Photo: Laura Purdie Salas
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
Our drum corps, Minnesota Brass, rehearsed at a middle school over the weekend, and this interesting sculpture was hanging in the corner. It makes me think of:
1)?a dandelion
2)?Freddy Krueger (there’s a scene in particular in reminds me of, but I can’t pinpoint the plot around it or find an image of it!)
3) plaster plaques with kids’ handprints in them
And here’s my?first draft (I know–I cheated–16 words–ack!):
Things To Do If You Are Dandelion Fluff
Re-e-e-a-c-c-c‑h toward sky
Wave in breeze
High-five trees
Hold hands with soil and?
Don’t
Let
Go
–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:>)?
178 Responses
Freedom
Cartwills
of sun shine
brighten our hearts
Our souls sing a dance
Walking hand in hand
Cartwheels of sunshine — that’s such a lovely image, Jessica!
Jessica, I like to think of souls singing and dancing, hand in hand.
Cartwheels of sunshine! Nice!
You have a positive image here and I like it — “walking hand in hand.”
Freedom
Cartwills
of sun shine
brighten our hearts
Our souls sing a dance
Walking hand in hand
Cartwheels of sunshine — that’s such a lovely image, Jessica!
Jessica, I like to think of souls singing and dancing, hand in hand.
Cartwheels of sunshine! Nice!
You have a positive image here and I like it — “walking hand in hand.”
Loved your dandelion fluff waving!
I got carried away today. Must stops. I have so many more ideas like those hands trying to get out!
A Writer’s Brain
Me next! Me next!
Write about me!
Hands down!
I’m thinking.
Can’t you see?
Ocean Mutation
relative of octopus
cousin to starfish
handsome sea anemone
May I pass you a dish?
Sticky
Look very closely
and you’ll see the trick
tiny hands and fingers
make burdocks stick
Hairball?
Where’ve handlers gone?
What’s in lion’s cage?
Looks like some hairball fluff
Remnant of rampage!
Ooh, that Sticky one kind of creeped me out, Donna. I love it! I just got burrs in my socks a couple of weeks ago (it had been a long time since that happened). Next time, I’m going to imagine tiny hands reaching out to cling to my shoes and socks.
Donna, your muse is working overtime. I like the relationship between octopus and starfish.
Oh my goodness! What a lot of good ideas! I like them all and I like the rhyme in every one of them.
Loved your dandelion fluff waving!
I got carried away today. Must stops. I have so many more ideas like those hands trying to get out!
A Writer’s Brain
Me next! Me next!
Write about me!
Hands down!
I’m thinking.
Can’t you see?
Ocean Mutation
relative of octopus
cousin to starfish
handsome sea anemone
May I pass you a dish?
Sticky
Look very closely
and you’ll see the trick
tiny hands and fingers
make burdocks stick
Hairball?
Where’ve handlers gone?
What’s in lion’s cage?
Looks like some hairball fluff
Remnant of rampage!
Ooh, that Sticky one kind of creeped me out, Donna. I love it! I just got burrs in my socks a couple of weeks ago (it had been a long time since that happened). Next time, I’m going to imagine tiny hands reaching out to cling to my shoes and socks.
Donna, your muse is working overtime. I like the relationship between octopus and starfish.
Oh my goodness! What a lot of good ideas! I like them all and I like the rhyme in every one of them.
Round and Round and Round …
Croupier spins Roulette wheel;
tiny hands fight
to be chosen
for their chance at love.
Wow Laura. I had no idea that a sculpture such as this existed anywhere. I can’t dispel the image of unborns/newborns competing for a chance at life and love. I can hear the pleas, pick me; me; no, me …! I’ll take them all.
Isn’t it odd and captivating? I don’t necessarily like it (the accumulated dust and grime didn’t help), but I couldn’t look away. I love the image of those tiny hands fighting for their chance at love, Martha!
I love this thought… who wouldn’t have tons of children if they thought about it this way?
Thanks Donna. Thoughts prompted from an article in our daily paper — a plea for foster parents who would be willing to care for babies born to addicted mothers. So sad.
Martha, I like your “tiny hands” idea. “Pick me!” Nice.
Round and Round and Round …
Croupier spins Roulette wheel;
tiny hands fight
to be chosen
for their chance at love.
Wow Laura. I had no idea that a sculpture such as this existed anywhere. I can’t dispel the image of unborns/newborns competing for a chance at life and love. I can hear the pleas, pick me; me; no, me …! I’ll take them all.
Isn’t it odd and captivating? I don’t necessarily like it (the accumulated dust and grime didn’t help), but I couldn’t look away. I love the image of those tiny hands fighting for their chance at love, Martha!
I love this thought… who wouldn’t have tons of children if they thought about it this way?
