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.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,546 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."