Photo: Laura Salas
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
I took this pic inside the Luxor hotel in Vegas last year. When I’m looking for interesting pictures, I often look up. We tend to ignore what’s overhead most of the time. At least I do. So, maybe this pic will inspire you to write about what you see over your head today. Here are?3 things this photo makes me think of:
1) Nativity set with wooden stars hanging from fishing line overhead
2) Climbing a tall ladder to paint the house
3) Building block cities in kindergarten
And here’s my first draft.
Building Blocks
Small hands
Construct the sky
One wooden cloud
at a time
–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:>)
178 Responses
I have been here and may even have a very similar picture. I recognized it immediately!
Oh tower of vanity
You strain
And cannot reach
But gracefully
The cross reaches
Down
gracefully/ The cross reaches/ Down — Love it!
Thanks, Ellie. I was delighted when I got that word, too!
I love that you looked from the top down, Donna. I seemed only to focus on the building. I like the idea of ‘tower of vanity’.
The tower in the middle going up, would seem so big and wonderful, except for the huge structure above it. It was funny how that “other thing” in the picture somewhat disturbed me.
I, too, saw the cross. I like your verse very much.
Thanks, Martha. I’m betting the architect didn’t…but maybe.
I like your phrase, “tower of vanity.” Funny, I hardly noticed that in the picture at all.
Good job.
Too funny, Donna. Lovely poem–I love the image of the cross reaching down, and what that signifies. Love that you put down on its own line, too.
I have been here and may even have a very similar picture. I recognized it immediately!
Oh tower of vanity
You strain
And cannot reach
But gracefully
The cross reaches
Down
gracefully/ The cross reaches/ Down — Love it!
Thanks, Ellie. I was delighted when I got that word, too!
I love that you looked from the top down, Donna. I seemed only to focus on the building. I like the idea of ‘tower of vanity’.
The tower in the middle going up, would seem so big and wonderful, except for the huge structure above it. It was funny how that “other thing” in the picture somewhat disturbed me.
I, too, saw the cross. I like your verse very much.
Thanks, Martha. I’m betting the architect didn’t…but maybe.
I like your phrase, “tower of vanity.” Funny, I hardly noticed that in the picture at all.
Good job.
Too funny, Donna. Lovely poem–I love the image of the cross reaching down, and what that signifies. Love that you put down on its own line, too.
“One wooden cloud at a time” is a brilliant metaphor.
As a child I imagined walking on the ceiling.
Steeple Mountain
Imagine
walking stairs
to the steeple,
world turned upside
down-you-
king of the hill.
–Margaret
Lovely! I remember imagining walking on the ceiling, too — stepping over the wall to get out the door!
This brought back a memory of staring at the ceiling in church an imagining walking up there. Thanks.
For a child, it would be a delight, wouldn’t it? Up & up!
I like your title — Steeple Mountain — and the idea of being “King of the Mountain.”
Hi Margaret–Thanks! And yes on walking on the ceiling. I had forgotten wanting to do that. Thank you for bringing it back to me:>)
“One wooden cloud at a time” is a brilliant metaphor.
As a child I imagined walking on the ceiling.
Steeple Mountain
Imagine
walking stairs
to the steeple,
world turned upside
down-you-
king of the hill.
–Margaret
Lovely! I remember imagining walking on the ceiling, too — stepping over the wall to get out the door!
This brought back a memory of staring at the ceiling in church an imagining walking up there. Thanks.
For a child, it would be a delight, wouldn’t it? Up & up!
I like your title — Steeple Mountain — and the idea of being “King of the Mountain.”
Hi Margaret–Thanks! And yes on walking on the ceiling. I had forgotten wanting to do that. Thank you for bringing it back to me:>)
MULTIPLE CHOICE
The cross that towers
brought love that powers
the good
I could would should
do.
So inspirational. Love those last three lines, and the image in the first.
We often speak of ‘coulda, woulda, shoulda’-you’ve included that concept beautifully. A good lesson in your brief words.
