Photo: Laura Purdie Salas
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
Here’s a little prop from our?Minnesota Brass show this season, Supernova!?It makes me think of:
1)?a shooting star
2)?a squid
3) New Year’s Eve
And here’s my?first draft:
Comet
I arc above
Stars applaud
my sparkling wake of
dust and dreams
–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:>)?
186 Responses
Parts on one of my longer poems was in my newspaper It’s a little long hope that okay I like your poem Laura
Remembering Our Independence
Out of the darkness
As tears stream down her cheeks
She live, but mourns
A million guns and bombs exploding
Standing strong our independence’s
Lady Liberty, in all her glory!
Jessica, I can see Lady Liberty holding the silver globe.
It’s a lovely sentiment, to imagine the sad thoughts of Lady Liberty!
Death and life, mourning and celebration, grieving and fireworks–lovely!
I can see why the newspaper published it. Good job.
Parts on one of my longer poems was in my newspaper It’s a little long hope that okay I like your poem Laura
Remembering Our Independence
Out of the darkness
As tears stream down her cheeks
She live, but mourns
A million guns and bombs exploding
Standing strong our independence’s
Lady Liberty, in all her glory!
Jessica, I can see Lady Liberty holding the silver globe.
It’s a lovely sentiment, to imagine the sad thoughts of Lady Liberty!
Death and life, mourning and celebration, grieving and fireworks–lovely!
I can see why the newspaper published it. Good job.
It’s for you, of course,
Tinselled hay on a stick;
Enjoy it my carousel horse!
Remember the sparkly silver hoof picture’s poem? it put me in mind of that.
Donna, I’m happy you remembered the silver shoes on the horse.
One word over, but not if I consider the slash/words as one! (Is there a term for slash/words? I’m drawing a total blank.)
All I saw was a giant fly eye and then from there I got carried away.
How Is a Fly Eye Like a 21st Century Politician?
A thousand
lenses/advisers
provide a
view totally
distorted.
Unfocused
reactions
in the
pursuit
of more.
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
This is brilliant.
I love the thousands of lenses and reflections. Your slashed “word” is okay as one in my book!
Gives new meaning to blood-thirsty politicians! I don’t think there is a term for those slash words. Not one I know of, anyway. Also, I love advisers, because in this context, it also puts me in mind of visors, which shield your eyes and block out the harsh reality of sun.
Oh, and haiku expert! I have a question for you:
Is there a place I can see public domain haiku by Basho? With translations and such, I’m not clear on what’s pd and what’s not. I’m doing a work-for-hire book on writing poetry, geared toward tween/teen girls. Very upbeat and modern. Anyway, I have to use pd poem examples, which is so tricky. But there are no permissions in the pub’s budget.
Theoretically, all Basho’s poems are PD, however, the translations may not be. I’m not sure how translations of PD poems would work legally, do you? I will email you privately later. I think I may have a possible solution.
Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of. OK, thanks! But don’t worry about spending much time on this. Just thought you might know offhand.
Oh my goodness. A fly eye. Yes, I’ve seen pictures of a fly eye and all the different lenses. Lenses — advisers, good comparison.
Paired beautifully, Donna. I like that ‘tinseled hay on a stick’.
I LOVE that you connected this with an earlier photo, too, Donna. World-creation through tiny poems:>) I love that second line.
Oooh, world creation through tiny poems! I’m going to try to not take this as a personal challenge.… But now I’m thinking…
I was kind of hoping you would! It almost feels like bits out of an early chapter book novel in verse:>)
Yes, that silvery glitter. I can see why you thought of that.
Love the image of tinselled hay on a stick–perferct treat for a carousel horse!
Love the image of tinselled hay on a stick–perfect treat for a carousel horse!
I absolutely love this!
It’s for you, of course,
Tinselled hay on a stick;
Enjoy it my carousel horse!
Remember the sparkly silver hoof picture’s poem? it put me in mind of that.
Donna, I’m happy you remembered the silver shoes on the horse.
