Photo: Laura Purdie Salas
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines are here)!
Three things this makes me think of:
1) Cruise
2) Pet rocks
3) Traction
And here’s my first draft!
What My Pet Rock Can’t Do
Mom: Bark. Pee. Bite.
Me: Wag. Beg. Love.
–Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved
Now it’s your turn! Don’t overthink it. Just have fun with it–IN 15 WORDS OR LESS!?Seriously. There’s only one rule?for your whole poem. Starting next week, poetry elves will delete comments?containing poems longer than 15 words.?You have been warned :>)
168 Responses
The Ice Puppy
Don’t Cry! I’m here to play!
Make the ouchies go away
sooth aches, calm pains
Staying til I melt away
UGH I seem to be going over a lot recently… Just trying to make it sound good… 🙂 Love this picture!
That’s what a real puppy can do, and a substitute puppy could help.
I like your idea.
I remember those. Ours were called boo boo bunnies
Geez, I never had an ice puppy or a boo boo bunny. Guess I’ll have to have a talk with my parents! This is really cute, Amelia, even if it does go over the limit.
Cute poem! I never had one of those ice puppies, but I bet they help. 🙂
Ha! We had our little ice cube bunny in our freezer for years–even after our girls were teens:>) (Advance warning: poems longer than 15 words will start being hidden in the future–a few reasons too complicated to go into here. I love reading your poems and want them to be shared here, so please make sure to stick to 15 words or less. It’s extra tough with rhyming poems, I know! One of the reasons I rarely rhyme on 15WOL day:>)
Eek! Thanks for the heads up 🙂
Hehe–who knew poetry was so cut-throat, right? I always look forward to your poems, though–please keep coming by and sharing:>)
I like your poem, Amelia. I never had an ice puppy myself. I see that Laura wants us to stick to the 15 word limit!! I see a way you could revise this to a nice 15 word version so send me an email if you want. I can also see why you like the 4 line rhyming version you ended up with. Keep on writing. It is so nice to see you on here each week. I have been trying to make this a priority, but I have been busy. I think I need an ice puppy, though!!! I find the word limit really forces me to think! And some Thursday mornings, my brain is not ready!!! I admire those who are young and agile and disciplined. 🙂
Thanks all for your lovely comments 🙂
The Ice Puppy
Don’t Cry! I’m here to play!
Make the ouchies go away
sooth aches, calm pains
Staying til I melt away
UGH I seem to be going over a lot recently… Just trying to make it sound good… 🙂 Love this picture!
That’s what a real puppy can do, and a substitute puppy could help.
I like your idea.
I remember those. Ours were called boo boo bunnies
Geez, I never had an ice puppy or a boo boo bunny. Guess I’ll have to have a talk with my parents! This is really cute, Amelia, even if it does go over the limit.
Cute poem! I never had one of those ice puppies, but I bet they help. 🙂
Ha! We had our little ice cube bunny in our freezer for years–even after our girls were teens:>) (Advance warning: poems longer than 15 words will start being hidden in the future–a few reasons too complicated to go into here. I love reading your poems and want them to be shared here, so please make sure to stick to 15 words or less. It’s extra tough with rhyming poems, I know! One of the reasons I rarely rhyme on 15WOL day:>)
Eek! Thanks for the heads up 🙂
Hehe–who knew poetry was so cut-throat, right? I always look forward to your poems, though–please keep coming by and sharing:>)
I like your poem, Amelia. I never had an ice puppy myself. I see that Laura wants us to stick to the 15 word limit!! I see a way you could revise this to a nice 15 word version so send me an email if you want. I can also see why you like the 4 line rhyming version you ended up with. Keep on writing. It is so nice to see you on here each week. I have been trying to make this a priority, but I have been busy. I think I need an ice puppy, though!!! I find the word limit really forces me to think! And some Thursday mornings, my brain is not ready!!! I admire those who are young and agile and disciplined. 🙂
Thanks all for your lovely comments 🙂
What an adorable picture! Love the two perspectives in your poem, Laura. Here’s mine:
Dripping dry
after showers now.
