Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
I love taking close-up pics with my phone. Just ordered a little macro lens–can’t wait to try it. Maybe I’ll be able to do non-blurry close-ups! This image makes me think of:
1) Easter
2) fairy princess dolls or My Little Pony dolls (with purple curly hair)
3) parade floats
And here’s my?first draft. An angry girl, decorating a parade float, came into my head:
What’s SHE Doing Here?
I jabbed crepe paper flowers
into chicken wire,
pictured the float
in a funeral pyre parade
–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:>)??
158 Responses
In a sea of heliotrope
a storm of amethyst
Streaks of sunlight
Catch my eye
Yes, those “streaks of sunlight” caught my eye, too!
I like the first and last 2 lines -
I had to look up heliotrope. What a great flower word! Love amethyst. Your word choices wake up my mouth (and my mind) this morning.
I was just writing about heliotropic flowers a few weeks ago for something! Love these strong words. Sea, heliotrope, storm, amethyst, streaks, sunlight, eye–THIS is concrete, vivid writing.
Amelia, comfort after the storm. Lovely.
Amelia, love this gathering of images‑a burst, just like the picture!
In a sea of heliotrope
a storm of amethyst
Streaks of sunlight
Catch my eye
Yes, those “streaks of sunlight” caught my eye, too!
I like the first and last 2 lines -
I had to look up heliotrope. What a great flower word! Love amethyst. Your word choices wake up my mouth (and my mind) this morning.
I was just writing about heliotropic flowers a few weeks ago for something! Love these strong words. Sea, heliotrope, storm, amethyst, streaks, sunlight, eye–THIS is concrete, vivid writing.
Amelia, comfort after the storm. Lovely.
Amelia, love this gathering of images‑a burst, just like the picture!
Sharp tongues spew
Blue streams of words
They can’t break bones
But can’t be unheard.
I like the last 3 lines love the metfor
Did Laura’s poem prompt this outburst? I like “blue streams of words.”
Lovely, Donna. I’ve written a few different poems about that inability to breathe back in a word. Love your “Blue streams.”
Donna, I love the subtle adage.
Love that you made this into a people image, Donna.
I too love blue streams of words.
Sharp tongues spew
Blue streams of words
They can’t break bones
But can’t be unheard.
I like the last 3 lines love the metfor
Did Laura’s poem prompt this outburst? I like “blue streams of words.”
Lovely, Donna. I’ve written a few different poems about that inability to breathe back in a word. Love your “Blue streams.”
Donna, I love the subtle adage.
Love that you made this into a people image, Donna.
I too love blue streams of words.
April
rains
violet
dragon
kites
topple
streets
dance
A
dance
of
raindrops
dreams
Poem By Jessica Bigi
“violet dragon kites” Love this dancing with the flowers.
“topple/streets” — fantastic!
Jessica, love your image of spring. It cannot come too soon for me.
I like the way you arranged the words, like rain coming down!
April
rains
violet
dragon
kites
topple
streets
dance
A
dance
of
raindrops
dreams
Poem By Jessica Bigi
“violet dragon kites” Love this dancing with the flowers.
“topple/streets” — fantastic!
Jessica, love your image of spring. It cannot come too soon for me.
I like the way you arranged the words, like rain coming down!
I laughed that the image made you think of pomping floats for homecoming.
Iris Eyes
Bright yellow bursts
streak across
purple waves
daring me
to ride.
Wonderful language, Margaret! (P.S. Did you see my plea for adjectives on Tuesday? Maybe your students would suggest 5 words for me?)
Margaret, love the thought of warm weather and waves. Beautiful concept.
Lovely verbs here, Margaret, that streaking!
I love the waves and the daring to ride. Are you a bee?
I laughed that the image made you think of pomping floats for homecoming.
Iris Eyes
Bright yellow bursts
streak across
purple waves
daring me
to ride.
Wonderful language, Margaret! (P.S. Did you see my plea for adjectives on Tuesday? Maybe your students would suggest 5 words for me?)
Margaret, love the thought of warm weather and waves. Beautiful concept.
Lovely verbs here, Margaret, that streaking!
I love the waves and the daring to ride. Are you a bee?
Laura,
Although these aren’t roses, your brainstorming made me think of the Rose Parade.
Me, too! :>)
Laura,
Although these aren’t roses, your brainstorming made me think of the Rose Parade.
Me, too! :>)
Your picture is gorgeous! I love how your poem seethes with that poor girls pain. Here’s mine, with the recent winter storm fresh in mind.
