Every month we select four words, which are written below. Writers and poets are then invited to write a 50 word story or poem that incorporates these four words. Send your submissions to tsaunderspubs@gmail.com and they will be published on this page. In time they will feature in their own book. Good luck!
This challenge is thanks to Kamla Daya in New Zealand whose own writing group does this very exercise. We thought it was such a good idea we'd share it with you.
This challenge is thanks to Kamla Daya in New Zealand whose own writing group does this very exercise. We thought it was such a good idea we'd share it with you.
May 10, 2023
tenet
ternary
tonsure
trammel
Escape
by Donna Turner
She silently slipped past the ternary of dreary old men, their tonsures bobbing around as they swigged whiskey from the bottle. She wanted to be free from the trammels these men imposed on her. The tenets she once thought would bring her a better life, now so obviously a lie.
Clover leaves...
by Mary Buchan
The trammel was, Benedict's long blond hair. The day of the tonsure; time to obey and forgive the Abbot. Vision now unimpeded, Benedict was able to console himself pursuing his private passion. Collecting ternary clover leaves. The tenet of his task was to find, then press them in his Bible.
Alignment
What are the tenets of faith?
Be not of such haste
as to trammel the ones of those
you blatantly oppose.
Why not expand ternary awareness?
Be done with the pettiness
of the politics of tonsure
your next visit to a coiffure
might find you crowned with glory.
How different then your old story
to a soul in need of humility
a chance to regain dignity
alignment with heaven and earth.
How else do we define birth?
Russila Moodley
Motet Rehearsal Today
by Colleen Driscoll
The friars encountered many trammels at the monastery when they arrived, including shaving their hair in a tonsure and mandated hours studying enigmatic tenets of their faith. Fortunately, they found relief in singing songs in ternary form that the Mother Superior from the neighboring abbey composed.
Council
by Pauline Cleary
It was a tenet of council that seating be organised in a ternary manner with space between tables so there would be no trammel to councillors entering the chamber. This reflected the mayor as he scratched his tonsure and watched councillors elbowing past.
Court
by Kathy Kasunich
While delivering my ternary closing arguments defending my client’s tenets and how the government trammeled his rights, the doors to the courtroom flew open. A band of tonsure-headed men stormed in, knocking down the guard, demanding justice for their comrade. Before being hauled away, they shouted, “The truth will set you free.”
Haircut
by TA Saunders
It was a trammel, he didn't agree with the ternary of his tonsure. It wasn't his tenet. Who the hell had cut his hair? He had had one too many that night and just couldn’t remember. One thing for sure, he’d be very careful when selecting a barber again…
T..... TWISTER
In times gone by
twelve monastic tenants
of the Catholic tenet
lived in ternary
on a windy island,
found their tonsure
a trammel
when treading too close
to the active ternery.
Margaret Hughes
Quiz programme
by Alan Grant
A 1950s BBC television quiz programme flickered. Panellists, describing artefacts from museums as “Animal, Vegetable or Mineral”, the ternary options. Minimal trammel regarding challenges from the panel members. The chairman whose tenet was maximum audience engagement, had hair modelled on tonsure arrangements of a Sistine monk. Definitely animal, some vegetable.
April 12, 2023
vituperate
usurp
tenebrous
odium
Therapy
by Don Linke
His therapy reflected his odium for discipline, crosswords were non-negotiable therapy. Dementia beckoned to him; playful, seductive, tenebrous. Dark fingers of insidious forgetfulness grasped at him, their business to usurp his identity, but he bent to the discipline, five down, to abuse starting with V. ten letters. Ahh Vituperate, perhaps?
Four words
by Mary Buchan
Vituperate, an action unused by the animal caring fraternity. A tenebrous day, a disastrous day should animal lovers assault their beasts. The odium of your plans for preventing public events are beyond comprehension. Do you truly believe to usurp the livelihoods of blameless workers; is the way forward for mankind?
Guilty?
by Donna Turner
The crowds vituperate him vehemently for his failed attempt to usurp the chairman. Odium oozes out of them like noxious gas. Now he looks like the tenebrous character not the monster who remains in power. His actions twisted to fit the narrative of the guilty part he finds himself playing.
