Each man’s home is his castle,
so I made mine a fortress,
my sitting room a keep,
and a battlement of books
to stand watch for invaders
wielding words like realistic,
while I was carving hope
into a portcullis,
certain these walls could hold.
Each man’s home is his castle,
so I made mine a fortress,
my sitting room a keep,
and a battlement of books
to stand watch for invaders
wielding words like realistic,
while I was carving hope
into a portcullis,
certain these walls could hold.
Carol J Forrester 
Oh what a perfect defense… we need to protect ourselves with words.
Glad you like it Bjorn. I see your quadrille also held a sense of the more medieval style of keep.
wielding words like realistic,
while I was carving hope
I think we’ve all been there – unreliable narrators in the story of our own lives. I love the image of a castle built of books and words.
Thanks Sarah. I knee deep in NaNoWriMo currently so the fantasy vibes are following.
Beautiful. Love it.
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I’m so pleased you wrote about a metaphorical fortress/ castle kind of keep, Carol. I love the title and the ‘battlement of books’ standing watch for invaders ‘wielding words’. Sounds a bit like my house at the moment – books everywhere – my only protection, except for the cats, but I’m not sure if they’re up to the job as they’re scaredy cats!
Awww, well I’ve grown up with guard dogs that just want belly rubs so I know the feeling lol.
I love your approach to the prompt Carol- well done!
Thank you.
“a battlement of books”
YES! I love this!
Thank you.
I would happily live in your fortress-surrounded by a wall of books 🙂
Books do make fabulous looking walls. Less substantial when it rains I’m afraid.
Lol!
As noted already, this is a snappy quadrille with medieval overtones. Your fortress concept is sound, but at some point you must stick your head up into the real world.
Hence accounting qualifications.
Wielding words like a sword 🙂 this is fantastic! ❤️
I actually have a poem called the pen is mightier than the sword, and another poem about wielding words like weapons. What we say can cut deep.
I can so relate to this piece! Good writing.
Thank you/
I love your castle keep. You drew a beautiful word picture.
Thank you Beverly.
I would love to have all those books in the sitting room.
The plan is to have books in every room eventually, but I must be sneaky about it, the husband is less of a fan.
What a fantastic image — a fortress of literature and knowledge — beautiful idea Carol!
Thank you Rob.
I love the thought that it is possible to create something that will hold, especially in the heart or mind.
Surprising strength can be found in the mind.
Oh. I want a keep like that. Built with books and words. Cleverly written. 🙂
Thank you.
I like the thought of building the fortress out of books.
Books provide in so many ways.
Clever, clever, clever.
Well done. Using words instead of weapons and books for reinforcements would be a welcome change.
A wonderous extended metaphor! If only words and books could ward off the world.
Words as hope – that’s a nice thought.