Adrift in a Storm

She’d wandered away again.
Rain pelted sidewise,
passersby doggedly plodded forward.
Uncooperative umbrellas flipped inside out.
She was invisible to them.

Sopping hair plastered her head,
clothes adhered to her skin
like shrink wrap over packaged chicken.
Three miles away,
her caregivers were frantic.


De is hosting Quadrille Monday at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe. We’re to write a poem of exactly 44 words (sans title) and include the word “dog” within the body of the poem. We may use a form of the word or a word that includes the word “dog” within it….hence “doggedly” in my poem. AI image generated on Bing Create.

15 thoughts on “Adrift in a Storm

  1. kim881's avatar kim881 May 18, 2026 / 3:08 pm

    Doggedly is a great word, Lill, but I wonder why there isn’t a feline form, such as ’cattedly’. The way you describe the rain made me feel soaked through – and I know what it’s like when someone with dementia goes missing.

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    • lillian's avatar lillian May 18, 2026 / 3:17 pm

      hmmmm the first word that comes to mind that includes cat is catatonic! I’ve always been one to enjoy making up wordalicious words 🙂 Perhaps you should write a cat post or poem that is not a catastrophe but rather a catterful wonder! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      • kim881's avatar kim881 May 18, 2026 / 3:26 pm

        That made me smile, Lill. A future word for the quadrille, perhaps.

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    • lillian's avatar lillian May 18, 2026 / 3:17 pm

      Yes….my pen went to a sadder place this time.

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  2. Dora's avatar Dora May 18, 2026 / 3:26 pm

    A sad scenario, Lill. And all too common, I imagine. You depict it well.

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    • lillian's avatar lillian May 18, 2026 / 4:53 pm

      Thank you…yes, forever whatever reason my pen just glided into sad today.

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  3. Gillena Cox's avatar Gillena Cox May 18, 2026 / 3:43 pm

    A sad quadrille, today

    Thanks for dropping by my blog

    much love

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    • lillian's avatar lillian May 18, 2026 / 4:53 pm

      Sometimes my pen weeps on the page….

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  4. rog's avatar rog May 18, 2026 / 4:29 pm

    love to all in this situation.

    beautifully presented honouring of those with this horrid condition

    Liked by 1 person

    • lillian's avatar lillian May 18, 2026 / 4:54 pm

      It is a horrid condition….and one that family and friends can only watch the individual disappear while their body is still there.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Ron.'s avatar Ron. May 18, 2026 / 4:47 pm

    I almost opted for ‘dogged’ myself, Lillian. Gritty situation, wonderfully shared. Thanks

    Liked by 1 person

    • lillian's avatar lillian May 18, 2026 / 4:55 pm

      Yes….for some reason my pen decided to weep today….and go with, as you say, a gritty situation far too many families find themselves in.

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