Under a white blanket,
sleeping bulbs
dream in color.
Ellie, how fitting. I feel so for all in the path of the storm, apparently with another (milder?) one on its way. Beautiful image.
Beautiful, that ‘dreaming in color’. Almost February, the bulbs might be awakening?
Great last line, Ellie.
I love the contrast between white and color.
Thanks, ellie. Oh, what great contrast between the first and third line. I love the idea of dreaming bulbs…
Your picture is gorgeous! I love how your poem seethes with that poor girls pain. Here’s mine, with the recent winter storm fresh in mind.
Under a white blanket,
sleeping bulbs
dream in color.
Ellie, how fitting. I feel so for all in the path of the storm, apparently with another (milder?) one on its way. Beautiful image.
Beautiful, that ‘dreaming in color’. Almost February, the bulbs might be awakening?
Great last line, Ellie.
I love the contrast between white and color.
Thanks, ellie. Oh, what great contrast between the first and third line. I love the idea of dreaming bulbs…
Oh yes Laura — those infamous crepe paper flowers and streamers! Love the SHE and her visual. Maybe SHE was crowned homecoming queen.
The Wedding at Sunset
Lilacs and fireflies
unite
become one
perfect place
perfect time
perfect life
together forever.
I love the idea of fireflies, Martha. Love poem!
I was sucked in with your first line. Lovely poem.
love the first line
Hahaha–maybe she was! This is glorious, Martha. What a beautiful metaphor.
Oh yes Laura — those infamous crepe paper flowers and streamers! Love the SHE and her visual. Maybe SHE was crowned homecoming queen.
The Wedding at Sunset
Lilacs and fireflies
unite
become one
perfect place
perfect time
perfect life
together forever.
I love the idea of fireflies, Martha. Love poem!
I was sucked in with your first line. Lovely poem.
love the first line
Hahaha–maybe she was! This is glorious, Martha. What a beautiful metaphor.
Wow, the last line surprised, changed the flavor of what I was imagining. Great turning…
The flowers? needs
from buried seeds
are strokes of sun
on every one.
Linda Baie ? All Rights Reserved
Linda, what a fun verse. Can’t wait. Wonderful interpretation.
Love “strokes of sun” and your rhyme.
wonderful love the last few lines
Thanks, Linda–it surprised me, too, as I wrote it, so I went back and changed a word or two (jabbed and the title) to support that last line a little. “strokes of sun” = brilliant image!
Wow, the last line surprised, changed the flavor of what I was imagining. Great turning…
The flowers? needs
from buried seeds
are strokes of sun
on every one.
Linda Baie ? All Rights Reserved
Linda, what a fun verse. Can’t wait. Wonderful interpretation.
Love “strokes of sun” and your rhyme.
wonderful love the last few lines
Thanks, Linda–it surprised me, too, as I wrote it, so I went back and changed a word or two (jabbed and the title) to support that last line a little. “strokes of sun” = brilliant image!
CONVERSATION AMONG THE VIOLETS
Are you ready, girls?
One…
two…
three…
SPRING!
****
(They look like they’re in cahoots!)
Hahaha. Nice!
Kate, I love your take on the picture. Spring and Daylight Savings Time. Bring them on.
Love the voice, Renee-just fun!
Fun use of Spring!
this would be cute to say with little kids
Yes! They do. Love the tone and wordplay of this, Renee!
CONVERSATION AMONG THE VIOLETS
Are you ready, girls?
One…
two…
three…
SPRING!
****
(They look like they’re in cahoots!)
Hahaha. Nice!
Kate, I love your take on the picture. Spring and Daylight Savings Time. Bring them on.
Love the voice, Renee-just fun!
Fun use of Spring!
this would be cute to say with little kids
Yes! They do. Love the tone and wordplay of this, Renee!
Irises
We,
the purple tribe,
announce
ourselves
with blasts
of dynamite,
trumpets,
spring
thunder.
?Kate Coombs
The gathering does bring the idea of ‘tribe’, Kate, and sounding loud!
I love that you travel all the way to spring thunder.
Love your “purple tribe” and the energy of blasts, dynamite, trumpets and thunder.
this is beautiful
Lovely!
I hear it! (And love it!)
Irises
We,
the purple tribe,
announce
ourselves
with blasts
of dynamite,
trumpets,
spring
thunder.
?Kate Coombs
The gathering does bring the idea of ‘tribe’, Kate, and sounding loud!
