Crabby [15 words or less poems]

 

Photo: Laura Purdie Salas

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

15WOLs

Saw this display while grocery shopping (OK, it was really just a donut run) earlier this week. This image makes me think of:

1) crabgrass–hahaha!
2) barbed wire
3) coat of armor

And here’s my?first draft. I did a cinquain this week.

 

 

NOT INVITED TO PLAY!

Crabgrass

infests the yard,

claws at my soft, bare feet,

ruins our kickball tournament.

Prickly.

 

–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: I’m flying to Florida today to visit my sisters and my parents. My mom is starting radiation treatment for her cancer, and I’m grateful to get to spend some time with her before any side effects really kick in. I will not be able to reply to your poems today, but I know I’ll enjoy reading them during waiting time at the airport:>)

118 Responses

  1. With long thin fingers
    and sharp pointy nails,
    my crabby aunt
    tells great scary tales.

  2. With long thin fingers
    and sharp pointy nails,
    my crabby aunt
    tells great scary tales.

  3. Laura I will keep your mom and you in my prays

    On Display

    life on Mars
    sulfur antennas
    orang sappy trees
    ants under a
    microscope
    carols beneath
    the sea

    Poem By Jessica Bigi

    1. Laura,

      Funny how you turned this into something exaggerated about crabgrass. Laughter is some of the best medicine. Praying for your mom! I’m glad you can go be with her.

    2. Jessica, wouldn’t it be wonderful if Mars did display colors and insects as you described. Drab Martian gray is no longer.

  4. Laura I will keep your mom and you in my prays

    On Display

    life on Mars
    sulfur antennas
    orang sappy trees
    ants under a
    microscope
    carols beneath
    the sea

    Poem By Jessica Bigi

    1. Laura,

      Funny how you turned this into something exaggerated about crabgrass. Laughter is some of the best medicine. Praying for your mom! I’m glad you can go be with her.

    2. Jessica, wouldn’t it be wonderful if Mars did display colors and insects as you described. Drab Martian gray is no longer.

  5. Breaking through the snow
    Branches of glorious red
    Quite a strange forest

    Cool picture! I like the snow on the page 🙂

  6. Breaking through the snow
    Branches of glorious red
    Quite a strange forest

    Cool picture! I like the snow on the page 🙂

  7. Ha! Of course, “crabgrass”. I am on the same wavelength this time, Laura. What a picture to greet us this morning-not breakfast!

    Twas a foodie miracle:
    the forest rose,
    not with green tendrils,
    but with crabby toes.
    Linda Baie ?All Rights Reserved

  8. Ha! Of course, “crabgrass”. I am on the same wavelength this time, Laura. What a picture to greet us this morning-not breakfast!

    Twas a foodie miracle:
    the forest rose,
    not with green tendrils,
    but with crabby toes.
    Linda Baie ?All Rights Reserved

  9. I didn’t see the message in red until I hit send, Laura. I’m sorry about your mother, & that she has to go through the treatments. Glad that you are able to be with her. Hugs to you!

  10. I didn’t see the message in red until I hit send, Laura. I’m sorry about your mother, & that she has to go through the treatments. Glad that you are able to be with her. Hugs to you!

  11. Mutating Crab Legs

    Seemingly white asparagus spears
    then ghoulish fingers, black nails.
    Finally! A Christmas cactus.

    Okay, corny as “crab” grass. Laura, you started it!
    Safe travels and a pleasant visit with family. Tis the season.

    1. Oh, Martha. This is wonderful. How you saw potential of beauty in this (sorry) awful picture.

  12. Mutating Crab Legs

    Seemingly white asparagus spears
    then ghoulish fingers, black nails.
    Finally! A Christmas cactus.

    Okay, corny as “crab” grass. Laura, you started it!
    Safe travels and a pleasant visit with family. Tis the season.

    1. Oh, Martha. This is wonderful. How you saw potential of beauty in this (sorry) awful picture.

  13. Safe travels and best wishes for your mom!

    Memory

    Me, a child
    Dad
    nighttime dock
    bright lights
    crabs and net
    tangled
    like this
    memory.

    Diane Mayr, all rights reserved

    1. Diane, what a great memory! Did you grow up in Maine?
      Someplace up there, I bet.

  14. Safe travels and best wishes for your mom!

    Memory

    Me, a child
    Dad
    nighttime dock
    bright lights
    crabs and net
    tangled
    like this
    memory.

    Diane Mayr, all rights reserved

    1. Diane, what a great memory! Did you grow up in Maine?
      Someplace up there, I bet.

  15. I wish the best for your mom Laura, best of luck.

    Dead legs dancing
    As a current passes by.
    Revived.

  16. I wish the best for your mom Laura, best of luck.

    Dead legs dancing
    As a current passes by.
    Revived.

  17. Oh, my. What a picture! Thank you, Laura, for taking time to post it, even though I know how busy you must be. Best wishes to you and your mom. Nice you can spend time with her.
    I’m so busy I almost didn’t click on your site today, but once I looked, I was hooked.

    Jungle of jobs I must get through.
    I fear I have too much to do.

  18. Oh, my. What a picture! Thank you, Laura, for taking time to post it, even though I know how busy you must be. Best wishes to you and your mom. Nice you can spend time with her.
    I’m so busy I almost didn’t click on your site today, but once I looked, I was hooked.

    Jungle of jobs I must get through.
    I fear I have too much to do.

  19. Laura, all my best to you and your time with family. I hope you can count your blessings amidst the fear of radiation and cancer.

    My students loved this image and their imaginations flew!

