Photo: Laura Purdie Salas
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
Last week’s photo: That was a set of plastic Easter eggs, opened, and placed on top of my open laptop. We recently went to a Gordon Lightfoot concert at the State Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. Each time we go there, the architectural details amaze me. I always think, “Why would they spend so much time on all of this if you’re supposed to be looking at the stage?” It’s beautiful, in an over-the-top way. Here’s what it makes me think of:
1)?Romeo and Juliet, of course
2) Craftsman whose job is working on the same building for his whole life
3) The fun a kid (or grown-up) would have playing in an empty theater.
And here’s my poem first draft:
You Missed a Spot
Gold filigree
for balcony
must be refined:
luxe defined,
so stories bewitch
the idle rich.–Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved
What do you think of when you look at this picture? Take any quick idea and jot down a 15 Words or Less poem. It doesn’t have to rhyme or describe this picture. It’s just about whatever you think of when you look at it.
78 Responses
Theatrical
Climb velvet
curtains, swing
out, catch
chandelier, leap
to balcony where
she swoons,
swashbuckler!
?Kate Coombs
Love the romance and adventure… and in 15 words or less? Wow!
What a beautiful, visual poem, Kate! Amazing!
Ooh, it’s like a job description or to-do list for a swashbuckler. Love it! I especially like all the sw- sounds.
Thanks, you guys!
Theatrical
Climb velvet
curtains, swing
out, catch
chandelier, leap
to balcony where
she swoons,
swashbuckler!
?Kate Coombs
Love the romance and adventure… and in 15 words or less? Wow!
What a beautiful, visual poem, Kate! Amazing!
Ooh, it’s like a job description or to-do list for a swashbuckler. Love it! I especially like all the sw- sounds.
Thanks, you guys!
Who will clean
the mezzanine
and, gleaming, shine
this grand design
by inch, for free?
Not me. Not me.
?Steven Withrow
Me either! This is lovely, Steven!
Who will clean
the mezzanine
and, gleaming, shine
this grand design
by inch, for free?
Not me. Not me.
?Steven Withrow
Me either! This is lovely, Steven!
Just realized my earlier draft is 19 words; here’s the 15-word version:
Who will clean
the mezzanine
and, gleaming, shine
this grand design
for free?
Not me.
?Steven Withrow
Oooh, nice!
Not me either, but I do love your poem!
So funny, because I actually like this 15-word version better anyway:>) Love the word mezzanine and the meter change at the end.
Just realized my earlier draft is 19 words; here’s the 15-word version:
Who will clean
the mezzanine
and, gleaming, shine
this grand design
for free?
Not me.
?Steven Withrow
Oooh, nice!
Not me either, but I do love your poem!
So funny, because I actually like this 15-word version better anyway:>) Love the word mezzanine and the meter change at the end.
Tax Collector at Heaven’s Gate:
Wealthy Benefactors Form Line Here!
others please use service entrance
© Michelle Heidenrich Barnes, all rights reserved
Very nice, Michelle! I know which line I’ll be standing in! 😉
Ouch! Even in heaven, we can’t get away from it. I love the switch from important uppercase to lowly lowercase. Nice detail.
Tax Collector at Heaven’s Gate:
Wealthy Benefactors Form Line Here!
others please use service entrance
© Michelle Heidenrich Barnes, all rights reserved
Very nice, Michelle! I know which line I’ll be standing in! 😉
Ouch! Even in heaven, we can’t get away from it. I love the switch from important uppercase to lowly lowercase. Nice detail.
Laura, in just a few words, you painted a pristine portrait of those “idle rich.” Love it! These 15 word challenges are a great way to start the day. 🙂
Thanks, Michelle–they are fun!
Laura, in just a few words, you painted a pristine portrait of those “idle rich.” Love it! These 15 word challenges are a great way to start the day. 🙂
Thanks, Michelle–they are fun!
SHORT AND SWEET
Wherefore art thou, my lovely?
I remember you being
Much taller.
© Randy Salas, no rights reserved, whatsoever
A rose by any other height would smell as nice:>) Great title!
SHORT AND SWEET
Wherefore art thou, my lovely?
I remember you being
Much taller.
© Randy Salas, no rights reserved, whatsoever
A rose by any other height would smell as nice:>) Great title!
songs and
declarations rise
leaving golden
voiceprints
where they rest
evidence
that they
were here
Oh, I love the idea of all that gold being the residue of wonderful scenes played out on stage. Nice!
I love this picture, and it has kept rolling around in my head…so I had to write another one and post it on my site along with a drawing I did in Canvastic (It’s quite the piece of artwork, I might add! Right up there with the image you have today, Laura.). I needed an image and didn’t want to steal yours. The resemblance to yours is purely intentional — it’s just a different angle…yeah, that’s it.
