Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
I think this tree was near Niagara Falls…but I’m not sure! Just one of those random pics I’ve had squirreled away for a 15 Words or Less day! OK, what kind of tree is this? I wanted to refer to a specific tree in my poem, but I didn’t have time to do a tree i.d., especially without a picture that includes the leaves. Oh, well. This image makes me think of:
1) wrinkled stockings or socks
2) elephant ankles
3) old hands
And here’s my?first draft, a cinquain.
Park Elder
Wrinkled
Home for squirrels
Survivor of decades
Shade on August afternoons
Old tree
–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:>)??
148 Responses
Under the Elder Tree
Elephant’s trunk
down to its knees.
Kids curl up under
the elder tree.
Love the use of “elder” and the way it echoes “elephant.” Nicely done!
Ha! I almost used elder, too! It makes a great connection here.
Elder is the key word here Linda ‑elder elephant, and the tree, its age or its species! I like this very much.
Under the Elder Tree
Elephant’s trunk
down to its knees.
Kids curl up under
the elder tree.
Love the use of “elder” and the way it echoes “elephant.” Nicely done!
Ha! I almost used elder, too! It makes a great connection here.
Elder is the key word here Linda ‑elder elephant, and the tree, its age or its species! I like this very much.
In my backyard, we have an old live oak with the name Grandmother. She holds a rope swing.
With footholds to climb
Eyes that see time
Stories in my rings
Come swing.
What a good invitation: “Come swing.”
Mmmm…wonderful voice here, Margaret!
Love “eyes that see time” -
Love too that you have a tree named “Grandmother” — so inviting for a swing!
Very good Margaret. Can’t you just imagine the rings in this one if and when it comes down.
In my backyard, we have an old live oak with the name Grandmother. She holds a rope swing.
With footholds to climb
Eyes that see time
Stories in my rings
Come swing.
What a good invitation: “Come swing.”
Mmmm…wonderful voice here, Margaret!
Love “eyes that see time” -
Love too that you have a tree named “Grandmother” — so inviting for a swing!
Very good Margaret. Can’t you just imagine the rings in this one if and when it comes down.
I would guess it’s a beech tree.
Rough times etched
for all to see
and still loving life,
a lesson for me.
Love the message within!
Yes, Cindyb! When I see ancient women, all wrinkled but laughing joyously, I think, “Please, let that be me.” (But not for another 20 years. :>) I love that second line. So important. Oh–beech–that works. I can’t keep species straight. Birch is my favorite. Oak is recognizable. The rest I’d have to look up (if I only had the trunk to look at). Thanks.
Yes! So wonderful. With that poem on the image it would be a good one to hang up somewhere (maybe near a mirror?) as a reminder! Does that tree really see itself as old and wrinkly? Doubt that!
Very nice Cindy. So many lessons in nature.
I would guess it’s a beech tree.
Rough times etched
for all to see
and still loving life,
a lesson for me.
Love the message within!
Yes, Cindyb! When I see ancient women, all wrinkled but laughing joyously, I think, “Please, let that be me.” (But not for another 20 years. :>) I love that second line. So important. Oh–beech–that works. I can’t keep species straight. Birch is my favorite. Oak is recognizable. The rest I’d have to look up (if I only had the trunk to look at). Thanks.
Yes! So wonderful. With that poem on the image it would be a good one to hang up somewhere (maybe near a mirror?) as a reminder! Does that tree really see itself as old and wrinkly? Doubt that!
Very nice Cindy. So many lessons in nature.
I love this pic and the first 2 and last 2 lines of your poem Laura
I was wondering if anyone else see the face on the tree
old Elam
elephants skin
ancient quean
noted brads
bridge of nose
faces on
a wooden coin
poem By Jessica Bigi
Jessica, nice! I especially like “faces on/a wooden coin”!
thank you Kate
I didn’t until you said that! And the profile view–perfect comparison to faces on a coin. And wooden definitely makes me think “old.” Great details here, Jessica. One of my favorites of yours.
“ancient queen” Love it!
Yes Jessica, I saw the face.
I love this pic and the first 2 and last 2 lines of your poem Laura
I was wondering if anyone else see the face on the tree
old Elam
elephants skin
ancient quean
noted brads
bridge of nose
faces on
a wooden coin
poem By Jessica Bigi
Jessica, nice! I especially like “faces on/a wooden coin”!
thank you Kate
I didn’t until you said that! And the profile view–perfect comparison to faces on a coin. And wooden definitely makes me think “old.” Great details here, Jessica. One of my favorites of yours.
“ancient queen” Love it!
Yes Jessica, I saw the face.
First Impressions
Old and gnarled
my outside you see
inside I shelter beauty
you once saw in me.
Good morning Laura. My neighbor has a beech tree with a similar trunk, although not as weathered as this one. I saw this as a reversal of “beauty is only skin deep.”
Yes! An old tree may be knotted, and knarly, but each one has it’s own unique beauty. Nice 😉
I love big, old trees like this! I love the use of “shelter” here, Martha.
Yes, it once was a “child” tree…no knobs and gnarls…the beauty is still there.
