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 wanted to let you know that 15 Words or Less will be going on hiatus for a while. I want to concentrate on Poetry Fridays here, with occasional other posts. And I’m hoping to build up my Patreon community, Our Poetry World, and start offering writing prompts there. As always, there just isn’t enough time in the day to do ALL the things I would love to do. Anyhow, this month will be the final month of 15 Words or Less Poems posts–for now, at least. Thank you for being part of this community!
It was funny. I was mall-walking before the mall was open, and I couldn’t tell whether the vacuum was part of some display, or whether the hammock and man were the display, and someone was just in the middle of cleaning, or what!
This image makes me think of several things:
- will robots take over the world
- public art
- why are blank faces so eerie?
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.)
23 Responses
Laura,
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed your filtered photos and the poetry wake up on Thursday mornings…as well as all the other poetry morning birds here. You are doing so well, professionally. Enjoy the hiatus and keep writing those books!
Hiatus
Laura has done
all she could
poems vacuumed
books spruced up
now it’s time
to rest and relax
hammock swing
or paddle a kayak
Oh, Linda, I LOVE this. Thank you for the love and encouragement:>) See you on Poetry Fridays!
This is sweet, Linda!
A bittersweet morning, Laura. Thursday mornings can never be the same, but I respect the fact that you cannot do it all; something has to go. I am so appreciative of the time you have given to this exercise, year after year and I wish you only good things ahead. Love your poem, especially the words cook and vacuum. My great-uncle was a shoe cobbler back in the days; his apron and left shoe are my prompts.
Brother, Heal Thyself
Working dawn to dusk
much left to do
pleasing others
ignoring spike in your shoe.
Thank you, Martha:>) I have so enjoyed our Thursday mornings! Oh, your poem makes me think of the cobbler who had no shoes, and I knew a construction guy whose home was always in disarray because their own household renovation projects were constantly put on hold for customers’ paying work. Your poem has such heart to it. Lovely.
I echo Linda’s words of gratitude. You do so much to encourage and build us up and have offered this weekly space to try out our wings. Thanks! You are not going on hiatus as much as you are reaching for new heights. All my best in your endeavors.
Stop and shop
Shop and talk
Talk and
vacuum?
(This image reminds me of the vacuum cleaner in Kate DiCamillo’s book Flora and Ulysses.)
Thanks, Margaret–I love the sense of silliness/confusion that that last line break brings. I haven’t read Flora and Ulysses, but it always makes me happy how frequently we are reminded of books just by looking at a photo!
I’m with Linda, though not as diligent in actually posting poems. I’ve loved the inspiration found here, as did my 3rd graders last year! Your robot poem is perfectly perfect, btw!
Thank you, Rebekah! And you can always feel free to go to https://laurasalas.com/cat-page-15-words-or-less-poems/ to find years’ worth of images to use with your students:>) Hope to see you on Poetry Fridays, which I’ve been longing to get back into more regularly!
Laura, I’m going to miss my Thursday morning activity! Thank you for giving my creative juices an outlet.
Kid’s Complaint
I’m always at
your beck and call
I clean the house,
I do it all!
Hehe–that’s how I felt as a kid. We had LOTS of chores!
Many thanks, Laura, for all of your thoughtful critiques, the many appreciative comments to encourage creative growth, and the wonderful forum you’ve built for us to appreciate and learn from each other’s poems. It’s inspiring to witness your dedication for Children’s poetry, and, while our 15 Words or Less weekly poem fun time will be on hiatus, your spirit and drive will always be with us. Thank you for that!
Hammer or Hammock?
So clearly I see
right in front of me
the tempting dichotomy
of working leisurely.
Thanks for those kind words, Suzanne! Ha! What a clever poem. Dichotomy, indeed:>)
Inhuman
There’s work to do -
No mouth to spew,
No ranting stew,
No “Howdy-do!”
From robo-crew!
By Donna JT Smith
I’m going to miss this! But sometimes there are just other things ya gotta do!
I guess that’s a plus of a robot crew–no talking back. But no companionship either, true. I like how you included the good side, the “Howdo-do!” too :>) Thanks, Donna!
I’ll miss this every Thursday, Laura! Thanks for your poetry. Happy future endeavors.…
NOT FOR ME
by Dianne Moritz
I dislike all robots,
tangled wires and knots.
I prefer connections:
humans, words, and thoughts.
Thanks, Dianne. Ooh, I like the parallelism between lines two and four. Nice!
I too will miss the Thursday morning inspiration–but I understand that none of us are Cinder-Robot! Thanks for creating this wonderful group.
Cinder-Robot
Cinder-Robot does it all–
fixes vacuums,
washes walls,
wearing stilletos
for the ball.
ha! I noticed it looked like the robot was wearing high heels. Nice touch!
I will realy mis this group on Tursdays 🙁 it hsave been a blessing in my life kept mre going thought somde prity hard moments in the years I have attended like the loss of my mom heape me become a much beater poet and allowed me to meat realy amazing writing friends how are like family to me I hope we will all still stay in tuch and have other opetunatyes toi write togather throught the fucher Than You Laura for Beleaving in me and healping me become a beater poet and pleas syat intuch I wiskm you all the besy in your fuchert writing advencers xxxxx
Jessica, you are such a creative poet! I know we’ll still cross paths here in the kidlit and Poetry Friday community. Thank you for being such a faithful visitor!
must amit I’m crying
xxxxx
poem By Jessica Bigi
Thank You Laura
for you sweep
sky-hearts of stars
felling of jars
with our words
keeper of poems
teaching grace
felling up jars