Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
Usually, I post my own pics, but it’s almost Halloween, and I like this kinda creepy hand picture. This image makes me think of:
1) a scary funhouse
2) a cross between a demon and a bull
3) shadow puppets
And here’s my?first draft.
Camping in Autumn
Wind shrieks
Nylon rustles
Lightning’s flashlight
reveals creatures
hunting
right outside
my tent
–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:>)?
162 Responses
It’s from the depths
It’s coming for me
“What do you WANT??”
“Bring me candy!!”
Love “Lightning’s flashlight”- excellent poem, Ms. Salas!! Happy Halloween to everyone 🙂
Thanks, Amelia. I really like how menacing you make this unidentified being sound with “from the depths” and “coming for me.” And then the contrast with the demand for candy:>)
I love the ending
Like others, a wonderful ‘turning’ at the end. Happy Halloween to you, too.
Oh! For a second I thought you were talking about me and my kids. 😉
It’s from the depths
It’s coming for me
“What do you WANT??”
“Bring me candy!!”
Love “Lightning’s flashlight”- excellent poem, Ms. Salas!! Happy Halloween to everyone 🙂
Thanks, Amelia. I really like how menacing you make this unidentified being sound with “from the depths” and “coming for me.” And then the contrast with the demand for candy:>)
I love the ending
Like others, a wonderful ‘turning’ at the end. Happy Halloween to you, too.
Oh! For a second I thought you were talking about me and my kids. 😉
Loved your poem. Not big on Halloween, so.…
Holding Hands
Together forever
We’ve traveled so far
We mirror each other
A love beyond par
Love the “mirror each other,” Donna! Nicely played.
love the title and 3line
Always wonderful to see the different ideas everyone has. Sweet, Donna.
Lovely, Donna. I like that you gave us another perspective to think about.
Loved your poem. Not big on Halloween, so.…
Holding Hands
Together forever
We’ve traveled so far
We mirror each other
A love beyond par
Love the “mirror each other,” Donna! Nicely played.
love the title and 3line
Always wonderful to see the different ideas everyone has. Sweet, Donna.
Lovely, Donna. I like that you gave us another perspective to think about.
The Hand-Held Mirror
I look, I see
staring back at me
image of infidelity.
Chocolate meant for kids.
Ooooooooohhhhhhhh. That candy is for the kids? Oops!
Wonderful poem
Like the 3line
Connecting to the candy stash is funny, “just one more” comes to mind. Terrific turning on that last line, Martha.
Ha! This is great, Martha. Funny enough, I included a mirror in my 15WOL today too.
The Hand-Held Mirror
I look, I see
staring back at me
image of infidelity.
Chocolate meant for kids.
Ooooooooohhhhhhhh. That candy is for the kids? Oops!
Wonderful poem
Like the 3line
Connecting to the candy stash is funny, “just one more” comes to mind. Terrific turning on that last line, Martha.
Ha! This is great, Martha. Funny enough, I included a mirror in my 15WOL today too.
Queen?sssssss
frosty breath
shadows cast
frozen beneath sea
a oak tree
a slipper
dreaming
Poem By Jessica Bigi
I love “frosty breath.” Beautiful!
I love that you saw a queen. Imagination is terrific!
Nicely done, Jessica. I love the dream-like quality.
Queen?sssssss
frosty breath
shadows cast
frozen beneath sea
a oak tree
a slipper
dreaming
Poem By Jessica Bigi
I love “frosty breath.” Beautiful!
I love that you saw a queen. Imagination is terrific!
Nicely done, Jessica. I love the dream-like quality.
Sorry, but that photo creeped me out, so, I’ve gone in the opposite direction.
This Many!
Too young
to count,
too young
to convincingly mimic,
the perfect age
to manipulate
aunties.
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
Love your title, Diane. Totally sets the stage for the poem (and brings back memories:>)
You captured it exactly, Diane, & Laura’s right, the title introduces it beautifully.
Ah, those children got into the green chalk though, didn’t they! Well done, Diane.
Sorry, but that photo creeped me out, so, I’ve gone in the opposite direction.
This Many!
Too young
to count,
too young
to convincingly mimic,
the perfect age
to manipulate
aunties.
