Photo: Laura Purdie Salas
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
I took this pic at a winterguard show (the activity color guards’do over the winter, performing with flags, rifles, sabers, and other props) a few weeks ago. Here’s what it makes me think of:
1) How hard school is for some kids
2) As a kid, you feel too little for everything
3) BIG writing dreams
And here’s my poem first draft:
Advice to a Young Poet
Write–
on walls,
on wind,
on world.
Never erase.
Never regret.
Stay sharp.
–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.
98 Responses
From down here
that looks huge
It stinks being near
and yet so far.
I’m short.
16 but I couldn’t cut it down. Funny thing is I’m 5’6 at 12 so I wouldn’t know… 🙂
I love your poem, Ms. Salas! Nice encouraging emotion.
Perspective is what seems important all the time-just right!
Yes, I too really like the way you play with perspective.
Short people–and kids in general–will so relate to this! Both my daughters are petite, between 5′ and 5′2″. I’m going to share your poem with them!
From down here
that looks huge
It stinks being near
and yet so far.
I’m short.
16 but I couldn’t cut it down. Funny thing is I’m 5’6 at 12 so I wouldn’t know… 🙂
I love your poem, Ms. Salas! Nice encouraging emotion.
Perspective is what seems important all the time-just right!
Yes, I too really like the way you play with perspective.
Short people–and kids in general–will so relate to this! Both my daughters are petite, between 5′ and 5′2″. I’m going to share your poem with them!
Love your poem, Laura — serious yet fun at the same time. Here’s mine. Rough first draft, but I think I’m going to flesh it out a bit later and make it a tad longer:
PENCILS
You and I are pencils.
Different colors, sizes, lengths…yet
capable of magic from inside.
- ? 2013, Matt Forrest Esenwine
And the minute we put words down, we show that magical difference. Love the idea to share with students!
I like the connection between pencils and people.
Aw, love this. Concrete but symbolic:>)
Ooh I think this would be awesome repeating the first line at the end. Circular poem.
Wow I really like that.
Love your poem, Laura — serious yet fun at the same time. Here’s mine. Rough first draft, but I think I’m going to flesh it out a bit later and make it a tad longer:
PENCILS
You and I are pencils.
Different colors, sizes, lengths…yet
capable of magic from inside.
- ? 2013, Matt Forrest Esenwine
And the minute we put words down, we show that magical difference. Love the idea to share with students!
I like the connection between pencils and people.
Aw, love this. Concrete but symbolic:>)
Ooh I think this would be awesome repeating the first line at the end. Circular poem.
Wow I really like that.
I like it, Laura! Here’s mine. (Such a nice way to start a Thursday!)
My pencil?s too small
for my thoughts. I need one
big as a sequoia tree.
?Kate Coombs
Brilliant, Kate! Made me think of Paul Bunyan and tall tales, that sequoia tree pencil!
Love the idea of needing more than that tiny pencil we usually have!
I love the idea of a pencil being too small for one’s thoughts.
Oh, this sounds like a poem a kid would write, and I mean that in the best, most imaginative way possible!
Thanks, you guys! Very fun photo–almost surreal.
I like it, Laura! Here’s mine. (Such a nice way to start a Thursday!)
My pencil?s too small
for my thoughts. I need one
big as a sequoia tree.
?Kate Coombs
Brilliant, Kate! Made me think of Paul Bunyan and tall tales, that sequoia tree pencil!
Love the idea of needing more than that tiny pencil we usually have!
I love the idea of a pencil being too small for one’s thoughts.
Oh, this sounds like a poem a kid would write, and I mean that in the best, most imaginative way possible!
Thanks, you guys! Very fun photo–almost surreal.
Pencil Wranglers
Round ’em poets!
There’s a load of words
waitin’ to be saddled.
© Diane Mayr
Love the idea of ‘wranglin’ words, Diane.
Ooh, I want to put that in my profile. Instead of poet, I’m going to start calling myself a word wrangler–love that!
<3
Pencil Wranglers
Round ’em poets!
There’s a load of words
waitin’ to be saddled.
© Diane Mayr
Love the idea of ‘wranglin’ words, Diane.
Ooh, I want to put that in my profile. Instead of poet, I’m going to start calling myself a word wrangler–love that!
<3
I like your ending Laura-“Stay Sharp”
Writers carry
weighty responsibilities
in their pencils.
They ferry
many possibilities
across the blank page.
?Linda Baie, 2013
Lovely job, Linda! I especially like the image of the ferry carrying possibilities!
Oh, I just love the idea of the pencil as a ferry for possibilities! So fresh.
This is puntastic and metaphantastic, Linda.
