Hoofing It [15 words or less]

The horses at this Fourth of July parade had better pedicures than me.
Photo: Laura Purdie Salas

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

15WOLs

Happy Thursday, and if you’re visiting as a result of Mary Lee Hahn’s kind shoutout at nErDcamp MI, welcome! We love having new people drop by and give this a try–or use it with their students, even if they never post. On the Fourth, my husband and I helped out Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps?at two parades, and I snapped this glittery hoof at one of them.?This image makes me think of:

1)’dogs in silly outfits, like bridal gowns
2)?wonder whether a horse would be proud or embarrassed by this hooficure
3) glittery hoofprints that might be left behind

And here’s my?first draft:

My feet flash like fireworks!
Sparks explode each time
they strike the street!

–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:>)?

P.S. I’m at summer school today, working with students on their Can Be… books! I will try to stop by and comment on each poem, but it might take me an extra day or two!

138 Responses

    1. I see, now, that you had the same idea I did about dancing and sprinkling glitter.
      I always post before I read other people’s poems.
      I like your words “shine and shimmer.”

    1. I see, now, that you had the same idea I did about dancing and sprinkling glitter.
      I always post before I read other people’s poems.
      I like your words “shine and shimmer.”

    1. Interesting, Donna–I’ve only seen rime used in the context of rime ice, so this gave me a new meaning/image. On the other hand, it’s gearing up for State Fair time here in Minnesota, where the star attraction is always food, especially _________________ (insert anything there) on a stick. So your title gave me pause! :>)

    1. Interesting, Donna–I’ve only seen rime used in the context of rime ice, so this gave me a new meaning/image. On the other hand, it’s gearing up for State Fair time here in Minnesota, where the star attraction is always food, especially _________________ (insert anything there) on a stick. So your title gave me pause! :>)

  1. I see dogs leaving the groomer’s with nails polished, why not horses. I wonder about the effects for animals who lick/chew their feet. Still, the picture prompts fun reactions.

    An Equine Dilemma

    Agitated, humiliated,
    what’s a mare to do;
    I neighed my request
    for Carolina blue.

    1. I guess when you said “Carolina Blue” you should not have “nayed” it! The neighs and nays must have gotten mixed up! Hi-ho, Silver!

      1. Thanks Donna. Didn’t mean it to be a nay but “neigh” as in horse talk. Maybe a whinnied would have been clearer, that would be close to a “whine” of agitation.

      2. Sorry, should be “Hi-yo, Silver!” After posting I researched how to spell it (Hi or Heigh), and opened up a can of worms — “Hi-ho” or “Hi-yo”? Found out that it was “Hi-yo, Silver!” by downloading an old comic book and installing a comic book reader. It was written there as “Hi-yo!, not ho. For over 50 years I’ve believed that it was “Hi-ho”. Never too old to learn, I guess. “Hi-yo, Silver-hair!”

    2. Really, do people get their dogs’ nails painted? I love this, thought of the horse’s feelings, too when I wrote.

    3. Dogs get their nails polished? REally? I had no idea! Hehe–love the voice of this. Poor horse!

  2. I see dogs leaving the groomer’s with nails polished, why not horses. I wonder about the effects for animals who lick/chew their feet. Still, the picture prompts fun reactions.

    An Equine Dilemma

    Agitated, humiliated,
    what’s a mare to do;
    I neighed my request
    for Carolina blue.

    1. I guess when you said “Carolina Blue” you should not have “nayed” it! The neighs and nays must have gotten mixed up! Hi-ho, Silver!

      1. Thanks Donna. Didn’t mean it to be a nay but “neigh” as in horse talk. Maybe a whinnied would have been clearer, that would be close to a “whine” of agitation.

      2. Sorry, should be “Hi-yo, Silver!” After posting I researched how to spell it (Hi or Heigh), and opened up a can of worms — “Hi-ho” or “Hi-yo”? Found out that it was “Hi-yo, Silver!” by downloading an old comic book and installing a comic book reader. It was written there as “Hi-yo!, not ho. For over 50 years I’ve believed that it was “Hi-ho”. Never too old to learn, I guess. “Hi-yo, Silver-hair!”

    2. Really, do people get their dogs’ nails painted? I love this, thought of the horse’s feelings, too when I wrote.

    3. Dogs get their nails polished? REally? I had no idea! Hehe–love the voice of this. Poor horse!

  3. Oh, I like that Laura! And the others–off to a good start today!

    Dance

    Feet tap hard,
    feet twist strong,
    feet make silver
    of a song.

    ?Kate Coombs

  4. Oh, I like that Laura! And the others–off to a good start today!

    Dance

    Feet tap hard,
    feet twist strong,
    feet make silver
    of a song.