Wow, my name gets you to a WordPress site I’d forgotten I had begun. My website is: http://www.mainelywrite.blogspot.com…changed it for this reply.
songs and
declarations rise
leaving golden
voiceprints
where they rest
evidence
that they
were here
Oh, I love the idea of all that gold being the residue of wonderful scenes played out on stage. Nice!
I love this picture, and it has kept rolling around in my head…so I had to write another one and post it on my site along with a drawing I did in Canvastic (It’s quite the piece of artwork, I might add! Right up there with the image you have today, Laura.). I needed an image and didn’t want to steal yours. The resemblance to yours is purely intentional — it’s just a different angle…yeah, that’s it.
Wow, my name gets you to a WordPress site I’d forgotten I had begun. My website is: http://www.mainelywrite.blogspot.com…changed it for this reply.
Live Theatre
Maiden Juliet!
Not in your booth?!
The audience is watching
and I’m freaking out, forsooth!
I knew this image would speak to you, Jennifer. Love the anxiety and the title. And bonus points for forsooth!
Live Theatre
Maiden Juliet!
Not in your booth?!
The audience is watching
and I’m freaking out, forsooth!
I knew this image would speak to you, Jennifer. Love the anxiety and the title. And bonus points for forsooth!
Laura, as always, your poem is exquisite!
Thanks, Jennifer. Sadly, I forgot I hadn’t put up today’s post over the w/e, like I usually do. So I got to my computer at 5:45 and realized, “Oh, crumb!” Threw this one together very quickly:>)
Laura, as always, your poem is exquisite!
Thanks, Jennifer. Sadly, I forgot I hadn’t put up today’s post over the w/e, like I usually do. So I got to my computer at 5:45 and realized, “Oh, crumb!” Threw this one together very quickly:>)
Silent stage
nobody here but me–
staring at spot
actors should be–
dreaming
–Freeda Baker Nichols
What a lovely captured moment, Freeda. I feel the stillness.
Silent stage
nobody here but me–
staring at spot
actors should be–
dreaming
–Freeda Baker Nichols
What a lovely captured moment, Freeda. I feel the stillness.
Stage Fright
For years,
dreamed to be here.
But now among this grandeur-
stand — frozen in fear.
I like all the closed up ‑r sounds, ellie. And I can relate to the stage fright!
Stage Fright
For years,
dreamed to be here.
But now among this grandeur-
stand — frozen in fear.
I like all the closed up ‑r sounds, ellie. And I can relate to the stage fright!
Alone
On a balcony of rationality,
I watch the world perform
it’s ecological swan song.
Alone
On a balcony of rationality,
I watch the world perform
it’s ecological swan song.
Please go to:
http://thevibrantchanneledcreator.wordpress.com/2013/05/23/decor/
to see my poem.
Jeanne Poland
Please go to:
http://thevibrantchanneledcreator.wordpress.com/2013/05/23/decor/
to see my poem.
Jeanne Poland
Gilded columns
sustain ancient
gossamer ceiling–
decades of silence
cease:
a symphony of
termites.
(I heard Gordon Lightfoot 30 plus years ago…much more enjoyable than a symphony of termites.)
Gilded columns
sustain ancient
gossamer ceiling–
decades of silence
cease:
a symphony of
termites.
(I heard Gordon Lightfoot 30 plus years ago…much more enjoyable than a symphony of termites.)
This is in response to your poem, Laura!
What Remains
Italian, Irish, Poles,
came with skills;
rich men came
with money. Who
made the art?
© Diane Mayr
This is in response to your poem, Laura!
What Remains
Italian, Irish, Poles,
came with skills;
rich men came
with money. Who
made the art?
© Diane Mayr
Organ pipes
trumpet blast
all rise
to stand
and watch
the queen
take
her seat.
Ouoo, I like the interesting dichotomy. Makes me think of human behavior, social classes, and all sorts of things–with only 15 words! Nice!
Organ pipes
trumpet blast
all rise
to stand
and watch
the queen
take
her seat.
Ouoo, I like the interesting dichotomy. Makes me think of human behavior, social classes, and all sorts of things–with only 15 words! Nice!
At The Plush Theater
The play was bad.
That didn’t spoil
the fact that I felt
rich and royal.
Ha! Great rhyme (and title!).
At The Plush Theater
The play was bad.
That didn’t spoil
the fact that I felt
rich and royal.
Ha! Great rhyme (and title!).
ENTRANCE FROM THE MEZZANINE
Moment of truth,
spotlight shines,
Oh no, dear god,
What’s my line?
© Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
ENTRANCE FROM THE MEZZANINE
Moment of truth,
spotlight shines,
Oh no, dear god,
What’s my line?
© Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.