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.
Okay, I try not to be too repetitive with images, but everyone had such fun with the chalk art photo a couple of weeks ago that I wanted to share two more images from the Maple Grove Chalk Art Festival. We stopped by a second time after the festival officially ended, and the street cleaner was coming down the street, washing away all the amazing art! It was a blast to see all the completed works and hop in and get some photos, though I suppose I should have tried to look terrified!
These images makes me think of several things:
- Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody
- Sea World 2.0
- Jurassic Park
And here’s my first draft. Goodness knows today’s new drivers have some things to contend with that I didn’t when I was learning to drive. Who knows what’s to come?
It’s your turn! Write a short poem inspired by either or both photos. Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS! (Title doesn’t count toward word count.)
28 Responses
ONLY IN MINNESOTA
New theory about potholes:
Moles are transforming
into ancient cousins-
Beware.
They eat cars.
lol! Boy, do they
Haha, so you’re familiar with that summer, otherwise known as road work season! Love your creative take on this.
lol.…I admit, the pop-up dinosaur in traffic does make things dicey.
Street Turtle
Patterned chalk
glides through traffic
and my walk
shadow pavement
asphalt sea
strange, new
ecology
I like “asphalt sea.” I, too, was attracted by the sea turtle.
Linda, I love the atmosphere of this poem! I especially love Shadow pavement and asphalt sea.
Art transforms.
Chalk becomes a sea turtle
on a sidewalk.
You become
sailor-
dreamer.
I love this, Margaret. A really important truth in here about art.
oooooh, nice. I would like to be a dreamer all day.
Good morning Laura, love all of the “d” sounds in your poem. Whimsical and poignant. Moving to be near kids, grands & greats. Camping out in empty house, that makes us “squatters” and since the two of you are in somewhat of a squat position … ahem!
The Street Washer Cometh
Hop astride
one last ride
then jump aside
as rainbow rivulets
offer a teary goodbye.
Fantastic!
Oh, rainbow rivulets is enchanting, Martha! Happy moving!
I love this art work and everyone poems
poems by Jessica Bigi
Dino
wright‑o
scar‑o
quack‑o
shack‑o
not sneeze
doctor sad
poetry‑o
ictuses
tubular
tortes
turf
surfing
super
waves
erasing
racing
ending
wining
won
These are fun, Jessica! I especially like your tubular tortoise–totally brought back the slang of that era:)
I’m drawn to the city’s
adventurous and bold,
deep, ancient soul
Ha! Drawn–hehe! I love how I read this one way on its own and a totally different way when paired with the pictures.
Yay! ???? Hoped that would come through!
“Large and in charge”
Cold blooded assassins,
Leather skinned dictators
Slow-witted, soulless monsters
Beware the reptilian overlords!
Love “death skinned dictators”!
Oops. Auto correct? “Leather skinned dictators!”
Leather skinned dictators! I especially like that line and the ominous feel of all of this. And digressing a bit, they say too many tanning bed sessions do cause leathery skin… Just [like on] our own little would be dictator. [I should not be replying to comments while on the treadmill!]
I will fully admit a bit of metaphorical comparison between some of our current politicians and the mighty T‑Rex.
Maybe you have a future as a dino-dentist, Laura? Those teeth are sparkly white!
Turtle Rider
Flipppers flap
on leatherback.
Waves crash.
Salty splash.
Hold tight.
Land in sight.
This is so much fun to say out loud, Buffy. The first two lines especially Capture Me:)
Good morning and happy oceanic thoughts! I, too, am more drawn to the turtle than the scary creature. 🙂
Tar diving,
got some
deep-sea pitch
on my flippers,
gotta stretch,
soar into
clean blue.
—Kate Coombs
I like the echo of pitch and stretch, and the change from tar to clean blue at the end:>)
Ancient Truth
Under this road
A dinosaur, a turtle, a sea
Under this road
History
— Jilanne Hoffmann
Actually I want to add two words to smooth things out and a title change:
Ancient Truths in Lies
Under this road
lies a dinosaur,
a turtle, a sea.
Under this road
lies history.
— Jilanne Hoffmann