Tussie Mussie Life

She bloomed in every setting.
Rose patterned everyday dresses,
cherry cheerful flannel pajamas,
fruit speckled summer skirts.
Wisteriaed wall paper
wooed her to sleep each night.
Bougainvillea borders
bedecked her breakfast nook.
She lived up to her name,
Lily lived a lovely cheerful life.


Written for Quadrille Monday at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe. Today I’m hosting at the pub and asking folks to write a Quadrille (a poem of exactly 44 words, sans title) that includes the word “bloom” or a form of the word.

Image: Hopie in the Garden, painted in 2021 by Hilary Pecis, on display at Boston’s Museum of Fine art in their Framing Nature: Gardens and Imagination exhibit.

Explanation of Tussie Mussie: During Queen Victoria’s reign (1837 – 1901) a small bouquet of flowers called a tussie mussie was a common accessory. Flowers were considered more modest adornment than jewelry for young women.

14 thoughts on “Tussie Mussie Life

    • lillian's avatar lillian May 4, 2026 / 3:10 pm

      Thanks, Bjorn. I am Lill through and through. Lillian was my name all through high school. Went away to college and the first person who asked me my name, I said “Lill”! My mother saw fit to give me the middle name of Mae and thus my cousins tormented me with Lilly Mae! UGH….but in this poem, Lily seems appropriate 🙂

      Like

  1. kim881's avatar kim881 May 4, 2026 / 3:08 pm

    I love the thought of blooming in every setting, Lill. Made me think of Laura Ashley back in the day.

    Liked by 1 person

    • lillian's avatar lillian May 4, 2026 / 3:12 pm

      Ahhhhh I remember Laura Ashley! I always wanted one of her blue flowered bedspreads….never got one but I sure loved walking through the Laura Ashley sections of stores!

      Liked by 1 person

  2. sanaarizvi's avatar sanaarizvi May 4, 2026 / 3:27 pm

    Oh how I adore those “fruit speckled summer skirts.” Exquisitely woven, Lil! ❤️❤️

    Like

    • lillian's avatar lillian May 4, 2026 / 4:17 pm

      I was just so taken with her skirt and straw hat in this colorful painting!

      Like

  3. paeansunplugged's avatar paeansunplugged May 4, 2026 / 3:33 pm

    What a lovely bouquet of blooms! I adore, “Bougainvillea borders
    bedecked her breakfast nook.”

    Like

    • lillian's avatar lillian May 4, 2026 / 4:18 pm

      Thank you! After my afternoon at the Museum with all the flower bouquets and the Garden exhibit…I was on an emotional high….just blooming with joy!

      Like

  4. little learner's avatar little learner May 4, 2026 / 3:52 pm

    I adore the alliteration. Somehow it enhances the flowers, making the poem feel like a beautiful bouquet!

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    • lillian's avatar lillian May 4, 2026 / 4:18 pm

      What a lovely comment to read. Many thanks! So glad you enjoyed.

      Like

  5. thetigressawakens's avatar thetigressawakens May 4, 2026 / 4:11 pm

    I loved it!!! Such a delightful, and cheerful poem!! Loved how its autobiographical in nature, just perfect!!🩵

    BTW thanks for the great prompt today and hosting!!!

    Like

    • lillian's avatar lillian May 4, 2026 / 4:19 pm

      I always love tending the pub and creating prompts. So glad you enjoyed the poem…I really had fun writing it.

      Like

  6. Gillena Cox's avatar Gillena Cox May 4, 2026 / 4:41 pm

    A beautiful blooming quadrille, Lillisn

    Thanks for dropping by my blog

    much love

    Like

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