Thanks Donna. Thoughts prompted from an article in our daily paper — a plea for foster parents who would be willing to care for babies born to addicted mothers. So sad.
Martha, I like your “tiny hands” idea. “Pick me!” Nice.
Wow, Donna’s on a roll!
The image reminded me of microscopic photos of bacteria. I don’t usually rhyme, and the following is a good example of why I shouldn’t. 😉
Bacteria
Known as flora
on skin and gut
Millions in your body,
a microbial glut.
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
Ha! I quite like it, Diane. Microbial glut feels like a nice solid phrase to end a poem with:>)
Diane,
What happens if you re-word the last two lines to:
Your body holds millions
of microbial glut.
That way you keep with the iambs.
Actually that reads very nicely aloud. Good job.
I like what you have done with this. You should try rhyme again sometime.
Wow, Donna’s on a roll!
The image reminded me of microscopic photos of bacteria. I don’t usually rhyme, and the following is a good example of why I shouldn’t. 😉
Bacteria
Known as flora
on skin and gut
Millions in your body,
a microbial glut.
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
Ha! I quite like it, Diane. Microbial glut feels like a nice solid phrase to end a poem with:>)
Diane,
What happens if you re-word the last two lines to:
Your body holds millions
of microbial glut.
That way you keep with the iambs.
Actually that reads very nicely aloud. Good job.
I like what you have done with this. You should try rhyme again sometime.
Frozen forever
in snowy plaster
your tiny palms
will always warm
my cold, cold
heart.
Andria W, Rosenbaum/all rights reserved
Awwww, I love the snowy plaster and all the cold imagery, Andria!
Millions and more. Nice job, Diane
Poignant.
A cold heart needs those warm little hands!
Wow! Good description — “frozen forever in snowy plaster.)
Love it.
Frozen forever
in snowy plaster
your tiny palms
will always warm
my cold, cold
heart.
Andria W, Rosenbaum/all rights reserved
Awwww, I love the snowy plaster and all the cold imagery, Andria!
Millions and more. Nice job, Diane
Poignant.
A cold heart needs those warm little hands!
Wow! Good description — “frozen forever in snowy plaster.)
Love it.
I like the Dandilion Fluff.
BIRTHING
Grab life
with both hands
Do NOT let go
until you reach
the stars.
I agree, Joy! Love the emphatic tone.
This is wonderful
And this way, you can grab life no matter which way it is trying to pass you by!
Life seems to always be “holding on with both hands.”
Newborn hands! I like your idea of grabbing life. Nice job.
I like the Dandilion Fluff.
BIRTHING
Grab life
with both hands
Do NOT let go
until you reach
the stars.
I agree, Joy! Love the emphatic tone.
This is wonderful
And this way, you can grab life no matter which way it is trying to pass you by!
Life seems to always be “holding on with both hands.”
Newborn hands! I like your idea of grabbing life. Nice job.
Handstand
I stand on my feet
or head or hands.
I stand
wherever I land.
?Kate
I love this and the last line:)
Ah, the advantages of more than two hands!
Kate, for some reason your poem brings to mind a picture of a Jackrock. Nice description.
Ha! I like your positive idea. Brings a smile.
All right, I know this is not what you intended, but now I’m picturing someone bowling this sculpture like a giant bowling ball! I like the whimsy of this–feels like the beginning to a good silly story poem.
Handstand
I stand on my feet
or head or hands.
I stand
wherever I land.
?Kate
I love this and the last line:)
Ah, the advantages of more than two hands!
Kate, for some reason your poem brings to mind a picture of a Jackrock. Nice description.
Ha! I like your positive idea. Brings a smile.
All right, I know this is not what you intended, but now I’m picturing someone bowling this sculpture like a giant bowling ball! I like the whimsy of this–feels like the beginning to a good silly story poem.
Planet born
of helping hands.
Caring, compassion,
reaching out.
Big Bang
becomes
Gentle Touch.
Gentle Touch… I like that.
A Genesis for sure. Very nice.
I love your “helping hands” idea.
Those last three lines–fantastic. Great allusion to a pop culture phrase and using it to good effect.
Planet born
of helping hands.
Caring, compassion,
reaching out.
Big Bang
becomes
Gentle Touch.
Gentle Touch… I like that.
A Genesis for sure. Very nice.
I love your “helping hands” idea.
Those last three lines–fantastic. Great allusion to a pop culture phrase and using it to good effect.
Hi Laura, always interesting what others imagine. Love the “high-five trees”. Here’s mine:
Dreaming
All those gone,
in all those wars
reach out to hold hands
with our memories.
Linda Baie ? All Rights Reserved
Good image, Linda! Sad, but nice!
Well expressed thought. Gave me chills.
this is beautiful could bring tears
Oh, my. This fits so well–I’m seeing pale granite gravestones instead of the circle in the sculpture.