First Impressions
Old and gnarled
my outside you see
inside I shelter beauty
you once saw in me.
Good morning Laura. My neighbor has a beech tree with a similar trunk, although not as weathered as this one. I saw this as a reversal of “beauty is only skin deep.”
Yes! An old tree may be knotted, and knarly, but each one has it’s own unique beauty. Nice 😉
I love big, old trees like this! I love the use of “shelter” here, Martha.
Yes, it once was a “child” tree…no knobs and gnarls…the beauty is still there.
(I needed gnarled too, Martha!)
Tree Trunk
Nobby and gnarled,
woody and wild,
home to my favorite
squirrel child.
?Kate Coombs
Hmm, maybe that should have been “knobby”!
I like the first 2 lines
Love the contrast of wild and homey in first 1/2 vs second 1/2!
“Knobby and gnarled” — they don’t get much knobbier and gnarled than this!
This is so sweet Kate ‑human child who can climb like a child or the young squirrel itself. We can certainly tell the youngsters from their elders around our home.
Wonderful!
(I needed gnarled too, Martha!)
Tree Trunk
Nobby and gnarled,
woody and wild,
home to my favorite
squirrel child.
?Kate Coombs
Hmm, maybe that should have been “knobby”!
I like the first 2 lines
Love the contrast of wild and homey in first 1/2 vs second 1/2!
“Knobby and gnarled” — they don’t get much knobbier and gnarled than this!
This is so sweet Kate ‑human child who can climb like a child or the young squirrel itself. We can certainly tell the youngsters from their elders around our home.
Wonderful!
HERD
Thick liquid limbs
Sentry the Serengeti
Like great, gray ghosts
Hosting family
Gatherings.
Andria W. Rosenbaum/all rights reserved
Oh, my. Lovely. Have you read TZ Vaughan’s COUSINS OF CLOUDS: ELEPHANT POEMS? (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618903496/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0618903496&linkCode=as2&tag=laurasalascom-20&linkId=QIHIEKP44JJV77IF) It’s fabulous. I especially love your first line, Andria!
Thanks, Laura. I have ready everything by Tracie. LOVE her work. We were once in a crit. group together called The Freeversians 😉
“Liquid limbs” is perfect.
Andria, I love the last three lines: great, gray, ghosts, family, gatherings …
HERD
Thick liquid limbs
Sentry the Serengeti
Like great, gray ghosts
Hosting family
Gatherings.
Andria W. Rosenbaum/all rights reserved
Oh, my. Lovely. Have you read TZ Vaughan’s COUSINS OF CLOUDS: ELEPHANT POEMS? (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618903496/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0618903496&linkCode=as2&tag=laurasalascom-20&linkId=QIHIEKP44JJV77IF) It’s fabulous. I especially love your first line, Andria!
Thanks, Laura. I have ready everything by Tracie. LOVE her work. We were once in a crit. group together called The Freeversians 😉
“Liquid limbs” is perfect.
Andria, I love the last three lines: great, gray, ghosts, family, gatherings …
What a tree! This has triggered an idea for a longer poem,
but I’ll put down the first lines that popped into my head.
(Sorry, no completion to this.)
The Tree Gnome
I live inside
this ancient tree.
Look all you want,
you won’t see me.
Lovely, Pat. I want to know the rest of the story!
I had a similar idea…wrote two, but yes, this picture has a lot more to say!
Intriguing Pat. Maybe one of Laura’s pix down the road will allow you to share another verse!
What a tree! This has triggered an idea for a longer poem,
but I’ll put down the first lines that popped into my head.
(Sorry, no completion to this.)
The Tree Gnome
I live inside
this ancient tree.
Look all you want,
you won’t see me.
Lovely, Pat. I want to know the rest of the story!
I had a similar idea…wrote two, but yes, this picture has a lot more to say!
Intriguing Pat. Maybe one of Laura’s pix down the road will allow you to share another verse!
Leaning on a tree
Old man waits patiently
Till we no longer see
Their unity.
Leaning on a tree
Old man waits patiently
Till we no longer see
Their unity.
This one came first…then the other one…and I have another one, but I think I’ve shared enough.
Waiting
for a bus;
None came.
Still he
remained
and
became
one with
the tree.
Donna, sad that the bus stood him up, but the consequence leaves a beautiful image.
This one came first…then the other one…and I have another one, but I think I’ve shared enough.
Waiting
for a bus;
None came.
Still he
remained
and
became
one with
the tree.
Donna, sad that the bus stood him up, but the consequence leaves a beautiful image.
Ok. This was my very first one. I had to post it anyway. And I PROMISE I am done. Linda just had to mention “elder”…
The elder stood
in rumpled,
gray trousers
waiting
to cross to the
other side.
I’m with you, Donna–this photo is begging for more poems!
I love the ambiguity of the end.
That comment was meant for you Donna.
Ok. This was my very first one. I had to post it anyway. And I PROMISE I am done. Linda just had to mention “elder”…
The elder stood
in rumpled,
gray trousers
waiting
to cross to the
other side.