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
Love your title, Diane. Totally sets the stage for the poem (and brings back memories:>)
You captured it exactly, Diane, & Laura’s right, the title introduces it beautifully.
Ah, those children got into the green chalk though, didn’t they! Well done, Diane.
I’ve missed 15 Words! I always read but never write anymore. I vow to change that! 🙂
Laura, I like how so often your poems go off in a different direction than your list of three images, like this one does. Just goes to show the meandering thought process that so often goes into writing poetry!
Appearances
You see a beast,
a brute
who’s flawed.
Come closer, beauty –
I’m de-
clawed.
And you went somewhere different, too, Renee. That line “Come closer, Beauty” is scary!
Awh that’s lovely Renee.
Terrific, Ren?e! Love that twist at the end.
I’m with you. I’m haven’t been consistent about participating in 15WOL, but I’m always glad when I do.
Hope you keep your vow, Renee. The entire story of Beauty and the Beast in 13-words–and it rhymes!
Nice! Makes one wonder what (or who) the beast is…
Aw, that is so lovely, Renee. And welcome back:>) I love the rhyme of flawed and declawed.
I’ve missed 15 Words! I always read but never write anymore. I vow to change that! 🙂
Laura, I like how so often your poems go off in a different direction than your list of three images, like this one does. Just goes to show the meandering thought process that so often goes into writing poetry!
Appearances
You see a beast,
a brute
who’s flawed.
Come closer, beauty –
I’m de-
clawed.
And you went somewhere different, too, Renee. That line “Come closer, Beauty” is scary!
Awh that’s lovely Renee.
Terrific, Ren?e! Love that twist at the end.
I’m with you. I’m haven’t been consistent about participating in 15WOL, but I’m always glad when I do.
Hope you keep your vow, Renee. The entire story of Beauty and the Beast in 13-words–and it rhymes!
Nice! Makes one wonder what (or who) the beast is…
Aw, that is so lovely, Renee. And welcome back:>) I love the rhyme of flawed and declawed.
I love “lightning’s flashlight”, have been in a tent with a storm like that-scary! What a picture!
Anything Can Happen On Halloween!
Halloween night:
Imagination morphed
my hands held tight.
Monster appeared.
What a fright!
Linda Baie ?All Rights Reserved
wakes me think of a haunted house or woods wonderful
I love this Linda because it could be from a victim’s pov or a witch’s.
Great job, Linda! I love how you incorporated the image so specifically in these lines: Imagination morphed
my hands held tight.
Love the imagination morphed…into a monster! That pretty much sums up Halloween (except for the candy part.…)
Thanks, Linda! I especially like your second line. EVERYTHING seems to morph on a scary night:>)
I love “lightning’s flashlight”, have been in a tent with a storm like that-scary! What a picture!
Anything Can Happen On Halloween!
Halloween night:
Imagination morphed
my hands held tight.
Monster appeared.
What a fright!
Linda Baie ?All Rights Reserved
wakes me think of a haunted house or woods wonderful
I love this Linda because it could be from a victim’s pov or a witch’s.
Great job, Linda! I love how you incorporated the image so specifically in these lines: Imagination morphed
my hands held tight.
Love the imagination morphed…into a monster! That pretty much sums up Halloween (except for the candy part.…)
Thanks, Linda! I especially like your second line. EVERYTHING seems to morph on a scary night:>)
Fun suspenseful poem, Laura!
Lucy counted the fingers on the side of the tent.
“That can’t be human.’
Run!
Whoa. I think you should write slasher scripts, Catherine. Love it!
Love the idea, Catherine, & the satisfying, but scary end.
I agree with Lucy’s conclusion!
I love the leap your reader needs to make here–wonderful!
Fun suspenseful poem, Laura!
Lucy counted the fingers on the side of the tent.
“That can’t be human.’
Run!
Whoa. I think you should write slasher scripts, Catherine. Love it!
Love the idea, Catherine, & the satisfying, but scary end.
I agree with Lucy’s conclusion!
I love the leap your reader needs to make here–wonderful!
I can’t see the image, so I borrowed some words from others.
Halloween Night
Hands tight
hold a flashlight–
a beast–
frosty breath,
shadows cast.
Then
a candy feast.
Voila! A found poem. Well done, Margaret… especially without seeing the image!
Beautifully done. I’ll see if I can send the image via e‑mail.
