small bruised hands
puppetmaster
makes them jump
with greed
they understand
the code, the cost
grift-gained wealth
jumping through
public hoops
of humiliation
wooden faces
painted with lies
deny deny deny
soulless broker
dirty dances
with flaccid shills
body count
of dead &/or terrorized
continues to rise
Note from the website I nabbed the image from:
Paul Klee (1879-1940), aka ‘Buddha of the Bauhaus’, made eight glove puppets for his son Felix’s ninth birthday (Felix Klee: 1907 – 1990). The heads were fashioned from bones, electrical outlets, brushes, fur and nutshells. The lad loved them. So, between 1916 and 1925 Klee made 42 more. The first batch were based on the German Guignol-style show Kasperl and Gretl, later puppets included a Klee self-portrait and lampooning takes on politicians and other notable faces.
De Jackson (aka whimsygizmo) is today’s host of dVerse’ Quadrille Monday. De wants us to write a 44-word poem using the word jump.
Tao-Talk 
A very wonderful piece, Lisa 👍
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Aptivi, thank you very much.
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You’re most welcome, Lisa.
Have a wonderful new week ahead! My weekend was so special I explained it in one of my posts. ☺️
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Whew. This hits right in the gut, Lisa. So well done. The visual is haunting, too.
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De, thanks. I’m glad the depth of my abhorrence comes through. I was blessed to come across those puppets when searching for an image.
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Also meant to say, your title is fabulous.
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<3
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Thos puppets can give me nightmares, and the poem was pretty dark too.
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Dark is a good word for them (the puppets, the poem, the times.)
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That’s very nice, more so than those puppets! Some can be creepy, but these take the cake with not just their looks!
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Thanks, LS.
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This is so very good , so deep ,vso dark so very scary.
I was intrigued by the background 💜
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Willow thank you for giving the poem a chance.
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Its brilliant 💜
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<3
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Spot on, Lisa.
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Thank you, my friend.
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Very welcome.
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This is incredibly dark and powerful, Lisa!
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Sanaa, thank you!
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Wonderfully ekphrastic work!
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it’s so vivid: the language in which you choose to encapsulate these puppets is stunning. Well penned~
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Ari, thank you so much!
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You are the puppet master here Li. So cleverly done with your brilliant wordsmithing. I loved this 🥰
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Christine, thank you very much. <3
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How very interesting, Lisa. I love it. What a creative guy!
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That’s one adjective I can think of for him.
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:>) A man after my own creative heart!
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This stripped down newsreel is stark and punchy Lisa. Nice write 👏
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Shaun, thank you. I’ve got a lengthier one coming for today’s prompt.
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A great piece Lisa a direct indictment of world suffering caused by corruption 🙌
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I love the word indictment. Indeed. Thanks, Ange.
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🩷
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This is very powerful, Lisa ❤️🩹
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Robbie, thank you very much.
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Your poem really speaks to the sinister atmosphere created by these spooky dolls, Lisa! And the title is so apt too.
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Nina, believe it or not the poem came first and then the dolls showed up. Thanks much on all.
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So interesting! Well, that puts your poem in a whole new light. On reading it again, it’s so layered and has me thinking of fake politicians, slave labour, exploitation…But it’s great when the poem aligns with a work of art 🙂
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Nina, some things are beyond our ken, and that’s ok with me.
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I love learning new things, and to learn them through poetry is even better. Thank you!
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Thanks so much, Someone. (Freya?)
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I love learning new things, and to learn them through poetry is even better. Thank you!
(Sorry – I forgot to log in when I posted my first comment!)
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No worries and you are welcome, Freya.
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Nice one Lisa
much love
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Gillena, thanks much.
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Powerful words. Well done.
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:) Thank You, Dwight.
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Very touching poem Li
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Sadje, thanks so much <3
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You’re most welcome Li
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An imaginative and unique poem! Jae
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Jae, thank you very much.
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Perfect pairing of the puppet art and [true story] poetry! Brava, Lisa.
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Helen, thanks so much <3
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Perfect! I loved your poem 💜💜
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:) Thank You!
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“jumping through
public hoops
of humiliation”
This is excellent, Li!
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Thanks, Sara!
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The line that got me was – flaccid shills – oh indeed!
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They are worthy of the title.
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