Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
I took this picture while riding somewhere in outstate Minnesota, through farm country. I don’t even know exactly what it is, but I’d love to see it in action! This image makes me think of:
1) tinkers that went from town to town 100 years ago to repair pots and pans
2) Barbie and Polly Pocket sets that unfold and open up to make all sorts of cool things
3) Transformers: Robots in Disguise! (I’m going to be singing that all day now.)
And here’s my?first draft:
Turtle
All I need:
a green, leafy snack.
The other essentials
I pack
on my back.
–Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved
Well. That is not very original. But the image does remind me of a turtle, and this is what popped out, so there ya go.
Now it’s your turn! Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS!??(Title doesn’t count toward word count:>)?
150 Responses
Nervously skitter
flitter here flitter there
Wait, then deliver
the packages you bear
I have no idea why but this reminded me of those water skeeters (totally the scientific name) when they carry leaves and whatnot home. Love the photo!
Great first line for a water skeeter. So fun to watch.
I enjoyed the flitter, skitter words. Fun to see all what was imagined with this pic!
Yes, I like flitter, skitter and even deliver.
Nice rhyme. Good idea.
Deliver works nicely! And it does look like a waterbug, now that I look back on it.
I really like the i/er sounds echoing through your poem, Amelia. So funny the way images spark ideas, even when we can’t see the direct connection.
Nervously skitter
flitter here flitter there
Wait, then deliver
the packages you bear
I have no idea why but this reminded me of those water skeeters (totally the scientific name) when they carry leaves and whatnot home. Love the photo!
Great first line for a water skeeter. So fun to watch.
I enjoyed the flitter, skitter words. Fun to see all what was imagined with this pic!
Yes, I like flitter, skitter and even deliver.
Nice rhyme. Good idea.
Deliver works nicely! And it does look like a waterbug, now that I look back on it.
I really like the i/er sounds echoing through your poem, Amelia. So funny the way images spark ideas, even when we can’t see the direct connection.
Four-Year-Old’s Vision of Heaven
Wheels taller than daddy.
Piles of rocks, dirt, debris
to dig, push, bury, without end.
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
Reminds me of Tonka trucks.
The ‘wheels taller than Daddy’ is great, Diane! My young neighbor next door would love seeing this picture-adores all trucks! You’ve captured his feelings I’m sure.
I raised two little boys and there was nothing they liked better than to push those big Tonka trucks around in the dirt.
I like that the picture made you think of this.
Yes, this would be heaven to a little boy…and plenty of big boys, too!
I love the naive, tender voice of this poem, Diane, mixed with the great kid details.
Four-Year-Old’s Vision of Heaven
Wheels taller than daddy.
Piles of rocks, dirt, debris
to dig, push, bury, without end.
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
Reminds me of Tonka trucks.
The ‘wheels taller than Daddy’ is great, Diane! My young neighbor next door would love seeing this picture-adores all trucks! You’ve captured his feelings I’m sure.
I raised two little boys and there was nothing they liked better than to push those big Tonka trucks around in the dirt.
I like that the picture made you think of this.
Yes, this would be heaven to a little boy…and plenty of big boys, too!
I love the naive, tender voice of this poem, Diane, mixed with the great kid details.
The Little Dune Buggy
Following parents
peering straight ahead
his nightmares confirmed:
eyes in the backs of their heads.
Sorry, I couldn’t get past the tail lights. What a photo. I have seen similar recently. Don’t know whether to smile or show sympathy! 🙂
Too funny.
It is funny, Martha. I saw those taillights too, but didn’t know what to do with them!
Martha, I love the humor in this. What a creative thought!
Love those eyes in the back of their heads!
Oh! I didn’t even notice the tail lights until I read your poem! I love how we all hone in on different things, and that’s a great 3rd line.
Thank you Laura and A+ to all who contributed. Life got in the way and I have not had a chance to reply to each individual response. It was such a fun picture and I couldn’t pick a favorite verse if I had to. Good job everyone!
The Little Dune Buggy
Following parents
peering straight ahead
his nightmares confirmed:
eyes in the backs of their heads.
Sorry, I couldn’t get past the tail lights. What a photo. I have seen similar recently. Don’t know whether to smile or show sympathy! 🙂
Too funny.
It is funny, Martha. I saw those taillights too, but didn’t know what to do with them!
Martha, I love the humor in this. What a creative thought!
Love those eyes in the back of their heads!
Oh! I didn’t even notice the tail lights until I read your poem! I love how we all hone in on different things, and that’s a great 3rd line.
Thank you Laura and A+ to all who contributed. Life got in the way and I have not had a chance to reply to each individual response. It was such a fun picture and I couldn’t pick a favorite verse if I had to. Good job everyone!
