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.
I hope everyone’s holidays have been going great! Mine have, but today is Maddie’s last day at home. Tomorrow, we send her back over to Scotland, and it will be hard to say goodbye, as always!
When I was in Atlanta for NCTE, I took this shot in the lobby of…hmmm, not my hotel, but one hotel over. I think it was the Atlanta Marriott? I was standing in the lobby looking up, but I like the way this shot could be interpreted different way, like I could be at the top of some structure looking down. This image makes me think of several things:
- Escher
- Optical illusions
- A highwire
And here’s my first draft. I thought about feeling disoriented a little as I try to both look backward and forward at this time of year–and also the fun of ignoring all that and just focusing on the right-now-moment.
It’s your turn! Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS! (Title doesn’t count toward word count.)
30 Responses
What a great picture and poem, Laura. I love that ending “Balanced on now — a fine line.” It reminds me that we’re always balancing the past and the future while trying to focus on the present. That’s a balancing act indeed! When I looked at the photo, I immediately saw the prow of a ship in the lower right quadrant and surrounding seas. Your thoughts of the New Year influenced my response as well. Wishing you and yours a wonderful 2017.
Sailing into the New Year
At the precipice
the bow pauses,
poised above swirling seas,
then plunges
into unchartered territory
I like your comparison of the new year and uncharted territory. So true!
The change of the new year feels like this precipice into unchartered territory. I hope the trip is adventurous and fun!
Oh, the drama in this is wonderful, Molly. And all the /p/ sounds and “precipice”–delicious sounds/words!
Today’s picture is awesome. I like how you used /“balanced” on now/ as if we could teeter off and all would be ruined.
Busy, busy, busy
leaves us dizzy, dizzy, dizzy.
Now: Stop. The. Rush.
Hear the hush.
Good advice! I liked your third line.
Love the periods in line 3. Love the last line:>)
I too saw the boat. Looked like a boat inside a boat. Then my mind went to inside the belly of a whale.
Under the Sea
No sunshine,
No rain
Where baleen
Stakes its claim;
Sun or rain,
All the same.
A place where sun and rain are all the same. How would we live in this sameness? I find the weather effects my mood so much. Today I walked out to rain and mist and now it’s sunny. These changes keep me grounded.
Love hearing how we get from the photo to our poem:>) I like baleen staking its claim!
Great picture, and as always, your verse is clever and timely. I saw the bow of a ship. My youngest granddaughter made the decision to go career Navy. I wrote a poem for her when she was inducted. Career takes me in a different direction.
A Sailor’s Conundrum
Ship’s bow pauses
sailor perched above
struggles:
heart to the left
duty to the right.
The balance of heart and duty is so real in your poem. Best wishes for your granddaughter. A brave decision.
Oh, this is a good one, Martha. Those last two lines are masterful:>)
Happy New Year to you all! Hope your holidays were happy and that your resolutions aren’t impossible. 🙂
Got the blues
but kinda confused.
Maybe the greens
are hiding down between.
—Kate Coombs
Happy New Year, Kate! Worth hunting for those greens:>)
Loved your poem, Laura. A fine line, indeed!
LOST IN LULLABY LAND
My dream pod launches,
pushes through
swirls and twirls
and sparkles, too.
So intrigued by “pod” in line 1! Lovely.
Love this image, Laura, and this exercise — and your poem. Thank you.
INTO THE FUTURE
A tricky dance
Are you entranced?
Go on. Get started
Take a chance.
Thanks, Yvonne! Glad you’ve joined us:>) Love the friendly challenge in your poem!
Reading all of the previous poems, I am also contemplating the new year, this in between time, and the image of a ship.
Time towers
in shades of blue.
I look for the bow
to guide me home.
Happy New Year!
Love the image of time passing in colors!
I like this and find the poem itself, or the imagery of it, Escheresque. Since if you are the ship, you are controlling the bow…guiding yourself. Love time towering!
Love this photo. I am trying to approach the new year more optimistically–but somehow this one took a negative turn. Happy new year to all!
Questions to Ask a Glass Ceiling
Do you let in light?
Protect at night?
Inspire? Delight?
Shatter dreams with
impossible height?
Sigh. Good questions. Something is being shattered–that’s for sure. :>(
The picture reminded me of a pyramid.
Ancient Egyptian pyramid
Thousands of steps into history
On our feet blisters.
Wonderful–I especially love that second line, Joy!
Hope everyone had a nice week I had to say goodbye to my beautiful cat Jazzy last week she was 14 a had a stroke I miss her so much despite the sadness my weekend was nice saw some family I hope every one has a Wonderful New Yeas Laura it was so nice you got the see your darter wish you hadmoorwith here Thank you for blessing our lives with friendship and poetry
poem by
Jessica Bigi
Queen bumble’s
humble home
waxy comes
buzzing worker
bumble bees
knitting pollen
into honey
stirring golden
spoons in cups of
winters tea
Oh, this is stunning, Jessica. I love it! So sorry for your loss of Jazzy. It’s terribly hard to lose our much loved pets. I’m sure you gave her a wonderful life. Wishing you joy in 2017.
Resigned to past & blind to future-strong ideas to sink my teeth into at this time of year, Laura. Happy New Year, Laura.
This image is so intriguing and inviting that I will give it a try.