[15 words or less poems] Swan


Photo: Laura Purdie Salas

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

I did a young authors conference in Winona, MN, recently, and snapped this pic there. Here’s what it makes me think of.

1)?You are what you eat
2) A swan with feathers made of leaves
3) Taxidermied animals–ick

And here’s my poem first draft:

Flight
leafy wings
rip me free
of winter’s iron grip
–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.

Giveaway winner. Entry #2, Bridget Magee, you have won Nancy Bo Flood’s Cowboy Up! Yay–congratulations! Please contact me with your mailing address:>)

cowboy

54 Responses

  1. See me, see
    sky, trees,
    water, breeze,
    flying, swimming,
    soaring, skimming.
    See me, see
    Free!

  2. See me, see
    sky, trees,
    water, breeze,
    flying, swimming,
    soaring, skimming.
    See me, see
    Free!

  3. Once the Ugly Duckling

    Look beyond
    my outer shell.
    God’s beauty
    lies within
    as well.

  4. Once the Ugly Duckling

    Look beyond
    my outer shell.
    God’s beauty
    lies within
    as well.

  5. I love your poem, Laura, and the others that are posted so far as well! Leave it to me to turn all this beautiful imagery into a lurid love affair… well, maybe not exactly lurid, but…

    Swan Song for Kudzu

    The first time?
    It was dark.
    We were drunk.
    Over time,
    she grew on me.

    © Michelle Heidenrich Barnes. All rights reserved.

    1. Hahaha–where do I begin? This could be a sardonic description of a failed relationship (well, I might be using that term loosely:>) But, really, I’m picturing this Southern gothic horror movie where the kudzu is some sentient female force who gets pissed off and devours some guy. Love. It.

  6. I love your poem, Laura, and the others that are posted so far as well! Leave it to me to turn all this beautiful imagery into a lurid love affair… well, maybe not exactly lurid, but…

    Swan Song for Kudzu

    The first time?
    It was dark.
    We were drunk.
    Over time,
    she grew on me.

    © Michelle Heidenrich Barnes. All rights reserved.

    1. Hahaha–where do I begin? This could be a sardonic description of a failed relationship (well, I might be using that term loosely:>) But, really, I’m picturing this Southern gothic horror movie where the kudzu is some sentient female force who gets pissed off and devours some guy. Love. It.

  7. Through my leafy feathers
    You will see
    a kaleidoscope
    of wondrous nature

    Great picture, Laura! Love the sweet simplicity yet strong meaning in you poem.

  8. Through my leafy feathers
    You will see
    a kaleidoscope
    of wondrous nature

    Great picture, Laura! Love the sweet simplicity yet strong meaning in you poem.

    1. Ooh, welcome, Andria. I love the idea of something as ethereal as wings being made of something as earth as moss. Beautiful!

    1. Ooh, welcome, Andria. I love the idea of something as ethereal as wings being made of something as earth as moss. Beautiful!

  9. Enjoying all these poems today.

    Emu,
    swan,
    ostrich
    or
    tree
    it’s
    all
    the
    same
    to
    me

  10. Enjoying all these poems today.

    Emu,
    swan,
    ostrich
    or
    tree
    it’s
    all
    the
    same
    to
    me

  11. Oops! I forgot this morning! Such lovely poems today. 🙂

    Door

    The door slams.
    My eyes cut
    it open, my heart
    wears feathers,
    wears wings.

    ?Kate Coombs

  12. Oops! I forgot this morning! Such lovely poems today. 🙂

    Door

    The door slams.
    My eyes cut
    it open, my heart
    wears feathers,
    wears wings.

    ?Kate Coombs

    1. Ooh, what a great image, Doraine. How we see ourselves really determines how we see everything! Love those cracked sidewalk / windows.

    1. Ooh, what a great image, Doraine. How we see ourselves really determines how we see everything! Love those cracked sidewalk / windows.

  13. LUNCH TIME
    Wizards of water glide
    Along my river bed
    Racing after snatches
    Of whole wheat bread.

    © Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.

  14. LUNCH TIME
    Wizards of water glide
    Along my river bed
    Racing after snatches
    Of whole wheat bread.

    © Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.

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