On Tiptoe
If I stretch up tall,
maybe I can see
over green things
like grown-up trucks.
I didn’t look like a turtle until I read your poem, Laura. 🙂
I like the voice you’ve put into your poem.
Ha! Hard to see over that truck.
A little truck on tiptoes! Love it.
I see now my meaning was unclear. I cut a word to make 15, but that changed the meaning of my last line. Oops. Sorry.
see over green things (meaning weeds/tall grass)
like THE grown-up trucks.
Aw, poor baby truck!
On Tiptoe
If I stretch up tall,
maybe I can see
over green things
like grown-up trucks.
I didn’t look like a turtle until I read your poem, Laura. 🙂
I like the voice you’ve put into your poem.
Ha! Hard to see over that truck.
A little truck on tiptoes! Love it.
I see now my meaning was unclear. I cut a word to make 15, but that changed the meaning of my last line. Oops. Sorry.
see over green things (meaning weeds/tall grass)
like THE grown-up trucks.
Aw, poor baby truck!
High
Clouds roll
on high
wheels
across sky,
hauling
thunder.
?Kate Coombs
“hauling thunder” is terrific!
I love the first 4 lines
The thunder is rumbling as I’m reading this–great image!
Yes, I agree that the words “hauling thunder” are perfect for this poem.
I used “thunder” today…loved “hauling thunder”. Great job!
Oh, what a lovely image. I wish something this imaginative had occurred to me!
Thanks, you guys!
High
Clouds roll
on high
wheels
across sky,
hauling
thunder.
?Kate Coombs
“hauling thunder” is terrific!
I love the first 4 lines
The thunder is rumbling as I’m reading this–great image!
Yes, I agree that the words “hauling thunder” are perfect for this poem.
I used “thunder” today…loved “hauling thunder”. Great job!
Oh, what a lovely image. I wish something this imaginative had occurred to me!
Thanks, you guys!
I love the turtle idea, Laura, didn’t see that, but now I do! As for mine, I think I’ve been reading too many dystopian novels!
Truck Driver?s Imagination
Stamped: Serious delivery!
Mysterious machinery
bristles in the breeze.
Antennas wiggle.
Making contact?
Linda Baie ? All Rights Reserved
I love the 3 and 4 line
This truck came alive for me, too, Linda–love the bristles and the antennae.
Your poem makes me think of something from outer space.
I also like your alliteration with bristles, breeze, and mysterious machinery.
“Bristles in the breeze” Love it! Strange looking machine!
I LOVE those second and third lines, Linda–“bristles”–great word choice!
I love the turtle idea, Laura, didn’t see that, but now I do! As for mine, I think I’ve been reading too many dystopian novels!
Truck Driver?s Imagination
Stamped: Serious delivery!
Mysterious machinery
bristles in the breeze.
Antennas wiggle.
Making contact?
Linda Baie ? All Rights Reserved
I love the 3 and 4 line
This truck came alive for me, too, Linda–love the bristles and the antennae.
Your poem makes me think of something from outer space.
I also like your alliteration with bristles, breeze, and mysterious machinery.
“Bristles in the breeze” Love it! Strange looking machine!
I LOVE those second and third lines, Linda–“bristles”–great word choice!
It sure is a strange looking truck.
But I like that it triggered your idea of a turtle.
Rumbling sound
vibrates ground
as mystery truck
with mess of wires
passes by on
monstrous tires.
Lovely rhyming in your poem!
I like all the ryming
Rhyming was great!
Love the sensory details, Pat–I feel the rumble!
It sure is a strange looking truck.
But I like that it triggered your idea of a turtle.
Rumbling sound
vibrates ground
as mystery truck
with mess of wires
passes by on
monstrous tires.
Lovely rhyming in your poem!
I like all the ryming
Rhyming was great!
Love the sensory details, Pat–I feel the rumble!
Big Foot’s Roller-skate
I’ll speedily race
you to the moon
around the world
beep-beep jeep
laces looping
I win
poem By Jessica Bigi
Love the title here, & it rather does look like a roller-skate! Funny!
I like your idea of Big Foot’s Roller Skate.
Cute.
I wonder where his other foot is! Danger! Get out of his way! Nice take!
I like the oo sounds in moon and looping, Jessica. Takes me back to my roller-skating childhood, too:>)
Big Foot’s Roller-skate
I’ll speedily race
you to the moon
around the world
beep-beep jeep
laces looping
I win
poem By Jessica Bigi
Love the title here, & it rather does look like a roller-skate! Funny!
I like your idea of Big Foot’s Roller Skate.
Cute.
I wonder where his other foot is! Danger! Get out of his way! Nice take!