Could not afford
a real dog.
Mom had an idea …
Practical use for a “towel” dog. This brought a smile.
Moms rule when it comes to creative problem-solving!
I like the humor in this and how Mom’s idea leaves the narrator “dripping dry”.
Thanks, ellie. Love how the narrator is dripping dry now that her (or his) towel has been turned into a pet. Totally worth it!
Hi ellie,
This reminds me of the old saying: Be careful what you wish for! Your poem made me smile!
What an adorable picture! Love the two perspectives in your poem, Laura. Here’s mine:
Dripping dry
after showers now.
Could not afford
a real dog.
Mom had an idea …
Practical use for a “towel” dog. This brought a smile.
Moms rule when it comes to creative problem-solving!
I like the humor in this and how Mom’s idea leaves the narrator “dripping dry”.
Thanks, ellie. Love how the narrator is dripping dry now that her (or his) towel has been turned into a pet. Totally worth it!
Hi ellie,
This reminds me of the old saying: Be careful what you wish for! Your poem made me smile!
This pampering pup
is a fluffy toughie
who
soaks
up
love.
I love your words — “fluffy toughie” — and your idea of soaking up love.
Ditto what Patricia said!
Oh, I love this one! Great word choices!
Oh! fluffy toughie is wonderful! And great pun. You never cease to amaze, Cindyb.
I love the soaking up love part!
This pampering pup
is a fluffy toughie
who
soaks
up
love.
I love your words — “fluffy toughie” — and your idea of soaking up love.
Ditto what Patricia said!
Oh, I love this one! Great word choices!
Oh! fluffy toughie is wonderful! And great pun. You never cease to amaze, Cindyb.
I love the soaking up love part!
Today’s photo makes me a little blue, although on another day I would have found it quite delightful. (No personal ties to my haiku, I’m just thinking about how some people in politics are literally playing with the lives of children.)
drug trial…
under her arm
a rag dog
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
Diane, yes, sad. Your haiku is truly visual and speaks volumes.
I can picture this. Sad what some children have to go through.
Oh my, Diane, don’t get me started about these political sociopaths! Fortunately, your poem holds more power than my name-calling.
How sad indeed. So much power–in so few words.
A heart-breaking haiku.…
I like the way you got the d and g sounds in both the problem and the comfort, Diane. So many sucky things kids (and people in general) go through–and so funny what we find comfort in.
Pets comfort, even towel dogs. Maybe they need to allow those kind of helper pets to work in the WH and the Capitol. I know they bring them to hospitals and now there are reading programs that have people let the kids read aloud to dogs! And it helps. You know what they say about lowering BP by having a pet. I was just around a golden retriever who was the calmest, sweetest dog ever and her presence was a huge help to all who were grieving.
Today’s photo makes me a little blue, although on another day I would have found it quite delightful. (No personal ties to my haiku, I’m just thinking about how some people in politics are literally playing with the lives of children.)
drug trial…
under her arm
a rag dog
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
Diane, yes, sad. Your haiku is truly visual and speaks volumes.
I can picture this. Sad what some children have to go through.
Oh my, Diane, don’t get me started about these political sociopaths! Fortunately, your poem holds more power than my name-calling.
How sad indeed. So much power–in so few words.
A heart-breaking haiku.…
I like the way you got the d and g sounds in both the problem and the comfort, Diane. So many sucky things kids (and people in general) go through–and so funny what we find comfort in.
Pets comfort, even towel dogs. Maybe they need to allow those kind of helper pets to work in the WH and the Capitol. I know they bring them to hospitals and now there are reading programs that have people let the kids read aloud to dogs! And it helps. You know what they say about lowering BP by having a pet. I was just around a golden retriever who was the calmest, sweetest dog ever and her presence was a huge help to all who were grieving.
