Dandelion [15 words or less poems]

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

Photo: Laura P. Salas
Photo: Laura P. Salas

 

15WOLs

Honestly, nature blows my mind just about every single day.

This image makes me think of:

1) an alien eyeball
2) each little pappus (new word for me) could be a broom or feather duster
3) being tickled

And here’s my?first draft.

Thumbelina

 

Now it’s your turn! Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS!??(Title doesn’t count toward word count:>) If you leave a poem in the comments, and if it’s 15 words or less, I’ll try to respond!

 

192 Responses

    1. Very nice. I like your word pairings of “snow feather” and “seedy center”.

    1. Very nice. I like your word pairings of “snow feather” and “seedy center”.

  1. Laura your poem is very nice and I love the pic
    this poem is part of a book of poems I put together

    Feathered Ballerinas
    about to dance wishes
    across skies of blue

    Poem by Jessica Bigi

    1. I like your phrase “feathered ballerinas.” What a good comparison to a dandelion in full fluff.

    2. Thanks, Jessica. Oooh, this is beautiful. I especially love the first line and “dance wishes.”

  2. Laura your poem is very nice and I love the pic
    this poem is part of a book of poems I put together

    Feathered Ballerinas
    about to dance wishes
    across skies of blue

    Poem by Jessica Bigi

    1. I like your phrase “feathered ballerinas.” What a good comparison to a dandelion in full fluff.

    2. Thanks, Jessica. Oooh, this is beautiful. I especially love the first line and “dance wishes.”

  3. Swan Lake on Loan

    Ballerinas en pointe
    in frilly tutus
    grasp satin streamers
    dance around maypole
    to awaken summer.

    1. I really like this — the lovely images in each line building to the purposeful last one.

    2. It’s fun to think of the dancing around the maypole. When the wind is up with lots of dandelions, it is like dancing in the air.

      1. Thank you Laura and thanks to all who commented. Busy day so I’m using this reply to congratulate everyone who contributed today. Lovely, nostalgic photo and so many beautiful interpretations and interpretive words.

  4. Swan Lake on Loan

    Ballerinas en pointe
    in frilly tutus
    grasp satin streamers
    dance around maypole
    to awaken summer.

    1. I really like this — the lovely images in each line building to the purposeful last one.

    2. It’s fun to think of the dancing around the maypole. When the wind is up with lots of dandelions, it is like dancing in the air.

      1. Thank you Laura and thanks to all who commented. Busy day so I’m using this reply to congratulate everyone who contributed today. Lovely, nostalgic photo and so many beautiful interpretations and interpretive words.

  5. What a sweet, tiny image you have created, dusting the inside of a walnut shell. And who better to do it than Thumbelina!

  6. What a sweet, tiny image you have created, dusting the inside of a walnut shell. And who better to do it than Thumbelina!

  7. Just had to use pappus when “Papa Pappus” popped into my head… then golden to sunny to sonny…

    Papa Pappus

    Sonny Dread Head
    Sported bedhead,
    Youth fled;
    Wind said
    “Deadhead!”
    Hair shed -
    Bald head!

    ?Donna JT Smith, all rights reserved

  8. Just had to use pappus when “Papa Pappus” popped into my head… then golden to sunny to sonny…

    Papa Pappus

    Sonny Dread Head
    Sported bedhead,
    Youth fled;
    Wind said
    “Deadhead!”
    Hair shed -
    Bald head!

    ?Donna JT Smith, all rights reserved

  9. Laura,
    I’d love to read a picture book with Thumbelina dusting walnut shelled walls. I can see it! Please add this to your To Be Considered List. You are so clever.

  10. Laura,
    I’d love to read a picture book with Thumbelina dusting walnut shelled walls. I can see it! Please add this to your To Be Considered List. You are so clever.

  11. I love learning new words! Funny to think that even Thumbelina has golden years.

    You hide your face
    behind shiny
    sparklers
    leaving only sadness
    when all blows away.
    –Margaret

    (This is one of those times when I had no control. The muse did it.)

    1. What a lovely, melancholy poem. I’m glad there’s someone else writing a bit sad today, too.

  12. I love learning new words! Funny to think that even Thumbelina has golden years.

    You hide your face
    behind shiny
    sparklers
    leaving only sadness
    when all blows away.
    –Margaret

    (This is one of those times when I had no control. The muse did it.)

    1. What a lovely, melancholy poem. I’m glad there’s someone else writing a bit sad today, too.

  13. Puff the Magic Flower

    Enjoy its beauty,
    then give a huff
    to see the blizzard
    of floating fluff.

    1. wonderful I like this blizzard
      of floating fluff and the ending

  14. Puff the Magic Flower

    Enjoy its beauty,
    then give a huff
    to see the blizzard
    of floating fluff.

