Arc De Triomphe Stairway [15 Words or Less]

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. 

Before we get to today’s picture, congratulations to Lauren McBride, longtime 15 Words or Less contributor, on her poem at YourDailyPoem.com. I subscribe to Your Daily Poem, and I always cheer to see a poet friend there! Maybe you’d have a moment to stop by and leave a comment for her?

Staircase
Photo: Laura P. Salas

OK, on to our writing! I had to look back through pictures from our trip to figure out where this staircase was. Turns out it’s inside the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. This image makes me think of several things:

  1. chambered nautilus
  2. mother-of-pearl
  3. chambers of the heart

And here’s my first draft. It came from several places. My daughter Maddie (in her early 20s) was there at the Arc with us, and she is home for a visit before moving to Cyprus to serve refugees and other people in need. I am filled with love and pride. And as I write this, I have just learned of the death of a friend’s child, who was also only in his 20s. She is devastated, and the whole world feels ripped apart. It reminds me of this…

love 15wol

 

It’s your turn! Have fun with the image and don’t feel your poem needs to be in any way affected by mine! Be sure to 15 WORDS OR LESS! (Title doesn’t count toward word count.)

 

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

40 Responses

  1. Love, truth, trust, and hope
    a room for each blessing
    chambers of goodness
    and heart

    1. I love the way you’ve used room and chambers, Amelia. Line 2 makes me happy!

  2. Hooray! Lauren McBride, Hooray! It’s lovely to see your words come to life.

    Laura, your poem is simple.…but the so powerful. Let’s make a poster of this one! LOVE is truly the only word that matters.

    I saw math.…which is weird.…I’m not good in math! As usual, I made a graphic to display this poem on my blog.

    Fibonacci

    None
    One
    rise
    two steps
    now its three
    each goal met a triumph.

    Life sequence

    1. A Fib poem! What a great idea! “Each goal met a triumph!” Yes.

    2. Thanks, Linda:>) I guess mine isn’t really a poem, but…there ya go! I like your celebration of small steps here.

  3. so sorry to her of your friends loss of her son this pic is very interesting I love your poem

    poem by Jessica Bigi

    Waze as
    eyes of time
    remembered
    each winding step
    intertwining lives
    treasured love

    1. so sorry to her of your friends loss of her son this pic is very interesting I love your poem

      poem by Jessica Bigi

      Wise as
      eyes of time
      remembered
      each winding step
      intertwining lives
      treasured love

      1. Those intertwining lives can lead to a broken heart. That’s the risk we take.

      2. Thanks, Jessica. I love comparing those winding steps to our lives twining together. Lovely.

  4. I think losing a child is the worst thing that could ever happen. Prayers for your friend, Laura. And congrats to Lauren! I need more time than I have right now to formulate a poem.

  5. I’m so sorry about your friend’s loss, Laura. How devastating. This was a super quick draft version as I’m pressed for time but wanted to participate. I’ll be back to comment on others’ poems later.

    Turn the Screw

    spiraling inward
    tighter
    and
    tighter,
    tighter
    and
    tighter,

    until…

    Vanishment
    or explosion?

    1. This verse reminds me of my thought of a snail “recoiling” itself. I hope it didn’t vanish nor explode! ????

  6. Thank you everyone, and Laura especially, for the shout out, and weekly inspiration through 15 WOL. You all have inspired me over the years to write the best poems I can.

    I am so sorry for your friend’s loss, Laura. Which made me wonder how we would greet the future if we knew what was coming; and how to face the future after such a tragedy.

    I have no time today so my poem is another six word hay(na)ku.

    each step forward
    our future
    unknown

    1. Congrats Lauren. YDP is a favorite site for me and you are deserving of a shout out.

  7. So sorry to hear of the unthinkable loss for your friend. Condolences to all. Paris is the city of love; quite appropriate. I could see the mother of pearl and I pictured a snail trying to “recoil” itself. But .…

    Stairway from Heaven

    “Out of my way,
    I’m coming down,”
    Visitors wait on Slinky,
    some smile, most frown.

