Juxtaposition, Phrase Prompt, Poetry, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Gilded Quiet

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Reena’s Xploration Challenge.
The theme is to choose a quote to work with
in the juxtaposition of luxury and simplicity.

Image by Me & Perplexity

Marble halls and chandeliers,
gold that drips from ceiling beams;
the world calls this the height of living,
a monument to all it seems.
But underneath the polished shine,
a hollow echo, cold design.

Give me instead a rocking chair,
a window cracked to let in air,
one candle burning, steady, bare ….
no need for more, no need to spare.
For in the bareness, something clean:
the truest luxury I’ve seen.

So let the rich chase after more,
and let the noise pile at their door ….
I’ll take the calm that costs no coin,
the peace that needs no gilded join.
For elegance was never loud ….
it wears no crown, it draws no crowd.

NAR©2026

Nancy’s Notes: The quote I chose as inspiration is “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci

This is “You Don’t Have To Be Rich” by Admiral Tibet

Reena’s Xploration Challenge #438

Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

18 thoughts on “Gilded Quiet”

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