Can Top [15 words or less]

Photo: Laura Salas

Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!

15WOLs

I just realized I still had this?pic from Vegas. It is just a little thingamajig that was on the floor of the High Roller observation wheel we rode in. I was intrigued by it. Here are?3 things this photo makes me think of:

1)?Braille–I’ve read a couple of interesting things recently about visual artists incorporating Braille into their paintings and sculptures. I wonder what it would be like to try to picture an artwork simply by touching it/tracing the outline…
2)?a mylar birthday balloon–The round shape and the puffy shininess of this makes me think “birthday boy” immediately.
3) an alien

And here’s my?first draft.

A Mad Scientist Has Trapped Me in Mylar…

Locked inside
a hollow?globe,
tethered but floating

Streamer sky
Giftwrap ground

Don’t.

Let.

Go.

–Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved

Now it’s your turn! Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS!??(Title doesn’t count toward word count:>)?

96 Responses

  1. Scratched
    But my surface shines
    Dented
    But I open fine
    Dirty
    But worth a dime

    I was thinking about 5 cent returns and couldn’t rhyme anything with nickel, so… can we just pretend a dime is 5 cents? 🙂

    1. Why, yes, Amelia, we certainly can! I really love this. With the image, I get recycling. WithOUT the image, I get a deeper message/feeling from it. And now I’m humming it to the tune of One Republic’s “Counting Stars.” This could be stuck in my head all day! Great job:>)

  2. Scratched
    But my surface shines
    Dented
    But I open fine
    Dirty
    But worth a dime

    I was thinking about 5 cent returns and couldn’t rhyme anything with nickel, so… can we just pretend a dime is 5 cents? 🙂

    1. Why, yes, Amelia, we certainly can! I really love this. With the image, I get recycling. WithOUT the image, I get a deeper message/feeling from it. And now I’m humming it to the tune of One Republic’s “Counting Stars.” This could be stuck in my head all day! Great job:>)

  3. My favorite part of your poem is the title. Funny. Then the three words Don’t. Let. Go. actually become profound if you think about it.

    I first wanted to write something deep and inspirational, but when the pencil began to scribble, this silly thing came out. Follow the muse.

    Look closely
    at the keyhole
    a hooded man
    waits
    to twist your arm.

    –Margaret

    1. Love this, Margaret! “Follow the muse.” Precisely. This is so clever! So ominous but then funny because of the keyhole clue. Thanks for your feedback–sometimes I need a rather–ahem–lengthy title to set up the situation when a poem has to be so short:>)

  4. My favorite part of your poem is the title. Funny. Then the three words Don’t. Let. Go. actually become profound if you think about it.

    I first wanted to write something deep and inspirational, but when the pencil began to scribble, this silly thing came out. Follow the muse.

    Look closely
    at the keyhole
    a hooded man
    waits
    to twist your arm.

    –Margaret

    1. Love this, Margaret! “Follow the muse.” Precisely. This is so clever! So ominous but then funny because of the keyhole clue. Thanks for your feedback–sometimes I need a rather–ahem–lengthy title to set up the situation when a poem has to be so short:>)

  5. The lock that
    opens my heart
    Is reserved for
    The selected few
    showered with love

    - Anne McKenna

  6. The lock that
    opens my heart
    Is reserved for
    The selected few
    showered with love

    - Anne McKenna

  7. Can top put me in mind of big top!

    traveling circus:
    eyes jump from ring to ring
    hoping not to miss

    Diane Mayr, all rights reserved

    1. Oh, this is why I hate the circus. At least a 3‑ring one. I never know where to look and constantly hear a gasp or an eruption of applause when I’m looking at something totally boring!

  8. Can top put me in mind of big top!

    traveling circus:
    eyes jump from ring to ring
    hoping not to miss

    Diane Mayr, all rights reserved

    1. Oh, this is why I hate the circus. At least a 3‑ring one. I never know where to look and constantly hear a gasp or an eruption of applause when I’m looking at something totally boring!

  9. When I read your poem, then I ‘saw’ the globe, Laura. I like the ‘streamer sky’. Here’s what I imagined:

    News alert

    Archaeologist dig
    discovers metal cans,
    stamped with human image,
    thought to contain
    drinks for indigestion.
    Linda Baie ?All Rights Reserved

    1. Oh, this makes me think (as I do periodically) of what future societies will think of us when they dig up our trash and treasures. Love the verb stamped here.

    2. I like this make me think how we love things that old and that others no longer won’t and to us they become new

  10. When I read your poem, then I ‘saw’ the globe, Laura. I like the ‘streamer sky’. Here’s what I imagined:

    News alert

    Archaeologist dig
    discovers metal cans,
    stamped with human image,
    thought to contain
    drinks for indigestion.
    Linda Baie ?All Rights Reserved

    1. Oh, this makes me think (as I do periodically) of what future societies will think of us when they dig up our trash and treasures. Love the verb stamped here.

    2. I like this make me think how we love things that old and that others no longer won’t and to us they become new

  11. DIRECTIONS FOR PEACE

    Global need
    Simple start
    Opened arms
    Softened hearts.

    Andria W. Rosenbaum/all rights reserved

  12. DIRECTIONS FOR PEACE

    Global need
    Simple start
    Opened arms
    Softened hearts.