King of the Jews
And so, He felt the odium by Pilate, in charge.
The Romans began to vituperate Him,
causing more unrest, at large.
Thus the Lamb, became a tenebrous figure,
destined to usurp the people's will, Pilate did snigger....
Jesus offered up , a holy oblation.
The Jews wanted insurrection, wallowing in frustration.
Laura Sanders
Dangerous Liaisons
Usurp my dignity he tried
countless nights I cried
his tenebrous nature
a torture chamber.
Reasons to vituperate me
he found at will you see
attempts at subjugation
a blatant humiliation.
His conduct soon attracting odium
saw me standing at a podium
fighting against abuse
who can dare excuse.
Russila Moodley
Blue pen time
You vituperate and cry, swollen words, full of hate, scattergun in approach
dismal lines whose tenerous tentacles drag all down, till generous
freedoms occur once more, and show
your odium can become a podium of tranquillity
usurp this evil force, embrace this atmosphere of peace
turn foul words into love.
Alan Grant
Simple guy
when asked to write a poem
using words I never use
vituperate, usurp, tenebrous, odium
serve simply to confuse
a simple guy
needs simple words
to craft a poem
that wins awards
Tony Hillary
Caravaggio
Well my dear, since you ask and you are now of an age to be told about these things, the works of Caravaggio always were preferred by my father over any other painter - we always disliked the tenebrous quality of his paintings, although the dramatic use of shadow and light matched the moods he visited on his family.
You will never be able to realise the odium your grandfather felt against the looters that fateful night - that they were able to usurp his possession by force.
His relentless wish to vituperate them drove him out - he disappeared into the night never to be seen again.
Snow Falcon
March 10, 2023
roiled
detente
cirrus
zirconium
Four words
The fretful wind taunted the cirrus
clouds, roiled their tedious pattern;
they in reply flicked their appendages in
disdain at the threatening thunder clouds.
The sun decided enough was enough.
Detente needed so slid silently out of
sight; day became night, the dark sky a
mass of zirconium stars.
Mary Buchan
Four Word Poem (2)
Detente ended ages ago
warring clouds tell us so
where peace once reigned free
there's now high drama to see
intimidation initiating change
in hues of a startling range
zirconium skies so austere
warning cirrus clouds to steer clear
of menacing roiled puffs of air
claiming space with devilish dare.
Russila Moodley
Four Word Poem
The course of true detente I do spy
in an azure blue or zirconium sky
where a whimsical cirrus makes way
for a roiled numbus to save the day
on the grandest stage they share
where fair fights foul to remain fair
to mother earth and all in her care.
Russila Moodley
Broken Promise
by Donna Turner
His hair now the colour of zirconium, thinning and wispy, sticking out like cirrus clouds. Deep trench lines aged his face. He was roiled, he couldn’t understand what had gone wrong. The detente was broken. They hadn’t kept their end of the bargain and he wanted answers.
The attack
by Laura Sanders
He slept with his dagger of zirconium, at his side. Under cirrus clouds, he watched the wisps, glide. He hoped next day for an immediate detente. If not, he would be roiled and would have to confront...
Warring Sisters
by Karen Mills
Chantel was roiled.
Bridgett had inherited the knight’s suit of armour made of zirconium. Chantel wanted the armour. Instead, Chantel received the painting of Sunshine Castle with cirrus clouds, of little importance or monetary value.
There was no chance of détente between the two sisters anytime soon.
Immigration pretence
by Mark Rickenbach
Angela gazed up in despair. Life torn and shredded like the wisps of cirrus cloud above. A détente of a marriage now murky. Running to waste, like the roiled water of a storm drain. A cheap sham of immigration pretence, mirrored in the cubic zirconium of her discarded rings.
Creek bed
by Frank Westcott
A hard, gray-silver-ish metal, some fancies call ZZZ-ZZZ-Zirconium, slept then roiled with the water in the crying creek bed, still dancing to cirrus clouds rolling-and-rollicking and reflecting on the water, waiting for a détente between the sky and the water and the creek bed, where the roiling wanted to cease.
