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.
Although the day trip itself was dreadful, one of the most beautiful things we saw in France was Mont Saint Michel, an amazing ancient abbey built on a rock outcropping in the tidal flats off the Normandy coast. You’re just driving along through flat, agricultural lands, and then you see this on the horizon. Magical! This image makes me think of several things:
- God’s or a giant’s building blocks
- people who paint “en plein air” — outside where anyone can watch them–talk about intimidating!
- Walt Disney World–can’t help it. Grew up in Florida.
And here’s my first draft.
It’s your turn! Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS! (Title doesn’t count toward word count.)
33 Responses
Stone of myth
Turrets tempting
The image of refuge
Mirage Palace
ooooooh, Mirage palace. Sounds fun and kinda spooky
That opening line grips me, Amelia!
I love the image of turtles in your poem love the lines 2–3
surprise of hope.…disguised in block. I really like that. I liked the double meaning of something harsh with something gentle as prayer. I aimed for that as well.
Mont Saint Michel
Low tide
sand castle.
Waves swell
island abbey.
Vespers bell
on evening’s tide–
Prayer citadel.
as always, I like to pair the picture & words together.
Love your careful word choice (sand castle, abbey, vespers, citadel) and the two word lines.
I love the vespers bell–that you brought a sound into it! Beautiful poem, Linda!
I also love the line with the bell
His castle awaits.
The journey is long.
I am still walking.
An arresting poem, Margaret!
I like this- makes me wonder just what he will find at the castle- must be something good since he’s still walking!
such a comforting massage in these time
oooooooooooooooh what a neat perspective.…two people in such a short evocative piece. Nice.
I see this will not be the only sandcastle poem…
Once upon a time
there was a sandcastle
That grew and grew
And became true.
Isn’t it funny that sandcastle never entered my head?! Love your last line–so surprising!
I love the build up to your powerful ending
Love! Perfect just as it is.
Hypnotizing for sure, picture and words. I love the stability of the structure yet the “sloughed off” image as it grows out of itself. The reference to Disney a must! A young friend realized her childhood dream and was married there with Cinderella’s castle in the background.
Building Blocks
Plant feet
nurture growth
diminish dependence
reach skyward
soar with clouds
achieve dreams.
Oh, I love the first and 5th lines especially, Martha!
I like that your saw the stages of growing in this pic
I love the pic today thank your for sharing your trip pic with us
poem By Jessica Bigi
No Instructions On
Building Gingerbread Houses
Icing on the ceiling
Doggies red sugar lips
My cookies are now
Pails of crumbs
Oh, no! Sounds like a baking adventure I might have! Love the dog’s red lips:>)
WHY I SLEEP SO WELL
My room’s at the top,
climb stairs that don’t stop.
So tired I drop,
ker-flop.
this would be cut to do with hand motions’ with school kids
Ha! Those stairs didn’t stop! We were ready to ker-flop at the top:>) Fun poem, and it makes me picture other cool illustrations that could go with it.
Love the image of “sunrise of rock.” It goes so well with this gorgeous castle. I seem to have lost the castle in my poem…
Sky Tag
Clouds race–
chasing, speeding,
crashing.
They collapse
in giggling heaps,
spring a leak,
rain falls.
your words paint a beautiful sky seen by water
Ha! I need to go back and look at the clouds! They weren’t even in my sights.…but they were yours. Bravo.
Great image–spring a leak! I love when the poems veer off, inspired by tiny details. Love all the /k/ sounds!
By Franklin- age 11
Sunny Morning-
Sunny morning on the mount
Shall I shout?
Hear my echo
How far did it go?
By Franklin- age 11
Marshmallows Flying-
Marshmallows flying by the castle
Oh what hassle
Marshmallows in the air
showing off their flair
Fabulous! Oh, those show-off‑y marshmallow! I could just take a bite out of one!
wonderful poems both of you I love how in the first poem it emphasizes how echo’s carry on the 2ed poem shows wonderful imagination
Ha! These are wonderful! Two totally different voices and approaches–both fabulous. I hear the shout and see those marshmallows:>)