    ?Kate Coombs

    1. Maybe it’s just what I’m going through right now
      But the glitter in your poem reminds me of the
      Memories we build with thows we love become sparking glitter in our lives making our days brighter Than You

    2. I’m loving how several of you have poem-ed about celebrating life and spreading joy–aka glitter:>)

    1. Maybe it’s just what I’m going through right now
      But the glitter in your poem reminds me of the
      Memories we build with thows we love become sparking glitter in our lives making our days brighter Than You

    2. I’m loving how several of you have poem-ed about celebrating life and spreading joy–aka glitter:>)

    1. This has such a timeless feel to it, like an age-old but still so appealing nursery rhyme.

    1. This has such a timeless feel to it, like an age-old but still so appealing nursery rhyme.

  5. Laura I love your poem an the pic today
    And I like all the poems today

    Rat-ta-tat

    Tap

    Jingle

    Jangle

    Fly sparks of

    July’s tambourines

    Marching

    Down

    5th ave

    Poem by Jessica Bigi

    1. I like that “marching down” effect in the form of your poem.

  6. Laura I love your poem an the pic today
    And I like all the poems today

    Rat-ta-tat

    Tap

    Jingle

    Jangle

    Fly sparks of

    July’s tambourines

    Marching

    Down

    5th ave

    Poem by Jessica Bigi

    1. I like that “marching down” effect in the form of your poem.

  7. This made me think of our Friday night street dances outside in the summer.
    Especially this past Friday, the 4th.

    We’re dancing to the beat,
    silver sneakers on our feet,
    sprinkling glitter on the street.

    1. Does your block do this, Pat? I would LOVE to live somewhere where everyone goes outside and dance on Friday nights. Love that last line.

      1. Not my block, my town! Hendersonville NC has Music on Main Street every Friday night, June through August. There is also a street dance on Monday night where there is Appalachian music, clogging and square dancing. They have started Rhythm and Blues night on the third Thursday of the month. Great little town! (I sound like I’m from the Chamber of Commerce. Ha!)

        1. Fun! When I was in Chicago for ALA last summer, they had public dancing every week in the big park on the Mile, there. Such great energy!

  8. This made me think of our Friday night street dances outside in the summer.
    Especially this past Friday, the 4th.

    We’re dancing to the beat,
    silver sneakers on our feet,
    sprinkling glitter on the street.

    1. Does your block do this, Pat? I would LOVE to live somewhere where everyone goes outside and dance on Friday nights. Love that last line.

      1. Not my block, my town! Hendersonville NC has Music on Main Street every Friday night, June through August. There is also a street dance on Monday night where there is Appalachian music, clogging and square dancing. They have started Rhythm and Blues night on the third Thursday of the month. Great little town! (I sound like I’m from the Chamber of Commerce. Ha!)

        1. Fun! When I was in Chicago for ALA last summer, they had public dancing every week in the big park on the Mile, there. Such great energy!

  9. I haven’t written in a while-what a lot of glitter in these poems. I like your “flash” & “explode” Laura!

    Sparkly clip-clop,
    pedicured toes!
    Even a horse
    wants a princess pose
    Linda Baie ? All Rights Reserved

  10. I haven’t written in a while-what a lot of glitter in these poems. I like your “flash” & “explode” Laura!

    Sparkly clip-clop,
    pedicured toes!
    Even a horse
    wants a princess pose
    Linda Baie ? All Rights Reserved

    1. I sense a new My Little Pony set coming: The Pony Prom. I’m not even a super squealy girly-girl, but somehow little ponies happily twirling makes me smile!

    1. I sense a new My Little Pony set coming: The Pony Prom. I’m not even a super squealy girly-girl, but somehow little ponies happily twirling makes me smile!

    1. I like how this writing prompt works each week because we all find different things from our own look out perch. Love that glitter of stars appeared for you today.

    2. All most like the horse is running trough the night sky leaving star foot prints wonderful 🙂 I like this group also and how we all see diffrent things in the pic

    1. I like how this writing prompt works each week because we all find different things from our own look out perch. Love that glitter of stars appeared for you today.

    2. All most like the horse is running trough the night sky leaving star foot prints wonderful 🙂 I like this group also and how we all see diffrent things in the pic

  11. Today
    I dipped,
    I dabbed,
    I danced,
    I dazzled.
    Tomorrow
    I’ll deny it.

  12. Today
    I dipped,
    I dabbed,
    I danced,
    I dazzled.
    Tomorrow
    I’ll deny it.

  13. 4TH OF JULY PARADE (YOU GO GIRL)
    Horse hoofs clop down
    Cobblestone streets like
    Supermodel stilettos click
    On the catwalk.

    © Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.

  14. 4TH OF JULY PARADE (YOU GO GIRL)
    Horse hoofs clop down
    Cobblestone streets like
    Supermodel stilettos click
    On the catwalk.

    © Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

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

Join 2,548 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."