Wasn’t that a perfect image? Nicely put!
I loved the way you used those words — good could would should. Nice.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
The cross that towers
brought love that powers
the good
I could would should
do.
So inspirational. Love those last three lines, and the image in the first.
We often speak of ‘coulda, woulda, shoulda’-you’ve included that concept beautifully. A good lesson in your brief words.
Wasn’t that a perfect image? Nicely put!
I loved the way you used those words — good could would should. Nice.
Overwhelmed
Overhead-
blue sky
behind gray clouds.
Ahead-
mountains
of trouble.
Not sure why this came out so dark when I finally have time to play again. Love yours, Laura, especially, as someone else said, “one wooden cloud/ at a time”.
I too went a bit dark. I like this.
I like that you used the ceiling as “trouble”, a stopping point. Interesting to consider.
But when you get to the top that trouble is over! The blue sky is closer, too! See, not so “dark”. You just need 5 more words to get yourself over the troubled times!
Overhead and Overwhelmed. I like it.
Overwhelmed
Overhead-
blue sky
behind gray clouds.
Ahead-
mountains
of trouble.
Not sure why this came out so dark when I finally have time to play again. Love yours, Laura, especially, as someone else said, “one wooden cloud/ at a time”.
I too went a bit dark. I like this.
I like that you used the ceiling as “trouble”, a stopping point. Interesting to consider.
But when you get to the top that trouble is over! The blue sky is closer, too! See, not so “dark”. You just need 5 more words to get yourself over the troubled times!
Overhead and Overwhelmed. I like it.
STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
So many paths
Some less traveled
Highway to heaven
Steps up to God
To me this looked like a bunch of stairways going up! Beautiful picture!
Nice to think of the ‘stairways’-& multiple ones!
Interesting steps, perhaps from all walks of life, or all “four corners” of the globe = all leading to God. I like it.
From a beautiful picture to a beautiful idea — Stairway to Heaven.
I like it.
Thanks, Amelia. I love the beautiful simplicity of this. It has a lovely feeling of tolerance to it…
STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
So many paths
Some less traveled
Highway to heaven
Steps up to God
To me this looked like a bunch of stairways going up! Beautiful picture!
Nice to think of the ‘stairways’-& multiple ones!
Interesting steps, perhaps from all walks of life, or all “four corners” of the globe = all leading to God. I like it.
From a beautiful picture to a beautiful idea — Stairway to Heaven.
I like it.
Thanks, Amelia. I love the beautiful simplicity of this. It has a lovely feeling of tolerance to it…
“Wooden cloud” is so unexpected, Laura!
Recurring Dream
All the lines
needing to
be filled in
a blue book.
My #2 pencil
missing.
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
The frustration in that last line — well done. I know these dreams — never pleasant.
Oh, Diane, a different look. I love the idea of empty lines. I remember taking multiple pencils!
Aarrghhhh! All those blank lines in that dreaded blue book.
Lines in a book! Yes. It does look like lines in a book.
It’s funny that people see the same thing in so many different ways.
“Wooden cloud” is so unexpected, Laura!
Recurring Dream
All the lines
needing to
be filled in
a blue book.
My #2 pencil
missing.
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
The frustration in that last line — well done. I know these dreams — never pleasant.
Oh, Diane, a different look. I love the idea of empty lines. I remember taking multiple pencils!
Aarrghhhh! All those blank lines in that dreaded blue book.
Lines in a book! Yes. It does look like lines in a book.
It’s funny that people see the same thing in so many different ways.
Wonderful how you have so many routes to God.
oops, This was for Amelia.
Wonderful how you have so many routes to God.
oops, This was for Amelia.
Yes, Laura–lovely image!
Light lifts right
through the steeple
over our heads
as prayers
stream like
returning angels.
? Kate Coombs
Beautiful!
That ‘streaming up’-lovely thought.
I like the image of prayers streaming up through the steeple.