February 14, 2023
decrement
moiety
vicissitude
amanuensis
Time
Time once stood like an amanuensis
as I dictated my terms on earth
no doubt there is consensus
the vicissitudes of life do birth
difficulties we must negotiate
decrements in our abilities create
a need for cigars with a moiety of funds
the other to treat our lungs.
Russila Moodley
Nest egg
by Mary Buchan
Have you seen our recent statement?
Did you notice the decrement? Caused by the drop in interest
rates.
Our holiday nest egg by moiety has been reduced
to half. We’ll have to start again.
An unexpected vicissitude, the money page
warns of fraud. Very, very worrying. Hearsay
according to amanuensis.
The will
by Laura Sanders
Sheila realised that unfortunately in her mother's will, there would be a decrement of estate and monies left to her. This was due to the moiety , between her half sister and herself. This vicissitude was relayed by an amanuensis, as soon as she reached the solicitor's office.
Must decline
by Snow Falcon
Dear Jane, I really cannot let you borrow my amanuensis - much as I would like too - owing to a decrement in his health we have had to resort to a moiety which really does lead me into a vicissitude at the mere thought - just how are we going to manage?
The lament of a male spider
by Marion Lovelace
The vicissitudes of being male
permit no decrement to my desire
as Nature's amanuensis I must not fail
there is no moiety, no dispensation for her winner
I give all, if to her progeny I would be sire
with success I shall be sacrificed and become her dinner.
Beware the local brew
by Suzanne Egerton
Pharoah Phatnose, desirous of a decrement of his proboscis, commanded his amanuensis Eminhottip to inscribe his image less a moiety of the offensive feature. However, due to unfortunate vicissitudes at the local brewery, the mural depicted the imperial beard in place of the nose, requiring hasty rededication to hawk-headed Ra.
February foreplay
by Alan Grant
'Jonathan, can I commend you. Your skills in amanuensis are quite incredible. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The challenge was to reflect your vicissitudes in recent months, and to capture your efforts to minimise the resulting decrement. You have achieved an admirable, equitable state of moiety in your children's legacies. Bravo.'
January 11, 2023
furtive
verdigris
decennial
aurora borealis
Duplicity
by Pauline Cleary
She had always wanted to see the aurora borealis, watch the shades of verdigris dancing across the sky.
"It’s so long since we went away," she sighed. "Holidays are not to be taken each decennial."
He furtively slipped the bank statement into his wallet.
"We can’t afford it," he said.
Unique Beauty
A northern flicker
she cannot boast in colors of verdigris.
She cannot boast in decennial experiences.
She cannot boast in beauty like aurora borealis.
No need to feel insignificant.
No need to feel furtive.
No need to feel unloved.
Your secret beauty is found within your heart.
Karen Mills
Aurora Borealis
by Laura Sanders
His friends had exited his winter cabin early. He glanced , with furtive expression, and noticed the verdigris on the copper oil-burner lamp. It only just illuminated the room. A decennial ago his ex-wife had polished it, for it to shine. Outside, Hans suddenly shouted, "Aurora borealis. It's brill!"
Now you die...
By Alan Grant
He looked furtive, sweat forming on his brow.
“Where are you from?” No response.
“We've met before. Two decennials ago, you sold my wife's items from the dig. Amulets covered in verdigris, colours from the aurora borealis. They killed her. Cursed by devils. Now you die.”
He cried.
Until the body's found...
Every decennial,
I release my brand of evil,
dressed - somewhat - like the rest of you
I will wear verdigris, to enjoy the view.
As you gaze upon the aurora borealis
my furtive movements, you will miss
until the body’s found, the next day,
where I’m - safely - miles away.
John FR Munro
The North Pole
By Tim Saunders
Trudging to my North Pole base the frostbite worsened. I started hallucinating about the verdigris on the copper bowl... I doubted it would be decennial.... As I pondered, the aurora borealis above was magnificent. My mind re-calibrated and I knew I had to be furtive if I was to survive...
Aurora Borealis
The sky is low,
the clouds floating furtive, slow.
