Photo: Laura Salas
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
I took this pic while walking Captain Jack Sparrow by the lake. I love these tracks leading off into the distance.?Here are?3 things this photo makes me think of:
1)?tightrope walker
2)?the Yellow Brick Road
3) those little dress-up shoes that come in preschoolers’ wedding dress-up kits (Maddie lived in hers for weeks at a time!)
And here’s my first draft.
Things I Follow
Breadcrumbs
Footprints
Directions
Leaders
Advice (sometimes)
My heart
–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:>)?
220 Responses
Arguments
I watched him walk away,
remembering New Hampshire’s great one
saying, “You come too”.
This is lovely, Diane.
Interesting. Open ended. Leaves the reader wondering.
Nice.
Love the sentiment here-beautiful thought!
This one gives me a really unsettled feeling, Diane. I feel immediately caught up in a moment when an argument dissolves into someone walking off and I’m not sure whether to follow. The Frost allusion adds depth and a little mystery for me.
Arguments
I watched him walk away,
remembering New Hampshire’s great one
saying, “You come too”.
This is lovely, Diane.
Interesting. Open ended. Leaves the reader wondering.
Nice.
Love the sentiment here-beautiful thought!
This one gives me a really unsettled feeling, Diane. I feel immediately caught up in a moment when an argument dissolves into someone walking off and I’m not sure whether to follow. The Frost allusion adds depth and a little mystery for me.
The Walk
Trekking ‘cross lonely land
With my buddy, hand-in-hand
Through snow or sand
Never-ending, never planned
Hope hyphens make for less words!!!!! This was a very cool picture, one I see all the time out in the wilderness of New York!
A lovely image Amelia.
Your poem has a good feel to it. I think hyphens are great. 🙂
I like the rhythm of it, too, trekking with a friend.
Ha! Love your hyphen comment. I like that the land is lonely, but not the speaker. And I love the sense of adventure here, of spontaneity.
The Walk
Trekking ‘cross lonely land
With my buddy, hand-in-hand
Through snow or sand
Never-ending, never planned
Hope hyphens make for less words!!!!! This was a very cool picture, one I see all the time out in the wilderness of New York!
A lovely image Amelia.
Your poem has a good feel to it. I think hyphens are great. 🙂
I like the rhythm of it, too, trekking with a friend.
Ha! Love your hyphen comment. I like that the land is lonely, but not the speaker. And I love the sense of adventure here, of spontaneity.
Do we get better at this with practice? This one came in exactly 15 words.
The Note
Tiny dotted lines
on a clean white page
your sweet words
pulsate in my heart.
–Margaret Simon
Margaret, I can “see” a heartbeat on the white canvas. Valentine’s Day?
Yes, I think this practice does help. It helps me, anyway.
Martha’s right. Your poem is great for Valentine’s Day.
Love that you saw words on a page, Margaret. Always wonderful to find a new metaphor for writing.
Maybe, Margaret! Perhaps our brains absorb the form over time:>) You use the word clean in your poem, and your entire poem has that feel to it: fresh, clean, and precise. It’s lovely!
Do we get better at this with practice? This one came in exactly 15 words.
The Note
Tiny dotted lines
on a clean white page
your sweet words
pulsate in my heart.
–Margaret Simon
Margaret, I can “see” a heartbeat on the white canvas. Valentine’s Day?
Yes, I think this practice does help. It helps me, anyway.
Martha’s right. Your poem is great for Valentine’s Day.
Love that you saw words on a page, Margaret. Always wonderful to find a new metaphor for writing.
Maybe, Margaret! Perhaps our brains absorb the form over time:>) You use the word clean in your poem, and your entire poem has that feel to it: fresh, clean, and precise. It’s lovely!
If Only for an Hour
Not lonely tracks,
but the peace that comes
from keeping
your own company.
Ellie, indeed a peace unequaled.
Yes, a walking meditation.
I like it.
I did think lonely, but not in a good way. You’ve shown me a different look!
Yes! Yes. Yes. This scene fills me with peace, and while I wouldn’t want to live a completely solitary life, a bit of solitary company-keeping is always a lovely thing. Beautiful.
If Only for an Hour
Not lonely tracks,
but the peace that comes
from keeping
your own company.
Ellie, indeed a peace unequaled.
Yes, a walking meditation.
I like it.
I did think lonely, but not in a good way. You’ve shown me a different look!