Hi Laura, always interesting what others imagine. Love the “high-five trees”. Here’s mine:
Dreaming
All those gone,
in all those wars
reach out to hold hands
with our memories.
Linda Baie ? All Rights Reserved
Good image, Linda! Sad, but nice!
Well expressed thought. Gave me chills.
this is beautiful could bring tears
Oh, my. This fits so well–I’m seeing pale granite gravestones instead of the circle in the sculpture.
What a picture! It gave me dark thoughts, but what better way to think of a poem.
Help Needed
Scene of horror,
this sea of need.
Too many hands,
but I reach for one.
Reaching for one when there are many reminds me of the starfish on the beach…there may be too many, but it helped that one instead of none.
Yes. I was thinking of that starfish story, too. One is better than none.
A soothing tone for our current times. Thanks!
Yes, Martha. I think the all the news lately has affected my thinking. Yet I still want to know what is going on in the world, even though sometimes it is depressing.
This makes me think of all those good charity causes and having to choose just one or get spread too thin.
I thought of people drowning, a literal image your poem could fit (as well as so many more kinds of horror, of course). Your simple, positive final line is lovely, Pat.
What a picture! It gave me dark thoughts, but what better way to think of a poem.
Help Needed
Scene of horror,
this sea of need.
Too many hands,
but I reach for one.
Reaching for one when there are many reminds me of the starfish on the beach…there may be too many, but it helped that one instead of none.
Yes. I was thinking of that starfish story, too. One is better than none.
A soothing tone for our current times. Thanks!
Yes, Martha. I think the all the news lately has affected my thinking. Yet I still want to know what is going on in the world, even though sometimes it is depressing.
This makes me think of all those good charity causes and having to choose just one or get spread too thin.
I thought of people drowning, a literal image your poem could fit (as well as so many more kinds of horror, of course). Your simple, positive final line is lovely, Pat.
For some reason a few of my comments are showing up for the incorrect composer. Just know that they could apply to all. It’s a fascinating image. (I blame everything on “sigh“berspace.)
:>)
For some reason a few of my comments are showing up for the incorrect composer. Just know that they could apply to all. It’s a fascinating image. (I blame everything on “sigh“berspace.)
:>)
thisis beautiful could bring tears
Thanks, Jessica.
thisis beautiful could bring tears
Thanks, Jessica.
Teachers
reach out
to their students,
impacting
hearts and minds
every
day.
To reach out is so important and that is what teachers do best.
And some days it feels like you can’t possibly satisfy all those hands reaching for a bit of you!
Now, that’s a positive spin on this that I really like. Fitting that it was hanging in a school, because that really is what a school is–a lot of teachers and other staff reaching out to kids…nice!
Teachers
reach out
to their students,
impacting
hearts and minds
every
day.
To reach out is so important and that is what teachers do best.
And some days it feels like you can’t possibly satisfy all those hands reaching for a bit of you!
Now, that’s a positive spin on this that I really like. Fitting that it was hanging in a school, because that really is what a school is–a lot of teachers and other staff reaching out to kids…nice!
Many, many students, too, sometimes too many in a classroom.
I was a teacher and I like that you thought of students needing help.
Many, many students, too, sometimes too many in a classroom.
I was a teacher and I like that you thought of students needing help.
the sun people
flinging rays
at passing planets
That is a crazy, creepy sculpture. Your dandelion fluff turned it into something happy.
Ellie, your “sun people flinging rays” turned the creepy sculpture into something happy.
I agree about the creepiness factor…the image of sun people flinging rays is much more appealing!
Well, I wanted to go the Freddy Krueger route, but that came out at 23 words. Creepy is definitely what it is! Not sure I’ll even look at a child’s drawing of the sun with the pointy rays sticking out without thinking of this poem!
the sun people
flinging rays
at passing planets
That is a crazy, creepy sculpture. Your dandelion fluff turned it into something happy.
Ellie, your “sun people flinging rays” turned the creepy sculpture into something happy.
I agree about the creepiness factor…the image of sun people flinging rays is much more appealing!
Well, I wanted to go the Freddy Krueger route, but that came out at 23 words. Creepy is definitely what it is! Not sure I’ll even look at a child’s drawing of the sun with the pointy rays sticking out without thinking of this poem!
Toddler in Motion
hand foot
hand foot
crawling
reaching
can’t stay
put.
Wonderful Buffy.
Love this!
Ha! Yes. That’s a toddler.
Oh yes. I can just see it.
Yes! A tumbling, slow, awkward blur of motion:>)
Toddler in Motion
hand foot
hand foot
crawling
reaching
can’t stay
put.
Wonderful Buffy.
Love this!
Ha! Yes. That’s a toddler.
Oh yes. I can just see it.