One word over, but not if I consider the slash/words as one! (Is there a term for slash/words? I’m drawing a total blank.)
All I saw was a giant fly eye and then from there I got carried away.
How Is a Fly Eye Like a 21st Century Politician?
A thousand
lenses/advisers
provide a
view totally
distorted.
Unfocused
reactions
in the
pursuit
of more.
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
This is brilliant.
I love the thousands of lenses and reflections. Your slashed “word” is okay as one in my book!
Gives new meaning to blood-thirsty politicians! I don’t think there is a term for those slash words. Not one I know of, anyway. Also, I love advisers, because in this context, it also puts me in mind of visors, which shield your eyes and block out the harsh reality of sun.
Oh, and haiku expert! I have a question for you:
Is there a place I can see public domain haiku by Basho? With translations and such, I’m not clear on what’s pd and what’s not. I’m doing a work-for-hire book on writing poetry, geared toward tween/teen girls. Very upbeat and modern. Anyway, I have to use pd poem examples, which is so tricky. But there are no permissions in the pub’s budget.
Theoretically, all Basho’s poems are PD, however, the translations may not be. I’m not sure how translations of PD poems would work legally, do you? I will email you privately later. I think I may have a possible solution.
Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of. OK, thanks! But don’t worry about spending much time on this. Just thought you might know offhand.
Oh my goodness. A fly eye. Yes, I’ve seen pictures of a fly eye and all the different lenses. Lenses — advisers, good comparison.
Paired beautifully, Donna. I like that ‘tinseled hay on a stick’.
I LOVE that you connected this with an earlier photo, too, Donna. World-creation through tiny poems:>) I love that second line.
Oooh, world creation through tiny poems! I’m going to try to not take this as a personal challenge.… But now I’m thinking…
I was kind of hoping you would! It almost feels like bits out of an early chapter book novel in verse:>)
Yes, that silvery glitter. I can see why you thought of that.
Love the image of tinselled hay on a stick–perferct treat for a carousel horse!
Love the image of tinselled hay on a stick–perfect treat for a carousel horse!
I absolutely love this!
Good morning Laura. Shooting stars, definitely and I’m whispering the word “Christmas” lest I disturb the beauty of our August days. For some reason, Minnesota Brass prompted dancing from days gone by.
Before Dancing with the Stars
Grease, Saturday Night Fever,
Travolta, Swayze and partners,
compete for the
original
mirror
ball
trophy!
Love your poem
Thank you Jessica.
Oh, my, Martha. You and I thought of the same thing.
Mirror ball, glitter ball, disco ball, whatever it’s called.
I like the way your presented your thought.
This brings back memories. I’ve got the Grease misic in my head now.
Oh, nice to take us back to those who still dance in our memories!
Yes! Love Dirty Dancing and Grease. And Flashdance, which doesn’t fit this style, but still… These props are disco balls from a party store, with tinsel added on.
Does anyone remember “Fame”? I loved that show — along with all the other already mentioned movies!
Nice take on the glittery mirror ball trophy.
Good morning Laura. Shooting stars, definitely and I’m whispering the word “Christmas” lest I disturb the beauty of our August days. For some reason, Minnesota Brass prompted dancing from days gone by.
Before Dancing with the Stars
Grease, Saturday Night Fever,
Travolta, Swayze and partners,
compete for the
original
mirror
ball
trophy!
Love your poem
Thank you Jessica.
Oh, my, Martha. You and I thought of the same thing.
Mirror ball, glitter ball, disco ball, whatever it’s called.
I like the way your presented your thought.
This brings back memories. I’ve got the Grease misic in my head now.
Oh, nice to take us back to those who still dance in our memories!
Yes! Love Dirty Dancing and Grease. And Flashdance, which doesn’t fit this style, but still… These props are disco balls from a party store, with tinsel added on.
Does anyone remember “Fame”? I loved that show — along with all the other already mentioned movies!
Nice take on the glittery mirror ball trophy.
Hi Laura. This pic makes me think of “the day after” an evening of cutting loose!