Wonderful love how you used words from other poems thanks you
You put those borrowed words to good use, Margaret! Love the change in mood in such a few words.
I love the moment-to-moment flash of images here! And creating a found poem out of the others=brilliant!
I can’t see the image, so I borrowed some words from others.
Halloween Night
Hands tight
hold a flashlight–
a beast–
frosty breath,
shadows cast.
Then
a candy feast.
Voila! A found poem. Well done, Margaret… especially without seeing the image!
Beautifully done. I’ll see if I can send the image via e‑mail.
Wonderful love how you used words from other poems thanks you
You put those borrowed words to good use, Margaret! Love the change in mood in such a few words.
I love the moment-to-moment flash of images here! And creating a found poem out of the others=brilliant!
I sure hope those creatures hunting outside your tent aren’t zombies, Laura!
OGRE PRINCE
The crown I wear
belongs to those who see it
in their mirrors.
? Michelle Heidenrich Barnes. All rights reserved.
Love that ‘mirror’ idea, Michelle. What’s ‘not’ seen is even more frightful!
Last week’s Prairie Home Companion (a re-run, I think) had people who didn’t show up in the mirror. Your idea is equally creepy!
Of course they are–what else would they be:>) I’m intrigued by this, Michelle. I love the mood it sets up–is it an allusion to a particular fairy tale?
Nope, just my warped imagination. 😉
Actually it was inspired more by all the human ogres there are in the world… or maybe I’ve just been watching too many negative political ads.
Ah…makes sense. I avoid those ads at all costs. In fact, I have to read up this w/e to figure out who I’m going to vote for, because I haven’t followed anything.
I sure hope those creatures hunting outside your tent aren’t zombies, Laura!
OGRE PRINCE
The crown I wear
belongs to those who see it
in their mirrors.
? Michelle Heidenrich Barnes. All rights reserved.
Love that ‘mirror’ idea, Michelle. What’s ‘not’ seen is even more frightful!
Last week’s Prairie Home Companion (a re-run, I think) had people who didn’t show up in the mirror. Your idea is equally creepy!
Of course they are–what else would they be:>) I’m intrigued by this, Michelle. I love the mood it sets up–is it an allusion to a particular fairy tale?
Nope, just my warped imagination. 😉
Actually it was inspired more by all the human ogres there are in the world… or maybe I’ve just been watching too many negative political ads.
Ah…makes sense. I avoid those ads at all costs. In fact, I have to read up this w/e to figure out who I’m going to vote for, because I haven’t followed anything.
I’m aghast! Appalled and freaked out!
Also intrigued.….
What’s hid-
ing
behind it, what
wretched
thing?
Oh, terrific! I never thought about what’s behind-eek!
Is that a modified zeno I detect, Kristi???
I like that you focused on what’s hiding behind those hands… I thought about that as well, but ended up with something a little more abstract.
Love the question at the end, leaving the reader to imagine the terror!
Peek-a-boo! Hehe–love the drama of your opening.
I’m aghast! Appalled and freaked out!
Also intrigued.….
What’s hid-
ing
behind it, what
wretched
thing?
Oh, terrific! I never thought about what’s behind-eek!
Is that a modified zeno I detect, Kristi???
I like that you focused on what’s hiding behind those hands… I thought about that as well, but ended up with something a little more abstract.
Love the question at the end, leaving the reader to imagine the terror!
Peek-a-boo! Hehe–love the drama of your opening.
What a delightfully creepy photo, Laura! And I love the lightning’s flashlight and the horror of your final line.
Halloween Romance
Trembling hands
mask Ogre’s face–
a stifled growl
a wild embrace–
our heartbeats race.
Ooooh…monster love! Fabulous–love “stifled” and “wild.”
Love it!
Love the story idea, then the response, Buffy. I imagine this old-time theater audience, holding its breath…
Oh my! Shrek and Fiona do know how to tango, don’t they! This is terrifyingly good, Buffy.
What a delightfully creepy photo, Laura! And I love the lightning’s flashlight and the horror of your final line.
Halloween Romance
Trembling hands
mask Ogre’s face–
a stifled growl
a wild embrace–
our heartbeats race.
Ooooh…monster love! Fabulous–love “stifled” and “wild.”
Love it!