Yes! Yes. Yes. This scene fills me with peace, and while I wouldn’t want to live a completely solitary life, a bit of solitary company-keeping is always a lovely thing. Beautiful.
I liked the way you said so much, Laura, in so few words.
Here’s my try:
Frozen Lake Shortcut
Walk across,
not around;
crunching feet,
cracking sound,
breaking ice;
must reach ground.
Lovely rhyme and rhythm, but just the thoughts of a cracking sound
fills me with goose-bumps in our morning’s two degrees.
I remember the cracking rumbling across the lakes. Not fond of that sound, though it is still safe.
I love the clipped phrases, just the sound that would be made.
I agree with Linda about the sounds in your poem mimicking the sounds of cracking ice.
Ooh, this one made me shudder, Pat! We’ve been in Minnesota 24 years, and I am still not comfortable walking across a lake. Love those sounds you used.
I liked the way you said so much, Laura, in so few words.
Here’s my try:
Frozen Lake Shortcut
Walk across,
not around;
crunching feet,
cracking sound,
breaking ice;
must reach ground.
Lovely rhyme and rhythm, but just the thoughts of a cracking sound
fills me with goose-bumps in our morning’s two degrees.
I remember the cracking rumbling across the lakes. Not fond of that sound, though it is still safe.
I love the clipped phrases, just the sound that would be made.
I agree with Linda about the sounds in your poem mimicking the sounds of cracking ice.
Ooh, this one made me shudder, Pat! We’ve been in Minnesota 24 years, and I am still not comfortable walking across a lake. Love those sounds you used.
Everyone has produced great poems this morning. Good job, Ladies!
fresh falling snow…
how easy it is to forget
where we’ve been
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
So true. And to warm things up a bit, it reminds me of walking along the ocean in beach weather, only to turn around and realize how far you’ve walked.
I like your connection with looking back.
My granddaughter loves seeing the tracks she makes, always looking back! Your poem reminds me of that, Diane. Nice…
Yes, love this. That beautiful snowy forgetfulness can be a sad thing or a blessing, depending on what is being forgotten–or on a more mundane level, what gardening tragedies are being covered! I really like the zen feel of this…
Everyone has produced great poems this morning. Good job, Ladies!
fresh falling snow…
how easy it is to forget
where we’ve been
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
So true. And to warm things up a bit, it reminds me of walking along the ocean in beach weather, only to turn around and realize how far you’ve walked.
I like your connection with looking back.
My granddaughter loves seeing the tracks she makes, always looking back! Your poem reminds me of that, Diane. Nice…
Yes, love this. That beautiful snowy forgetfulness can be a sad thing or a blessing, depending on what is being forgotten–or on a more mundane level, what gardening tragedies are being covered! I really like the zen feel of this…
FEATHER BRAIN
He started off
then hurried back.
I asked him why.
He just said Quack!
Loved your poem, Laura.
Cute Cindy. For some reason the game “Duck, Duck, Goose” came to mind even though I took another route.
I absolutely love this. Funny!
I, too, noticed that the footprints stop midway.
Great way to end it. Quack!
I wondered about Duck, Duck Goose too, but no circle-love the rhyming!
Cute!
Laughed at this one. The quack surprised me.
Thanks, Cindy–and I like your silly duck and his unexplained return!
FEATHER BRAIN
He started off
then hurried back.
I asked him why.
He just said Quack!
Loved your poem, Laura.
Cute Cindy. For some reason the game “Duck, Duck, Goose” came to mind even though I took another route.
I absolutely love this. Funny!
I, too, noticed that the footprints stop midway.
Great way to end it. Quack!
I wondered about Duck, Duck Goose too, but no circle-love the rhyming!
Cute!
Laughed at this one. The quack surprised me.
Thanks, Cindy–and I like your silly duck and his unexplained return!
Good morning Laura and all. At first glance I saw a tiny little cabin with chimney nestled between the shore grasses.
Portrait in Miniature
Sitting lakeside,
a tiny chimney
on tiny house
puffs wildly wending
smoke plumes.
My first thought was of smoke, too.
I noticed that, too. Good job portraying that image, Martha.
I love your imagination here!
Oh, my! Thank you for showing me a new picture within my picture! Those last two lines are stunning and an extravagant contrast to the simpler first three. Nice!
Good morning Laura and all. At first glance I saw a tiny little cabin with chimney nestled between the shore grasses.
