Photo: Laura Salas
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
Hi, everyone–sorry if you got an incorrect email of this post yesterday (and it was probably still last week’s post, anyway). I’m switching over servers, and it’s a big honking mess! Anyway. Here’s a pic from our trip to Las Vegas in 2012. It’s the Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge at Hoover Dam, and here are 3 things this photo makes me think of:
1) Popsicle sticks
2) Mississippi River, and how it starts out as a tiny trickle you can walk across on stones
3) In war, one of the common strategies is to destroy bridges
And here’s my first draft:
Things To Do If You’re a Bridge
Rreeeeaacccccchhhhhhhhhh your steel hand
Let gulls nest in your hair
Be strong
Be a poem
–Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved
Now it’s your turn! Have fun? and stick to? 15 WORDS OR LESS!??(Title doesn’t count toward word count:>)?
162 Responses
Thanks for posting a bridge. I am working with an enrichment project for 6th grade gifted students and we are working on the theme of bridges. It is always my job to lead the writing prompt. So I think this month I’ll use this one if you don’t mind.
My OLW for 2014 is open, so my poem is more like a quote for my word.
The Bridge
Once you build a bridge,
the way across is open to you.
Cross it.
I like that last line, so full of possibility.
What a nice thought. I like it.
Great to connect your OLW too, Margaret. I thought of this kind of metaphor too!
Life is a series of crossing and intersections. Margaret, I like the admonition to “just do it.”
Love your final declaration.
ooh I like that Margaret!
I’d be happy for you to use it, Margaret. The pic posted kind of small here. If you need a bigger version of it, I probably have one. I love your poem. I like the way you open with the simple topic. Then you kind of define it. And finally, you say TAKE ACTION! Yes. Lovely wording in those first two lines.
Thanks for posting a bridge. I am working with an enrichment project for 6th grade gifted students and we are working on the theme of bridges. It is always my job to lead the writing prompt. So I think this month I’ll use this one if you don’t mind.
My OLW for 2014 is open, so my poem is more like a quote for my word.
The Bridge
Once you build a bridge,
the way across is open to you.
Cross it.
I like that last line, so full of possibility.
What a nice thought. I like it.
Great to connect your OLW too, Margaret. I thought of this kind of metaphor too!
Life is a series of crossing and intersections. Margaret, I like the admonition to “just do it.”
Love your final declaration.
ooh I like that Margaret!
I’d be happy for you to use it, Margaret. The pic posted kind of small here. If you need a bigger version of it, I probably have one. I love your poem. I like the way you open with the simple topic. Then you kind of define it. And finally, you say TAKE ACTION! Yes. Lovely wording in those first two lines.
Bridges
Here I stand
Mighty and grand
hand in hand
Land to land
Here I stand
Awesome picture!
Lovely. I like “hand in hand/ land to land” connecting people and place.
I like all your rhyming words
about being a bridge.
Ooh, I like this, especially “land to land.”
The use of the rhyming words and the content is awesome!
Amelia, rhyme great. Land to land, hand in hand.
Love the repetition.
Hi Amelia, I love this cheerful, sturdy poem. Like a bridge, it seems simple, but it does a lot of work!
Bridges
Here I stand
Mighty and grand
hand in hand
Land to land
Here I stand
Awesome picture!
Lovely. I like “hand in hand/ land to land” connecting people and place.
I like all your rhyming words
about being a bridge.
Ooh, I like this, especially “land to land.”
The use of the rhyming words and the content is awesome!
Amelia, rhyme great. Land to land, hand in hand.
Love the repetition.
Hi Amelia, I love this cheerful, sturdy poem. Like a bridge, it seems simple, but it does a lot of work!
Newsworthy Discord
Democrat
Republican
Black
White
What sturdy steel
can securely bridge
the cold chasms
of distrust?
Very timely. A “bridge” is what we need.
Good thinking.
I like the way you posed the challenge as a question. We do need that sturdy steel!
Bravo Ellie.
love the phrase: cold chasms of distrust. Terrific!
Great last line!
Ooh, I like that you used bridge as a verb, and, sadly, I’m not sure there is a steel strong enough. Love those final two lines.
Newsworthy Discord
Democrat
Republican
Black
White
What sturdy steel
can securely bridge
the cold chasms
of distrust?
Very timely. A “bridge” is what we need.
Good thinking.
I like the way you posed the challenge as a question. We do need that sturdy steel!
