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.
In Washington, I spent a lot of time wandering the Smithsonian Gardens. This image makes me think of several things:
- a stingray
- laundry on the clothesline
- a kite that doesn’t want to be on the ground
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.)
I have gathered all my best resources for people who want to write for kids in one spot on my website at https://laurasalas.com/writing-for-children/ Enjoy!
43 Responses
ooooh, lists of resources are so fun. Thank you!
I do love the image of a soaring kite.
In autumn
handkerchiefs fall
from tree hands
leaving the banquet
Hurrying on
to Winter’s Ball
A dropped handkerchief–love it! So fanciful!
Winter’s ball, handkerchiefs fall…fun poem.
I just love the image of handkerchiefs fall. I still have my Grandmother’s hand embroidered handkerchiefs.
I this image and love your soaring hope, Laura!
Invisible cloak
drapes over me
stand-tall spirit forms shape
flutters and folds
organically
I like the use of organically here.
I love that this in this book makes you stand taller rather than cowering.
Lovely personification of hope, Laura. It made me think of the big crisis our country is in today. I want hope to soar.
Emerging from
a cocoon of division…
a peace flag,
a prayer.
a peace flag–oh, is that needed. lovely
Cocoon of division…what an intriguing phrase!
Probably doesn’t make much sense but that’s what came??
wow, nice. I love it!
Hope and a peace-flag…lovely!
The Gold Fish Pound
swishes of
rainbow-gold
circles of bubbles
pop ! pop !
Calloo Kitty
Dizzy Diddy
Dizzy dizzy spost to be
I love the images of the pond and bubbles!
swishes of
rainbow-gold
circles of bubbles
pop ! pop !
Calloo Kitty
Dizzy- Dizzy
I love your gold fish pond with the kitty circling until its dizzy.
Such a pretty calico kitty circling the pond! Reminds me of your quilting!
I cannot imagine what this sculpture was really about, which makes it fun for today.
spirit of the flying fish
leaping colorfully
in a green ocean
Beautiful photo Laura. A stingray, definitelyI Love the colors and I so appreciate living vicariously through your travels and your willingness to share, enlighten and educate.
Mosaic Comforter
Red’s passion
Yellow’s optimism
Blue’s trust
Warmth for mankind
I love the positive meaning you ascribe to every color, Martha. Isn’t it funny the poems we write to describe other things end up describing our own world view?
I see the mosaic now. I love how each poem takes on a new perspective.
Love this mosaic comforter and color definitions!
Great image. Loved your kite take on this.
To Tree or Not to Tree
Breezy
Freezy
Quilt toasty
Limbs roasty
Dressed to kill
Winter’s chill
Tree’s reason
For treason
By Donna JT Smith
So clever! I especially love quilt toasty!
My student Daniel wrote one. He has a sense of humor. And a joy for rhyming.
This cloth thing.
Does it have a wing?
‘cuz it’s floating
and, uh,
bloating?
Daniel, 4th grade
Hahaha! Sometimes poetry is all about fun. Love the voice here!
Perfect description of hope, Laura.
Birthday Gift
Wrapped up pretty-
just for me.
“Thank you” said
respectfully.
Paper torn off
eagerly.
Nice contrast between those adverbs, Cindy!
Your movement reminds me of the swift gliding movement of a ray- lovely. Thanks for your rich resource lists too Laura!
Soar through
oceans of sky
multi-colored
king ray
You’re welcome, Michelle! Love your “oceans of sky.”
Going to click on your resource page next–thanks for all you do to support other writers!!
Picnic Ungrounded
Chips tumble,
sporks scatter.
Napkins sail,
drinks splatter.
Airborne cloth,
flying platters.
I love this interpretation. Reminds me of Mary Poppins.
What a great visual! Love this!
This is fantastic, Buffy! I love the movement!
Ha! I can see this happening!
a haiku…
cocooned in beauty
her love a constant comfort
my grandmother’s quilt
Dianne Moritz
So cozy!
Madison, 5th grade, wrote this poetic response.
What Could it Be?
A bird mid-flight
perhaps some sort of blight?
A fungi
invisible to the human eye?
As I wrote with her, I found another poem:
She throws the quilt high in the air
watching colors
ripple across the sky…
Butterfly!
–Margaret Simon
I love Madison’s wide-open imagination! And your poem IS that photo turned into poem:)
Laura I cannot wait to check out your resource page! I just love your poem of “soaring hope.”
Working Hands
Golden stitches
Weave
A patchwork tale
Of labor, love, and lore.
Oooh, this feels so grounded, somehow, in life and history. Lovely!