Portrait in Miniature
Sitting lakeside,
a tiny chimney
on tiny house
puffs wildly wending
smoke plumes.
My first thought was of smoke, too.
I noticed that, too. Good job portraying that image, Martha.
I love your imagination here!
Oh, my! Thank you for showing me a new picture within my picture! Those last two lines are stunning and an extravagant contrast to the simpler first three. Nice!
I knew Danger.
So I tip-toed across,
And left the leaping
To my heart.
Cute! Loved “left the leaping to my heart”! Smart!
I forgot tot say that I do like your poem, Andria.
Tip-toe across the lake.
Like it.
Beautiful-you’ve captured this loneliness of the pic!
Love this!
Yes! I really like the kind of Victorian feel to your phrasing here, Andria. And the capitalization of Danger. Totally captures the fearful but restrained mood!
I knew Danger.
So I tip-toed across,
And left the leaping
To my heart.
Cute! Loved “left the leaping to my heart”! Smart!
I forgot tot say that I do like your poem, Andria.
Tip-toe across the lake.
Like it.
Beautiful-you’ve captured this loneliness of the pic!
Love this!
Yes! I really like the kind of Victorian feel to your phrasing here, Andria. And the capitalization of Danger. Totally captures the fearful but restrained mood!
Andria, since I am a true southerner, I cannot fathom myself walking out on a frozen lake, and we do have a few around here right now. I liked your poem.
When living in Wisconsin, I not only walked on frozen lakes, we cross-country skied on them. If it’s cold enough for long enough, it’s safe. I think this year, it would definitely be safe. Br-r‑r.
Andria, since I am a true southerner, I cannot fathom myself walking out on a frozen lake, and we do have a few around here right now. I liked your poem.
When living in Wisconsin, I not only walked on frozen lakes, we cross-country skied on them. If it’s cold enough for long enough, it’s safe. I think this year, it would definitely be safe. Br-r‑r.
Now I want to go for a walk! And it did snow here last night…
I walk a way
I do not know,
leaving prints
in wide white snow.
?Kate Coombs
Ah, unknowing, you left tracks to show where you’re going.
Nice rhyme.
It’s easy to get lost in the silence of a beautiful snowfall.
Snow coming here today! I’ll see bunny tracks this evening. I like the “I do not know.”
I love the sense of separateness here, Kate. I also love how simple and concrete this is, and how I can read several meanings into it. This is beautiful.
Thanks, Laura! It’s going to snow again here tonight. 🙂
Now I want to go for a walk! And it did snow here last night…
I walk a way
I do not know,
leaving prints
in wide white snow.
?Kate Coombs
Ah, unknowing, you left tracks to show where you’re going.
Nice rhyme.
It’s easy to get lost in the silence of a beautiful snowfall.
Snow coming here today! I’ll see bunny tracks this evening. I like the “I do not know.”
I love the sense of separateness here, Kate. I also love how simple and concrete this is, and how I can read several meanings into it. This is beautiful.
Thanks, Laura! It’s going to snow again here tonight. 🙂
Smoke wisps from the chimney
Disappearing into the cold
Soon I will sit fireside.
Ooh, nice warm feeling from your poem.
I like that.
Cynthia. That is profound. Your poem also reminds of what I almost penned — a slight askew gaggle of geese, trying to urge their leader to form the “V” needed for flight to warmer temps.
…disappearing wisps — I like that image.
Nice imagination, I took it so literally & like that you saw this other thing. I miss my fireplace!
I FEEL the warmth from the words smoke chimney and fireside. Great choices!
Smoke wisps from the chimney
Disappearing into the cold
Soon I will sit fireside.
Ooh, nice warm feeling from your poem.
I like that.
Cynthia. That is profound. Your poem also reminds of what I almost penned — a slight askew gaggle of geese, trying to urge their leader to form the “V” needed for flight to warmer temps.
…disappearing wisps — I like that image.
Nice imagination, I took it so literally & like that you saw this other thing. I miss my fireplace!
I FEEL the warmth from the words smoke chimney and fireside. Great choices!
have you noticed that
the most interesting paths
are not the straightest?
Interesting thought, well expressed.
Great question, and true!
You know, I actually didn’t notice that? And I totally agree with your poem!
have you noticed that
the most interesting paths
are not the straightest?
Interesting thought, well expressed.
Great question, and true!
