Hello, and welcome! This is 15 Words or Less Poems, a low-pressure way to wake up your poetry brain (guidelines here), and I’m very glad you’re here.
More fun from the Atlanta airport. There was a series of sculptures by a Zimbabwean (I think) sculptor. I loved the bold shapes. This image makes me think of several things:
- how cold a gorilla in Minnesota would be (it’s 14 below zero as I write this)
- a statue who wonders why everyone’s looking at it
- a statue that comes to live in an airport
And here’s my first draft.
It’s your turn! Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS! (Title doesn’t count toward word count.)
31 Responses
Merry Christmas, Laura! Loved your last line — tropical villa sounds good right now.
CHRISTMAS DINNER AND MORE
The family feast
for man and beast,
my dog faired well
I’m not so swell.
Oh how funny. This is me after Thanksgiving dinner. Fun rhyme.
Love this take! Stomach ache! LOL!
Merry Christmas, Cindy. Oh, boy–can I relate. I have been eating non-stop for three weeks. Mostly sweets. Which I love. I love the way you used the man and beast phrase and then showed the results for both. Gave me an empathetic chuckle.
What a strange statue to have there! He sure looks cold! Your poem is perfect. Loved its rhyme.
Wrong Shipment
We ordered moose
And piney trees -
Not icy-cubes
On frozen seas,
Nor gorilla -
Exchange, please!
What a fun take on the picture. Love that last line.
Well, it was a whole cool series. Lots of family and people shapes. I’m not that big on people art–I always gravitate toward nature. Fun poem. The moose and pine tree decor–northwoods look–is big up here, so I’m picturing cabin owners opening up a shipment and finding a gorilla. Unexpected to say the least!
This southern girl would not survive, either, in that cold. We say it’s freezing when it’s below 50. Merry Christmas! And stay warm.
I am writing haiku every day for Mary Lee Hahn’s December challenge #haikuforhealing, so my poem today is also a haiku.
I could be a bear
dreaming of spring’s abundance
safely hiding now
–Margaret Simon
Love that middle line and your southern view of winter.
Sometimes I wonder if I’d miss having the inhospitable winter weather if I lived in the south. The danger of the cold can be somehow invigorating, and just a tad rewarding when you are watching it safely indoors! 50 degrees is shorts weather here!
That bear needs a den to curl up in to weather the weather!
I hated southern, hot holidays (grew up in Fla.). Just talked to several family members in past few days, and we all talked about how hard it was to feel Christmasy when it’s in the 80s. Give me a cold, white Christmas anytime! (And winter in general:>)
Merry Christmas, Margaret! We have warmed up into the 20s, so it’s not nearly so brutal as a few days ago! I feel like a lot of people are in hiding, hibernating until better days:>/ This is lovely.
Laura, I loved your rhyming poem. Chilla is such a fun word in my mouth. Tropical villa was an unexpected surprise. Good work. I really enjoyed the photo too. Except my brain wanted to know textures. First question was, what was the medium for the statue? Wood or stone? Then I was looking at the floor, tile or carpet? The colors really are happy and loud for me.
Hugging gorilla
with a tight squeeze
a big hug willa
give you
his fleas..
Mele Kalikimaka. Our high yesterday was 77. Come visit Kauai.
What a fun poem, especially that third line.
Cute and fun! Love it, Joy! Gorilla has so many great ways to make up rhymes.
Thanks, Joy. The statue was silver metal, not too shiny. It’s standing on a base that has, I think, a black marble-like top on it. And that’s carpet with the strong pattern. And the purple lines are the sides of the moving walkway dividers. Ha! I laughed at the fleas. Not a gift I want to receive:>) I would love to visit Kauai–though not during the holidays. I love winters and was just thinking the gorilla might not:>) But some February when I’m getting a little tired of the cold, I hope to make it to Hawaii. Thank you for the song!
Delightful take on the picture Laura. Even here in the south a tropical villa sounds awfully inviting. I would invite the gorilla to come with me!
Body Language
Arms crossed
toes pointed in,
“closed off?” you ask;
how about
cold, ashamed,
outcast!
Now I feel sorry for the big guy. He needs joyacey’s hug.
Oh, I like this take on the image! Body language interpretations would be great for kids to do, too!
I like the analysis, Martha! I’m trying to remember if the gorilla seemed so sad without the filter. Great last three words.
The poor thing’s eyes just look too sad.
…Staying Home
Forgot gloves, hat and coat.
No warm scarf round my throat.
Sending you a note…
He does look sad! Love the last line.
Oh, no! This reminds me of a phone call home from elementary school when a child isn’t warmly enough dressed to go outside for recess:>) I love how cozy your middle line is.
That gorilla looks so sad! If I had more than 15 words I’d try to cheer him up.
Happy Holidays to all!
New Kid on the Playground
They call me pointy-head,
and run away…
I stare at toes,
alone,
watch them play.
Oh, that is so sad, Buffy. Now I want to cheer him up, too.
This makes me want to go back in time and seek out some of those “new kids” or just ones that were left out, and rewrite their school years with a kinder me.
What a fun exercise! Here’s my try:
Don’t look at me,
shy as can be.
Makin’ me so nervous
I’m gonna pee.
Uh oh! Poor gorilla has more problems than I imagined. And everyone staring! Happy holidays, Yvonne!
Frozen with fear
Best not come near
Unless you have beer
This time of year !
Anne McKenna
(Merry Christmas from Aus)
Merry Christmas, Anne! Fun to see this different mood from you:>) Happy holidays to you and yours!
Thank you Laura, I try to do fun sometimes must be the season 🙂