Yes, I think it does look like a cathedral ceiling.
You created a beautiful idea about it.
Oh, Kate. I love how you can take a deep or abstract thought like prayer and make it concrete and vivid in a poem. I see the steeple and the prayers on wings streaming right out through it. Love that they are “returning angels.” Glorious.
Thank you, Laura! Thanks, ladies!
Yes, Laura–lovely image!
Light lifts right
through the steeple
over our heads
as prayers
stream like
returning angels.
? Kate Coombs
Beautiful!
That ‘streaming up’-lovely thought.
I like the image of prayers streaming up through the steeple.
Yes, I think it does look like a cathedral ceiling.
You created a beautiful idea about it.
Oh, Kate. I love how you can take a deep or abstract thought like prayer and make it concrete and vivid in a poem. I see the steeple and the prayers on wings streaming right out through it. Love that they are “returning angels.” Glorious.
Thank you, Laura! Thanks, ladies!
My thoughts are not running so deep, I guess,
but all I could think of was furnace filters and heating vents. 🙂
Below Zero
Furnace filters cleaned,
windows closed tight,
we should be warm
in our house tonight.
Isn’t it terrific how different people look at the pictures! You made me look again, & yes, there are furnace filters there!
Love your concept Pat. Good rhyme and timely.
Thanks, Martha. I’m tired of all this cold.
I didn’t know that it would get so cold in North Carolina.
Definitely! So glad those filters and furnaces are working, too!
Yes, and I hope they keep on working. Br-r‑r.
No need for deep thoughts, Pat! The simplest, most concrete images work so much better to me than abstractions. I love seeing what pops into people’s minds. Filters–yes! I didn’t see that at all.
My thoughts are not running so deep, I guess,
but all I could think of was furnace filters and heating vents. 🙂
Below Zero
Furnace filters cleaned,
windows closed tight,
we should be warm
in our house tonight.
Isn’t it terrific how different people look at the pictures! You made me look again, & yes, there are furnace filters there!
Love your concept Pat. Good rhyme and timely.
Thanks, Martha. I’m tired of all this cold.
I didn’t know that it would get so cold in North Carolina.
Definitely! So glad those filters and furnaces are working, too!
Yes, and I hope they keep on working. Br-r‑r.
No need for deep thoughts, Pat! The simplest, most concrete images work so much better to me than abstractions. I love seeing what pops into people’s minds. Filters–yes! I didn’t see that at all.
I love your dreamy poem, Laura!
Your eyes think you are climbing up
Your feet know it’s really the basement.
I love it, Catherine, so much said here!
Yes, which way is up, anyway?
Aha! An optical illusion, or is it just confusion?
Nice take on the picture.
Thanks, Catherine. Oooh, this one was interesting. It’s a bit disorienting, like a visual optical illusion is:)
I love your dreamy poem, Laura!
Your eyes think you are climbing up
Your feet know it’s really the basement.
I love it, Catherine, so much said here!
Yes, which way is up, anyway?
Aha! An optical illusion, or is it just confusion?
Nice take on the picture.
Thanks, Catherine. Oooh, this one was interesting. It’s a bit disorienting, like a visual optical illusion is:)
I work with the young ones in their block cities, sometimes constructing stories. I love that idea of ‘wooden clouds’ Laura.
Could It Be?
Catastrophic affair,
architect?s nightmare.
Building interrupted;
Looking up had been neglected!
Linda Baie? All Rights Reserved
Ha! Should have built that tower just a bout 1000 feet to the left. Or right.
I was going to say before I clicked Post — Looks like we both connected with that tower coming up the middle.
Funny. It does look like an architect’s nightmare.
That tower in the middle looks a little weird.
Thanks, Linda! I got a good chuckle out of your architect’s nightmare:>)
I work with the young ones in their block cities, sometimes constructing stories. I love that idea of ‘wooden clouds’ Laura.
Could It Be?
Catastrophic affair,
architect?s nightmare.