Bravo Ellie.
love the phrase: cold chasms of distrust. Terrific!
Great last line!
Ooh, I like that you used bridge as a verb, and, sadly, I’m not sure there is a steel strong enough. Love those final two lines.
Rock and Steel
Different,
but when joined
links all mankind,
dipping diversity
into the void
of ages.
Laura, I have seen this exact picture, thanks to family who have visited the site. Also, your third
thought when looking at this, war/destruction, was poignant — blowing up bridges was my brother’s job in Viet Nam. I, too, decided to opt for the more positive.
Martha, very deep thinking on this.
Excellent job.
Thanks Pat. Just read yours. Its refreshing to look up instead of down.
I like that ‘dipping diversity’. It seems many are thinking of the metaphor of joining together!
Love your word choices!
Martha–Ooooh. Definitely one of my favorites of today (I’m reading backward). What a really beautiful analogy, and I love the void / of ages. I wrote two different assessment passages dealing with war today, one a sonnet and one a nonfiction piece. And then my husband was telling me about a Pear Harbor book he’s reading. I’m all war‑n out–war always brings misery… I have military family members I’m very proud of, and I know it is sometimes unavoidable, but war wastes so many lives. I enjoyed your positive take on the bridge (especially a bridge dedicated to a war hero).
Thank you Laura. I just read the latest posts. I am honored that you, along with others, enjoyed my 15 WOL. Sometimes a little says a lot. My brother’s birthday was Jan. 3rd and he has been on my mind a lot.
I’m sorry for your loss, Martha…We pour all the people we’ve loved into every poem…Hugs
Rock and Steel
Different,
but when joined
links all mankind,
dipping diversity
into the void
of ages.
Laura, I have seen this exact picture, thanks to family who have visited the site. Also, your third
thought when looking at this, war/destruction, was poignant — blowing up bridges was my brother’s job in Viet Nam. I, too, decided to opt for the more positive.
Martha, very deep thinking on this.
Excellent job.
Thanks Pat. Just read yours. Its refreshing to look up instead of down.
I like that ‘dipping diversity’. It seems many are thinking of the metaphor of joining together!
Love your word choices!
Martha–Ooooh. Definitely one of my favorites of today (I’m reading backward). What a really beautiful analogy, and I love the void / of ages. I wrote two different assessment passages dealing with war today, one a sonnet and one a nonfiction piece. And then my husband was telling me about a Pear Harbor book he’s reading. I’m all war‑n out–war always brings misery… I have military family members I’m very proud of, and I know it is sometimes unavoidable, but war wastes so many lives. I enjoyed your positive take on the bridge (especially a bridge dedicated to a war hero).
Thank you Laura. I just read the latest posts. I am honored that you, along with others, enjoyed my 15 WOL. Sometimes a little says a lot. My brother’s birthday was Jan. 3rd and he has been on my mind a lot.
I’m sorry for your loss, Martha…We pour all the people we’ve loved into every poem…Hugs
Glider
I would love to glide,
fly, soar around,
but safely land
back on the ground.
Terrific! I didn’t think of things above at all.
Pat, yes! I always think hang-gliding or para-sailing looks fun. But I’m not sure I’d have the guts to do it. I’m not afraid of the gliding/sailing part–just afraid of dropping out of the sky!
Glider
I would love to glide,
fly, soar around,
but safely land
back on the ground.
Terrific! I didn’t think of things above at all.
Pat, yes! I always think hang-gliding or para-sailing looks fun. But I’m not sure I’d have the guts to do it. I’m not afraid of the gliding/sailing part–just afraid of dropping out of the sky!
Love your first 2 lines Laura! Here’s mine.
PEACE
My hand is here,
Stretched across the chasm.
All you need do
is take it.
Andria W. Rosenbaum/ all rights reserved
Love the image of a bridge being a hand.
Another good thought on a bridge “connecting.”
I like your take on it. Peace.
Bridge as a hand, great metaphor!
Thanks, Andria. I love the earnest voice here. It is like a poem to a loved one for a difficult time…I especially like that the hand is “here,” not there, not with you, whatever. But here, stretched across the chasm. So the speaker has crossed over to go right TO the other person. Not even asking him/her to meet halfway. It’s a very generous thought.
Love your first 2 lines Laura! Here’s mine.
PEACE
My hand is here,
Stretched across the chasm.
All you need do
is take it.
Andria W. Rosenbaum/ all rights reserved
Love the image of a bridge being a hand.