    Protective Monster

    Giant seaweed
    angry and red
    swaying and then
    motionless
    hiding a cyclopes spirit–
    a ghost.
    ‑Tyler

    Jacob is a new first grader in my gifted class. I worked with him with question prompts to get this poem. Posted on our kidblog: http://kidblog.org/class/SliceofLifeChallenge/posts/83sla43hd1lq9wx6s03yiba9d

  20. Laura, all my best to you and your time with family. I hope you can count your blessings amidst the fear of radiation and cancer.

    My students loved this image and their imaginations flew!

    Protective Monster

    Giant seaweed
    angry and red
    swaying and then
    motionless
    hiding a cyclopes spirit–
    a ghost.
    ‑Tyler

    Jacob is a new first grader in my gifted class. I worked with him with question prompts to get this poem. Posted on our kidblog: http://kidblog.org/class/SliceofLifeChallenge/posts/83sla43hd1lq9wx6s03yiba9d

  21. December Shopping Spree

    Spiny, prickly, crab legs
    scuttle down every aisle,
    pinchers clacking bargains–
    I shop online.

    Best wishes to you and your mom, Laura–hope she is able to enjoy the time you spend together.

    1. This is so true abut shopping at this time of year expacly woch out it their only one of somthing left on the shalf or one spot left to park

  22. December Shopping Spree

    Spiny, prickly, crab legs
    scuttle down every aisle,
    pinchers clacking bargains–
    I shop online.

    Best wishes to you and your mom, Laura–hope she is able to enjoy the time you spend together.

    1. This is so true abut shopping at this time of year expacly woch out it their only one of somthing left on the shalf or one spot left to park

  23. Best wishes for your mom, so glad you can be with her.

    WINTER WONDER

    Art with
    red rods planted
    in icy snow–
    glass and ice–
    a Dale Chihuly Exhibit.

  24. Best wishes for your mom, so glad you can be with her.

    WINTER WONDER

    Art with
    red rods planted
    in icy snow–
    glass and ice–
    a Dale Chihuly Exhibit.

  25. Afternoon students:

    Turn after turn
    like a sweet potato fry
    maze, red for days
    with crab legs.
    –Reed

    Crab Grass

    Claws reaching to the sky.
    They act as grass
    like a spy
    crabs in disguise.
    –Emily

    Restaurants

    Hong Kong’s smell
    but Golden Wok’s taste,
    I grabbed a crab leg,
    best in the case.
    –Nigel

  26. Afternoon students:

    Turn after turn
    like a sweet potato fry
    maze, red for days
    with crab legs.
    –Reed

    Crab Grass

    Claws reaching to the sky.
    They act as grass
    like a spy
    crabs in disguise.
    –Emily

    Restaurants

    Hong Kong’s smell
    but Golden Wok’s taste,
    I grabbed a crab leg,
    best in the case.
    –Nigel

  27. NOT KOSHER!

    A crustacious, chorus line
    waves like flames,
    but I won’t take
    one buttery bite.

    Sending healing thoughts and prayers to your mom, Laura!

  28. NOT KOSHER!

    A crustacious, chorus line
    waves like flames,
    but I won’t take
    one buttery bite.

    Sending healing thoughts and prayers to your mom, Laura!

  29. Hahaha — crab-grass! Love it! She’ll be here all week, ladies & gentlemen!

    I thought of a different but similar image, before I even read what you wrote…so here’s mine:

    KEEP OUT

    Urchins, plankton, and snails — go home!
    The Crustacean Forest is no place to roam.

    - ? 2014, Matt Forrest Esenwine

  30. Hahaha — crab-grass! Love it! She’ll be here all week, ladies & gentlemen!

    I thought of a different but similar image, before I even read what you wrote…so here’s mine:

    KEEP OUT

    Urchins, plankton, and snails — go home!
    The Crustacean Forest is no place to roam.

    - ? 2014, Matt Forrest Esenwine

  31. Laura, have a great time with your precious family. Hug ’em tight!

    First grade
    sea anemones
    stretch and wave hands;
    “Pick me, pick me!”
    they exclaim
    eagerly.

    1. A fun verse Donna. Reminds me of books on the shelves at the library that jump out at me yelling “pick me, pick me.”

    2. Ha! So typical of first graders. I taught first grade for 27 years. I remember.

  32. Laura, have a great time with your precious family. Hug ’em tight!

    First grade
    sea anemones
    stretch and wave hands;
    “Pick me, pick me!”
    they exclaim
    eagerly.

    1. A fun verse Donna. Reminds me of books on the shelves at the library that jump out at me yelling “pick me, pick me.”

    2. Ha! So typical of first graders. I taught first grade for 27 years. I remember.

  33. I am a newcomer to this site, thanks to friends Pat P and Martha. The image reminded me of a casino buffet.

    All Gone

    Crab legs on the buffet
    Gluttons pile plates high
    Come back for more
    Such waste

  34. I am a newcomer to this site, thanks to friends Pat P and Martha. The image reminded me of a casino buffet.

    All Gone

    Crab legs on the buffet
    Gluttons pile plates high
    Come back for more
    Such waste

  35. All Gone

    Crab legs on the buffet
    Gluttons pile plates high
    Come back for more
    Such waste

  36. All Gone

    Crab legs on the buffet
    Gluttons pile plates high
    Come back for more
    Such waste

  37. orang crayons shaving
    dusting ivory pages
    as buzzy striped jackets
    build snow Cassel’s for
    a queen

    Poem By Jessica Bigi

  38. orang crayons shaving
    dusting ivory pages
    as buzzy striped jackets
    build snow Cassel’s for
    a queen

    Poem By Jessica Bigi

  39. With long thin fingers
    and sharp pointy nails,
    my crabby aunt
    tells very scary tales.

  40. With long thin fingers
    and sharp pointy nails,
    my crabby aunt
    tells very scary tales.

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