Building interrupted;
Looking up had been neglected!
Linda Baie? All Rights Reserved
Ha! Should have built that tower just a bout 1000 feet to the left. Or right.
I was going to say before I clicked Post — Looks like we both connected with that tower coming up the middle.
Funny. It does look like an architect’s nightmare.
That tower in the middle looks a little weird.
Thanks, Linda! I got a good chuckle out of your architect’s nightmare:>)
Interesting Laura. Late tuning in this morning. For some reason I mentally turned the photo upside down and the following “old toy” came to mind:
The Competition
Bright eyed youngsters
peer below,
place their toys and
shout “go Slinky go.”
Now I have to find a way to get the Slinky jingle out of my brain.
I loved Slinkies. Wouldn’t a Slinky be fun on these steps?! How do kids know what Slinkies are for nowadays though? The plastic ones don’t do anything.
They only know what the current version is like and yes, they don’t work like the original ones. My vision would be of kids from a former generation, but then the architecture would be different. Oh well.
Slinky!! I love it! Great idea, and yes, it was fun with those old slinkies.
Martha, I love the enthusiasm in this poem. I played with slinkies a lot as a kid–grew up in a house with a very steep set of stairs–but I don’t know the theme song/slogan. I’m going to have to go find it on youtube!
Listen to it at your own risk! ;-))
Interesting Laura. Late tuning in this morning. For some reason I mentally turned the photo upside down and the following “old toy” came to mind:
The Competition
Bright eyed youngsters
peer below,
place their toys and
shout “go Slinky go.”
Now I have to find a way to get the Slinky jingle out of my brain.
I loved Slinkies. Wouldn’t a Slinky be fun on these steps?! How do kids know what Slinkies are for nowadays though? The plastic ones don’t do anything.
They only know what the current version is like and yes, they don’t work like the original ones. My vision would be of kids from a former generation, but then the architecture would be different. Oh well.
Slinky!! I love it! Great idea, and yes, it was fun with those old slinkies.
Martha, I love the enthusiasm in this poem. I played with slinkies a lot as a kid–grew up in a house with a very steep set of stairs–but I don’t know the theme song/slogan. I’m going to have to go find it on youtube!
Listen to it at your own risk! ;-))
Escher’s stairs
Go up and down
Or in and out
And Round and round.
It does look like Escher’s stairs. I wonder if that’s what the architect had in mind for the inside of the Luxxor.
Luxor — I thought I’d spelled that right before.….
It crossed my mind that it looked like one of his pictures, but I couldn’t remember his name. Glad you did. I like your idea.
Diane, the short, sturdy words reminded me of stair blocks. And this put in mind the part in Willy Wonka before they go on the boat in the chocolate river. I could hear Gene Wilder saying your poem:>)
Escher’s stairs
Go up and down
Or in and out
And Round and round.
It does look like Escher’s stairs. I wonder if that’s what the architect had in mind for the inside of the Luxxor.
Luxor — I thought I’d spelled that right before.….
It crossed my mind that it looked like one of his pictures, but I couldn’t remember his name. Glad you did. I like your idea.
Diane, the short, sturdy words reminded me of stair blocks. And this put in mind the part in Willy Wonka before they go on the boat in the chocolate river. I could hear Gene Wilder saying your poem:>)
Hi Laura ~ It’s been awhile. I’m introducing your wonderful exercise to the 4th graders I’m working with tomorrow. So I thought it was time to jump back in. Here’s mine:
Stuck in Escher-ville
head swirling with confusion
she takes first flight
out of town.
Oh, you also had an idea about Escher.
Yeah, where is the beginning and where is the end?
I like it.
Carol, good to see you! Yes, very Escher-ish. I love the way you shifted to story/character in those last couple of lines. Makes me want to know more!
Hi Laura ~ It’s been awhile. I’m introducing your wonderful exercise to the 4th graders I’m working with tomorrow. So I thought it was time to jump back in. Here’s mine:
Stuck in Escher-ville
head swirling with confusion
she takes first flight
out of town.