I like the oo sounds in moon and looping, Jessica. Takes me back to my roller-skating childhood, too:>)
Monster Truck
Alligator jaws
Grizzly-bear paws
Bald-eagle eyes
Ocelot thighs
Skin-of-warty toad
Nightmare on the road!
(Sorry for being a hyphenated cheater this morning… I couldn’t stop myself!)
Oh, you made such great connections, Buffy. Love the way this read!
I love your rhyming.
Also ocelot thighs?
Funny. Never would have thought of all those connections.
I‑don’t-see-hyphens-as-cheats! Not when you are a poet! This is great!
Love the play on “monster” tucks!
I adore this Frankenstein truck–so clever!
Monster Truck
Alligator jaws
Grizzly-bear paws
Bald-eagle eyes
Ocelot thighs
Skin-of-warty toad
Nightmare on the road!
(Sorry for being a hyphenated cheater this morning… I couldn’t stop myself!)
Oh, you made such great connections, Buffy. Love the way this read!
I love your rhyming.
Also ocelot thighs?
Funny. Never would have thought of all those connections.
I‑don’t-see-hyphens-as-cheats! Not when you are a poet! This is great!
Love the play on “monster” tucks!
I adore this Frankenstein truck–so clever!
TractorTransportsTillerBlades
TractorTicklesTireTreads
TractorTinklesTanglesTwists
TractorTendersHugs
by Jeanne Poland
or go to:
https://thevibrantchanneledcreator.wordpress.com/2014/09/04/tractortransport/
Terribly terrific! 🙂
You could trytentimesto say that fast, but I’ll bet you can’t!
Pat took my words! Terrific, also hard on the tongue!
Ha! The second line is my favorite, Jeanne:>)
TractorTransportsTillerBlades
TractorTicklesTireTreads
TractorTinklesTanglesTwists
TractorTendersHugs
by Jeanne Poland
or go to:
https://thevibrantchanneledcreator.wordpress.com/2014/09/04/tractortransport/
Terribly terrific! 🙂
You could trytentimesto say that fast, but I’ll bet you can’t!
Pat took my words! Terrific, also hard on the tongue!
Ha! The second line is my favorite, Jeanne:>)
Loved your poem, Laura!
Oh, No!
So slow.
Big rig,
thingamajig.
Confined,
behind.…
Toot! Scoot!
Got past at last!
I love this.
What a great idea — being stuck behind something like this on the road.
This happens so, so many times out here in the country…actually mostly behind tourists more than tractors these days!
You found the best word: thingamajig! Very fun. It is a strange-looking truck!
Love this! The ring of truth, even in a cute poem:>)
Loved your poem, Laura!
Oh, No!
So slow.
Big rig,
thingamajig.
Confined,
behind.…
Toot! Scoot!
Got past at last!
I love this.
What a great idea — being stuck behind something like this on the road.
This happens so, so many times out here in the country…actually mostly behind tourists more than tractors these days!
You found the best word: thingamajig! Very fun. It is a strange-looking truck!
Love this! The ring of truth, even in a cute poem:>)
“BlunderBus”
Ignore its plunder
Let it thunder -
Fatal blunder
If ventured under
To be torn asunder.
?Donna JT Smith
Of course a blunderbuss is not a blunder bus, but I liked it…
Love that you termed that ‘stuff’ as “plunder”-perfect!
Well, isn’t that a violent scene! Love your rhymes–5 perfect rhymes in a row…not easy.
“BlunderBus”
Ignore its plunder
Let it thunder -
Fatal blunder
If ventured under
To be torn asunder.
?Donna JT Smith
Of course a blunderbuss is not a blunder bus, but I liked it…
Love that you termed that ‘stuff’ as “plunder”-perfect!
Well, isn’t that a violent scene! Love your rhymes–5 perfect rhymes in a row…not easy.
WONDERful rhyme.
Oh, for one more line! I coulda used that!
WONDERful rhyme.
Oh, for one more line! I coulda used that!
It rocks, it rolls -
it’s all the rage!
An erector set
for men my age.
-Matt Forrest Esenwine
Ha! Of course! Nice!
LOL! Funny. Love it.
It rocks, it rolls -
it’s all the rage!
An erector set
for men my age.
-Matt Forrest Esenwine
Ha! Of course! Nice!
LOL! Funny. Love it.
CROP SPRINKLERS
Crop sprinklers spiral
H2O to slake the thirst
Of a harvest throat.
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.
CROP SPRINKLERS
Crop sprinklers spiral
H2O to slake the thirst
Of a harvest throat.
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.
I got my laugh for the day and am still smiling. It reminds me of a Big Wheels — I’ll have to let my imagination wander for awhile.
I got my laugh for the day and am still smiling. It reminds me of a Big Wheels — I’ll have to let my imagination wander for awhile.