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.
Here’s another photo from our trip to Cyprus. This lovely gent lives at the same camel park as the camel I shared a couple of weeks ago.
This image makes me think of several things:
- that song “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes”
- the peacocks that lived near my house when I was a kid
- shutters (the sound the feathers made, a gentle clattering sound, reminded me of shutters opening and closing)
And here’s my first draft. Did you know a group of peacocks is called a muster?
It’s your turn! Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS! (Title doesn’t count toward word count.)
NOTE: We moved on Monday, and I likely still don’t have a workspace, wi-fi, or my sanity. I will read every poem but likely won’t be able to comment.
19 Responses
RING BEARER GOING DOWN THE AISLE
The eyes see.
They’re watching me.
I toe the line.
It will be fine.
nice rhyme!
Those eyes are magnificent, aren’t they!?
As usual Laura, your first draft is “right on.” Happy to hear you are in your new home with possibly less stress, or at least a more tolerable one. Our sign went in the yard yesterday and already a scheduled showing which means we’re now boarding the roller coaster. Beauty at its best with this photo.
The Marriage of Mr. Roy G. Biv
He struts
he’s proud
he’s loud
colors scream
he preens
simple reason
’tis the season.
.
Laura, I love your inspired word choices and the sounds of your poem. It’s a delight to read aloud! This picture arrived at a funny time for me. I just finished reading a fascinating non-fiction book called “The Feather Thief” which details a monumental museum bird skin heist and among other things, the history of harvesting bird feathers for fly-fishing ties and fashion. The book has brewed all sorts of thoughts about how man’s need (greed?) to possess natural beauty often destroys it. Sadly, this isn’t just history–In 2013 a designer for Burberry created a trench coat made of peacock feathers. It sold for about 22,000 pounds!
Feather Harvest
Peacock preens in
courtship display
catches man’s
covetous eye
Death
not birth
ensues
M. Hogan ©2018
(Feel free to edit my commentary—I fear I got a bit carried away with the backstory to my response!)
I love hearing backstories to poems, Molly, so no editing needed. And I learn things, too:) I think there was a picture book in the last few years about the history of bird feathers on hats and such, but the title is totally escaping me right now. I love the lines catches man’s covetous eye.
I enjoyed reading your backstory, and your poem.
Sixty-four colors
a box of crayolas?
or my feathers
school supplies
for imaginative eyes
Laura, I love the idea of a color battle.…great short poem. I’m just dibbling and running today. Where did summer go?
School is on my mind, too!
What a gorgeous picture, Laura. Great action in your poem.
A mighty burden,
mine, to lift
these showy feathers.
No date? I’m miffed.
Visiting the Bird Sanctuary
Peacock fans his feathered tail…
the eyelight of
my day.
Love the word eyelight!
I love “the eyelight of my day.”
Laura,
I love your word play in your poem. We have a tourist stop near me, Jefferson Island, where there are many peacocks.
Peacock Show
Tourist stopper
Colorful fan topper
Island fashion proper
Shimmering like deep space gasses
caressing long-gone stars,
he pauses;
all eyes on Mr. Strut.
– © 2018, Matt Forrest Esenwine, all rights reserved
Mr. Strut…very cool!
Sunday:
Shimmery stained glass,
Sun spattered pews
Suits and sundresses,
Sundry souls muster to
Shine
Laura this peacock is so beautiful. I loved your poem, especially “a blustering muster of peacocks.” Congrats on your new home.
Peacock, Peahen, Peafowl we.
Pheasant, feathered family.
Crimson, golden, shaded hue,
Iridescent tail eyes blue.
Hope youyr move went wail
poem by Jessica Bigi
Why are My
Feathers Blue?
With all these eyes
I unlikely will fined
Eyeglasses
I’ll need a
Hundred &
Ninety pairs