can get there safely.) Does it get cool there in the winter where the snakes slow down? I’d love to see pics of it.
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I cannot believe I remembered where it was at.
Yes that is why we went in late fall when it was cool and no snakes…I also want to bring back some water. I’ll take pictures.
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Your last line was magical Lisa …
and thirsty violets tiptoe…..beautiful ☺️💕
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Aw thanks, Christine :) <3
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“fluttering naiad’s locks tickling shaded pale fish bellies” that’s a vivid image :-)
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JP, that’s actually my favorite part of the poem :)
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This is so fun to read aloud. Your word choices tickle the tongue. Brilliant.
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Thanks much, Victoria!
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Beautiful poem Li! And the video is amazing, too! Xx
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Thanks much, Carol Anne!
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