    1. Oh, a slinky on the stairs. How fun. And thanks for your kind comment above.

  8. Oh Laura, I am so sorry for your friend. Losing any family member is hard, but losing a child is devastating. I’m guessing it will make your time with Maddie even more precious.

    Plodding Through the Pond

    Balanced on one foot
    snail carries her prize–
    her spiral staircase
    leading everywhere
    and nowhere.

    1. I just can’t even imagine, Buffy. And, yes, this painful reminder of the uncertainty of life does make every moment more cherished. Your poem is wonderful! Snail seems so…active…in it, which is an unexpected joy:>)

  9. Thank you for keeping this space of creativity and support, Laura. It shines like the LOVE in your poem…even in dark times.

    Mother of pearl
    chambered nautilus
    all the secret places
    I tuck your love away

    1. Thanks, Kortney–I appreciate those words. Your poem is beautiful–“secret” and “tuck” give it such a cozy feeling!

    2. I love how your last two lines take me somewhere unexpected from the marine image I had at first. Thank you for your lovely comment on my poem at YDP.

  10. Two Views

    Going up? Sliding down?
    Cheery smile? Grumpy frown?
    You are standing
    on life’s landing.

    Choose!

    1. What a wonderful nudge and reminder of our power over our reactions to things. Love this!

    2. Cindy, life’s landing certainly offers choices. Some wise, others not so, but hopefully things eventually work out. I like the emphasis on our choice.

  11. This came from your picture and all three bits in your post… the happy and the sad.

    And She Grew

    Step by step
    In helical line,
    From roots
    to shoots,
    A journey divine.

    Donna JT Smith

    1. Oh, that roots to shoots–beautiful. And the word helical! This is just lovely, Donna…

  12. By Phillip- age 7

    Big Tornado-

    Looks like a staircase
    Let’s see where it goes
    NO! It’s a tornado
    RUN!

    1. LOVE this in-the-moment thriller poem. I’ve written lots of storm poems. The drama is irresistible.

  13. By Franklin-age 11

    Long, Long Staircase-

    Bottom of the Staircase looking up
    When will i reach the very high top?

    1. Great point of view. Puts the reader right there with you! (I feel tired already:)

  14. DESTINATION: TROUBLE
    Swirling down the stairs
    feet slapping concrete slabs
    human typhoon.

    © Charles Waters 2017 all rights reserved.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,546 other subscribers

Are You Looking For?

Poetry Friday posts

Classroom Connections posts

All my poetryactions

Go to my Poetry page for:

  • National Poetry Month projects through the years
  • Small Reads Roundups (poems grouped by topic)
  • Introductions to several favorite poetry forms
Tags
#waterpoemproject15 Words or Less Poems20for2030 Painless Classroom Poems50 State Poemsacrosticsactivity pagesactivity sheetALAA Leaf Can Be...Amy Ludwig VanDerwaterA Need to FeedanthologiesanthologyA Rock Can Be...art projectsaudiopoemsawardsbad newsBarbara Juster EsbensenBilly Collinsbiopoemsblog tourbookalikesbook festivalsBookSpeak!book spine poemsbook trailersbop poembyr a thoddaidcafepresscalendar poemsCamp Read-a-LotCan Be... bookscan be... poemsCapstoneCarol Varsalonacascade poemsCatherine FlynnccbcCCRA.W.3CCRA.W.4CCRA.W.5centoschapter booksCharles Waterschoral compositionschristina rossetticinquainsCLAclassified ad poemsclassroom connectionclassroom connectionsClover Kittyconferences and conventionscrown sonnetscybilsdansaDare to DreamDavid Elliottdeeper wisdom poemdefinitosdiamantesdiversitydizaindodoitsuDot DayDouglas Floriandownloadablesdrum corpse.e. cummingsekphrastic poemsepistolary poemsequation poemsessentialethereeseventsexquisite corpseFairy Tale Garage Salefamilyfibonaccifiction picture booksfinding familyfirefightersforeign editionsfound poemsfree author zoomsfree versefrom studentsgeesegeorgia heardghazalGift Taggiveawaygolden shovelgoldilocksgratitudehaikuheart of aheart of a teacherHeidi MordhorstHelen FrostHighlightshow-to poemshow to make a rainbowI Am FromI Am poemsidiomsif you want to knit some mittensIf You Were the MoonILAimagepoemsinterviewin the middle of the nightIRAIrelandIrene LathamJ. Patrick LewisJanet WongJoyce SidmanKendraKerlanKidlit Comboslailaura's board booksLaura's booksLaura's poemsLaura's readingsLaura ShovanLee Bennett HopkinsLilian MoorelimericksLinda Booth SweeneyLine Leads the WayLion of the Skylist poemslittle free librarylive writingLullaby and Kisses Sweetlyricsmadness poetrymagnipoemsmargaret simonMarilyn Singermary lee hahnmask poemsMatt Forrest EsenwineMeet My FamilyMelissa StewartMentors for Rentmentor textsmetaphorMichelle Myers LacknerMillbrookMinnesota Book Awardsmoneymoonmy reading lifemy writing processN+7naaninarrative poemsNational Poetry Month 2012 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2014 (riddle-ku)National Poetry Month 2015National Poetry Month 2016National Poetry Month 2017 (#wonderbreak)national poetry month 2018 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2020National Poetry Month 2021 (#EquationPoem)national poetry month 2022 (sticky-note poems)National Poetry Month 2023 (Digging for Poems)National Poetry Month 2024 (magnipoems)ncteNerdy Book Clubnifty newsnifty stuffNikki Grimesnonfictionnonfiction booksNonfiction Writers Dig Deepnovelsnovels in verseodesOne Minute Till BedtimeoppositifyOskar's VoyagepadletpantoumsparodiesPatreonpeacepersonalpet poemsphotopoetryphrase acrosticspicture booksplagiarismpoempicspoemspoems for two voicespoemsketchpoetic pursuitsPoetry 7poetryactionspoetry activitiesPoetry Blastpoetry booksPoetry FridayPoetry Friday AnthologiesPoetry Princessespoetry promptspoetry sistersPoetry Tips for Teachersprogressive poempublishing processpuddle songPutridquotationsraccontinosRandy Salasread-aloudreadaloudreading poetry in the classroomRebecca Kai Dotlichrecipe poemsrefugeesresearchreview copiesreviewsrevisionrhyming booksrhyming nonfictionrhyming picture booksRhyming Picture Books the Write Wayrhyming poemsRiddle-kuriddle poemsRock Can Be...Rock the Blogrondeau redoublesRudyard Kiplingsalas snippetsSCBWIschool visitsScotlandseasonssecrets of the loonSELsestinasshrinking daysskinnyskypeslice of lifesmall readssnack snooze skedaddlesnowman-coldsonnetsStampede!storm poemstorytimestorywalkstudent poemsstudent workSylvia VardellTanita Davistankatautogramteachableteacher resourcesteen/adult poemsterza rimasthankfulthank yous and referencesthe business sidethings to do iftracy nelson maurertrioletstunie munson-bensonvideosVikram MadanvillanellevillanellesWater Can Be...wealthy elementaryWe BelongWhat's InsideWhy-kuwinterwonderwonderbreakword of the yearwordplaywordsmithswork for hirewritingwriting bookswriting processwriting promptswriting the life poeticyoung authors conferencesYouTubeZapZap Clap Boomzenozentangle
Show More Show Less

Discover more from Laura Purdie Salas

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Join Laura's monthly newsletter for eductators

Get three of Laura's favorite poetry activities when you subscribe to "Small Reads."