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.
The Paris Catacombs are…overwhelming. So many bones. So many emotions: sadness, horror, reverence, acceptance, melancholy. We had gone to a bone chapel in Austria a few years ago, but that was tiny. The Catacombs feel endless. Besides being part of the interesting history of Paris, they are definitely a place that inspires thoughtfulness about our own mortality. This image makes me think of several things:
- buried pirate treasure
- cemeteries and why they feel so peaceful
- trees (I’m not sure why)
And here’s my first draft. I did not want to stay with the actual Catacombs for my poem. I wrote about an imaginary tree and focused on those lonely long O sounds.
It’s your turn! See what pops into YOUR mind, and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS! (Title doesn’t count toward word count.)
34 Responses
I love trees when they show their bones…so vulnerable and brave. Beautiful image of a skeleton, Laura.
I went literal.…now if I could only figure out how to do the correct accents in word it would be just right. Mais alors! I cannot so quickly this morning.
Des Anciens
A million words
in stillness rest
screaming
J’ai ete
Tu as ete
nous avon ete
© Mme. Mitchell
Not being French savvy I had to go to translator. Your poem captures the enormity of as well as the individuals in the catacombs.
Oh that contrast of stillness and then screaming. I don’t know what the French means. I will have to look that up, but I’m guessing it’s either something like I am here you are here we are here or maybe I hear you you hear me we hear each other. It’s kind of fun to try to decipher it from context–now I’ll have to look up what it actually means.
It means
I was
You were
We were
So haunting. I love the English and French combination.
Wind whistling through teeth
Sighs through old ears
Hums through lost eyes
Musical stares
Love the sound play.….amazing what one can hear in silence!
Wow- a twist on golden oldies!
I love the sounds and how you’ve tied this into music, which just feel so loving.
VERY SCARY
My mom said not to watch it.
I’d be awake all night.
She was right.
What a fun ending, Cindy. Love how you break the expected meter and it works perfectly.
Those Catacomb bones are like a scary movie alright. You captured that so well!
Lol this morning
Still lol after school
Darn! Mom is always right
Perenial Bad Boy
The story goes
He left a $1,000 tip
For his pizza.
Show me a skull and I can’t help but think of Johnny Depp in a Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Several of the movies have been filmed on my island of Kauai. The story of Depp buying everyone in the restaurant pizza and then leaving a big tip is still told on our coconut communication system and by tour bus drivers.
That is too fun, Joy. I did not know the backstory here, so I’m glad you filled it in. I love the conversational tone you used.
That’s a funny story. I can hear the chatter across those coconut phones.
What a great story, Joy!
Good morning! Running a bit late this morning. I’m digging deep (no pun intended) inside self to come up with something. I love the variety of posts this morning.
Life
Conception, life, then eternity
Among
Time’s
Ancient
Chambers where
Ossurarys entomb
Memories of
Beautiful
Souls
Isn’t that such a great word? Ossurary. I’ve seen small ones in Greece. They aren’t creepy to me. Of course, I’ve only seen them in full sunshine! Reminds me of the book, Eleni.
What a terrific acrostic, Martha! Impressive:>)
I couldn’t get past the words bone chapel…
Married together in the bone chapel,
your spirit and mine,
for eternity.
So beautiful and melancholy…
Love the image of oak bones/sky skeletons!
Hidden Treasure
water smooths
wind wears
rubble buries
until…
curiosity guides
hands unearth
imagination sparks
story reborn
Isn’t that the truth?! Wonderful image of stories reborn.
Oh, what a beautiful metaphor this is! Literal and figurative collide in a grand explosion here!
By Franklin- age 11
Golden Glory-
Golden glory awaits those who look
Hidden Writing in the book
By Franklin- age 11
Ancient Times-
The ancient King lies in the tomb
His ancient car goes Vroom Vroom Vroom
By Franklin- age 11
Mysterious Caves-
Into the caves, Scary Horror
It makes me feel a little.….Very Unsure
Love the sense of mystery in that first one. I was feeling all ancient Egypt in the second one until I got to Vroom–haha! I also really enjoyed the bare honesty of that last line in poem 3. Thanks for playing!
By Phillip- age 7
Grave Cave-
Dark cave
Golden grave
By Phillip- age 7
In the dark cave
skeletons are alive
acting very scary
Run! & HIDE!
Such great contrasts in that first one! And I will take Phillip’s advice in second, for sure!
By Emma- age 13
Bones-
Bones are strong
They can be broken
Can heal
a structure
so real
I love how Emma’s poem looks at how both strong AND fragile bones are. Lovely!
Poem By Jessica Bigi
Book Mistry’s
writing ore dreams
on skeletons of trees
ivory pages
socked with inky tears
reveling life’s story
Soaked with inky tears is lovely!
ore dreams.…ivory pages.…revealing. All luscious.