The stars are like pearls.
It seems that the whole sky is covered
with verdigris.
You will reach out,
touch your hand.
The beauty all around!
for decennials, always.
The green reflection of the snow,
from the aurora borealis.
Viktoriia Peterson
tenet
ternary
tonsure
trammel
Escape
by Donna Turner
She silently slipped past the ternary of dreary old men, their tonsures bobbing around as they swigged whiskey from the bottle. She wanted to be free from the trammels these men imposed on her. The tenets she once thought would bring her a better life, now so obviously a lie.
Clover leaves...
by Mary Buchan
The trammel was, Benedict's long blond hair. The day of the tonsure; time to obey and forgive the Abbot. Vision now unimpeded, Benedict was able to console himself pursuing his private passion. Collecting ternary clover leaves. The tenet of his task was to find, then press them in his Bible.
Alignment
What are the tenets of faith?
Be not of such haste
as to trammel the ones of those
you blatantly oppose.
Why not expand ternary awareness?
Be done with the pettiness
of the politics of tonsure
your next visit to a coiffure
might find you crowned with glory.
How different then your old story
to a soul in need of humility
a chance to regain dignity
alignment with heaven and earth.
How else do we define birth?
Russila Moodley
Motet Rehearsal Today
by Colleen Driscoll
The friars encountered many trammels at the monastery when they arrived, including shaving their hair in a tonsure and mandated hours studying enigmatic tenets of their faith. Fortunately, they found relief in singing songs in ternary form that the Mother Superior from the neighboring abbey composed.
Council
by Pauline Cleary
It was a tenet of council that seating be organised in a ternary manner with space between tables so there would be no trammel to councillors entering the chamber. This reflected the mayor as he scratched his tonsure and watched councillors elbowing past.
Court
by Kathy Kasunich
While delivering my ternary closing arguments defending my client’s tenets and how the government trammeled his rights, the doors to the courtroom flew open. A band of tonsure-headed men stormed in, knocking down the guard, demanding justice for their comrade. Before being hauled away, they shouted, “The truth will set you free.”
Haircut
by TA Saunders
It was a trammel, he didn't agree with the ternary of his tonsure. It wasn't his tenet. Who the hell had cut his hair? He had had one too many that night and just couldn’t remember. One thing for sure, he’d be very careful when selecting a barber again…
T..... TWISTER
In times gone by
twelve monastic tenants
of the Catholic tenet
lived in ternary
on a windy island,
found their tonsure
a trammel
when treading too close
to the active ternery.
Margaret Hughes
Quiz programme
by Alan Grant
A 1950s BBC television quiz programme flickered. Panellists, describing artefacts from museums as “Animal, Vegetable or Mineral”, the ternary options. Minimal trammel regarding challenges from the panel members. The chairman whose tenet was maximum audience engagement, had hair modelled on tonsure arrangements of a Sistine monk. Definitely animal, some vegetable.
April 12, 2023
vituperate
usurp
tenebrous
odium
Therapy
by Don Linke
His therapy reflected his odium for discipline, crosswords were non-negotiable therapy. Dementia beckoned to him; playful, seductive, tenebrous. Dark fingers of insidious forgetfulness grasped at him, their business to usurp his identity, but he bent to the discipline, five down, to abuse starting with V. ten letters. Ahh Vituperate, perhaps?
Four words
by Mary Buchan
Vituperate, an action unused by the animal caring fraternity. A tenebrous day, a disastrous day should animal lovers assault their beasts. The odium of your plans for preventing public events are beyond comprehension. Do you truly believe to usurp the livelihoods of blameless workers; is the way forward for mankind?
Guilty?
by Donna Turner
The crowds vituperate him vehemently for his failed attempt to usurp the chairman. Odium oozes out of them like noxious gas. Now he looks like the tenebrous character not the monster who remains in power. His actions twisted to fit the narrative of the guilty part he finds himself playing.
King of the Jews
And so, He felt the odium by Pilate, in charge.
The Romans began to vituperate Him,
causing more unrest, at large.