I’m with you, Donna–this photo is begging for more poems!
I love the ambiguity of the end.
That comment was meant for you Donna.
My student Tyler wants to join the poetry fun today. Here’s his poem.
Old People
Two old men
bickering every day
scaring nature away.
These old hags
should calm down.
–Tyler, 6th grade
good advice from Tyler!
I like this, Tyler. Especially “bickering” and that important last line.
Welcome, Tyler! I love your use of hard c and g sounds. It makes the poem sound like arguing:)
My student Tyler wants to join the poetry fun today. Here’s his poem.
Old People
Two old men
bickering every day
scaring nature away.
These old hags
should calm down.
–Tyler, 6th grade
good advice from Tyler!
I like this, Tyler. Especially “bickering” and that important last line.
Welcome, Tyler! I love your use of hard c and g sounds. It makes the poem sound like arguing:)
Old Man Tree
cracked and wrinkled
with mossy warts
watches ancient lovers
wears his heart on his trunk
Perhaps the ancient lovers carved a heart also. I like “mossy warts.”
Nice!
Old Man Tree
cracked and wrinkled
with mossy warts
watches ancient lovers
wears his heart on his trunk
Perhaps the ancient lovers carved a heart also. I like “mossy warts.”
Nice!
This diamonte form actually has 16 words, but I couldn’t resist. (Guess I’m a rebel at heart!)
tree
old, knotted
resting, standing, guarding
ridges, branches, fingers, wrinkles
gripping, trembling, touching
aged, gnarled
hand
I had to look up this form, which was new to me. Your poem takes me from an old tree to an old person. Lovely.
Tx, Ellie. I love cinquains. Crapsey wrote some amazing ones.
Love it!
This diamonte form actually has 16 words, but I couldn’t resist. (Guess I’m a rebel at heart!)
tree
old, knotted
resting, standing, guarding
ridges, branches, fingers, wrinkles
gripping, trembling, touching
aged, gnarled
hand
I had to look up this form, which was new to me. Your poem takes me from an old tree to an old person. Lovely.
Tx, Ellie. I love cinquains. Crapsey wrote some amazing ones.
Love it!
Oh, I love all this diversified imagery! I adore trees 🙂 I guess I’ll give it a shot. Something quick…
Oh, mighty oak,
majestic you be.
I want to stand tall
like a tree…like me.
Sorry, I didn’t count the words! I’m one over : /
Aw, that captures a kid’s desire to *matter.*
Oh, I love all this diversified imagery! I adore trees 🙂 I guess I’ll give it a shot. Something quick…
Oh, mighty oak,
majestic you be.
I want to stand tall
like a tree…like me.
Sorry, I didn’t count the words! I’m one over : /
Aw, that captures a kid’s desire to *matter.*
trunk tucked against legs
I will guard
my little ball of Earth
For some reason, I saw an elephant, legs together like on a circus ball. The poems have been really fun today.
I love that determination…
trunk tucked against legs
I will guard
my little ball of Earth
For some reason, I saw an elephant, legs together like on a circus ball. The poems have been really fun today.
I love that determination…
Great cinquain, Laura! It reminds me of splitting sausages.
too much sizzle
explodes in the pan
sausage fungi.
Hahaha–that is quite vivid!
Great cinquain, Laura! It reminds me of splitting sausages.
too much sizzle
explodes in the pan
sausage fungi.
Hahaha–that is quite vivid!
WIZARD WOES
Eye of newt,
Twist of fate.
Forever stuck in
This tree-like
state.
Ellen Vojnovic
What a fun verse Ellen.
I love this
This is so funny! I love it!
Oh, that is clever, Ellen. Those first two lines–magic! Hehe
WIZARD WOES
Eye of newt,
Twist of fate.
Forever stuck in
This tree-like
state.
Ellen Vojnovic
What a fun verse Ellen.
I love this
This is so funny! I love it!
Oh, that is clever, Ellen. Those first two lines–magic! Hehe
Here’s my poem–
Wisdom and Memory
Wise Old Tree
With Your Mossy Toes
Please Remember Me
Love those mossy toes, Stephanie!
Here’s my poem–
Wisdom and Memory
Wise Old Tree
With Your Mossy Toes
Please Remember Me
Love those mossy toes, Stephanie!
THE SENATOR
From a clenched fist cypress
To 118 feet of glory
Snuffed away by
Arsonist jealousy.
© Charles Waters 2015 all rights reserved.
*Note* The Senator was a tree that lived for roughly 3,500 years, rising out of Central Florida swampland, before being set on fire on January 16, 2012.
Aw, the Senator wasn’t far from my sister’s house, and I was so sad when this happened. I love that clenched fist cypress!
THE SENATOR
From a clenched fist cypress
To 118 feet of glory
Snuffed away by
Arsonist jealousy.
© Charles Waters 2015 all rights reserved.
*Note* The Senator was a tree that lived for roughly 3,500 years, rising out of Central Florida swampland, before being set on fire on January 16, 2012.
Aw, the Senator wasn’t far from my sister’s house, and I was so sad when this happened. I love that clenched fist cypress!