Photo: Laura Purdie Salas
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
I’m on hiatus for a month or so, but I’m posting pictures on Thursdays so you all can still participate if you want to:>)
Here’s what?this picture?makes me think of:
1)?A cloud that fell to Earth somehow
2) Baby hair–that soft, fine fluff that defies gravity
3) Cotton candy
And here’s my poem first draft:
Cotton Candy
State Fair’s sweet dreams
shrink to solidity
when?you try to consume them
–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.
60 Responses
A little time away for reflection is always good! Thanks for keeping the Thursday challenge going–it’s the one thing I count on every week (that and being late to work every Thursday morning).
While The Human’s Away
The cat
nibbles
houseplants
plucks stuffing
from armrests
displaces small
breakable objects
in idle play.
© Diane Mayr
Ha. I’m especially fond of “displaces small/breakable objects.” Strong images and a fun title.
Okay Diane. What’s your secret? How did you do that? You told me a story in this poem. This cat has a history, a present, and a future. This is not a portrait in still life. I think you could take these words and expand then into a picture book. Am I wrong? {}
Everything’s easier in 15 words, Pamela!
For me, alas, the opposite. I write big and long. So much more precision goes into 15 words or less. No room or my tendency o chatterbox away. (())
Typos on iPad: meant: “no room FOR my tendency to chatterbox away.” Yuh huh.
A little time away for reflection is always good! Thanks for keeping the Thursday challenge going–it’s the one thing I count on every week (that and being late to work every Thursday morning).
While The Human’s Away
The cat
nibbles
houseplants
plucks stuffing
from armrests
displaces small
breakable objects
in idle play.
© Diane Mayr
Ha. I’m especially fond of “displaces small/breakable objects.” Strong images and a fun title.
Okay Diane. What’s your secret? How did you do that? You told me a story in this poem. This cat has a history, a present, and a future. This is not a portrait in still life. I think you could take these words and expand then into a picture book. Am I wrong? {}
Everything’s easier in 15 words, Pamela!
For me, alas, the opposite. I write big and long. So much more precision goes into 15 words or less. No room or my tendency o chatterbox away. (())
Typos on iPad: meant: “no room FOR my tendency to chatterbox away.” Yuh huh.
after the harvest
always some stray cotton
lingers
I also want to thank you for continuing 15 WOL. One of the things I enjoy most is how you can find something positive to say about every poem. That, and the impressive posts of all the players.
Best of luck reaching your goals.
ellie
Just a few words, but it manages to be really poignant.
Minimalism works!
The image lingers… that soft tuft of cotton left behind.. A sweet reminder that not everything need be needed. Sometimes things are better just for being ‑there-. Like our words. Will we save the world? Who knows? But will they save us? Absolutely.
after the harvest
always some stray cotton
lingers
I also want to thank you for continuing 15 WOL. One of the things I enjoy most is how you can find something positive to say about every poem. That, and the impressive posts of all the players.
Best of luck reaching your goals.
ellie
Just a few words, but it manages to be really poignant.
Minimalism works!
The image lingers… that soft tuft of cotton left behind.. A sweet reminder that not everything need be needed. Sometimes things are better just for being ‑there-. Like our words. Will we save the world? Who knows? But will they save us? Absolutely.
Cotton
wolf huff puffing
steam train chuffing
baby cloud stuffing
drifting off to nothing
?Kate Coombs
Love this, Kate.
I’m not bluffing. {}
This poem is so audible and visual. A panorama of life in 15 words. So nice.
Sounds like a fairy tale to me. LOVE.
Cotton
wolf huff puffing
steam train chuffing
baby cloud stuffing
drifting off to nothing
?Kate Coombs
Love this, Kate.
I’m not bluffing. {}
This poem is so audible and visual. A panorama of life in 15 words. So nice.
Sounds like a fairy tale to me. LOVE.
On an early, eerie morning
hopping up without a warning-
Ghost Frog!
Leaves me agog.
Laura, thank you for keeping Thursdays fun. I love reading everyone’s imagination.