Thus the Lamb, became a tenebrous figure,
destined to usurp the people's will, Pilate did snigger....
Jesus offered up , a holy oblation.
The Jews wanted insurrection, wallowing in frustration.
Laura Sanders
Dangerous Liaisons
Usurp my dignity he tried
countless nights I cried
his tenebrous nature
a torture chamber.
Reasons to vituperate me
he found at will you see
attempts at subjugation
a blatant humiliation.
His conduct soon attracting odium
saw me standing at a podium
fighting against abuse
who can dare excuse.
Russila Moodley
Blue pen time
You vituperate and cry, swollen words, full of hate, scattergun in approach
dismal lines whose tenerous tentacles drag all down, till generous
freedoms occur once more, and show
your odium can become a podium of tranquillity
usurp this evil force, embrace this atmosphere of peace
turn foul words into love.
Alan Grant
Simple guy
when asked to write a poem
using words I never use
vituperate, usurp, tenebrous, odium
serve simply to confuse
a simple guy
needs simple words
to craft a poem
that wins awards
Tony Hillary
Caravaggio
Well my dear, since you ask and you are now of an age to be told about these things, the works of Caravaggio always were preferred by my father over any other painter - we always disliked the tenebrous quality of his paintings, although the dramatic use of shadow and light matched the moods he visited on his family.
You will never be able to realise the odium your grandfather felt against the looters that fateful night - that they were able to usurp his possession by force.
His relentless wish to vituperate them drove him out - he disappeared into the night never to be seen again.
Snow Falcon
March 10, 2023
roiled
detente
cirrus
zirconium
Four words
The fretful wind taunted the cirrus
clouds, roiled their tedious pattern;
they in reply flicked their appendages in
disdain at the threatening thunder clouds.
The sun decided enough was enough.
Detente needed so slid silently out of
sight; day became night, the dark sky a
mass of zirconium stars.
Mary Buchan
Four Word Poem (2)
Detente ended ages ago
warring clouds tell us so
where peace once reigned free
there's now high drama to see
intimidation initiating change
in hues of a startling range
zirconium skies so austere
warning cirrus clouds to steer clear
of menacing roiled puffs of air
claiming space with devilish dare.
Russila Moodley
Four Word Poem
The course of true detente I do spy
in an azure blue or zirconium sky
where a whimsical cirrus makes way
for a roiled numbus to save the day
on the grandest stage they share
where fair fights foul to remain fair
to mother earth and all in her care.
Russila Moodley
Broken Promise
by Donna Turner
His hair now the colour of zirconium, thinning and wispy, sticking out like cirrus clouds. Deep trench lines aged his face. He was roiled, he couldn’t understand what had gone wrong. The detente was broken. They hadn’t kept their end of the bargain and he wanted answers.
The attack
by Laura Sanders
He slept with his dagger of zirconium, at his side. Under cirrus clouds, he watched the wisps, glide. He hoped next day for an immediate detente. If not, he would be roiled and would have to confront...
Warring Sisters
by Karen Mills
Chantel was roiled.
Bridgett had inherited the knight’s suit of armour made of zirconium. Chantel wanted the armour. Instead, Chantel received the painting of Sunshine Castle with cirrus clouds, of little importance or monetary value.
There was no chance of détente between the two sisters anytime soon.
Immigration pretence
by Mark Rickenbach
Angela gazed up in despair. Life torn and shredded like the wisps of cirrus cloud above. A détente of a marriage now murky. Running to waste, like the roiled water of a storm drain. A cheap sham of immigration pretence, mirrored in the cubic zirconium of her discarded rings.
Creek bed
by Frank Westcott
A hard, gray-silver-ish metal, some fancies call ZZZ-ZZZ-Zirconium, slept then roiled with the water in the crying creek bed, still dancing to cirrus clouds rolling-and-rollicking and reflecting on the water, waiting for a détente between the sky and the water and the creek bed, where the roiling wanted to cease.
February 14, 2023
decrement
moiety
vicissitude
amanuensis
Time
Time once stood like an amanuensis
as I dictated my terms on earth
no doubt there is consensus
the vicissitudes of life do birth
difficulties we must negotiate
decrements in our abilities create
a need for cigars with a moiety of funds
the other to treat our lungs.
