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Photo: Laura Salas
National Poetry Month is over, and I had so much fun with riddle-ku! Thank you for all of you who stopped by to read, comment, or share these poems with kids. I really appreciate it!
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
When I was in Las Vegas recently for a children’s literature conference (pics to come), Randy and I went to a mall where there were a number of pillars like this, each with a different word in many languages, like Courage, Love, Justice, etc. Here are?3 things this photo makes me think of:
1)?children in refugee camps
2)?how important it is to display what we believe in
3) a baby bird learning to fly
And here’s my?first draft.
Jump
Pine-needled floor spins away
Small ball of bone and feather teeters–
tastes soaring sweetness?
–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:>)??
56 Responses
Courage
Walking in darkness at night
Holding back tears when saying goodbye
This is true courage.
Cool picture but hard for a poem
I really like your examples of courage–facing the fears or the sadness!
Courage
Walking in darkness at night
Holding back tears when saying goodbye
This is true courage.
Cool picture but hard for a poem
I really like your examples of courage–facing the fears or the sadness!
My voice speaks
of courage
My heart speaks
of truth
My arms speak
of love.
–Margaret Simon
Ooh, I love the concreteness of the last two lines. Lovely contrast to the more abstract earlier parts. Nice parallelism!
My voice speaks
of courage
My heart speaks
of truth
My arms speak
of love.
–Margaret Simon
Ooh, I love the concreteness of the last two lines. Lovely contrast to the more abstract earlier parts. Nice parallelism!
Haiku
Love transcends language;
like a magnet it draws one
to place of safety.
Laura, I’m still in Riddle-Ku mode! 😉 15 WOL! Your poem reminds me of watching a family of bluebirds build their nest and raise their hatchlings, maintaining due diligence until even the slowest one was finally free. All from our living room window.
I love the simile that love is like a magnet. Beautiful. And have you seen HUMMINGBIRD NEST, by K.O. George? Inspired by watching out her own window, if I’m remembering correctly:>)
Haiku
Love transcends language;
like a magnet it draws one
to place of safety.
Laura, I’m still in Riddle-Ku mode! 😉 15 WOL! Your poem reminds me of watching a family of bluebirds build their nest and raise their hatchlings, maintaining due diligence until even the slowest one was finally free. All from our living room window.
I love the simile that love is like a magnet. Beautiful. And have you seen HUMMINGBIRD NEST, by K.O. George? Inspired by watching out her own window, if I’m remembering correctly:>)
Courage
Brash, rash?
No.
The why
makes you try
to reach
and move
sky.
?Kate Coombs
I LOVE that you’re not just reaching for the sky, you’re attempting to actually move it!
Courage
Brash, rash?
No.
The why
makes you try
to reach
and move
sky.
?Kate Coombs
I LOVE that you’re not just reaching for the sky, you’re attempting to actually move it!
This was tough!
Without / Within
without–
smiles
within–
fear
without–
voice
within–
fear
without–
purpose
within–
fear
without–
success
within?
Diane, I love how I could read this two ways–that without this, we have this. But also that without/outside there might be this, even as we feel fear inside… I think (but am not sure) the second is what you intended, based on the dashes. But I like the double reading of it, too. And the question at the end.
This was tough!
Without / Within
without–
smiles
within–
fear
without–
voice
within–
fear
without–
purpose
within–
fear
without–
success
within?
Diane, I love how I could read this two ways–that without this, we have this. But also that without/outside there might be this, even as we feel fear inside… I think (but am not sure) the second is what you intended, based on the dashes. But I like the double reading of it, too. And the question at the end.
Congratulations, Laura, on completing a whole month of 30 Riddle-Ku poems. I enjoyed reading them even though I didn’t take part.
I almost don’t want to post this today, but I thought — oh well, why not?
(I have been writing mostly for little kids.)
Courage
I’m not scared!
I’m not afraid!
Today is the day
I begin first grade!
Thanks, Pat! I love this! What a positive thing for a kid who’s really nervous to chant on his way to school :>)
Congratulations, Laura, on completing a whole month of 30 Riddle-Ku poems. I enjoyed reading them even though I didn’t take part.
I almost don’t want to post this today, but I thought — oh well, why not?
(I have been writing mostly for little kids.)
Courage
I’m not scared!
I’m not afraid!
Today is the day
I begin first grade!
Thanks, Pat! I love this! What a positive thing for a kid who’s really nervous to chant on his way to school :>)
Courage
Lifts us
Out of sorrow
On wings
Of hope and love
Lifts us
With kind words
Beautiful.