My thoughts immediately went to baby showers where one sees so many creative ways to present a gift, especially the “tiered cake” assembled with disposable diapers and decorated with pins, pacifiers, rattlers, etc.
The Baby Shower Gift
I’m soft and hooded,
ready to snuggle a
new-born after its first bath.
My thoughts immediately went to baby showers where one sees so many creative ways to present a gift, especially the “tiered cake” assembled with disposable diapers and decorated with pins, pacifiers, rattlers, etc.
The Baby Shower Gift
I’m soft and hooded,
ready to snuggle a
new-born after its first bath.
Give this doggie
love and a cuddle.
He’s house-trained.
He won’t leave a puddle.
The best kind of puppy–no puddling, no biting.
Patricia, your poem fits this photo like a glove! Delightful!
Ha–yours made me laugh (and would be a great tag on a stuffed pup!)
I so agree with all the other comments about your poem, Patricia. Very sweet!
This one made me giggle! 🙂
Cute! This sounds like a clever “adoption ad” for a dog:>)
Give this doggie
love and a cuddle.
He’s house-trained.
He won’t leave a puddle.
The best kind of puppy–no puddling, no biting.
Patricia, your poem fits this photo like a glove! Delightful!
Ha–yours made me laugh (and would be a great tag on a stuffed pup!)
I so agree with all the other comments about your poem, Patricia. Very sweet!
This one made me giggle! 🙂
Cute! This sounds like a clever “adoption ad” for a dog:>)
This photo makes me think of the creative ways gifts are presented at a baby shower.
The Baby Shower Gift
I’m soft and hooded,
ready to snuggle the
new-born after its first bath.
Oh, I love those little hooded towels, and the animal designs they have on them. Love where your leap of imagination took you, Martha–right to this gentle poem.
I guess I missed this one the first time I looked through these. I love the cuddly feel of this poem!
Adorable thought. Perfect gift for a baby.
This photo makes me think of the creative ways gifts are presented at a baby shower.
The Baby Shower Gift
I’m soft and hooded,
ready to snuggle the
new-born after its first bath.
Oh, I love those little hooded towels, and the animal designs they have on them. Love where your leap of imagination took you, Martha–right to this gentle poem.
I guess I missed this one the first time I looked through these. I love the cuddly feel of this poem!
Adorable thought. Perfect gift for a baby.
Twisting and tugging at
My imagination
Until eventually
An idea emerges–
A miracle of persistence.
Persistence is the key to so many things!
Love the twisting and tugging… like a puppy with its chew toy. It’s wonderful how Laura’s photo brought you to this result.
Love the way you’ve captured the writing process–sometimes it does feel like a miracle when ideas fly.
Love the images in this! I need to do some twisting and tugging of my own today.…
Sometimes the pictures make me feel that way, too.
Glad you persisted today. You came up with a good one.
Love this–if only my ideas were all as cute as this dog!
I think we really need to allow our imaginations to twist and spin and let the ideas tug their way into our consciousness! I fear in the new era of test prep schooling that creativity and creative thought will be ignored or worst, squashed and I pray that is not true!! So your poem really reaches me on that level today!
Twisting and tugging at
My imagination
Until eventually
An idea emerges–
A miracle of persistence.
Persistence is the key to so many things!
Love the twisting and tugging… like a puppy with its chew toy. It’s wonderful how Laura’s photo brought you to this result.
Love the way you’ve captured the writing process–sometimes it does feel like a miracle when ideas fly.
Love the images in this! I need to do some twisting and tugging of my own today.…
Sometimes the pictures make me feel that way, too.
Glad you persisted today. You came up with a good one.
Love this–if only my ideas were all as cute as this dog!
I think we really need to allow our imaginations to twist and spin and let the ideas tug their way into our consciousness! I fear in the new era of test prep schooling that creativity and creative thought will be ignored or worst, squashed and I pray that is not true!! So your poem really reaches me on that level today!
What a fun mini list poem, Laura! Who needs no stinkin’ connector words 😉
A couplet for me today:
At bathtime I can be your friend
and take the chill off your tail end.
