Within us
this flower, a will
making better, a want
to support
to help with what’s
good.
With not without
the casual wont
to destroy
and consume
to feel better
but steal from the poor
Why is it strange
that our flowers have withered?
John Constable
Today Lisa hosts the Quadrille at dVerse, and the word to use in our Quadrille is with. As usual 44 words in the poem.
As for the poem I wanted to show that humans actually feel better doing what’s good, but often act in the opposite direction for self-interest and quick gratification. This is deeply rooted inside, and I actually feel that we as a collective feel worse and worse for that reason.
November 25, 2025
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Ah! An excellent question indeed.
We do it to ourselves.
I love the use of the word “with”ered.
Thank you
I love that you have used variations of the prompt word in your flower quadrille, Björn, and how you have shown that doing good has benefits.
Yes, if we only knew what was good for us.
Bjorn, you bring up important aspects of human nature and ask a potent question. Hoping we can get near an answer for it at some point.
I assume that we should learn about ourselves more.
we both went playful with with! but you even placed a nice touch of philosophy within your flower vase –
I tried, have been listen a lot to a psycology podcast about why we are acting so stupid.
I’ve been looking at Bonhoeffer’s stupidity theory
We had the same thought with how to morph the given word. 🙂
Beautiful piece. There is a funeral going on right now, in the cemetery I can see from our back door. I always wonder at the gifts left on the graves, the flowers that wither or blow away. What stays are heavier things, like little statues of what the person loved. Stone does not disappear so easily.
Your poem is one to read again and again. I love it.
It was a very inviting word to make vary in many ways… flowers on graves was not on my mind, but the thought is there….
it is not at all strange that the flowers have withered considering our nature
We are our own worst enemies
Great use of the prompt, with!
🙂
A question to ponder but, I am not surprised that the flowers wither…we are the gardeners and I think some of us have lost our green thumbs.
We don’t know what is best for us.
I love the image you chose! And the poem is profound.
I like the questions you brought up in this poem. Nicely done.
poignant question poses Bjorn.
much♡love
This is unadulterated spirituality, not tempered by official religious symbolism and such, and therein lies much of the power of the words, as well as the lovely referencing to nature.
Well done with with, and such questions that do need answers. We need to do more good in this world.
So beautiful, great post!
A very moving poem Bjorn
Evidence that we were made to be good but are fallen creatures whose nature is now corrupted…sadly withered.
That’s a very poignant question. Sometimes selfish needs and instant gratification makes people act that way.
A pertinent question but we do know the answer.
Aw, the wants and wonts of this flower within.
I agree with your assessment of human nature and love how you’ve portrayed that in a poem. Great juxtaposition of flower with the wont to destroy.
I love the interplay of the form of the word, not least the ending, withered meaning not with us. Wonderful.