We danced,
bare feet
on dew-soaked grass
til dawn.
Party over.
Love the detail of dew and the energy of this one.
Lovely. Maybe you danced to the Bee Gees, Beach Music, some swing?
Love the idea of the ‘after party’ all night long.
I can feel that soft grass under my toes. Lovely!
I see you also thought of dancing.
I like your take on it — the morning after.
Loved the “bare feet
on dew-soaked grass”!
Hi Laura. This pic makes me think of “the day after” an evening of cutting loose!
We danced,
bare feet
on dew-soaked grass
til dawn.
Party over.
Love the detail of dew and the energy of this one.
Lovely. Maybe you danced to the Bee Gees, Beach Music, some swing?
Love the idea of the ‘after party’ all night long.
I can feel that soft grass under my toes. Lovely!
I see you also thought of dancing.
I like your take on it — the morning after.
Loved the “bare feet
on dew-soaked grass”!
I got carried away with your title, Laura.
Miles for a Milestone
ten years
four billion miles
Rosetta slows,
circles, photographs
comet C‑G -
soon to land
Philae
Wow!
I had to find what you meant, now know about this Rosetta comet-awesome!
Yes. I, too, had to “Google” Rosetta.
I sure learn a few things on this site every Thursday.
Thanks, Ellie, for my lesson today. 🙂
I didn’t get the references and had to look them up–love learning new stuff from these poem. And I especially love the name Rosetta! So much connotation there. They did a good job coming up with that name, and I like its usage in your poem:>)
Guess I’d better get Googling with the rest!
I got carried away with your title, Laura.
Miles for a Milestone
ten years
four billion miles
Rosetta slows,
circles, photographs
comet C‑G -
soon to land
Philae
Wow!
I had to find what you meant, now know about this Rosetta comet-awesome!
Yes. I, too, had to “Google” Rosetta.
I sure learn a few things on this site every Thursday.
Thanks, Ellie, for my lesson today. 🙂
I didn’t get the references and had to look them up–love learning new stuff from these poem. And I especially love the name Rosetta! So much connotation there. They did a good job coming up with that name, and I like its usage in your poem:>)
Guess I’d better get Googling with the rest!
What magic those disco balls created for dancing.
That’s what memory this picture brought to me.
Disco Ball
We’re dancing with delight
under spinning spots of light,
whirling, twirling in the night.
Dancing seems to be a theme. I like your rhyme.
Thanks, Martha. Anything about music makes me think in rhyme.
They were wonderful, weren’t they? Nice poem of the memory.
Thanks, Linda.
Such a simple, focused moment is captured here. Love it!
Ah, the disco ball.… Even better than the blacklights ( no white cat hairs and lint to show!)
What magic those disco balls created for dancing.
That’s what memory this picture brought to me.
Disco Ball
We’re dancing with delight
under spinning spots of light,
whirling, twirling in the night.
Dancing seems to be a theme. I like your rhyme.
Thanks, Martha. Anything about music makes me think in rhyme.
They were wonderful, weren’t they? Nice poem of the memory.
Thanks, Linda.
Such a simple, focused moment is captured here. Love it!
Ah, the disco ball.… Even better than the blacklights ( no white cat hairs and lint to show!)
Storm
I whirl, twirl,
hands full of lightning,
silvery girl,
night sky brightening.
?Kate Coombs
I like the idea of that ‘silvery girl’.
Fantastic imagery! I love this mask poem. You ARE a silvery girl with all your bright words!
Love the image of
“hands full of lightning”!
Storm
I whirl, twirl,
hands full of lightning,
silvery girl,
night sky brightening.
?Kate Coombs
I like the idea of that ‘silvery girl’.
Fantastic imagery! I love this mask poem. You ARE a silvery girl with all your bright words!
Love the image of
“hands full of lightning”!
P.S. My alternate title was “Fireworks”!
I think “Storm” is perfect for it.
Great image.
P.S. My alternate title was “Fireworks”!
I think “Storm” is perfect for it.
Great image.