Love the story idea, then the response, Buffy. I imagine this old-time theater audience, holding its breath…
Oh my! Shrek and Fiona do know how to tango, don’t they! This is terrifyingly good, Buffy.
BEWARE BEHIND YOU!
His back is turned,
he’s unaware
that I am laughing
as his hair!
Oops., “AT his hair!”
Cindy, don’t you know to NEVER laugh at a monster’s hair (or a teen’s hair). You are just inviting trouble:>)
Very funny take on the picture.
BEWARE BEHIND YOU!
His back is turned,
he’s unaware
that I am laughing
as his hair!
Oops., “AT his hair!”
Cindy, don’t you know to NEVER laugh at a monster’s hair (or a teen’s hair). You are just inviting trouble:>)
Very funny take on the picture.
Wow, a bunch of really good ones today, Laura — love yours, with “lightning’s flashlight!” Here’s mine — going off in a different direction again. (And it’s 15, if you count the compound noun as one word!)
SATAN TO A VISITOR, BEFORE THE DESCENT
A life of evil,
and now you?ve died?
Well, get ready for
a white-knuckle ride!
- ? 2014, Matt Forrest Esenwine
It does look like a crinkled leaf I went and looked at the pic again wonderful poem
I read it ronge life not leaf
Oh, the thoughts that are running through that person’s head, Matt. I hear an endless & terrible laugh after the words…
Wow, a bunch of really good ones today, Laura — love yours, with “lightning’s flashlight!” Here’s mine — going off in a different direction again. (And it’s 15, if you count the compound noun as one word!)
SATAN TO A VISITOR, BEFORE THE DESCENT
A life of evil,
and now you?ve died?
Well, get ready for
a white-knuckle ride!
- ? 2014, Matt Forrest Esenwine
It does look like a crinkled leaf I went and looked at the pic again wonderful poem
I read it ronge life not leaf
Oh, the thoughts that are running through that person’s head, Matt. I hear an endless & terrible laugh after the words…
Flee demon in the mirror!
Hiding in our thoughts,
Getting nearer…
Heart beating,
Uncorrupted fear
Happy Halloween everyone! Some really lovely poems on here.
Welcome, Dalton–wow, you packed a lot into 15 words–the rhythm and sounds of those last three lines feel so much longer (in a good way, I mean). Happy Halloween!
Flee demon in the mirror!
Hiding in our thoughts,
Getting nearer…
Heart beating,
Uncorrupted fear
Happy Halloween everyone! Some really lovely poems on here.
Welcome, Dalton–wow, you packed a lot into 15 words–the rhythm and sounds of those last three lines feel so much longer (in a good way, I mean). Happy Halloween!
Fall Sky
orogeny of leaves
shadows orang-flamed Cassel’s
across yellow paper moon
orang wings how
orang square teeth
boooooooo
poem by Jessica Bigi
Oh, that would be “origami,” Jessica. Love that phrase–origami of leaves!
Fall Sky
orogeny of leaves
shadows orang-flamed Cassel’s
across yellow paper moon
orang wings how
orang square teeth
boooooooo
poem by Jessica Bigi
Oh, that would be “origami,” Jessica. Love that phrase–origami of leaves!
Not shore if I got the first word right( chines paper folding)
Not shore if I got the first word right( chines paper folding)
Oops! Forgot yesterday. Lots of lovely, creepy, and not-so-creepy poems here! Note my traditional suspicion of the sinister hand…
Hands
Hand on the left,
hand on the right.
One made of shadows,
the other sunlight.
?Kate Coombs
Ooh, I had forgotten about left-handedness being considered sinister. What an elegant and slightly spooky poem:>)
Oops! Forgot yesterday. Lots of lovely, creepy, and not-so-creepy poems here! Note my traditional suspicion of the sinister hand…
Hands
Hand on the left,
hand on the right.
One made of shadows,
the other sunlight.
?Kate Coombs
Ooh, I had forgotten about left-handedness being considered sinister. What an elegant and slightly spooky poem:>)
HO– USE OF DARKNESS
Skeletal tips graze my neck,
Harsh sounds whisper,
?You will never leave.?
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.
HO– USE OF DARKNESS
Skeletal tips graze my neck,
Harsh sounds whisper,
?You will never leave.?
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.