Another good thought on a bridge “connecting.”
I like your take on it. Peace.
Bridge as a hand, great metaphor!
Thanks, Andria. I love the earnest voice here. It is like a poem to a loved one for a difficult time…I especially like that the hand is “here,” not there, not with you, whatever. But here, stretched across the chasm. So the speaker has crossed over to go right TO the other person. Not even asking him/her to meet halfway. It’s a very generous thought.
TRAP OF INDECISION
Over here- routine.
Over there- unseen.
To cross or not,
that’s where I’m caught.
I enjoy the rhyming and the rhythm, the posing of the question.
Fear of the unknown, or to stay in comfort of routine.
Good thought.
A lot of good thoughts today.
Nice, Cindyb. And I extra like the title.
TRAP OF INDECISION
Over here- routine.
Over there- unseen.
To cross or not,
that’s where I’m caught.
I enjoy the rhyming and the rhythm, the posing of the question.
Fear of the unknown, or to stay in comfort of routine.
Good thought.
A lot of good thoughts today.
Nice, Cindyb. And I extra like the title.
I like the stretch of ‘reach’, Laura-soaring!
Wishing bridge building
between ideas
could be as beautiful
as capturing a chasm
with steel!
Linda Baie ?All Rights Reserved
Cindy, definitely a decision to be made. I like it.
I love your phrase “capturing a chasm with steel.”
Ooh love ‘capturing a chasm’ Linda.
Thanks, Linda. Love this–it makes me think of my brain. Lots of ridges, but sometimes the synapses aren’t firing like I want them to–like ideas or facts with no bridge between them. Capturing a chasm–great phrase!
I like the stretch of ‘reach’, Laura-soaring!
Wishing bridge building
between ideas
could be as beautiful
as capturing a chasm
with steel!
Linda Baie ?All Rights Reserved
Cindy, definitely a decision to be made. I like it.
I love your phrase “capturing a chasm with steel.”
Ooh love ‘capturing a chasm’ Linda.
Thanks, Linda. Love this–it makes me think of my brain. Lots of ridges, but sometimes the synapses aren’t firing like I want them to–like ideas or facts with no bridge between them. Capturing a chasm–great phrase!
Achaearanea tepidariorum
From its
abdomen
girders of silk
proteins spin
to sully the
corners of
human
pride.
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
Thinking of spiders girding the two sides as metaphor is great, Diane, yet are you also reflecting on house keeping?
Yes, the Latin is the name for the common house spider, and even the cleanest homes have little creatures that clean up the even smaller creatures that hang around!
And spider silk is stronger than steel!
What a great idea! Bridge —- spider web.
So different, I am smiling.
Wow!
Oooooh, girders of silk! I tried to use girders and gird in a different rhyming bridge poem I was working on, but couldn’t make it work in 15. It’s rare I try two different take. I also *love* the word sully here.
Achaearanea tepidariorum
From its
abdomen
girders of silk
proteins spin
to sully the
corners of
human
pride.
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
Thinking of spiders girding the two sides as metaphor is great, Diane, yet are you also reflecting on house keeping?
Yes, the Latin is the name for the common house spider, and even the cleanest homes have little creatures that clean up the even smaller creatures that hang around!
And spider silk is stronger than steel!
What a great idea! Bridge —- spider web.
So different, I am smiling.
Wow!
Oooooh, girders of silk! I tried to use girders and gird in a different rhyming bridge poem I was working on, but couldn’t make it work in 15. It’s rare I try two different take. I also *love* the word sully here.
Last day to first day,
Old Year to New–
the bridge has been crossed.
Thankfully too, and thank you for the reminder.
Oh, I like that you connected to the bridging of the new year.
Great image. New Year is a fresh start…but it’s still connected inevitably to the year that was before (both for good and not so good). Thanks for this one, Cynthia. I think I’ll be pondering this idea/image for a while.
Last day to first day,
Old Year to New–
the bridge has been crossed.
Thankfully too, and thank you for the reminder.
Oh, I like that you connected to the bridging of the new year.
Great image. New Year is a fresh start…but it’s still connected inevitably to the year that was before (both for good and not so good). Thanks for this one, Cynthia. I think I’ll be pondering this idea/image for a while.
Nice connection thought —– old year to new year.
Good job.
Nice connection thought —– old year to new year.
Good job.
super spider craft
suspended cables like a
steel web
erected architecture
woven
by an artist.