Oh, you also had an idea about Escher.
Yeah, where is the beginning and where is the end?
I like it.
Carol, good to see you! Yes, very Escher-ish. I love the way you shifted to story/character in those last couple of lines. Makes me want to know more!
This reminded me of one of M.C. Escher’s lithographs — and then I saw that Diane had a similar thought!
LIFE’S STAIRWELL
What?s up is down,
what?s above, below;
what?s important is that you don?t stop.
GO.
- ? 2014, Matt Forrest Esenwine
Yep. Just keep going, even if confused.
Matt, great thought for those times of confusion/indecision. Just do SOMETHING and the way will likely come clearer…
This reminded me of one of M.C. Escher’s lithographs — and then I saw that Diane had a similar thought!
LIFE’S STAIRWELL
What?s up is down,
what?s above, below;
what?s important is that you don?t stop.
GO.
- ? 2014, Matt Forrest Esenwine
Yep. Just keep going, even if confused.
Matt, great thought for those times of confusion/indecision. Just do SOMETHING and the way will likely come clearer…
Maintenance Man Blues
Sweep, weep.
Sweep, weep.
Ten more flights
To clean and wipe.
Sweep, weep.
Sweep, weep.
~~Barbara J. Turner
Oh, great! I love it.
Things do need to be cleaned.
Barbara, I really like the repetition here. I always am amazed at people who are able to do repetitive jobs like factory work or cleaning. I can’t disappear into my head enough, and I think I would just go crazy with it. I could feel those blues!
Maintenance Man Blues
Sweep, weep.
Sweep, weep.
Ten more flights
To clean and wipe.
Sweep, weep.
Sweep, weep.
~~Barbara J. Turner
Oh, great! I love it.
Things do need to be cleaned.
Barbara, I really like the repetition here. I always am amazed at people who are able to do repetitive jobs like factory work or cleaning. I can’t disappear into my head enough, and I think I would just go crazy with it. I could feel those blues!
FOLDING PAPER
Mountain fold,
valley fold,
fan fold,
origami
holds
the steps
to my
dream.
Sorry to be so late to the party, but I’m exercising my poesy abilities. I was surprised that no one else had gone to origami–that roof so reminded me of folding the paper.
Joy, this is lovely. The repetition of fold has that meditative quality, like origami itself would have if I were any good at it. :>)
FOLDING PAPER
Mountain fold,
valley fold,
fan fold,
origami
holds
the steps
to my
dream.
Sorry to be so late to the party, but I’m exercising my poesy abilities. I was surprised that no one else had gone to origami–that roof so reminded me of folding the paper.
Joy, this is lovely. The repetition of fold has that meditative quality, like origami itself would have if I were any good at it. :>)
lurking in the rafters
What do I see?
I great big spider
staring at me!
Love this, Anne. So kid-friendly (or kid-scary)!
lurking in the rafters
What do I see?
I great big spider
staring at me!
Love this, Anne. So kid-friendly (or kid-scary)!
Hidden in the Rafters
A swallow’s nest
a sparrow’s ledge
a pigeon’s roost
an owl’s egg.
Hidden in the Rafters
A swallow’s nest
a sparrow’s ledge
a pigeon’s roost
an owl’s egg.
Steps to heaven
go both ways.
Sinners ascending
brush shoulders with
angels descending
in white.
I love the idea of brushing shoulders with angels. Wonderful mix of ethereal and concrete…
Steps to heaven
go both ways.
Sinners ascending
brush shoulders with
angels descending
in white.
I love the idea of brushing shoulders with angels. Wonderful mix of ethereal and concrete…
SANCTUARY
Gazing at gothic,
Rib-vaulted ceiling
I pray for gentle hugs
To be received
Throughout humanity.
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.
SANCTUARY
Gazing at gothic,
Rib-vaulted ceiling
I pray for gentle hugs
To be received
Throughout humanity.
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.