Yes! A tumbling, slow, awkward blur of motion:>)
love laura’s poem and love the sculpture!
Let me help you
to see
what is possible
when you let yourself
be free.
Love the possibilities in this.
Thanks, Diane. This captures the sort of psychedelic vibe that I also get from those multitudes of hands.
love laura’s poem and love the sculpture!
Let me help you
to see
what is possible
when you let yourself
be free.
Love the possibilities in this.
Thanks, Diane. This captures the sort of psychedelic vibe that I also get from those multitudes of hands.
Keepin’ busy
makes me dizzy!
Time to stop-
drop the mop.
Feet up.
Tea cup.
Love the progression from too busy to resting. Wonderful how you saw this image as a busy person needing that third arm, or more!
Well, doesn’t this sound delightful!
Keepin’ busy
makes me dizzy!
Time to stop-
drop the mop.
Feet up.
Tea cup.
Love the progression from too busy to resting. Wonderful how you saw this image as a busy person needing that third arm, or more!
Well, doesn’t this sound delightful!
My first thought was Dante’s Inferno and souls crying out from hell,
But on a lighter note–
The Haves and Have-Nots
One man reaches
Another clasps
Two souls saved
And the world goes round.
~~Barbara J. Turner
My first thought was much like yours and I also chose to go a bit lighter. What you wrote is lovely.
We all need to help and be helped. Lovely, Barbara. Though I like the hell image, too:>)
My first thought was Dante’s Inferno and souls crying out from hell,
But on a lighter note–
The Haves and Have-Nots
One man reaches
Another clasps
Two souls saved
And the world goes round.
~~Barbara J. Turner
My first thought was much like yours and I also chose to go a bit lighter. What you wrote is lovely.
We all need to help and be helped. Lovely, Barbara. Though I like the hell image, too:>)
Such an abundance of hands! The image made me think about how in some circumstances, many hands can make light work, and in others, many hands can make for total chaos! Here’s what I wrote:
All hands and no head
reach every which way
in any direction
but never
one.
Sounds like you’ve been on a committee or two, Debbie:>) P.S. I JUST read PICTURE DAY PERFECTION today while waiting for my husband at the bus station. Loved it! I was not a fan of picture day as a kid (though not for the same reason as your mc:>) My poem “Tomorrow Is Picture Day?” from my oop collection STAMPEDE is about picture day imperfection, too. Thanks for coming by to write!
Thank you for your kind words about Picture Day Perfection! Picture day is such a memorable milestone of childhood. And I’m pleased join in the writing fun here. My friend and critique group partner, the fabulous Buffy Silverman, was telling our writing group about your weekly 15-word challenge, and it sounded like a great thing; I’m hoping to become a regular. 🙂 Thank you for providing this supportive forum and writing opportunity!
Buffy IS fabulous! Glad she roped you in. Hope you can join in often:>)
Such an abundance of hands! The image made me think about how in some circumstances, many hands can make light work, and in others, many hands can make for total chaos! Here’s what I wrote:
All hands and no head
reach every which way
in any direction
but never
one.
Sounds like you’ve been on a committee or two, Debbie:>) P.S. I JUST read PICTURE DAY PERFECTION today while waiting for my husband at the bus station. Loved it! I was not a fan of picture day as a kid (though not for the same reason as your mc:>) My poem “Tomorrow Is Picture Day?” from my oop collection STAMPEDE is about picture day imperfection, too. Thanks for coming by to write!
Thank you for your kind words about Picture Day Perfection! Picture day is such a memorable milestone of childhood. And I’m pleased join in the writing fun here. My friend and critique group partner, the fabulous Buffy Silverman, was telling our writing group about your weekly 15-word challenge, and it sounded like a great thing; I’m hoping to become a regular. 🙂 Thank you for providing this supportive forum and writing opportunity!
Buffy IS fabulous! Glad she roped you in. Hope you can join in often:>)
I thought of how easy it would be to climb with all of these hands. Although I haven’t done any tree climbing in a long time, I climbed more than my share as a child. It was so awesome to have that view!
Backyard High-rise
Higher
higher?
grasping leafy arms.
Ah … the view
as my limbs nest in yours.
Lovely Penny. One of my favorites from yesterday.
I thought of how easy it would be to climb with all of these hands. Although I haven’t done any tree climbing in a long time, I climbed more than my share as a child. It was so awesome to have that view!
Backyard High-rise
Higher
higher?
grasping leafy arms.
Ah … the view
as my limbs nest in yours.
Lovely Penny. One of my favorites from yesterday.
BURIAL
Hands stretched
In gratitude
For having known Momma
As she?s released homeward bound to
Join Dad.
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.
BURIAL
Hands stretched
In gratitude
For having known Momma
As she?s released homeward bound to
Join Dad.
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.