Beautiful metaphor. Makes me think, inevitably, of Dickinson’s lovely “Hope is the thing with feathers” poem.
Courage
Lifts us
Out of sorrow
On wings
Of hope and love
Lifts us
With kind words
Beautiful.
Beautiful metaphor. Makes me think, inevitably, of Dickinson’s lovely “Hope is the thing with feathers” poem.
Courage After No
If pen to paper
is your heart,
that is where
you?ll always start.
Andria W. Rosenbaum/all rights reserved
Yes! I love that a couple of you honed in on the courage of a writer. Lovely.
Courage After No
If pen to paper
is your heart,
that is where
you?ll always start.
Andria W. Rosenbaum/all rights reserved
Yes! I love that a couple of you honed in on the courage of a writer. Lovely.
Do You Want the Senior Discount, Ma’am?
The message in red:
COURAGE.
Those final three letters
weigh me
down.
(Does that title seem like it came from Mars? Every cashier that asks me that helps me notice another gray hair and wrinkle, and the word age at the end of courage!)
Love the softness of your pine-needled floor and ball of bones and feather, Laura–you’ve captured that fledgling!
Your poem made me laugh out loud — really. The gray and wrinkles — don’t remind me!
Oh, dear! This made me laugh, though I completely feel the sentiment, too. I keep repeating my story about the liquor store with the sign that said, “We card EVERYONE so we don’t offend ANYONE.” Then I bought my bottle of Kahlua, and they didn’t card me. I was offended.
Do You Want the Senior Discount, Ma’am?
The message in red:
COURAGE.
Those final three letters
weigh me
down.
(Does that title seem like it came from Mars? Every cashier that asks me that helps me notice another gray hair and wrinkle, and the word age at the end of courage!)
Love the softness of your pine-needled floor and ball of bones and feather, Laura–you’ve captured that fledgling!
Your poem made me laugh out loud — really. The gray and wrinkles — don’t remind me!
Oh, dear! This made me laugh, though I completely feel the sentiment, too. I keep repeating my story about the liquor store with the sign that said, “We card EVERYONE so we don’t offend ANYONE.” Then I bought my bottle of Kahlua, and they didn’t card me. I was offended.
Courage
Baring the soul
with pen on paper,
then posting -
waiting, dreading,
hoping for
a reply.
Loved your little ball of baby bird, Laura.
Courage
Baring the soul
with pen on paper,
then posting -
waiting, dreading,
hoping for
a reply.
Loved your little ball of baby bird, Laura.
Oops. Sent this wrong the first time. Wonder what will post eventually.
Courage
Baring the soul
with pen on paper,
then posting -
waiting, dreading,
hoping for
a reply.
Loved your little ball of baby bird, Laura.
This is fantastic, ellie. Every writer who shares is so courageous! I think we forget that sometimes.
Oops. Sent this wrong the first time. Wonder what will post eventually.
Courage
Baring the soul
with pen on paper,
then posting -
waiting, dreading,
hoping for
a reply.
Loved your little ball of baby bird, Laura.
This is fantastic, ellie. Every writer who shares is so courageous! I think we forget that sometimes.
Your first line sets the stage beautifully, Laura. I had trouble with this one– too many possibilities… or maybe I’m just out of practice.
The Breaking Point
Fear looks down at swollen feet.
Courage says, “Don’t worry, friend.
I’ll carry you.”
I love this personification, Michelle!
Your first line sets the stage beautifully, Laura. I had trouble with this one– too many possibilities… or maybe I’m just out of practice.
The Breaking Point
Fear looks down at swollen feet.
Courage says, “Don’t worry, friend.
I’ll carry you.”
I love this personification, Michelle!
A Dare
breathe
pare the rind
open heart
divulge mind
expose soul
and find
the fruit
within
~~Barbara J. Turner
Oh! pare the rind…that is gorgeous!
A Dare
breathe
pare the rind
open heart
divulge mind
expose soul
and find
the fruit
within
~~Barbara J. Turner
Oh! pare the rind…that is gorgeous!
It’s 16 words, but I like it anyway. 😉
COURAGE
Head up,
Shoulders back
Eye to eye stare
?Learn to respect me,
Learn to or ? beware.?
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.
It’s 16 words, but I like it anyway. 😉
COURAGE
Head up,
Shoulders back
Eye to eye stare
?Learn to respect me,
Learn to or ? beware.?
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.