What a great rhyme! And Ghost Frog sounds like a great character for an app, or a story.
Absolutely great creation. A Ghost Frog. Work with it and see where your story hops.
On an early, eerie morning
hopping up without a warning-
Ghost Frog!
Leaves me agog.
Laura, thank you for keeping Thursdays fun. I love reading everyone’s imagination.
What a great rhyme! And Ghost Frog sounds like a great character for an app, or a story.
Absolutely great creation. A Ghost Frog. Work with it and see where your story hops.
After Graduation
They are seeds
with silk wings,
drifting–
some land in rich soil
others in concrete.
Enjoy your time off, Laura–and thanks for giving us our Thursday-fix!
Nice biblical allusion. And a fitting tribute to current graduates, who face a world of less promise and surety.
Words that truly hit home. My youngest seed has sprouted and shuffled off to college. I know her future will be happy and rich in poetry and passion and dreams fulfilled. But it all began as one little seed dropped from my hand.
After Graduation
They are seeds
with silk wings,
drifting–
some land in rich soil
others in concrete.
Enjoy your time off, Laura–and thanks for giving us our Thursday-fix!
Nice biblical allusion. And a fitting tribute to current graduates, who face a world of less promise and surety.
Words that truly hit home. My youngest seed has sprouted and shuffled off to college. I know her future will be happy and rich in poetry and passion and dreams fulfilled. But it all began as one little seed dropped from my hand.
This Masquerade Was Playing on the Stereo
Flashback:
Your young skin,
sewn into mine.
Time unravels
fragile dreams
I’d hate to
Forget
–Pamela Ross
Wow–eerie AND nostalgic. I especially like the title.
Thank you, Kate. That is so nice of you to say. I wish I could say this one comes straight from the imagination but…ahem ahem. {}
Indelible imagery, Ms. Ross! Nice to be in the company of poets.
Loving this. Hope you’ve been well,
– One in the Company
This Masquerade Was Playing on the Stereo
Flashback:
Your young skin,
sewn into mine.
Time unravels
fragile dreams
I’d hate to
Forget
–Pamela Ross
Wow–eerie AND nostalgic. I especially like the title.
Thank you, Kate. That is so nice of you to say. I wish I could say this one comes straight from the imagination but…ahem ahem. {}
Indelible imagery, Ms. Ross! Nice to be in the company of poets.
Loving this. Hope you’ve been well,
– One in the Company
LOST
Somehow?
I made a wrong turn
between Heaven and Earth.
Which way is
home?
? Andria W. Rosenbaum
I love how you got a lost angel out of this image!
This is lovely, Andria. Long time no see, no read. I hope you have been well. {}
–Pamela Ross
LOST
Somehow?
I made a wrong turn
between Heaven and Earth.
Which way is
home?
? Andria W. Rosenbaum
I love how you got a lost angel out of this image!
This is lovely, Andria. Long time no see, no read. I hope you have been well. {}
–Pamela Ross
Not one wasted word.
And this is why I have a dog 😉
Woops. This was meant for Diane Mayr’s poem.
Not one wasted word.
And this is why I have a dog 😉
Woops. This was meant for Diane Mayr’s poem.
Everything’s easier in 15 words or less, Pamela!
Everything’s easier in 15 words or less, Pamela!
One is haiku, one is straight free verse, I can’t decide which one I like more so I’m posting them both. Enjoy!
COTTON CANDY CREATION
Papery mounds of
Spun sugar threads coalesce
Into pompadour.
THE CREATION OF COTTON CANDY
Vertigo begins as papery mounds
of spun sugar coalesce into
Pink Pompadours.
© Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
One is haiku, one is straight free verse, I can’t decide which one I like more so I’m posting them both. Enjoy!
COTTON CANDY CREATION
Papery mounds of
Spun sugar threads coalesce
Into pompadour.
THE CREATION OF COTTON CANDY
Vertigo begins as papery mounds
of spun sugar coalesce into
Pink Pompadours.
© Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.