You know, I actually didn’t notice that? And I totally agree with your poem!
Laura, the “things you follow” are individually thought provoking. I like how you used all of them in one verse.
Laura, the “things you follow” are individually thought provoking. I like how you used all of them in one verse.
This brought many things to my mind, Laura. Love that personal ‘follow’. I kept thinking of some wayward animal!
Missing
Tracks create a
?once upon a time,?
but the writer
forgot
?happily ever after?.
Linda Baie ?All Rights Reserved
Love that Linda. That’s a very creative interpretation.
Thanks Martha!
The reader must fill in the “happily ever after” or maybe “not so happy.”
I like open-ended.
Good job.
Oh, what an unusual metaphor, Linda. I really like the tracks and the missing animal being compared to the beginning of a story that’s yet to find its ending. Cool!
This brought many things to my mind, Laura. Love that personal ‘follow’. I kept thinking of some wayward animal!
Missing
Tracks create a
?once upon a time,?
but the writer
forgot
?happily ever after?.
Linda Baie ?All Rights Reserved
Love that Linda. That’s a very creative interpretation.
Thanks Martha!
The reader must fill in the “happily ever after” or maybe “not so happy.”
I like open-ended.
Good job.
Oh, what an unusual metaphor, Linda. I really like the tracks and the missing animal being compared to the beginning of a story that’s yet to find its ending. Cool!
Some nice poetry here, Laura — I especially enjoyed yours and Kate’s. Here’s mine:
THE JOURNEY
is mine; I don’t expect you
to come, but here is the path
…if you do.
- ? 2014, Matt Forrest Esenwine
Nice Matt. Another chance to “look back.”
Oh, I like this idea of the journey alone, but “you come, too” feels shy! Nice, Matt!
I didn’t read yours first, ours are so alike, Matt 🙂
Follow the tracks.
Good thought.
Thanks, Matt. And this is charming. I like the invitation without obligation…
Some nice poetry here, Laura — I especially enjoyed yours and Kate’s. Here’s mine:
THE JOURNEY
is mine; I don’t expect you
to come, but here is the path
…if you do.
- ? 2014, Matt Forrest Esenwine
Nice Matt. Another chance to “look back.”
Oh, I like this idea of the journey alone, but “you come, too” feels shy! Nice, Matt!
I didn’t read yours first, ours are so alike, Matt 🙂
Follow the tracks.
Good thought.
Thanks, Matt. And this is charming. I like the invitation without obligation…
Awh lovely, Laura!
Tip toe tip toe
I know where I go
follow me
if you dare
Ooh, mysterious. Where are you going?
I like that element in your poem.
Oh, you’re right — they are similar!
I kept looking and looking at those tracks, & now you’ve given me the words: “tip toe, tip toe”. Nice, Catherine!
Thanks, Catherine. Oooh, I like the teasing/sly voice here!
Awh lovely, Laura!
Tip toe tip toe
I know where I go
follow me
if you dare
Ooh, mysterious. Where are you going?
I like that element in your poem.
Oh, you’re right — they are similar!
I kept looking and looking at those tracks, & now you’ve given me the words: “tip toe, tip toe”. Nice, Catherine!
Thanks, Catherine. Oooh, I like the teasing/sly voice here!
Written in the Snow
a journey
interrupted
a fleet-footed escape
Ah, who escaped? and why?
I like this.
Actually I like all the poems today.
Yes, I wondered why the tracked ended. You’ve captured it, Buffy!
Lovely–that last line has a distinctive voice that I really like.
Written in the Snow
a journey
interrupted
a fleet-footed escape
Ah, who escaped? and why?
I like this.
Actually I like all the poems today.
Yes, I wondered why the tracked ended. You’ve captured it, Buffy!
Lovely–that last line has a distinctive voice that I really like.
I know this is silly, but the first words that flew into my head and wouldn’t leave were:
I hope the ice holds!
I hope the ice holds!
I hope the ice holds!
Sometimes you just have to go with what comes.
The repetition brings suspense.
Not silly at all.
And a good decision at the end.
Oh, but it’s so true! And the question is, did it? Fun!
The VERY few times I’ve walked across frozen lakes, this is my mantra! We’ve been in Minnesota 24 years now, and it’s STILL bizarre to me to see trucks and ice houses scattered across the surface in the winter!
I know this is silly, but the first words that flew into my head and wouldn’t leave were:
I hope the ice holds!