    1. wonderful I like this blizzard
      of floating fluff and the ending

  15. Your hair is thin,
    wear a hat.
    Scalp will sunburn.
    He was right about that.

    1. Hehehe–this is TOO funny for me today, Cindyb, because my husband just came home from Atlanta with a burned scalp from Six Flags. (He has very short hair and got burned right through it.)

  16. Your hair is thin,
    wear a hat.
    Scalp will sunburn.
    He was right about that.

    1. Hehehe–this is TOO funny for me today, Cindyb, because my husband just came home from Atlanta with a burned scalp from Six Flags. (He has very short hair and got burned right through it.)

      1. Thanks! Thinking of the ending of Charlotte’s Web, of course, when most of Charlotte’s babies take to the wind and Wilbur is sad, but a few stay on in the barn with him and he’s happy again. 🙂

      1. Thanks! Thinking of the ending of Charlotte’s Web, of course, when most of Charlotte’s babies take to the wind and Wilbur is sad, but a few stay on in the barn with him and he’s happy again. 🙂

  17. Sad Thumbelina, dusting away. I think they look like things for dusting too, Laura. Love that new word, ‘pappus’.

    Spring Ceremony

    On fairy graduation day,
    first wands bestowed
    for magic play.
    Linda Baie ? All Rights Reserved

  18. Sad Thumbelina, dusting away. I think they look like things for dusting too, Laura. Love that new word, ‘pappus’.

    Spring Ceremony

    On fairy graduation day,
    first wands bestowed
    for magic play.
    Linda Baie ? All Rights Reserved

  19. Child?s Play

    I see dandelions going to seed
    My grandson sees fairy brushes
    Waiting to be freed.

  20. Child?s Play

    I see dandelions going to seed
    My grandson sees fairy brushes
    Waiting to be freed.

    1. When the little ones — toddlers — do learn to blow, they do puff. Love this ‘puff and twirl’, Buffy-so sweet.

    1. When the little ones — toddlers — do learn to blow, they do puff. Love this ‘puff and twirl’, Buffy-so sweet.

  21. WINDOW DRESSING

    Fiddle-dee-dee!
    How that frock clashes
    with Scarlett’s
    viridescent eyes,
    and delicate lashes.

    Ellen Vojnovic

    1. Oooh, I learned a completely new word — never heard of viridescent before. Thank you, Ellen! Fun GONE WITH THE WIND take!

  22. WINDOW DRESSING

    Fiddle-dee-dee!
    How that frock clashes
    with Scarlett’s
    viridescent eyes,
    and delicate lashes.

    Ellen Vojnovic

    1. Oooh, I learned a completely new word — never heard of viridescent before. Thank you, Ellen! Fun GONE WITH THE WIND take!

  23. Fairies’ Wheel

    Choose a silken seat
    Not occupied
    Soon the carnie’s child
    Will start your ride!

  24. Fairies’ Wheel

    Choose a silken seat
    Not occupied
    Soon the carnie’s child
    Will start your ride!

  25. These make me want to get outside into our comodious
    fairy wand patch & graduate them on their way!

    Luv these responses to the dandy lion.

    1. It’s nice to look at something humble (or even unwanted) and see it in a new light, isn’t it?

  26. These make me want to get outside into our comodious
    fairy wand patch & graduate them on their way!

    Luv these responses to the dandy lion.

    1. It’s nice to look at something humble (or even unwanted) and see it in a new light, isn’t it?

  27. Fragile. Handle with Care.

    Like gentle whispers
    in the wind,
    memories of
    your cool, baby’s breath
    kiss my skin.

    -Pamela Ross

      1. Thank you, Laura. Words just flow when you’re not trying.… {}

        I do not a green thumb in my body so I saw baby’s breath and not dandelions.

        That was my kickstarter. xoxox

        1. I don’t, either! I’m just looking at my dead basket of geraniums on the deck as I write this:>) Sometimes our lack of a gift can be a source of creativity, too ;>)

  28. Fragile. Handle with Care.

    Like gentle whispers
    in the wind,
    memories of
    your cool, baby’s breath
    kiss my skin.

    -Pamela Ross

      1. Thank you, Laura. Words just flow when you’re not trying.… {}

        I do not a green thumb in my body so I saw baby’s breath and not dandelions.

        That was my kickstarter. xoxox

        1. I don’t, either! I’m just looking at my dead basket of geraniums on the deck as I write this:>) Sometimes our lack of a gift can be a source of creativity, too ;>)

  29. I hit send too soon.
    Your words float and fill the page with magic.
    Pappus?
    Oh yum yum yum.

    1. Funny, I loved learning the word “pappus,” but now it sounds way too technical in the poem. Oh well!

  30. I hit send too soon.
    Your words float and fill the page with magic.
    Pappus?
    Oh yum yum yum.

    1. Funny, I loved learning the word “pappus,” but now it sounds way too technical in the poem. Oh well!

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