Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
Usually, I post pictures I find beautiful or spooky or engaging. This one just makes me smile. When we were in Dublin, we were signed up for the Irish Dance Party at the Temple Bar. It was an afternoon event where we would “learn a bit of Irish dancing” and learn about Irish music. Twenty minutes before start time, we (me, husband, 19yo daughter) were the only people in this huge, empty room. No way were we going to do this by ourselves! How intimidating! But then, about 5 minutes before start time, a huge group of U.S. students on their senior trip poured in. So it was full of 60 high school seniors and us. Lord. But it ended up being a blast! If I were a YA writer, I would’ve gotten tons of material:>) Even though there were all the usual stereotypes/cliques, most of the kids jumped in, had fun, and were good sports. The whole thing ended up being a great memory!
This image makes me think of:
1) square dancing in PE in elementary school
2) dancing at a wedding
3) drum corps, where I could do the moves well but couldn’t remember everything in the right order!
And here’s my?first draft.
Now it’s your turn! Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS!??(Title doesn’t count toward word count:>) If you leave a poem in the comments, and if it’s 15 words or less, I’ll try to respond!
62 Responses
Grab a hand
Spin around
in a circle
twist and shout
Truly what dancing’s about
What a neat experience! Very cool picture
Thanks, Amelia! We loved it. And it was super fun watching the students (we were split into two big groups for dancing, so half the time you danced, and half the time you watched the other group) do exactly what your poem is. They mostly dove into it with gusto. Love seeing people who don’t care if they are doing it wrong–they just want to have fun!
Grab a hand
Spin around
in a circle
twist and shout
Truly what dancing’s about
What a neat experience! Very cool picture
Thanks, Amelia! We loved it. And it was super fun watching the students (we were split into two big groups for dancing, so half the time you danced, and half the time you watched the other group) do exactly what your poem is. They mostly dove into it with gusto. Love seeing people who don’t care if they are doing it wrong–they just want to have fun!
Laura,
“The wooden earth shakes” I can feel through and through. My husband and I love dancing Cajun and Zydeco. In fact we went to a free concert last night and danced our hearts out. The temp was a warm 90 something, but when everybody sweats it doesn’t matter.
When I finish my coffee, I’ll come back with a poem.
Oh, fun! (But not the 90+ temp.) Look forward to your poem.
Dance
Spinning
under arm
you brush hair
into my eyes.
I cannot see,
only feel
delirious.
(I’ve grown my bangs out, so often when we are dancing the hair flies over my eyes, but I don’t stop.)
You rebel! Beautiful poem–kind of surreal:>)
Laura,
“The wooden earth shakes” I can feel through and through. My husband and I love dancing Cajun and Zydeco. In fact we went to a free concert last night and danced our hearts out. The temp was a warm 90 something, but when everybody sweats it doesn’t matter.
When I finish my coffee, I’ll come back with a poem.
Oh, fun! (But not the 90+ temp.) Look forward to your poem.
Dance
Spinning
under arm
you brush hair
into my eyes.
I cannot see,
only feel
delirious.
(I’ve grown my bangs out, so often when we are dancing the hair flies over my eyes, but I don’t stop.)
You rebel! Beautiful poem–kind of surreal:>)
Laura,
This reminds me of a niece’s wedding and a special slow dance with my hubby, while he was still on oxygen. Touching! There was also some fun line dancing captured on film.
So glad you got to be a part of this Irish-American dancing fun.
What a lovely memory, Linda–thank you for sharing.
Laura,
This reminds me of a niece’s wedding and a special slow dance with my hubby, while he was still on oxygen. Touching! There was also some fun line dancing captured on film.
So glad you got to be a part of this Irish-American dancing fun.
What a lovely memory, Linda–thank you for sharing.
Thanks for sharing more of your Irish experience, even though …
Wallflower
I hear the music
feel the beat
but alas I’m wearing
my two left feet
There were many two-left-feet-ers there! My feet are coordinated, but sometimes I feel I’m wearing two left brains, since I can’t keep the steps in order! Your Wallflower should dance anyway:>)
Thanks for sharing more of your Irish experience, even though …
Wallflower
I hear the music
feel the beat
but alas I’m wearing
my two left feet
There were many two-left-feet-ers there! My feet are coordinated, but sometimes I feel I’m wearing two left brains, since I can’t keep the steps in order! Your Wallflower should dance anyway:>)
I’m wondering what kind of music was playing
The Irish Jig
oy
spinning
round
round
Trawling left
trawling right
spinning
round
round
so
dizzy
plop
oy
Jessica, I like the long look of this and especially the word “trawling”!
Love the motion, Jessica. The “oy” sounds like Yiddish, as in “oy vey,” so it gives this poem an Eastern European feel to it, which is a funny contrast to the Irish jig! It makes me picture a grandmotherly type trying to dance, but getting dizzy and then just sitting (plop) to watch while she rubs her sore ankles.
