Camel [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. 

Photo: Laura P. Salas

While in Cyprus, we went to a camel park–and rode camels! I loved this handsome fellow.

This image makes me think of several things:

  1. my Achilles tendon on my left leg, which has given me trouble the past two years
  2. false eyelashes
  3. how camels feel about carrying people around

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.)

 

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19 Responses

  1. Ha! Box of blocks about sums it up. Great description!

    HORSE OF A DIFFERENT SHAPE

    That horse has a lump
    a humongous bump.
    Oh my-
    I’ll ride in the sky!

    1. Heehee–this about sums up when that camel stood up with Maddie and I on his back. Our petite daughter was sky-high:>)

  2. Good morning Laura and congrats on your latest book about animals. And what an animal you’ve chosen for today’s 15 WOL. I love camels and giraffes, and I’m thinking it’s due to those eyelashes you mentioned. Not false ones, but real ones adorning such soulful eyes.

    Beasts of Burdens

    You’re among them
    standing tall
    strong
    bold
    hear our prayers
    relief from
    burdens
    we
    hold.

    1. Two poems and two incredibly different tones. I love the idea that these beasts help us with our burdens.

    2. Yes, giraffes, too! They are just the most beautiful…Love the plural Burdens in the title. Would be nice to get relief from some of the burdens of the world, wouldn’t it? If only we (humans) weren’t causing most of those burdens ourselves.

  3. Hi Laura–Congratulations on your book and on co-teaching the Lyrical Language Lab. I love this guy’s confidence.

    Camel Confidence

    Torn from dunes,
    I carry mountains.
    Wind-blown grasses ripple
    across my flanks.

    And you?

    1. Ooooh, I love line 2, especially. Works in so many ways. And that zinger of a final line–ha!

  4. poem by Jessica Bigi

    Camel

    Under desert stars
    Thine eyes have seen
    The tiniest of Kings
    Thus my legacy

    1. Amazing how just choosing the word “Thine” instead of “Your” changes the whole feeling of your poem, Jessica!

  5. Hi Laura, summer greetings! Thanks for this lovely pic of the camel–I was captured by the indignant look in his eyes … My daughter and I had the opportunity to ride one a few summers ago at the Minnesota Zoo.

    RELUCTANT GUIDE

    Oh, it’s you again–
    If you must
    climb on
    and will
    start
    our
    run …

    1. I love the voice of this guide. And it’s hysterical that you rode one here in Minnesota, where I live. I have never ridden one here, but I couldn’t wait to ride one in Cyprus, halfway around the world. Life is strange. :>)

  6. I haven’t posted in ages. Love the camel image. Love how different all of these are. Here’s my offering:

    Ride high
    The drunken dromedary:
    All sway and grunt,
    Spit,
    Stall,
    Down ancient desert trails

    1. Welcome back, Beth! I love this–that sway and grunt and spit. So earthy.

  7. My only camel experience was the 25 cent ride at the Bronx Zoo when I was eight. Trying to imagine this from the poor camel’s POV!

    Zoo Camel

    Small bodies squirm
    atop me
    as I clopclopclop,
    never-ending circle
    til it’s sunsetstop.

    1. Oi. I feel sorry for those camels. At that zoo and “my” park. Though less work than they do as pack animals, probably.

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