Cow? [15 words or less poems]

Photo: Laura Purdie Salas
Photo: Laura Purdie Salas

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

15WOLs

I took this picture in Scotland when I went in 2008, and I will be going there again soon! This time, though, I’ll pretty much be only in Edinburgh, not out in the highlands or islands, where I snapped this Highland cow/bull/?. It’s hard to get across how immense these creatures are. So. Calm. This image makes me think of:

1) Jack or any pet looking guilty
2) me, arriving at a school visit after driving through a blizzard
3) a velvet dress (that nose!)

And here’s my?first draft.

?

Highland Cow

Shaggy hair against biting winds
Bony horns to settle arguments
Velvet nose for nuzzling you

–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:>)??

[Note: In March, I am mostly off the grid. So, please feel free to write, share, and comment, but I will not be able to take part, other than posting these posts. I’ll miss my 15 Words or Less friends–see you in April!]?

78 Responses

    1. Love the “massive Bessies” combination; and yes, I would not try to stare her down.

    1. Love the “massive Bessies” combination; and yes, I would not try to stare her down.

  1. this is a wonderful pic and I like your poem love the last line

    Fairy Tails

    one blue oak
    three been wishes
    jumping over a moon
    a farmer called me BINGO
    blue ribbon dreams mooo

    poem by Jessica Bigi

    1. this is a wonderful pic and I like your poem love the last line

      Fairy Tails

      one blue ox’s
      three been wishes
      jumping over a moon
      a farmer called me BINGO
      blue ribbon dreams mooo

      poem by Jessica Bigi

  2. this is a wonderful pic and I like your poem love the last line

    Fairy Tails

    one blue oak
    three been wishes
    jumping over a moon
    a farmer called me BINGO
    blue ribbon dreams mooo

    poem by Jessica Bigi

    1. this is a wonderful pic and I like your poem love the last line

      Fairy Tails

      one blue ox’s
      three been wishes
      jumping over a moon
      a farmer called me BINGO
      blue ribbon dreams mooo

      poem by Jessica Bigi

  3. I Knew Better

    Celebrated with
    my Irish neighbors,
    someone filed my horns -
    surprised I wasn’t shorn.

    Laura, hope you are having fun in Scotland/Ireland. Since I bear an Irish name, I decided it was okay to lay a bit o’ blame.

  4. I Knew Better

    Celebrated with
    my Irish neighbors,
    someone filed my horns -
    surprised I wasn’t shorn.

    Laura, hope you are having fun in Scotland/Ireland. Since I bear an Irish name, I decided it was okay to lay a bit o’ blame.

  5. First visit from college.
    Mom, caught unaware -
    “Son, is that you
    under all that hair?”

  6. First visit from college.
    Mom, caught unaware -
    “Son, is that you
    under all that hair?”

    1. Cute Kate. This is a great response for Ellie’s “son” to reply to his mom.

    1. Cute Kate. This is a great response for Ellie’s “son” to reply to his mom.

    1. Rooting for you over at Think, Kid, Think. You have presented some fantastic poems!

    1. Rooting for you over at Think, Kid, Think. You have presented some fantastic poems!

  7. I’m feeling blue.
    You would, too,
    if rain messed up
    your high-priced “do”.

    1. Great rhyme, and now all I can see is one of those plastic rain bonnets on our photo friend.

  8. I’m feeling blue.
    You would, too,
    if rain messed up
    your high-priced “do”.

    1. Great rhyme, and now all I can see is one of those plastic rain bonnets on our photo friend.

  9. Hidden Talent

    Bovine divine,
    Milk, cheese, butter,
    Yogurt, too
    In your disguise, who knew?

    1. It’s nice to be reminded of sources that provide things we take for granted. Good Job.

  10. Hidden Talent

    Bovine divine,
    Milk, cheese, butter,
    Yogurt, too
    In your disguise, who knew?

    1. It’s nice to be reminded of sources that provide things we take for granted. Good Job.

  11. Those Highland Cattle are pretty big, aren’t they, Laura? Several farms around here raise them, and you’re right — they’re quite large! Nice poem you crafted there…I also enjoyed Kate’s, which I read after I had written mine:

    A Scottish Thing

    I’m a sizable Scotsman -
    rugged & built -
    the lassies all faint
    when I’m wearin’ me kilt.

    - ? 2015, Matt Forrest Esenwine

    (yes, I cheated with the ampersand…sorry!)

  12. Those Highland Cattle are pretty big, aren’t they, Laura? Several farms around here raise them, and you’re right — they’re quite large! Nice poem you crafted there…I also enjoyed Kate’s, which I read after I had written mine:

    A Scottish Thing

    I’m a sizable Scotsman -
    rugged & built -
    the lassies all faint
    when I’m wearin’ me kilt.

    - ? 2015, Matt Forrest Esenwine

    (yes, I cheated with the ampersand…sorry!)

  13. TREND SETTER

    A Highland coat
    t’would suit my fancy,
    when I amble into
    the haberdashery!

    Ellen Vojnovic

  14. TREND SETTER

    A Highland coat
    t’would suit my fancy,
    when I amble into
    the haberdashery!

    Ellen Vojnovic

  15. My hair looks a mess
    Right now
    Just like this
    Highland cow

    Haircuts are overrated!

    Anne McKenna

  16. My hair looks a mess
    Right now
    Just like this
    Highland cow

    Haircuts are overrated!

    Anne McKenna

  17. My hair is a mess
    Right now
    Just like this
    Highland cow

    Haircuts are overrated !

    - Anne McKenna

  18. My hair is a mess
    Right now
    Just like this
    Highland cow

    Haircuts are overrated !

    - Anne McKenna

  19. PRAIRIE
    Sideways sprouted horns
    Amber tousled hair,
    Rose, olive colored peepers
    Stare at wheat?s shifting posture.

    © Charles Waters 2015 all rights reserved.

  20. PRAIRIE
    Sideways sprouted horns
    Amber tousled hair,
    Rose, olive colored peepers
    Stare at wheat?s shifting posture.

    © Charles Waters 2015 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."