Big Wheels [15 words or less]

Photo: Laura Purdie Salas

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

15WOLs

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

  1. 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!

    1. 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.

  2. 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!

    1. 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.

  3. 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

    1. 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.

    2. 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.

  4. 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

    1. 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.

    2. 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.

  5. 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! 🙂

    1. 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.

      1. 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!

  6. 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! 🙂

    1. 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.

      1. 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!

  7. 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. 🙂

    1. 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.

  8. 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. 🙂

    1. 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.

  9. 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

    1. Your poem makes me think of something from outer space.
      I also like your alliteration with bristles, breeze, and mysterious machinery.

  10. 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

    1. Your poem makes me think of something from outer space.
      I also like your alliteration with bristles, breeze, and mysterious machinery.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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

    1. I like the oo sounds in moon and looping, Jessica. Takes me back to my roller-skating childhood, too:>)

  14. 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

    1. I like the oo sounds in moon and looping, Jessica. Takes me back to my roller-skating childhood, too:>)

  15. 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!)

    1. I love your rhyming.
      Also ocelot thighs?
      Funny. Never would have thought of all those connections.

  16. 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!)

    1. I love your rhyming.
      Also ocelot thighs?
      Funny. Never would have thought of all those connections.

  17. Loved your poem, Laura!

    Oh, No!
    So slow.
    Big rig,
    thingamajig.
    Confined,
    behind.…

    Toot! Scoot!
    Got past at last!

    1. I love this.
      What a great idea — being stuck behind something like this on the road.

  18. Loved your poem, Laura!

    Oh, No!
    So slow.
    Big rig,
    thingamajig.
    Confined,
    behind.…

    Toot! Scoot!
    Got past at last!

    1. I love this.
      What a great idea — being stuck behind something like this on the road.

  19. “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…

    1. Well, isn’t that a violent scene! Love your rhymes–5 perfect rhymes in a row…not easy.

  20. “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…

    1. Well, isn’t that a violent scene! Love your rhymes–5 perfect rhymes in a row…not easy.

  21. 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.

  22. 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.

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