Roberta Writes – d’Verse quadrille number 219 and Esther Chilton’s writing challenge #poetry

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This is De Jackson’s prompt:

New to the Q? Here’s what to do: 
Give a hoot about the rules and write us a poem of exactly 44 words (not counting the title), including some semblance of the word hoot.

You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/03/10/quadrille-219-a-poetic-hootenanny/

It’s a Hoot

The man hooted with raucous laughter

when the owl made its entrance onto the stage.

It hooted loudly.

The rest of the audience didn’t give a hoot

except the man was drunk as a hoot owl.

Collectively, they hooted him out of the theatre.

Thank you to Frank for the inspiration to use a selection of idioms. You can read Frank’s post on words here: https://beachwalkreflections.wordpress.com/2025/03/08/283-words-v3/

Esther Chilton’s prompt for this week is Villains and Heroes. My poetic response also includes a hoot. You can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/03/05/writing-prompts-55/

Nagloper*

When the night is at its darkest, he comes

Slinking stealthily through the velvet blackness, unencumber by clothes

If you listen carefully, you will hear him approaching

His headdress rattles, the human toe and finger bones dancing and jigging

A baboon’s wa-hoo and an owl’s hoot betray his familiars

Carefully walking backwards, footprints intended to confuse

He approaches the huts, ready to infect the children with foul diseases

He also has his way with the female sleepers, leaving them weak and powerless

A fearsome creature, the Nagloper*

***

Doctored knobkerrie# at the hut door

This symbol of defense, authority, and leadership

Will stop this sorceror in his tracks

Binding him fast until the head of the kraal releases him

Deciding on a suitable punishment for the nefarious villain

***

Wisdom is required

To attain hero status

Leaders born not made

*Nagloper means Night Walker in Afrikaans. The Nagloper is a myth of the Khoikhoi people of South Africa (previously called Hottentots).

#Knobkerrie is a mace.

Picture of a Nagloper from Myths and Legends of Southern Africa by Penny Miller
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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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89 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – d’Verse quadrille number 219 and Esther Chilton’s writing challenge #poetry”

  5. Interesting choice of words. I kept replacing ‘hoot’ with a rhyming word that made more sense to me. For example, instead of “They hooted him out of the theatre”, I made it ‘booted’!

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  8. Two excellent poems, Robbie. And, of course, I know about that mythical guy – and he’s not far from here! Love that book, by the way – we have the same edition.

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  9. Wonderful poetry, Robbie!

    The first one was just fun and the second taught us about a mythical character most of us never heard about. Love these!

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  26. Robbie, You did a great job blending humor with the darker mythological theme!

    Also, the contrast between the absurdity of the hooting man and the eerie Nagloper adds such depth! 👏

    Much love,

    David

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