Stolen Surprise – A Quadrille

It was a stolen dance

That pried back the layers

Of comfortable expectations

Leaving me 

Vulnerable

To your hand reading the goosebumps written on my back

So when I swayed to 

Savor your strawberry lips

I was surprised 

By the ash on my tongue

Photo by lilartsy on Pexels.com

I was feeling unsettled tonight with too much going on (per usual) and not having enough time to re-center and connect with the parts of me that have nothing to do with parenting or working. As I was waiting to get my daughter from a class, I decided to open up WordPress (instead of doom scrolling on other social media which unfortunately has become my stress go to) and stumbled up Sarah’s dVerse Monday Quadrille prompt – Ash. It caught my eye because I have a story that I am working on with that title.

I then turned to one of my favorite inspirational writers and photographers and of course, Patrick’s Pic and a Word Challenge did not disappoint with #285 – Dance, #284 – Vulnerable, #283 – Layers, #283 – Stolen (I’m thinking he meant #283, 284, 285, and 286 – Patrick’s just trying to keep me on my toes since I am behind on my streak!). These were the four words I needed to make my quadrille have the requisite 44 words.

Life’s expectations have take a turn as most of you have probably also experienced. It has been like “ash on the tongue,” a phrase I had not heard about before but so succinctly describes the current state of my life. I feel as if I am still in shock daily with how people, places and activities that used to bring such joy are now sources of despair and anger. How do I get rid of this distasteful feeling? Is this part of the “new normal”? Do we have to learn to live with another endemic coronavirus? Do we have to learn to live with endemic people who believe in a stolen election and that being patriots means having guns and not caring about other people, especially those who don’t look like you?

If so, then I need to invest in some mouthwash.

©️ 2021 iido