Sticky Trap

Poetry

Sticky Trap

Katie Frances Hartless

133, dVerse, quadrille

Quicksand dries,
mud to dirt to dust,
lost desert in disguise.

At local bar, little bird’s panicked slurp,
suction-cupped high-heeled steps,
careless where predators lurk.

A sinking myth,
man’s ever-shifting sand.
The female form
floats supine on its surface,

but never takes a stand.

Lisa is the host for d’Verse’s Quadrille #133 asking us to take a stand. Join us.

Artwork: “Quicksand” by Ric Conn

29 responses to “Sticky Trap”

Lucy

Love the imagery and how vivid this piece is. Wow!

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you, Lucy. Floating is sometimes the best way of getting free.
  
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areadingwriter

oh wow! that ending image is so vivid that i can almost see it. well done, K!

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you. The struggle is sometimes the fall. Feels good to float yourself free.
  
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ben Alexander

Damn it, take a stand, female shapes! This makes me feel so frustrated, KH!

❤
David

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Yes, but those that chose not to take bold moves are often misunderstood. Trying to stand in quicksand is a mistake; there is more than one way to free yourself. Eek, this late-night write has more layers than I even originally intended.
  
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Hobbo

Cracking quadrille, love it. 🙂

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you, Hobbo. Flaking fast here. 😉
  
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erbiage

Ah the failure of the masculine in our culture is such a crime. And yet you still manage to create. I too saw the mud in this prompt (and there we catch a glimpse of my deep longing)

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abigfatcanofworms

Fascinating! I didn’t realize where it was going til the last line. So brilliant!! Amazing imagery!

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you, Worms. Just between you and I, I wasn’t sure where this one was heading either. Glad the piece didn’t get stuck in the mud. It was great fun to rejoin Monday night shenanigans. Enjoyed the variety in the pieces.
  
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paeansunplugged

Time to take a stand! Fascinating write.

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you. Sometimes refusing to stand is also taking a stand. 😉
  
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  1. paeansunplugged
    
    Lol you are right!😄
    You are welcome.
    
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Phillip Knight Scott

Really amazing imagery here. I hope we don’t have to wait for quicksand to dry.

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you kindly, Phillip. Your comment made me smile. Yes, it does feel like we’re doing just this at times. When in a sticky situation, I’m not opposed to exploring all of the alternative solutions.
  
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msjadeli

The image you chose really grabs attention. You’ve laid out the dynamics so deftly, the quicksand that becomes toxic waste, the hopefully fading myth that somehow it is ever the woman’s fault for being raped, and the saving maneuver. Excellent poeming, K.

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you, Lisa. A great prompt and I enjoyed reading all of the wonderful responses just as much as penning my own. I was glad to have time to join in the fun this week.
  
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  1. msjadeli
    
    You’re very welcome, and I hope the time makes itself available for dVerse all of the time 🙂
    
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merrildsmith

Fascinating–so many layers to this!

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Helen Dehner

The exquisite art and your strongly presented Quadrille ….. thoroughly enjoyed.

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1. K.Hartless
  
  I appreciate your kindness, Helen. It was great to read so many thought-provoking pieces this morning. Lots of striking responses. I’ve missed the d’Versians.
  
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Beverly Crawford

Don’t wait for others to take a stand for you.

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thanks, Bev. Wouldn’t dream of it.
  
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peppermint

Wow. You have such a good ear. This feels fantastic to read aloud.

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you. Very kind. I enjoy weaving words.
  
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Ingrid

This was uncomfortable reading but none the less powerful for that! I think it’s time we took a stand.

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johnlmalone

creepy; some alluring images compressed in a few slinky stanzas —

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Yes, this one was written without censor. And so it goes…
  
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