Pipes [15 words or less poems]

Hello, my fun 15 Words or Less community! Today, I’m driving home from a FABULOUS 4 days on the North Shore of Lake Superior. That’s one of my favorite places on earth, and Randy and I have been just hanging out, soaking up fall beauty, reading, playing Scrabble, and getting away from it all. (This is why I haven’t been answering email or Comments this week, in case you’re wondering.)

And today’s my birthday! So tonight, Annabelle’s coming over and we’ll celebrate, and hopefully I’ll get to Skype with Maddie in Scotland at some point today, too.

So, I’m glad you’re here–I truly am. And I’ll read through all your poems whilst on the road (no, NOT while driving). But I won’t be able to reply to them. I love how you guys respond and support each other, and that’s what I’m counting on today! Tomorrow I’ll be catching up on email and also doing final preparations for our local SCBWI conference, which Lisa Bullard and I are presenting two sessions at. So, lots to do!

OK, just wanted to give you the scoopy-doop. Now, back to our regularly schedule poeming.

Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines are here)!

Photo: Laura P. Salas

I took this picture a couple of years ago at our high school’s indoor winter athletic dome. They have a bunch of huge PVC pipes stacked up for stashing your coat, etc., while you practice or walk the track. This makes me think of:

  1. cubbies in kindergarten–when everything I needed was in full view at every moment–sigh
  2. a pipe organ
  3. tunnels–I have a little bit of a fear of tunnels, I think. It’s such a vulnerable situation. Once you enter a tunnel, so easy to be trapped or confronted. I’ve never had a tunnel trauma, but they do make me uneasy!

And, here’s my first draft.

15wol-tunnel

 

It’s your turn! Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS! (Title doesn’t count toward word count:>) If you leave a poem in the comments, and if it’s 15 words or less, I’ll try to respond!

 

38 Responses

  1. Laura I’m glad you had some nice time wit your family Happy Birthday

    Tubular

    Tubular-tunnels
    universal ‑universes
    blasting off
    umbrella-shuts
    looming- booming
    aerial-astronauts
    rocket-booster riddles

    Poem By Jessica Bigi

  2. Stand before plethora of paths
    Choosing where to crawl
    Which one holds the most light?

    Happy birthday Ms. Salas!!!

    1. Amelia, choices are great; decision is my nemesis. Like plethora of paths.

  3. Happy birthday, dear Laura! So glad you were able to spend some down time at a favorite place. You give so much of yourself to other writers. Thank you!

    This photo reminds me of a tractor trailer we passed on the highway yesterday hauling perfectly positioned PVC pipes. I remember wishing I could snap a picture. I love the use of the ones you photographed! Thanks for sharing.

  4. Happy Birthday, Laura. Love “Night Never Entirely Leaves.” Here’s Mine (more question than poem):

    Design Challenge

    With sufficient cubbies
    on the walls,
    would papers
    still pile
    on office floors?

    1. So true Ellie. I have a nice file cabinet right beside me and there are 4 stacks of “stuff” around me.

  5. Happy birthday Laura. Hope your getaway has given you the respite needed to continue in your many, truly inspirational endeavors.

    Fantasy Competition

    All bets in
    empty cartons neatly stacked
    Ben & Jerry’s contest
    boasts new champion:
    Me!

  6. Happy Birthday! Beautiful day here. I hope it is where you are!

    My pores,
    like doors,
    I see too clear-
    thanks to
    my magnifying
    mirror.

  7. I’ll try to come back to write, but am off to breakfast with a friend. Happy, happy Birthday, Laura. Sounds like you’ve had a wonderful week leading up to it!

  8. Happy birthday, Laura! October is my birth month, too. Have a wonderful day!

    P.erfectly V.iable C.omb

    “Ooh! PVC!”
    Exclaimed honeybee.
    “I see what I need -
    A sweet nectar protector
    That’s moisture-free!”

  9. Ha. Just saw that Donna had the same idea. Love the PVC rhyme! And Happy B‑day, Laura!

    Honeycomb
    of great white cells.
    Are these
    home to giant
    baby bees?

    —Kate Coombs

      1. Thanks, Donna and Kate, for seeing that honeycomb. You turned the photo into a dragonfly eye for me. (The image of PVC-sized honeybees is more than a little terrifying.…)

    1. Buffy, I like your take on the prompt. I immediately thought of the movie “Honey I Shrunk the Kids.”

  10. I Love everyone’s poems today for some reason I have to reenter all my info each time I comment so I’m just sending everyone’s in one 🙂 wonderful poems today and an interesting pic

  11. Happy Birthday, Laura! I’m not a poet, but I’ll give this a try.

    Birthday wishes, what are yours?
    A place to play scrabble?
    A walk along the shore?
    Here’s hoping birthday wishes
    All come true on your big day.

  12. With these foot holes
    Of life I could climb
    To great heights

    To achieve success

    Anne McKenna

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