Hello, and welcome! This is 15 Words or Less Poems, a low-pressure way to wake up your poetry brain (guidelines here), and I’m very glad you’re here.
This is the City Hall clock tower in downtown Minneapolis. I took this pic from the roof of a parking garage when Maddie and I went down to meet Randy for a food truck lunch in June. It was about to storm, and the sky looked so dramatic! This image makes me think of several things:
- The clock tower looks like a syringe injecting light into the sky
- Ghostbusters
- I have a sudden urge to build a town out of Legos
And here’s my first draft. This one poured out quickly, just like I imagined the electricity racing upward through the building.
It’s your turn! Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS! (Title doesn’t count toward word count.)
[NOTE: I’m traveling today. I will read every poem in the next day or two, and you’ll know I’ve read it because I’ll Like it. But I don’t know if I’ll be able to actually Comment on them or not.]
43 Responses
Laura, I could feel the energy of your poem!
WEATHER ALERT
Umbrella up!
Frightened eyes.
Storm a’coming.
And it’s King-size!
Hi Cindy, I really like the way your rhythm shifts and matches the tone of each line. I feel this poem.
What a great snap in that ending. Humor.…but with a warning label.
I like the quick and urgent feel to this!
I’ve seen these skies too often this summer. We have had rain every day since June 1st.
Rolling waves
across the ocean
of the sky
rumble ashore–
a shower.
Hi Margaret, I really like the connection you make between the ocean and the sky. We’ve had lots of afternoon rain too. The heat just gets to be too much and the storms erupt.
I,too, really like that ocean-sky connection. Here’s hoping you get some respite from the rain!
Both our minds went to roiling waves this morning. I think I need a beach trip! You?
Those rolling clouds do look like rolling waves coming in. Both warn of storms on their way. Both ominous!
Despite the threatening skies, the clock tower stands ready. Safe travels Laura. This photo represents our weather forecast for the next few days.
Old Faithful
Chiming the hour
clock pealing its call
city’s giant lightning rod
protecting one and all
With a thunderous crack
the staggering weight
of gathering clouds
pours out
of me.
Love this!!
Neat to see something unexpected in such a short poem. Wonderful image you’ve painted with words. I love it too!
Loved “staggering weight
of gathering clouds”
And it truly does pour out!
Laura, I love the vitality your poem and the idea of the city injecting its energy into the skies.
On the Brink
Turbulent clouds
Churn and swirl
Roiling
Poised to unleash
Turmoil
What comes
after the storm?
Nice question.…I like the openness of the poem.…like an open palm with beautiful words. Roiling seems to be the word of the day!
I like the question at the end too. It’s a real shift in tone and perspective.
I love all the “oi“s in there!
Tea leaves
oracle bones
roiling clouds
The future
has arrived.
Our mayor frowns.
I absolutely adore the phrase oracle bones!
“Oracle bones” has a nice feel to it!
“Tea leaves, oracle bones, and and rolling clouds” I love everything about this!
I liked the syringe viewpoint. Injecting the sky with some light would be good!
This picture reminded me of the storms that came rumbling through when we lived in Hokah, MN. The pointed roof tops reminded me of the firs, and the squared tops the bluffs.
Tears of Laughter
Firs and bluffs
Tickle the sky
Belly laughs rumble
As tears tumble
From storm’s eye.
by Donna JT Smith
Nice.….tears tumble.…storm’s eye. Very nice.
I love how you’ve made thunder into tickled belly laughs and rain into happy tears. Rumble/tumble — fun rhyme.
I love the idea of thunder being a storm’s belly laugh. So great.
Great image–and I just did a storytime event in Hokah a couple of weeks ago. Did you already tell me you used to live there? Cool! I had never heard of it until I received the invitation from the librarian there!
Wow! Hokah is a small farming community, so no one has heard of it! I taught school 10 years across the Mississippi in LaCrosse, WI and both my children were born there. We had a 40 A farm and had horses there to come home to after work. I think this is the first time I’ve mentioned Hokah! Loved it out there — except for the severe storms with most ominous skies!
Small world!
Too funny! Yup, I stayed overnight in La Crosse but my event was with the Hokah Public Library. Small world, indeed!
Laura I love this picture, it really captures the ominous sense of a storm rolling in. Your poem made me think of the energy of firemen running up stairs for some reason. So in keeping with that dark and ominous feeling here is my poem:
Time stood still
as my hands fumbled together
in fearful defense of your strike.
I love fumbled together and fearful defense, the tension slowing time. That’s a lot in three lines.
Working the clock in their with the fear and fumbling — I like it!
Building Puzzles
no pitcher to fallow
so many pieces to place
lighting crashes no lights
or idea of time
we love building puzzles
A puzzle with the power out, but a sense of fun not fear. Nice.
We’ve done a puzzle in a storm without power — using headlamps! No idea of time is right. I like how you worked the clock into it, too!
Before I read your prompts and energizing poem, Laura, I saw the tower as a lightning attractor.
Calling for lightning.
Timing the strikes -
not too scary many,
not too boring few.
Love the clock’s role in this!
Leafy green
roof
brushes the
clouds
pierces the sky
shelters
raccoons, robins
and squirrels.
I love your tree shelter and all your cool verbs.
I was drawn to the green of the roof too. I like the idea of it being shelter to animals.
I love roof, pierces and sheltering from the image for a tree canopy and the life within.
I thought that today was Wednesday! Almost missed doing this. Glad I got my days figured out. Here’s my little ditty.
It’s Time
Big clock rails
Half past four
Storm cloud wails
Start the pour
Glad you made it, Rebecca! Love “wails.”