He left her in the garden.
With new sunglasses he chased
bright orbs
traipsed through endless
fields of want-
ing desire,
he plucked
every flower.
Now, he squints
sunburned
in badlands
of stone
with shriveled skin
and a
pockmarked
soul
he counts
ashen aches
alone.
A quadrille for dVerse where Sarah hosts and asks us to write a poem of 44 words with the prompt word ash or some form of it.
Tricia Sankey 
This is dead ash, isn’t it? Nothing is going to grow here.
Unfortunately for him, I think not! Thanks, Sarah, this was a fun prompt! 💗
What a change in one’s journey from chasing bright orbs and wanting every flower. The sadness is palpable with the counting of the ashen aches alone.
Thanks, Grace! He had Paradise in the beginning, but wanted more…
Soo utterly gorgeous! I love the contrast between traipsing through endless fields of want and ashen aches.. you capture “what was” and “what could have been”.. so well! 💝💝
Appreciate your comment, Sanaa, glad it worked for you! 💕
Yeah, that’ll teach him. Oughtta teach us all.
Nice work, TS
He stands as a warning to the those men with wandering eyes! 😄 Thanks, Ron! 💓
the tree to be with each other.
Thanks for reading! 💓
thanks for putting it out there. good stuff.
🥰
I like the imagery of plucking things until the garden is empty, nicely painted picture.
Thank you! 💝
I found this poem to be thought provoking about the paths we take in life and the regrets we sometime collect in those journeys. Nicely done.
Thanks so much!💗
That first line and then its goosebumps figuring out if he returns or not. I much enjoyed this epic quadrille. How’d you manage that? Wonderful!
So happy you enjoyed it, it’s always fun to write the quadrilles! 💓
The worst part may be he blames everyone but himself for the desert he finds himself in. Nicely done in 44 words, Tricia.
Yes, sounds like you know the type! Thanks, Lisa!
You’re welcome 🙂
OMG!!! This metaphor supreme.
Thanks for dropping by to read mine
Much💜love
Glad you enjoyed it, Gillena! 💖
A chilling tale, Tricia, perfectly told in only 44 words!
Thanks, Ingrid! 💖
Talk about bad decision-making! (this was great, Tricia!)
❤
David
Thanks, David! 💞
Beautifully written, Tricia. I think she was lucky that he left her in the garden (and I hope she moved on).
Thanks, Merril! 💓
You’re welcome!
One always hopes for karmic retribution in these circumstances…(K)
Yes, I think karma does exist. Thanks! 💓
He got his just desserts…er, desert! Good one, Tricia.
😆 Thanks, Lynn! 💗
I so love the metaphor of chasing the orb only to end up burned… those badlands are beutiful though.
Thanks, Bjorn! I agree, the pic doesn’t seem too dreadful with that beautiful sky! 😄
It must be Bryce Canyon.
I think it’s the Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Never been though!
OK… I have not been there… only to Bryce Canyon in Utah
Ah, the Badlands. Clever work here, all. Regret, ash, loneliness – all things I treasure and hold up as beautiful and sad. I am content.
Thanks, Masa! I appreciate your thoughts! 💓
So well done, Tricia! Strong ending.
Thanks so much! ❤️