    Andria W. Rosenbaum/all rights reserved

  13. Laura, the Braille possibilities are miraculous. Like Margaret, I too wanted to come up with something deep and profound but there is one image deeply etched in one of my brain’s wrinkles.

    You Can’t Catch Me

    Lift me gently
    from dough.
    bake, set free,
    aroma lingers forever.

    I’m the Gingerbread Man!

    1. Hahahaha–What a cool contrast between the title/last line and the main text of the poem. And I think those deep and profound meanings come through best when we’re not trying, anyway! I am smelling gingerbread now and have just eaten four tiny Ginger Cat cookies from Trader Joe’s in your poem’s honor. Those, I can catch!

      1. Thank you Laura. I’ve had those cookies and they are addictive. I gave thought to a line about the “belly button” as in push go or some such but stuck to my first thought which was the title/last line. Such fun.

  14. Laura, the Braille possibilities are miraculous. Like Margaret, I too wanted to come up with something deep and profound but there is one image deeply etched in one of my brain’s wrinkles.

    You Can’t Catch Me

    Lift me gently
    from dough.
    bake, set free,
    aroma lingers forever.

    I’m the Gingerbread Man!

    1. Hahahaha–What a cool contrast between the title/last line and the main text of the poem. And I think those deep and profound meanings come through best when we’re not trying, anyway! I am smelling gingerbread now and have just eaten four tiny Ginger Cat cookies from Trader Joe’s in your poem’s honor. Those, I can catch!

      1. Thank you Laura. I’ve had those cookies and they are addictive. I gave thought to a line about the “belly button” as in push go or some such but stuck to my first thought which was the title/last line. Such fun.

  15. robots Blowing Bubbles

    To turn
    Unlatch leaver
    Puzzling minds
    Then peace
    Back to gather
    Time-space
    One circle

    1. Wow, I’m not even sure what’s happening here, but I love the images. It’s like a sci-fi music video, full of mysterious words and images. Your title could be a great band name:>)

  16. robots Blowing Bubbles

    To turn
    Unlatch leaver
    Puzzling minds
    Then peace
    Back to gather
    Time-space
    One circle

    1. Wow, I’m not even sure what’s happening here, but I love the images. It’s like a sci-fi music video, full of mysterious words and images. Your title could be a great band name:>)

    1. I love the concept of alien gingerbread, mixing something so typically cold/unfeeling with something that represents cozy, homey holidays. Nice!

    1. I love the concept of alien gingerbread, mixing something so typically cold/unfeeling with something that represents cozy, homey holidays. Nice!

  17. The Circus is in Town

    Cartwheeler
    Cunning clown
    Spinning world
    Upside down

    Arms outstretched
    Single wheel
    Balancing act
    Crowd appeal

    1. I really like that cunning clown. Walks the tightrope between the two polarized view of clowns: funny or terrifying.

  18. The Circus is in Town

    Cartwheeler
    Cunning clown
    Spinning world
    Upside down

    Arms outstretched
    Single wheel
    Balancing act
    Crowd appeal

    1. I really like that cunning clown. Walks the tightrope between the two polarized view of clowns: funny or terrifying.

  19. I just couldn’t get this out of my head. Would you call this
    a “found poem”?

    Run, Run
    As fast as you can
    You can’t catch me
    I’m the Gingerbread Man.
    ——————————
    OK, and now for something original.

    Unisex man
    on a unicycle wheel
    spreads his arms with hugs for all
    universal appeal.

    1. I love this, Diane! I have a prefix-based poem in my Always Got My Feet, and it was super fun to write. This makes me want to write another one!

  20. I just couldn’t get this out of my head. Would you call this
    a “found poem”?

    Run, Run
    As fast as you can
    You can’t catch me
    I’m the Gingerbread Man.
    ——————————
    OK, and now for something original.

    Unisex man
    on a unicycle wheel
    spreads his arms with hugs for all
    universal appeal.

    1. I love this, Diane! I have a prefix-based poem in my Always Got My Feet, and it was super fun to write. This makes me want to write another one!

  21. Sun
    Washed in
    Gold ink
    A dill of time
    Writing found
    On a wall

  22. Sun
    Washed in
    Gold ink
    A dill of time
    Writing found
    On a wall

  23. My first thought was of a gingerbread man, too.

    A Navel Experiment

    Inny?
    Outy?
    Give a push.
    Did he grin?
    Yikes!
    You smooshed
    gingerbread man
    into mush!

    ~~Barbara J. Turner

  24. My first thought was of a gingerbread man, too.

    A Navel Experiment

    Inny?
    Outy?
    Give a push.
    Did he grin?
    Yikes!
    You smooshed
    gingerbread man
    into mush!

    ~~Barbara J. Turner

  25. Pocket watch

    Copper penny shine
    Hands spinning time
    Twelve tick toke twelve
    Grand dad wined’s his
    Watch

  26. Pocket watch

    Copper penny shine
    Hands spinning time
    Twelve tick toke twelve
    Grand dad wined’s his
    Watch

  27. SNOWMAN
    Gazing at earth?s bleached ceiling,
    Flapping limbs like newly arrived infants ?
    I create frosted image.

    © Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.

  28. SNOWMAN
    Gazing at earth?s bleached ceiling,
    Flapping limbs like newly arrived infants ?
    I create frosted image.

    © Charles Waters 2014 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 2,548 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."