The music was being played live on fiddle or any of three or four other instruments by this amazing music grad student. It was fabulous!
I’m wondering what kind of music was playing
The Irish Jig
oy
spinning
round
round
Trawling left
trawling right
spinning
round
round
so
dizzy
plop
oy
Jessica, I like the long look of this and especially the word “trawling”!
Love the motion, Jessica. The “oy” sounds like Yiddish, as in “oy vey,” so it gives this poem an Eastern European feel to it, which is a funny contrast to the Irish jig! It makes me picture a grandmotherly type trying to dance, but getting dizzy and then just sitting (plop) to watch while she rubs her sore ankles.
The music was being played live on fiddle or any of three or four other instruments by this amazing music grad student. It was fabulous!
Laura, love the ominous and magical last 2 lines in combination with the dance scene!
Dublin Jig
Leprechauns giggle,
watching us wiggle
and pound, oh
the sound, the way
we spin round!
?Kate Coombs
Thank you, Kate. Apparently, I had an evil fairy under the floor! I love the rhythm of yours, how it feels like it’s gaining momentum.
I like the placement of the words — kind of like the poem started spinning!
Laura, love the ominous and magical last 2 lines in combination with the dance scene!
Dublin Jig
Leprechauns giggle,
watching us wiggle
and pound, oh
the sound, the way
we spin round!
?Kate Coombs
Thank you, Kate. Apparently, I had an evil fairy under the floor! I love the rhythm of yours, how it feels like it’s gaining momentum.
I like the placement of the words — kind of like the poem started spinning!
This was a lot of fun — thanks for the challenge!
Hands, feet
meet the beat
shake, jive
come alive
zag, zig
Irish Jig
Fun, Lori! I especially like “come alive.” Irish dance really gets the blood pumping, so this felt just right:>)
This was a lot of fun — thanks for the challenge!
Hands, feet
meet the beat
shake, jive
come alive
zag, zig
Irish Jig
Fun, Lori! I especially like “come alive.” Irish dance really gets the blood pumping, so this felt just right:>)
Scrabble
Jig, short but huge reward
When J lands on triple-letter,
G on triple-word.
Ooh, I just beat Randy at Scrabble last night. We play 5 or 6 games a week, so this poem is right up my alley!
Do you play Words With Friends then? Love Srabble games!
Love that JIG inspired a Scrabble response!
I don’t play any games on my phone/computer. I LOVE word games, and if I started, I would never get any work done!
I also love word games, especially WORDS with Friends. Currently, I have nine games going with family and friends. I limit myself to playing once in the morning (I am an early bird) and once or twice in the evening before I go to bed. If I’m indulgent with myself, I’ll sit down after lunch and play once with all who have played since the morning round.
You have a steel will, Martha:>)
Scrabble
Jig, short but huge reward
When J lands on triple-letter,
G on triple-word.
Ooh, I just beat Randy at Scrabble last night. We play 5 or 6 games a week, so this poem is right up my alley!
Do you play Words With Friends then? Love Srabble games!
Love that JIG inspired a Scrabble response!
I don’t play any games on my phone/computer. I LOVE word games, and if I started, I would never get any work done!
I also love word games, especially WORDS with Friends. Currently, I have nine games going with family and friends. I limit myself to playing once in the morning (I am an early bird) and once or twice in the evening before I go to bed. If I’m indulgent with myself, I’ll sit down after lunch and play once with all who have played since the morning round.
You have a steel will, Martha:>)
Friday night is a street dance in our town all summer.
It’s almost Friday!
Street Dance
Hear the music.
Feel the beat.
Keep the rhythm.
Move your feet.
On, how sweet!
Oops! I meant to type “h” for “oh,” not “n” for “on.”
What fun! Both the poem and the street dance!
Friday night is a street dance in our town all summer.
It’s almost Friday!
Street Dance
Hear the music.
Feel the beat.
Keep the rhythm.
Move your feet.
On, how sweet!
Oops! I meant to type “h” for “oh,” not “n” for “on.”
What fun! Both the poem and the street dance!
The Old Dance Floor Speaks…
Of ballroom waltzes,
slow foxtrots,
of two-steps, tangos,
bunny hops
I love the idea of the floor talking, telling stories.
The Old Dance Floor Speaks…
Of ballroom waltzes,
slow foxtrots,
of two-steps, tangos,
bunny hops
I love the idea of the floor talking, telling stories.
On Dancing On
You meet
You pass by
You touch
And rely
On hands
To guide
Your feet.
Donna JT Smith, All rights reserved
I like how precise this is, Donna:>)
On Dancing On
You meet
You pass by
You touch
And rely
On hands
To guide
Your feet.
Donna JT Smith, All rights reserved
I like how precise this is, Donna:>)