Hello, and welcome! This is 15 Words or Less Poems, a low-pressure way to wake up your poetry brain (guidelines here), and I’m very glad you’re here.
Another pic from our trip to Cyprus. This is from some kind of sculpture or monument, and I think it was in Nicosia, the divided capital city. Going through passport checkpoints with armed guards and a very tense atmosphere was new to me. I don’t know what these words say, and it looks like the writing is in Greek (language of the southern part of Cyprus), not Turkish (language of the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus).
This image makes me think of several things:
- the many barriers between groups of people
- old-school typesetting machines
- how many things come and go in circles
And here’s my first draft.
It’s your turn! Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS! (Title doesn’t count toward word count.)
Note: I’m away from my laptop today, but I will try to Comment or at least Like your poem to let you know I’ve read it!
16 Responses
New Reader
Spinning letters swirl
then settle
until
mystery shifts
to meaning.
Ten words and mystery shifts to meaning. Awesome Buffy.
Ha! I saw the same thing! Just came back to read.
So true! I began helping in my daughter’s kindergarten class (She’s the teacher.) It’s a marvelous thing to see the students begin that journey. They had to write the letter A for me- one was so excited because that’s the letter that begins her name.
Enjoy your day Laura. What a difference your poem could make in so many lives. Such a clever, but powerful message. I hope to put those words into practice as often as the situation arises. My poem comes from the dreams I often have of racing against the clock, trying to find someone or get myself out of an uncomfortable situation.
Ready, Set, Go!
Frantically scrambling letters;
strange, rearrange;
this cannot be!
Bring back the old
Spelling Bee!
Spelling bees always made me too nervous!
I love spelling bees, as long as I’m not in them.
This reminds me of what words look like to new readers.…
Emergent Reader
Trying to read;
I see “to” and “a”!
Nothing makes sense;
I want to play.
This was my first reaction to the picture. Nice poem.
Yes I was looking for familiarity as well.
Laura, your poem is a delight. Actions speak louder…
CHICKEN SCRATCHES
Mom’s note
I can’t read.
No way
to proceed…
I’m in trouble,
guaranteed.
Foreign languages make me nervous. We can be so dependent on words. I like how a smile, a hand is more important in your poem.
Letters fall
on the page
like pieces
to the puzzle
of my life.
I love the way your words fall together, especially “pieces to the puzzle of my life.”
What an interesting picture, it definitely reminds me of old typeset. Your poem really speaks to the humanness in communication.
Directions
My words…incomprehensible,
your words…the same.
My picture…you smile,
you point…
I’m on my way.
Here’s mine from an old panhelenic council member:
Alpha, beta, delta
Pi, rho, omicron
To end in omega
It’s all Greek to me.
I am not at home, so I am writing on my cell phone. Let’s see if Laura’s site recognizes me!
Letter by letter
you write on my heart.
No one can read it
but me.