This made me think of different things, Laura, especially that the scepter was on the ground! Perhaps I should have thought more about the title? Love your ‘sparkling wake’.
Spoiled
Princess Want-a-lot
stomped with a frown,
threw down her scepter,
pranced around town!
Linda Baie ? All Rights Reserved
Ha, ha. I love this.
Princess Want-a-lot.
Could turn into a children’s rhyming picture book.
Heehee–this made me think of a scene from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!
I really smiled when I read Princess-Want-a-lot. I refer to myself in similar terms: a wannabee writer, wannabee poet, wannabeequilter, etc. I shall refrain from throwing things!
Hahaha! Adorable! I can just image her as I read this, too.
Love this, Linda! Perfect name.
What a fun poem!
This made me think of different things, Laura, especially that the scepter was on the ground! Perhaps I should have thought more about the title? Love your ‘sparkling wake’.
Spoiled
Princess Want-a-lot
stomped with a frown,
threw down her scepter,
pranced around town!
Linda Baie ? All Rights Reserved
Ha, ha. I love this.
Princess Want-a-lot.
Could turn into a children’s rhyming picture book.
Heehee–this made me think of a scene from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!
I really smiled when I read Princess-Want-a-lot. I refer to myself in similar terms: a wannabee writer, wannabee poet, wannabeequilter, etc. I shall refrain from throwing things!
Hahaha! Adorable! I can just image her as I read this, too.
Love this, Linda! Perfect name.
What a fun poem!
Shooting star fell to earth
Not sure of its celestial worth
Found
It liked ground
Hey, Amelia! I like this–“bloom where you are planted.” I always think that’s a good approach to finding happiness.
I’m glad it ended up liking the ground. Too bad it couldn’t find some worth up there shining in the sky, though!
This is so fun to say, and a bit of a surprise at the end. I love it because it really provokes thought and inquiry.
Shooting star fell to earth
Not sure of its celestial worth
Found
It liked ground
Hey, Amelia! I like this–“bloom where you are planted.” I always think that’s a good approach to finding happiness.
I’m glad it ended up liking the ground. Too bad it couldn’t find some worth up there shining in the sky, though!
This is so fun to say, and a bit of a surprise at the end. I love it because it really provokes thought and inquiry.
Love all the poems here — really good work! I forgot to post last week’s– sigh… oh well…
For this I immediately thought of a dance too:
The dance is over.
Memories of good times past
emerge ruthlessly
from idle minds.
Oooh, that word “ruthlessly” totally turns this poem–love it!
Your little fun exercise is awesome — you can tell I am not a kid’s writer though — lol
That’s perfectly fine! I like to keep the poem contributions clean, since teachers use them–but I’m a big fan of poems with a little knife to them!
Love all the poems here — really good work! I forgot to post last week’s– sigh… oh well…
For this I immediately thought of a dance too:
The dance is over.
Memories of good times past
emerge ruthlessly
from idle minds.
Oooh, that word “ruthlessly” totally turns this poem–love it!
Your little fun exercise is awesome — you can tell I am not a kid’s writer though — lol
That’s perfectly fine! I like to keep the poem contributions clean, since teachers use them–but I’m a big fan of poems with a little knife to them!
Woodpeckers, Beware!
Streamers shimmy
beneath the roof,
set to scare birds away.
Downy drums
the breezy beat.
Ha! I know people use lots of stuff to scare away the woodpeckers. Now I’m picturing this as a shiny scarecrow! Love those last two lines.
Woodpeckers, Beware!
Streamers shimmy
beneath the roof,
set to scare birds away.
Downy drums
the breezy beat.
Ha! I know people use lots of stuff to scare away the woodpeckers. Now I’m picturing this as a shiny scarecrow! Love those last two lines.
My Royal Haiku
Spun mirrored scepter
Polishes the everyday
Releasing my queen.
Hi Karen! That second line is just lovely! And the first line is interesting–I have to say it slowly, savor it almost…
My Royal Haiku
Spun mirrored scepter
Polishes the everyday
Releasing my queen.
