dVerse — Monday Quadrille 178 — Must Be Present to Win

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Art by Jared  design

Life is your televised game show.
Spin the wheel of fortune to test your luck;
make choices that can put you in jeopardy;
starve alone for weeks in wilderness.

Life isn’t something you can call in.
You must be present to win.
No reruns.

Wheel of Fortune,” “Jeopardy,” and “Alone” are all real game shows.

Lillian is today’s host for dVerse’ Quadrille Monday. Lillian says:
write a poem of exactly 44 words (not including title) using the word present.

50 Comments Add yours

  1. lillian's avatar lillian says:

    Yikes! You must be present to win….yes! No reruns….but thank goodness there are do-overs since correcting our mistakes is how we learn :)

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Lillian!

      Like

  2. memadtwo's avatar memadtwo says:

    How does one win at life? I wonder. We never know when the finish line will show up…(K)

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      By being present in the moment is what I was going for. How much of our life is wasted rehashing the past or worrying about the future?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. memadtwo's avatar memadtwo says:

        That makes sense. But of course we can’t help ourselves…

        Liked by 1 person

  3. I’ve always thought that I’d love to go on a game show.✨ Particularly Family Feud. Or Jeopardy. Of course, my number one choice would have been The Price is Right, when Bob Barker was host.😂 As your poem illustrates, we can’t go back in time. Love your response.❤️

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Glad you enjoyed the poem, Melissa. Cool you remember Bob Barker :)

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Carol anne's avatar Carol anne says:

    Great take Lisa! I love it! <3

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Carol Anne :)

      Like

  5. merrildsmith's avatar merrildsmith says:

    No reruns indeed. Clever the way you worked in the show titles, Lisa. I don’t know of Alone.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Merril!

      Like

  6. Phil Strawn's avatar Phil Strawn says:

    I sometimes watch Wheel of Fortune with MoMo, I assume that’s what old folks do. I also sit by my office window and watch for the mail delivery, then I open it as I walk back to the house. I am present to win, if the chance comes up. You can’t phone in your life and expect to have it come out hunky-dory ( old school word ). Lately, life has been like a bad drunk on cheap wine, or at least an overdose of painkillers after having a wisdom tooth extracted. I like the way you approached this delicate subject. Fun stuff.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Phil, much appreciate your thoughtful comment. Thank you :)

      Liked by 1 person

  7. rothpoetry's avatar rothpoetry says:

    I love your use of game shows in your poem. When the present is past we are long gone!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      For sure, Dwight. Thank you.

      Like

  8. Fantastic poem! The way you referenced those famous game shows was clever.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Nicole.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar Badfinger (Max) says:

    I like this one a lot! It’s true.
    Oh…love the picture as well….it looks like a pop art game show…now THAT would be my kind of game show.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Max. I knew you would like the pic :)

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Grace's avatar Grace says:

    True, no reruns, when we sometimes need it. How creative to tie in the game shows, to real life.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Grace. I thought of ways I could use the word and remembered so often they says, “need not be present to win” but with life…

      Like

  11. I like this clever take on the prompt. Nicely done quadrille.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Arcadia :)

      Like

  12. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:

    Nice take Li.

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:

        Always a pleasure

        Liked by 1 person

  13. Katie Frances Hartless's avatar K. Hartless says:

    “Life isn’t something you call in.” What a gorgeous line, Lisa.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      K, so glad you like that line :)

      Like

  14. lynn__'s avatar lynn__ says:

    This one is both entertaining and deep, Lisa!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Lynn, thank you :)

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Jim's avatar Jim says:

    Very clever, Lisa. I would never have thought of a game show. I am watching “Family Fued” right now.
    ..

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Jim. I like Harvey as host. Richard Dawson was a real creeper.

      Like

  16. It seems TV shows are on your mind a lot these days, Li. I really like how you tied all the shows to make a deep statement about being in the present moment. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks Punam. I watch movies or TV series every evening.

      Like

  17. kim881's avatar kim881 says:

    That is so true, Lisa – you must be present to win!

    I’ll let you into a secret; back in March, I was a team member on a well-known quiz show in the UK and we won a lot of money which was shared between the four of us. It hasn’t been broadcast yet, so only a handful of people know about it.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      **** WOW **** Congratulations, Kim and Team!!!! Please share the link about it when it’s released. {{{{pssst could I get a loan?}}}}}}

      Liked by 2 people

  18. Rob Kistner's avatar Rob Kistner says:

    Lisa — my friend in the words… ❤️

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Hey Rob! Friends For Sure <3

      Like

  19. kaykuala's avatar kaykuala says:

    To be present to win is most fair! An acceptable condition in fact!

    Hank

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Most Fair and Acceptable, Indeed :)

      Like

  20. hdwoonie23's avatar Helen says:

    Love how you incorporated these shows (I am a huge Jeopardy fan) … clever, Ms. Lisa.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Happy it connected with you. I used to love Jeopardy and Mr. Alex Trebek. What a handsome, kind, and gentle soul he was.

      Like

  21. The metaphor of that game show that runs forever and requires your presence is scaring.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks for sharing what you see here. If the game never ended it would be!

      Like

  22. You must be present to win.

    That is deeply, profoundly true.

    Much love,
    David

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, David <3

      Liked by 1 person

  23. sanaarizvi's avatar sanaarizvi says:

    Oh yes there are absolutely no re-runs when it comes to life! Stellar write, Lisa ❤️❤️❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Sanaa thank you very much.

      Like

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