I like your ending Laura-“Stay Sharp”
Writers carry
weighty responsibilities
in their pencils.
They ferry
many possibilities
across the blank page.
?Linda Baie, 2013
Lovely job, Linda! I especially like the image of the ferry carrying possibilities!
Oh, I just love the idea of the pencil as a ferry for possibilities! So fresh.
This is puntastic and metaphantastic, Linda.
Show Time!
Leap! Twirl! Smile!
Muscles straining,
heart pounding.
Faster!
Fearless!
Ending flourish …
Bow.
Bask in applause.
– Keri Collins Lewis
I didn’t even think of this, the ending, Keri. They do look as if they’re ‘basking’! Great idea.
This really captures the feelings of it, Keri–nice! I especially love lines 2 and 3.
Show Time!
Leap! Twirl! Smile!
Muscles straining,
heart pounding.
Faster!
Fearless!
Ending flourish …
Bow.
Bask in applause.
– Keri Collins Lewis
I didn’t even think of this, the ending, Keri. They do look as if they’re ‘basking’! Great idea.
This really captures the feelings of it, Keri–nice! I especially love lines 2 and 3.
With each circle
My pencil grows heavier
Until I cannot lift it
To blacken one more.
I guess I’ve been reading too much about standardized testing.
This is great. Love where that last line takes your poem.
Awww. This makes me sigh deeply…So much in so few words.
I agree
Ooh yes, I love ‘to blacken one more’
With each circle
My pencil grows heavier
Until I cannot lift it
To blacken one more.
I guess I’ve been reading too much about standardized testing.
This is great. Love where that last line takes your poem.
Awww. This makes me sigh deeply…So much in so few words.
I agree
Ooh yes, I love ‘to blacken one more’
Laura, I love your poem, especially “stay sharp!”
Thanks, Liz!
Laura, I love your poem, especially “stay sharp!”
Thanks, Liz!
Love “never erase,” Laura. Gives permission not to be perfect. Here’s mine:
The playwright
writes right
with the right
pencil.
Hehe–I need to find the right pencil!
Love “never erase,” Laura. Gives permission not to be perfect. Here’s mine:
The playwright
writes right
with the right
pencil.
Hehe–I need to find the right pencil!
Your poetic advice to a young poet is just perfect, Laura!
From Start to Story
A perfect point
of graphite pigment.
Ponderings.
Plottings.
Pencilings.
A short stub
of graphite pigment.
Love the progression, Penny!
Ooh your short stubby sentences go great with the subject. Nice one, Penny!
That is what always happens isn’t it.
Your poetic advice to a young poet is just perfect, Laura!
From Start to Story
A perfect point
of graphite pigment.
Ponderings.
Plottings.
Pencilings.
A short stub
of graphite pigment.
Love the progression, Penny!
Ooh your short stubby sentences go great with the subject. Nice one, Penny!
That is what always happens isn’t it.
Her pencil is
a telescope,
capturing earth
and sky.
A story grows,
universe on paper.
This is stunning, Buffy. FABULOUS image of that pencil as a telescope. Perfect metaphor.
Thanks, Laura–I greatly appreciate it.
I love your poem it is sooooooooooooo GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Her pencil is
a telescope,
capturing earth
and sky.
A story grows,
universe on paper.
This is stunning, Buffy. FABULOUS image of that pencil as a telescope. Perfect metaphor.
Thanks, Laura–I greatly appreciate it.
I love your poem it is sooooooooooooo GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, Laura that is an amazing poem from that picture.
Flouncing around
no words abound
for I am crowned
a dreamer.
I love the rhyming, Catherine, & the idea from the picture-lazy & dreaming…
Wow, Laura that is an amazing poem from that picture.
Flouncing around
no words abound
for I am crowned
a dreamer.
I love the rhyming, Catherine, & the idea from the picture-lazy & dreaming…
I Elf grab the stick wit black stuff at the tip and pink at end
wheeled this mighty weapon and strike down my enemy: paper.
I’m so sorry completely forgot about 15 words or less!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean i Knew i was no scientist but I never thought i’d forget that sooooooo sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =’(
I Elf grab the stick wit black stuff at the tip and pink at end
wheeled this mighty weapon and strike down my enemy: paper.
I’m so sorry completely forgot about 15 words or less!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean i Knew i was no scientist but I never thought i’d forget that sooooooo sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =’(
SCRATCHING
Lead on paper
I vent about school, clothes,
Siblings, leaving proof that my life
Matters.
© Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
SCRATCHING
Lead on paper
I vent about school, clothes,
Siblings, leaving proof that my life
Matters.
© Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.