Hi Karen! That second line is just lovely! And the first line is interesting–I have to say it slowly, savor it almost…
Marine
military dress
sword raised
in an arch
you to walk under
at your wedding.
Love the alliteration, Joy!
Marine
military dress
sword raised
in an arch
you to walk under
at your wedding.
Love the alliteration, Joy!
Boogie-Oogie Baton
by Shar Mohr
Leisure suit leader
in a platform promenade.
Let’s ?Do the Hustle!?
It’s a disco parade!
Hehehehe–oh, dear! I’m not big on parades, but I think I’d get a laugh out of this one!
Boogie-Oogie Baton
by Shar Mohr
Leisure suit leader
in a platform promenade.
Let’s ?Do the Hustle!?
It’s a disco parade!
Hehehehe–oh, dear! I’m not big on parades, but I think I’d get a laugh out of this one!
Such a fun image to contemplate! An object at rest awaiting its moment of glory in the next performance. Made me think about the various lulls we hit between life’s sparkly bits. Here’s what I came up with:
Dream held high,
a shiny thrill.
Dropped for now,
…but sparkly still.
Love the message of holding onto dreams.
Yes! This immediately made me think of all my barely started manuscripts waiting for their shining moment of attention–someday!
Such a fun image to contemplate! An object at rest awaiting its moment of glory in the next performance. Made me think about the various lulls we hit between life’s sparkly bits. Here’s what I came up with:
Dream held high,
a shiny thrill.
Dropped for now,
…but sparkly still.
Love the message of holding onto dreams.
Yes! This immediately made me think of all my barely started manuscripts waiting for their shining moment of attention–someday!
Unlived Lives
Streamers stream
and dreamers dream
Of glitter, glamour
a panorama of
perfect scenes
of might-have-beens.
~~Barbara J. Turner
This one really touches me, Barbara, because it’s a theme I think about a lot–all the possibilities. I love the flow of this.
Unlived Lives
Streamers stream
and dreamers dream
Of glitter, glamour
a panorama of
perfect scenes
of might-have-beens.
~~Barbara J. Turner
This one really touches me, Barbara, because it’s a theme I think about a lot–all the possibilities. I love the flow of this.
I thought of a drum major’s baton.
Parade
Tuba, trumpet saxophone,
oboe, cymbals, xylophone.
Stepping, striding?
keeping beat.
Music marching down the street.
Penny, that’s delightful! Fun and zippy.
What a neat little compact package!
Yes, I can see and hear it!
I thought of a drum major’s baton.
Parade
Tuba, trumpet saxophone,
oboe, cymbals, xylophone.
Stepping, striding?
keeping beat.
Music marching down the street.
Penny, that’s delightful! Fun and zippy.
What a neat little compact package!
Yes, I can see and hear it!
STATE FAIR BAND DAY
Hey, everyone,
our band won!
Amid gleam and glitter
the news spread by Twitter.
Love the modern take! Oh, how State Fairs have changed:>)
STATE FAIR BAND DAY
Hey, everyone,
our band won!
Amid gleam and glitter
the news spread by Twitter.
Love the modern take! Oh, how State Fairs have changed:>)
Hard to get the idea of a comet out of my mind now! I tried to take a different route…
That Night We Danced
?every song
the band played
?til the lights blew out
and the disco ball
fell.
- ? 2014 Matt Forrest Esenwine
I love how the title and specifically the word “That” lets you feel the significance of the rest of the poem.
Hard to get the idea of a comet out of my mind now! I tried to take a different route…
That Night We Danced
?every song
the band played
?til the lights blew out
and the disco ball
fell.
- ? 2014 Matt Forrest Esenwine
I love how the title and specifically the word “That” lets you feel the significance of the rest of the poem.
WALL FLOWER
As multi-colored
Streams of light paintbrush
Our gymnasium
I dive into my shell.
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.
WALL FLOWER
As multi-colored
Streams of light paintbrush
Our gymnasium
I dive into my shell.
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.