© Michelle Heidenrich Barnes, all rights reserved.
Fun poem!
Ha! Funny! Like the humor.
Oh my. Heehee:>) Those dogs…can’t get away from other creatures’ backsides!
I love snuggling in my robe after especially on the chill winter mornings!! Your poem makes me smile, Michelle!
What a fun mini list poem, Laura! Who needs no stinkin’ connector words 😉
A couplet for me today:
At bathtime I can be your friend
and take the chill off your tail end.
© Michelle Heidenrich Barnes, all rights reserved.
Fun poem!
Ha! Funny! Like the humor.
Oh my. Heehee:>) Those dogs…can’t get away from other creatures’ backsides!
I love snuggling in my robe after especially on the chill winter mornings!! Your poem makes me smile, Michelle!
All wrapped up too tight to wag
or run or lick–
What a drag.
Love that you gave this doggie a voice! Well done.
I, too, like how you wrote from the dog’s perspective. Love the rhyme, as well.
Interesting to hear it from the doggie. Nice change.
Ha! See what too much stress does to a person (or a dog?). At least, that’s what I feel like when I’m stressed. This is awesome!
All wrapped up too tight to wag
or run or lick–
What a drag.
Love that you gave this doggie a voice! Well done.
I, too, like how you wrote from the dog’s perspective. Love the rhyme, as well.
Interesting to hear it from the doggie. Nice change.
Ha! See what too much stress does to a person (or a dog?). At least, that’s what I feel like when I’m stressed. This is awesome!
Origami Morning
Fold, crease, open.
Fold again.
Her squares transformed:
crane, frog, dog.
I crumple,
slump,
fold.
Love your simple mom/kid pov, Laura (and this sweet towel-pup!)
Working in “hospitality” wouldn’t be so bad if I could spend the day folding towel dogs! Love this poem, Buffy… especially the last three lines. Brilliant choice of words.
I love all the verbs. This reminds me of trying to do origami with my teenage daughter — she’s a pro and I am NOT.
That’s the way origami goes for me! “Crumple, slump, fold.” Great word choices.
This is lovely, Buffy. Such stillness in the spaces between words. Who’s the narrator of the poem?
Origami Morning
Fold, crease, open.
Fold again.
Her squares transformed:
crane, frog, dog.
I crumple,
slump,
fold.
Love your simple mom/kid pov, Laura (and this sweet towel-pup!)
Working in “hospitality” wouldn’t be so bad if I could spend the day folding towel dogs! Love this poem, Buffy… especially the last three lines. Brilliant choice of words.
I love all the verbs. This reminds me of trying to do origami with my teenage daughter — she’s a pro and I am NOT.
That’s the way origami goes for me! “Crumple, slump, fold.” Great word choices.
This is lovely, Buffy. Such stillness in the spaces between words. Who’s the narrator of the poem?
Awww.… Laura, your poem reminds me of when I was young and couldn’t have a cat (or dog), due to allergies. Those substitute pets just weren’t the same.
YOU CAN’T TEACH A TOWEL DOG NEW TRICKS
Sit!
Good boy!
Come!
Heel!
Shake!
Roll over!
No?
Okay, then…
Sit!
Stay!
Good boy!
Wow! You said so much with only 15 words. Love it!
Aw, pet allergies stink:>( This is so funny, Janelle, from the title to the very last line. Love it!
Awww.… Laura, your poem reminds me of when I was young and couldn’t have a cat (or dog), due to allergies. Those substitute pets just weren’t the same.
YOU CAN’T TEACH A TOWEL DOG NEW TRICKS
Sit!
Good boy!
Come!
Heel!
Shake!
Roll over!
No?
Okay, then…
Sit!
Stay!
Good boy!
Wow! You said so much with only 15 words. Love it!
Aw, pet allergies stink:>( This is so funny, Janelle, from the title to the very last line. Love it!
