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.
Last night, as Randy and I were driving home from downtown, there was this cool contrail like a long thin cloud shearing the night sky. It was right next to the moon (and, at one point, right over it, but I didn’t get a pic of that). My photo, taken out our grimy windshield with my phone, was–as expected–lame. But when I filtered it, I liked the effect. The moon is that little blue and white dot just left of center near the top of the image. This image makes me think of several things:
- Needle felting a piece of wool (the “needle” even has the barb on it)
- Straw sticking out of a frothy milkshake–yum!
- Lightning bolt through a cloud
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.)
43 Responses
Good Morning! So far my I am keeping my promise to participate in 15 words or less for a month is in place. 2 for 2.
Moon held
her breath
as Arthur
pulled sword
from stone
as a needle
from wool.
One of my students has taken an interest in King Arthur lately. I love how the moon is participating in the anticipation.
Brought back memories of that story! Love it!
Linda, King Arthur knows how to strike a pose and I would certainly hold a breath. Great lines.
Linda, I am anonymous. Hit the wrong key. Nothing new!
Today’s snow day has cleared the decks for writing. I was delighted when I realized it was a 15 Words or Less day with an intriguing photo for inspiration. I love the tone of your poem–the miracle of the moon is definitely worthy of celebration! Here’s my effort:
Beginning…
I dip my quill
into the froth of possibilities
select one slender floss
and write
Froth and floss, great words!
Credit for froth goes to Laura and her frothy milkshake!
I need “Beginning…” today of all days.
Appreciations!
Nice- better a froth than just a few bubbles when we’re trying to write!
That is scrumptious. I wish you a day full of words!
I generally only read the description of the photo and nothing else before writing my quick poem. It was only after I posted mine that I saw that we had a similar interpretation and I love how you pulled out a slender floss to write with. Lovely poem, mbhmaine !! (I love to come to Boothbay, Southport and Castine in the summers. Maine steals my heart every year.)
Lovely!
I liked your arrow-shaped poem, Laura! It makes a good point! 🙂 Ha, Ha!
FINAL WINTER FUN
One last pile of snow
squats upon the mud.
I’m an arrow, shot true.
Thud!
Ha! Well, yes. Thud. What a great “stick” to that vault
Yesterday we had this snow pile and the nice warm temperatures. Today, a blaze of whiteness, but we are not getting the kind of snow on the east coast. We will have a long wait before the greenery returns. I wish I could use that arrow to bring it sooner.
Moon watches
as the fabric
of our world
is torn, hands
us a mending needle.
Oh, my. I wish everyone knew how to sew.…
from your fingertips to God’s ears.…we need sewing lessons.
Oh, Margaret–your poems just keep getting better and better. This is indeed what the moon does for me.
Margaret, this lifts me up, reminds me that many hands (+ minds) are working on mending our World.
Mending our world. Praying for that. Lovely, Margaret.
I love the surprising way you took this one.
Laura, so many images, so many possibilities. I even saw the boar’s head from last week, at least his flat nose; a bird and all of the things you mentioned. My thought emerged from the comment about your windshield.
At the Car Wash
Suds pile
rag-tags scrub
one struggling wiper blade
raps rub-a-dub-dub.
Love the rag-tags. Great name for them!
One great image can be a catalyst for multiple fine directions.
Love the fun of this.
Stormy Seas
One clear light
in a sea of chaos
Guides us home
Lovely, Marian. Feeling that sea of chaos…
Yes, the moon, always there. I have always loved to look up and think that my friends so far away can see the same moon. Makes me feel connected in a warm, beautiful way.
Love “the miracle of moon”. I went with the milkshake…
How to Eat Heaven
First
dip a finger
in whipped cream cloud,
then slurp the blue raspberry sky.
Yum, Yum!
Michelle,
I love your poem. The title and “slurp the blue raspberry sky”. So goes with the photo like a card as do so many of these poems. I am trying hard to do this each week, I love this community, even when the members change from time to time!!
Writing Poetry by Moonlight
I grab my pen
stab it into searing whiteness
swirl my words
hunt for poetry.
Janet—I love the energy of your poem! We clearly were thinking along similar lines. Happy writing!
Laura,
I like your “Contrail…” and how it brings out the ideas in us.
Here are my 2 drafts of the same poem. Suggestions, appreciated.
Jan/Bookseedstudio
Together, one
Marine plants paint
a silken seascape,
inviting silver skyscape
to reflect,
join the dance.
or???
Together
Marine plants paint
their silken seascape.
Ask silver skyscape
to descend,
join the dance.
Hi Jan,
I like that you see all these sea life plants asking the sky to join in a dance. If making a choice, I prefer your second version. I am looking at your title and wondering if a different one might enhance your poem. I am not sure Together works there. It could be part of your first line if you want to keep that word, or could be line one alone. Just making a comment since you asked for feedback. Of course there are so many opinions on poems, others or many might totally see it a different way, so take this as a little feedback just being friendly!!!! Love our first draft efforts.
huh! Never thought of a seascape. I love your imagination! Great balance to the words.
Laura and 15 WOL lovers — I’ve been trying for a while to reply to the many participants for today. Your picture really struck a chord. We’re experiencing wicked winds here and I’ll blame it on the fact that the website just keeps jumping around. You would laugh if you could see me chasing the page with the mouse and trying to make the cursor land at the correct place to begin typing. I managed about 2 individual ones — this will be a group one. You’re all wonderful. Thursday is my favorite day of the week!
Amazing how your phone’s filter transformed grime into wonder!
Looking Up, Looking Down
stars glint
moon gleams
clouds swirl
snow brightens
boots creak
night trail
That’s a great prompt and poem.
A javelin thrower stuck in snow
Took his practising
A weather front too far.
I love how a filter could transform this picture so entirely. I am limiting myself to five minutes to write these response poems, because otherwise I can get obsessed with trying and trying to make it better and spend way too much time.
Nazar
The eye peeks through
masqueraded muck
to ward off evil. Will
the glacier crack
anyway?
I love this pic and the story behind it I love everyone poem
poem By Jessica Bigi
The First Snow
neon
streaks
of icy blue
slippers
tap-dance
trilling
whirling
blizzards
tumbling
shutting stars
covering ground
I have truly enjoyed the wonderful variety of poems this image inspired. Sorry I am late to the party. Valentine’s Day inspired my poem, a hay(na)ku.
piercing my heart
your lasting
love