I love that you travel all the way to spring thunder.
Love your “purple tribe” and the energy of blasts, dynamite, trumpets and thunder.
this is beautiful
Lovely!
I hear it! (And love it!)
By Any Other Name
Fleur-de-lis
Is just an iris,
Don?t you see,
Dressed fancy
For gay Paree
Love this. We must all stay grounded!
I love how much information you pack into this teeny poem!
By Any Other Name
Fleur-de-lis
Is just an iris,
Don?t you see,
Dressed fancy
For gay Paree
Love this. We must all stay grounded!
I love how much information you pack into this teeny poem!
Bed of Iris
Summer?s raging purple choir
sings with tongues of blazing fire
tempting bees to heed desire.
This is amazing — every line and your rhyme. Love the purple choir and tongues of blazing fire. Fantastic images!
Ooh, I like this! All three lines bring strong images.
Oh, my! This. Is. Wonderful. raging-blazing-desire-tempting Such great word choices!
Bed of Iris
Summer?s raging purple choir
sings with tongues of blazing fire
tempting bees to heed desire.
This is amazing — every line and your rhyme. Love the purple choir and tongues of blazing fire. Fantastic images!
Ooh, I like this! All three lines bring strong images.
Oh, my! This. Is. Wonderful. raging-blazing-desire-tempting Such great word choices!
WRONG CHOICE
Tongues bright yellow-
what’d they eat?
Lemon Ice cream?!?
Won’t repeat!
Hehe–a nice play on the purple/blue tongues we get from eating too much Icee or frosting (not that I would know from personal experience, of course!).
WRONG CHOICE
Tongues bright yellow-
what’d they eat?
Lemon Ice cream?!?
Won’t repeat!
Hehe–a nice play on the purple/blue tongues we get from eating too much Icee or frosting (not that I would know from personal experience, of course!).
IRISES
We spy summer
with golden eyes,
but wish in lavender
that we would last.
Andria W. Rosenbaum
I love the idea of “wishing in lavender”!
Oh, what a beautiful mask poem, Andria. I adore your third line!
IRISES
We spy summer
with golden eyes,
but wish in lavender
that we would last.
Andria W. Rosenbaum
I love the idea of “wishing in lavender”!
Oh, what a beautiful mask poem, Andria. I adore your third line!
Ice coats the gray day
but golden sunlight glows
from the purple eyes of Iris.
Oooooh, beautiful contrast here!
And this sounds Irish to me! I don’t know if it’s just because Iris is close, but it really feels like that rhythm of that last line is Irish somehow. (Of course, I have Ireland on the brain lately because I’m going there later in the year!)
Ice coats the gray day
but golden sunlight glows
from the purple eyes of Iris.
Oooooh, beautiful contrast here!
And this sounds Irish to me! I don’t know if it’s just because Iris is close, but it really feels like that rhythm of that last line is Irish somehow. (Of course, I have Ireland on the brain lately because I’m going there later in the year!)
PURPLE HAZE
Candle, candle
burning bright.
Illumine, Illumine
violet haze of night.
Ellen Vojnovic
I love the candle metaphor and the word, “illumine”!
That last line is killer, Ellen!
PURPLE HAZE
Candle, candle
burning bright.
Illumine, Illumine
violet haze of night.
Ellen Vojnovic
I love the candle metaphor and the word, “illumine”!
That last line is killer, Ellen!
Appointment
The prescription
“Nature”
I opened my mouth and said,
“Ah”
You nailed it! The flowers were breath taking.…“ah”…and just what the doctor ordered!
What an unusual take–love it! Nature heals an awful lot:>)
Appointment
The prescription
“Nature”
I opened my mouth and said,
“Ah”
You nailed it! The flowers were breath taking.…“ah”…and just what the doctor ordered!
What an unusual take–love it! Nature heals an awful lot:>)
SAVORING THE BREEZE
Sprouting from cocoons,
Stretching skyward,
Swaying to natures
Salutation.
© Charles Waters 2015 all rights reserved.
Love the alliteration here. And the way those first two line have effort, and then that third line is so relaxed and easy; the work is done, now just enjoy the beauty!
SAVORING THE BREEZE
Sprouting from cocoons,
Stretching skyward,
Swaying to natures
Salutation.
© Charles Waters 2015 all rights reserved.
Love the alliteration here. And the way those first two line have effort, and then that third line is so relaxed and easy; the work is done, now just enjoy the beauty!