Russila Moodley
Nest egg
by Mary Buchan
Have you seen our recent statement?
Did you notice the decrement? Caused by the drop in interest
rates.
Our holiday nest egg by moiety has been reduced
to half. We’ll have to start again.
An unexpected vicissitude, the money page
warns of fraud. Very, very worrying. Hearsay
according to amanuensis.
The will
by Laura Sanders
Sheila realised that unfortunately in her mother's will, there would be a decrement of estate and monies left to her. This was due to the moiety , between her half sister and herself. This vicissitude was relayed by an amanuensis, as soon as she reached the solicitor's office.
Must decline
by Snow Falcon
Dear Jane, I really cannot let you borrow my amanuensis - much as I would like too - owing to a decrement in his health we have had to resort to a moiety which really does lead me into a vicissitude at the mere thought - just how are we going to manage?
The lament of a male spider
by Marion Lovelace
The vicissitudes of being male
permit no decrement to my desire
as Nature's amanuensis I must not fail
there is no moiety, no dispensation for her winner
I give all, if to her progeny I would be sire
with success I shall be sacrificed and become her dinner.
Beware the local brew
by Suzanne Egerton
Pharoah Phatnose, desirous of a decrement of his proboscis, commanded his amanuensis Eminhottip to inscribe his image less a moiety of the offensive feature. However, due to unfortunate vicissitudes at the local brewery, the mural depicted the imperial beard in place of the nose, requiring hasty rededication to hawk-headed Ra.
February foreplay
by Alan Grant
'Jonathan, can I commend you. Your skills in amanuensis are quite incredible. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The challenge was to reflect your vicissitudes in recent months, and to capture your efforts to minimise the resulting decrement. You have achieved an admirable, equitable state of moiety in your children's legacies. Bravo.'
January 11, 2023
furtive
verdigris
decennial
aurora borealis
Duplicity
by Pauline Cleary
She had always wanted to see the aurora borealis, watch the shades of verdigris dancing across the sky.
"It’s so long since we went away," she sighed. "Holidays are not to be taken each decennial."
He furtively slipped the bank statement into his wallet.
"We can’t afford it," he said.
Unique Beauty
A northern flicker
she cannot boast in colors of verdigris.
She cannot boast in decennial experiences.
She cannot boast in beauty like aurora borealis.
No need to feel insignificant.
No need to feel furtive.
No need to feel unloved.
Your secret beauty is found within your heart.
Karen Mills
Aurora Borealis
by Laura Sanders
His friends had exited his winter cabin early. He glanced , with furtive expression, and noticed the verdigris on the copper oil-burner lamp. It only just illuminated the room. A decennial ago his ex-wife had polished it, for it to shine. Outside, Hans suddenly shouted, "Aurora borealis. It's brill!"
Now you die...
By Alan Grant
He looked furtive, sweat forming on his brow.
“Where are you from?” No response.
“We've met before. Two decennials ago, you sold my wife's items from the dig. Amulets covered in verdigris, colours from the aurora borealis. They killed her. Cursed by devils. Now you die.”
He cried.
Until the body's found...
Every decennial,
I release my brand of evil,
dressed - somewhat - like the rest of you
I will wear verdigris, to enjoy the view.
As you gaze upon the aurora borealis
my furtive movements, you will miss
until the body’s found, the next day,
where I’m - safely - miles away.
John FR Munro
The North Pole
By Tim Saunders
Trudging to my North Pole base the frostbite worsened. I started hallucinating about the verdigris on the copper bowl... I doubted it would be decennial.... As I pondered, the aurora borealis above was magnificent. My mind re-calibrated and I knew I had to be furtive if I was to survive...
Aurora Borealis
The sky is low,
the clouds floating furtive, slow.
The stars are like pearls.
It seems that the whole sky is covered
with verdigris.
You will reach out,
touch your hand.
The beauty all around!
for decennials, always.
The green reflection of the snow,
from the aurora borealis.
Viktoriia Peterson