DOOMED DOG
Muffled muzzle
Towel puzzle
Cabin-mate for traveler.
Stony stares,
Saying prayers
Dreading the?unraveler.
? Andria W. Rosenbaum
Delightful rhymes and poem!
I agree totally with Janelle. Love your rhymes and your idea.
Wow, you got a LOT in that short poem. Very clever! Thanks for playing:>)
Thanks to you, Laura, this has become my Thursday poetry treat! Best of all–it’s calorie free 🙂
Since I have WW weigh-in on Friday morning, that IS another plus of 15WOL Thursdays:>)
Hi Andria,
I love the word play and the story of your poem. Wonderful!!! I am really impressed, but since I know you now, “not quite” as much since I can see you in this poem, too! (This is supposed to be a compliment!)
DOOMED DOG
Muffled muzzle
Towel puzzle
Cabin-mate for traveler.
Stony stares,
Saying prayers
Dreading the?unraveler.
? Andria W. Rosenbaum
Delightful rhymes and poem!
I agree totally with Janelle. Love your rhymes and your idea.
Wow, you got a LOT in that short poem. Very clever! Thanks for playing:>)
Thanks to you, Laura, this has become my Thursday poetry treat! Best of all–it’s calorie free 🙂
Since I have WW weigh-in on Friday morning, that IS another plus of 15WOL Thursdays:>)
Hi Andria,
I love the word play and the story of your poem. Wonderful!!! I am really impressed, but since I know you now, “not quite” as much since I can see you in this poem, too! (This is supposed to be a compliment!)
Fun stuff! I’m a little late this week…
Puppy
Fuzzy puppy,
white mite,
wag of tail,
eyes bright.
No one gladder
to see
me.
?Kate Coombs
A puppy is all these things. I especially love–white mite, wag of tail.
This is lovely, Kate. Lines 2 and 3 especially make me happy. The ending makes me happy in one sense, but very sad in another. Depends how I read it!
Awww… sweet poem! Love the rhymes. and “wag of tail”.
Fun stuff! I’m a little late this week…
Puppy
Fuzzy puppy,
white mite,
wag of tail,
eyes bright.
No one gladder
to see
me.
?Kate Coombs
A puppy is all these things. I especially love–white mite, wag of tail.
This is lovely, Kate. Lines 2 and 3 especially make me happy. The ending makes me happy in one sense, but very sad in another. Depends how I read it!
Awww… sweet poem! Love the rhymes. and “wag of tail”.
Fun exercise! I’m going for the easy rhyme:
Towel-Dog Blues
I’ve figured out why I can’t howl?
It’s because I’m made of toooOOOOWWWwwwlll!
I think I might be a word over — do you count the title in the word count?
You’re perfect, Carrie–13 words:>) Nope, the title doesn’t count. I love this rhyme. And I have a beagle, so I get the howling all the time. Very cute!
Too funny!
Fun exercise! I’m going for the easy rhyme:
Towel-Dog Blues
I’ve figured out why I can’t howl?
It’s because I’m made of toooOOOOWWWwwwlll!
I think I might be a word over — do you count the title in the word count?
You’re perfect, Carrie–13 words:>) Nope, the title doesn’t count. I love this rhyme. And I have a beagle, so I get the howling all the time. Very cute!
Too funny!
Out of the snow
a frozen puppy
dashed.
Jumped into
my heart and melted me.
A quick effort before reading all of yours! Cant’ wait. It has been a sad couple of days and I bet this will bring a big smile to my heart!
Out of the snow
a frozen puppy
dashed.
Jumped into
my heart and melted me.
A quick effort before reading all of yours! Cant’ wait. It has been a sad couple of days and I bet this will bring a big smile to my heart!
FAMILY ADDITION
Floppy ears,
Clammy nose,
Droopy eyes,
I?m your new
Birthday surprise.
© Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
FAMILY ADDITION
Floppy ears,
Clammy nose,
Droopy eyes,
I?m your new
Birthday surprise.
© Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.