His lips form
soft syllables,
reciting poetry,
by the inglenook fireplace –
I mustn’t leave,
he has warned,
not with the snow
and global pandemic.
I can’t escape the front door…
but his voice soothes,
in metrical rhythm,
while pine logs crackle
into the night.
Linda is hosting dVerse Quadrille tonight, and she has challenged us to write a poem of exactly 44 words including the word inglenook.
Tricia Sankey 
Sounds like a “will you respect me tomorrow?” story! Those flames can be mesmerizing!
Haha! Yes, I think fire ignites passions 🔥
Oh, I love this so very much. These lines stood out to me the most:
“His lips form
soft syllables,
reciting poetry…”
This is mesmerizing, haunting, and it puts your reading in a trance. There’s the urgency and then a gentle lull that washes over. Beautifully written. ❤ ❤
Thanks, Lucy! This was a fun write, always hard to keep it to 44 words, but I enjoy the challenge!
Love the image you chose … is she safe? I had to wonder ….. Great write.
Thanks, Helen! Probably not much danger here, but would be funny to turn this story into something more suspenseful. Like the movie Suspicion with Cary Grant, I could make her wonder about him, hmm.
Nicely written within the given limit of words!
Thanks so much! The quadrille makes me edit myself so much, no rambling on, haha!
Would you want to leave? I have the feeling it could go either way – sign of a good story!
Thanks, Ingrid! was a little inspired from the “baby it’s cold outside” Christmas song but I like the intrigue now of wondering.
I love the inglenook in the image – a wonderful place to watch ‘His lips form soft syllables, reciting poetry’. Although, I am concerned about the undertone of danger in the warning not to leave and not being able to escape.
Thanks, Kim! I can see how someone could read this concerned. I think if I made it longer I would play around with that more. It could make interesting flash fiction!
I love how you incorporated modern reality into your poem. Well done!
-David
Thanks so much, David! ❣️
Ah, but he’s a wily charmer!
Yes! Seductive voice! ✨
Now you’ve left us all in suspense…good one!
Thanks, Lynn! 💖
I wonder if you will be allowed to be alone on the sofa… somehow there is a fire in the poetry
Haha! This man is VERY protective… Thanks!
Looks like a wonderful place to cozy up for a long winter ❤
Right!? I can dream… 💖
This is absolutely mesmerizing! 💝 I so love the image of “reciting poetry,
by the inglenook fireplace.” I wouldn’t blame her if she doesn’t leave 😉
Thanks, Sanaa! I imagine she’ll stay a while, to hear the good poems, of course! 😂
Sounds like a great place to be stuck in overnight.
Yes! 💯
This poem makes me feel warm
Thanks for reading ❤