I unknowingly made the connection of a spider to the bridge too!
I really like that woven architecture, Ann, and the alliteration in the first 4 lines. Nice!
super spider craft
suspended cables like a
steel web
erected architecture
woven
by an artist.
I unknowingly made the connection of a spider to the bridge too!
I really like that woven architecture, Ann, and the alliteration in the first 4 lines. Nice!
They drift apart:
two cliffs separated
by a widening rift–
no steel bridges their
abyss.
I tried to end this with a little hope, as in: searching for steel to bridge the abyss. But hope apparently takes more than 15 words. Sorry to spread gloom today!
Don’t worry mine is gloomy too 😉 Love ‘widening rift’
I like what you said about hope and 16 words, Buffy, but also loved that you said nothing would stop the rift. Sometimes that’s all that can be said.
Heheheh–It’s like a fortune cookie fortune: Hope takes more than 15 words. I actually like it with the gloomy ending. Nice scene-setting. Don’t forget that you can always use a title, and the words don’t count. FREE words!
Buffy, I love your rhymes of drift/cliffs/rift!
They drift apart:
two cliffs separated
by a widening rift–
no steel bridges their
abyss.
I tried to end this with a little hope, as in: searching for steel to bridge the abyss. But hope apparently takes more than 15 words. Sorry to spread gloom today!
Don’t worry mine is gloomy too 😉 Love ‘widening rift’
I like what you said about hope and 16 words, Buffy, but also loved that you said nothing would stop the rift. Sometimes that’s all that can be said.
Heheheh–It’s like a fortune cookie fortune: Hope takes more than 15 words. I actually like it with the gloomy ending. Nice scene-setting. Don’t forget that you can always use a title, and the words don’t count. FREE words!
Buffy, I love your rhymes of drift/cliffs/rift!
Love yours, Laura. I have my in-laws visiting so this is a great prompt.
Span wide expanse
swing out your arms
concrete hug
Love concrete hug. Open arms we can move across.
I don’t know whether this meant the concrete hug was good or not, but like the vision, Catherine!
Thanks, Catherine. I enjoyed the ambiguity of this one. Hug and swinging out of arms sounds so positive, but the concrete I wasn’t so sure about:>)
Love yours, Laura. I have my in-laws visiting so this is a great prompt.
Span wide expanse
swing out your arms
concrete hug
Love concrete hug. Open arms we can move across.
I don’t know whether this meant the concrete hug was good or not, but like the vision, Catherine!
Thanks, Catherine. I enjoyed the ambiguity of this one. Hug and swinging out of arms sounds so positive, but the concrete I wasn’t so sure about:>)
There’s a bridge
between me and you,
spidery, light blue.
I will cross. You too?
?Kate Coombs
Your poem is just as delicate as the bridge sounds. Lovely. And beautiful invitational ending.
There’s a bridge
between me and you,
spidery, light blue.
I will cross. You too?
?Kate Coombs
Your poem is just as delicate as the bridge sounds. Lovely. And beautiful invitational ending.
A bridge can separate
True life from reality
Once crossed
A new life can begin
- Anne McKenna
So true. The bridge/life analogy played a big role in a story structure conference I attended recently.
A bridge can separate
True life from reality
Once crossed
A new life can begin
- Anne McKenna
So true. The bridge/life analogy played a big role in a story structure conference I attended recently.
If I had more time ( and words!) I could probably come up with something better, but here’s my offering:
THE BRIDGE
We may be
no closer
than before, but our days
spent apart
are now distant.
- ? 2014, Matt Forrest Esenwine
Ha–this is so clever! I love poems that are about one thing but you can apply them to lots of situations…
If I had more time ( and words!) I could probably come up with something better, but here’s my offering:
THE BRIDGE
We may be
no closer
than before, but our days
spent apart
are now distant.
- ? 2014, Matt Forrest Esenwine
Ha–this is so clever! I love poems that are about one thing but you can apply them to lots of situations…
Laura, forgot to say how much I like your poem. It’s a happy sigh kind of poem!
THanks, Kate!
Laura, forgot to say how much I like your poem. It’s a happy sigh kind of poem!
THanks, Kate!
ARC
Let
your story
stretch
reach out
take to air
All
of you dreams.
ARC
Let
your story
stretch
reach out
take to air
All
of you dreams.
BRIDGES
Steel girders connect
Society?s wanderlust.
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.
BRIDGES
Steel girders connect
Society?s wanderlust.
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.