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.
One thing we did while visiting our daughter in Cyprus was to to a few different beaches. The (Mediterranean Sea) water was still too chilly (even for us Minnesotans) for actual swimming, but it was plenty hot. Oh, we did get in when we rented a “pedal boat with slide.” Hehe.
We had a blast all sliding down that slide, hanging off the back of the boat, etc.
Other than that, though, we mostly just enjoyed looking at the beautiful beaches. The top picture above is Aphrodite’s Rock, where Aphrodite is said to have been born. It is a stunningly beautiful setting, and I can totally imagine the Goddess of Love choosing that spot to exit the sea. This image makes me think of several things:
- a frog waiting to kiss Princess Aphrodite and turn into a Prince
- a beach that has bones instead of sand/rocks
- clouds catching on fire
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.)
30 Responses
Sun blinks awake
Sparks catch
Then blaze
Lighting the way
To the future
love the fire image!
That image of sun blinking awake–what a fresh way to describe sunrise–I love it!
Laura, such a love song you have here.…love’s starting block. That is a great ending.
I can’t help think of what the rock has seen.
Petra tou Romiou
Sea stack
worthy of
goddess birth
watches for
rafts, lifejackets
………………………..rescue
different kinds
of love
Your poem makes me think of selfless love, a person puts themselves in danger to help another. Very nice.
Oh, Linda, your poem made me cry. There is so much suffering. The refugee family we had lunch with had crossed from Turkey to Cyprus in an overloaded small boat in stormy weather. So much death and heartache has been witnessed by the beaches in that part of the world. Love your hopeful ending.
Before I read any poems, I did a little Google search. Laura, your poem is the perfect marriage of love. I, too, want to wish for love (and fertility) from this Goddess.
O Goddess Aphrodite,
born of sea foam,
bless our world
with new life,
effervescent love.
love that word effervescent. perfect
“born of sea foam” — sigh. Beautiful, Margaret–so delicate and ethereal…perfect for a kind of prayer/blessings poem.
By Jessica Bigi
Poetry is hues
of our hearts dancing
I just love this.
Ill the different colors made me think of hues and the water and rock made me think of poetry and how it reflects from our hearts
Love this, Jessica!
I’ve been influenced by the happenings in Hawaii. So tragic for those living too close.
LOTS OF LAVA
Red hot heat
meets
cool pool blue.
Purple haze
from volcanic blaze.
Ooh, those colors and contrasts–dramatic!
agree…..those colors! wow
Very dramatic!
Converge/emerge; block/rock. Wonderful rhymes and a whole story in your poem, Laura. Impressive.
The person walking among the rocks caught my eye. Besides swimming at the beach, I like to explore tide pools.
So much to see
beside the sea.
Tide pool creatures
beckon me.
Oh, me too…..almost summer. Can’t wait to get to the beach.
I love tide pools. I wish we had had them on the east coast, but I never saw one until I visited California as a grown-up. They’re magical! Thanks, Lauren!
Been to the cold beach a couple of times this spring…love the lone beach noises uncluttered by human sounds.
Oh Laura, your poem is lovely, soothing and inspirational. What a way to begin a new day. Love the water toy! On the extreme right of the picture is a gentleman with hands on hips and to his left, his true love sits, legs dangling, shoulders sagging. Forlorn.
He Said, She Said
Born a frog
dreames of a prince
alternating kisses
from this day hence:
WEDDED BLISS
What fun near rhymes, Martha!
The largest rock drew me in with its face looking worriedly out to sea…then I saw the smaller ones looking quite happy. Reminded me of our family at the beach — mom always looking out for her 4 kids splashing with abandon in the dangerous and cold ocean waves.
How Do Rocks See the Sea?
“Scary!”
One rock moaned warily;
“Fun!”
Cheered others heartily.
“So cold!”
They squealed in unity!
Love this–Kind of like Goldilocks and the Three Bears:>)
What a fun rhyme, but the poor rocks can’t step out when they start shivering.
Love the colors in your photo!
Waves lap the rocky coastline.
Ocean’s sandpaper tongue
smooths rough edges
with each
salty
kiss.
This is fabulous, Buffy! I love sandpaper, as the saltiness of seawater always makes you so gritty. Wonderful ending, too!
Love how you used “lap”, “tongue” and “kiss” for those ocean waves…they ARE salty and sandpapery!
Fun and lovely poem Laura, and a dramatic image! Looks like you had a marvelous time, funky looking paddle boat too!
PARADISE
Paradise
lies
in the eyes
Of the
beholder,
find yours …