I hope the ice holds!
I hope the ice holds!
Sometimes you just have to go with what comes.
The repetition brings suspense.
Not silly at all.
And a good decision at the end.
Oh, but it’s so true! And the question is, did it? Fun!
The VERY few times I’ve walked across frozen lakes, this is my mantra! We’ve been in Minnesota 24 years now, and it’s STILL bizarre to me to see trucks and ice houses scattered across the surface in the winter!
Great job, everyone!
Mystery
Tracks coming toward me,
Tracks going back,
Who?s been to visit,
Leaving this code to crack?
and I see that I can’t count, so let’s say this instead:
Mystery
Tracks coming toward me,
Tracks going back,
Who?s been visiting,
Leaving this code to crack?
It really is a mystery, isn’t it, Jane? Those tracks looks as if they end, but why?
I love this question/riddle poem, Jane. Seeing the tracks as code is wonderful.
Great job, everyone!
Mystery
Tracks coming toward me,
Tracks going back,
Who?s been to visit,
Leaving this code to crack?
and I see that I can’t count, so let’s say this instead:
Mystery
Tracks coming toward me,
Tracks going back,
Who?s been visiting,
Leaving this code to crack?
It really is a mystery, isn’t it, Jane? Those tracks looks as if they end, but why?
I love this question/riddle poem, Jane. Seeing the tracks as code is wonderful.
They have no beginning
There is no end
A trail leading
who knows where
Infinity!
- Anne McKenna
That is exactly what I adore about being out in nature, Anne–those moments where infinity is all around…
They have no beginning
There is no end
A trail leading
who knows where
Infinity!
- Anne McKenna
That is exactly what I adore about being out in nature, Anne–those moments where infinity is all around…
Crowded Empty Places
Traces,
Spaces filled
With footprints
Of lives lived,
Of loved ones gone
Who still remain.
~~Barbara J. Turner
Lovely, Barbara–and the title is my favorite line of all.
Crowded Empty Places
Traces,
Spaces filled
With footprints
Of lives lived,
Of loved ones gone
Who still remain.
~~Barbara J. Turner
Lovely, Barbara–and the title is my favorite line of all.
It’s been so long since I’ve participated. What a great prompt! I thoroughly enjoyed the poems today.
Here’s mine.
Signed: Mr. Hare
Thump-a-thump.
Thump. Thump.
Hopping hieroglyphics
penned a
frisky-footed,
frosty-fonted,
farewell.
?2014~ Penny Parker Klostermann
Love it!
Great alliteration — all those “f” sounds.
Love the idea of “frosty font.”
Love frosty-fonted.
How absolutely perfect. Love, love it. Good job.
I love the rhythm & the sound, Penny! It must be a bunny-those hopping hieroglyphics!
Oh, frosty-fonted! Glorious. And great to see you here:>)
It’s been so long since I’ve participated. What a great prompt! I thoroughly enjoyed the poems today.
Here’s mine.
Signed: Mr. Hare
Thump-a-thump.
Thump. Thump.
Hopping hieroglyphics
penned a
frisky-footed,
frosty-fonted,
farewell.
?2014~ Penny Parker Klostermann
Love it!
Great alliteration — all those “f” sounds.
Love the idea of “frosty font.”
Love frosty-fonted.
How absolutely perfect. Love, love it. Good job.
I love the rhythm & the sound, Penny! It must be a bunny-those hopping hieroglyphics!
Oh, frosty-fonted! Glorious. And great to see you here:>)
I wasn’t their when they wear made
sail flow them perhaps Dear, bunny , mouse or fox
I will never now I decided to flow
my own tracks instead
Love the idea of following your OWN tracks, Jessica!
I wasn’t their when they wear made
sail flow them perhaps Dear, bunny , mouse or fox
I will never now I decided to flow
my own tracks instead
Love the idea of following your OWN tracks, Jessica!
I wasn?t their when they wear made
sail flow them perhaps Dear, bunny , mouse or fox
I will never know I decided to flow
my own tracks instead
I wasn?t their when they wear made
sail flow them perhaps Dear, bunny , mouse or fox
I will never know I decided to flow
my own tracks instead
FROZEN JOURNEY
A lonely duck waddles
Across salted, frozen water bed
Praying for shelter.
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.
FROZEN JOURNEY
A lonely duck waddles
Across salted, frozen water bed
Praying for shelter.
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.