Straws [15 words or less poems]

Photo: Laura Purdie Salas

Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!

15WOLs

Hi, y’all! It’s great to be back after a VERY busy and social Poetry Month! Here’s some commissioned art outside the Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin. I believe our tour guide said these are supposed to represent flowers. Though I could be remembering that wrong:>)? This image makes me think of:

1) Slurpees
2) Honey, I Shrunk the Kids!
3) walking on (and falling off of) stilts

And here’s my?first draft.

Thirsty

 

Now it’s your turn! Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS!??(Title doesn’t count toward word count:>)

 

104 Responses

  1. I think my daddy looks so weird
    when he shaves off his winter beard.

    1. brings back good memories of when my day would shave and old spice after shave that he always used 🙂

  2. I think my daddy looks so weird
    when he shaves off his winter beard.

    1. brings back good memories of when my day would shave and old spice after shave that he always used 🙂

  3. Inhale through the straws
    Exhale through the clouds
    Stirring cool breezes
    on hot summer days.

    1. wonderful I love the first two lines then how the last two lines comment in a mediation

    2. Linda, remove the two THEs in the first and second lines and you have a great, tight little poem. I really like your interpretation.

  4. Inhale through the straws
    Exhale through the clouds
    Stirring cool breezes
    on hot summer days.

    1. wonderful I love the first two lines then how the last two lines comment in a mediation

    2. Linda, remove the two THEs in the first and second lines and you have a great, tight little poem. I really like your interpretation.

  5. I Love your poem I love this line one raindrop at a time

    1 says one gull
    to the others
    are these fries
    mad at us

    2. a maize you say
    too walk across sky

    3. syarling

    1. I Love your poem I love this line one raindrop at a time
      I hope that it is okay I broke this down into 4 smaller poems

      1 says one gull
      to the others
      are these fries
      mad at us

      2. a maize you say
      too walk across sky

      3. swirling straw slides
      from sky to ocean

      4. skyscraper fries
      says the other gulls
      better stay far away
      fly-fly-fly

  6. I Love your poem I love this line one raindrop at a time

    1 says one gull
    to the others
    are these fries
    mad at us

    2. a maize you say
    too walk across sky

    3. syarling

    1. I Love your poem I love this line one raindrop at a time
      I hop that it is okay I broke this down into 4 smaller poems

      1 says one gull
      to the others
      are these fries
      mad at us

      2. a maize you say
      too walk across sky

      3. swirling straw slides
      from sky to ocean

      4. skyscraper fries
      says the other gulls
      better stay far away
      fly-fly-fly

  7. Giant’s Snorkels

    Reaching up
    Breathing in
    A whirlpool of air
    Smelling- ICK!! Was that a BIRD???

    1. Eeeeewww! Very sensory. I love the contrast between that lovely third line, and then the terrible realization of the fourth!

  8. Giant’s Snorkels

    Reaching up
    Breathing in
    A whirlpool of air
    Smelling- ICK!! Was that a BIRD???

    1. Eeeeewww! Very sensory. I love the contrast between that lovely third line, and then the terrible realization of the fourth!

  9. make them taller
    paint them red
    still the gulls
    will fight
    for a post

    Yours is lovely, Laura.

    1. Thanks, Ellie. And ha! I took a pic of a gull perched atop a sculpture of a tree trunk last week. I like perching birds–too bad they leave messes so that cities now try to figure out how to deter them. I like the simplicity of your poem…makes it feel like a truth handed down for eons:>)

  10. make them taller
    paint them red
    still the gulls
    will fight
    for a post

    Yours is lovely, Laura.

    1. Thanks, Ellie. And ha! I took a pic of a gull perched atop a sculpture of a tree trunk last week. I like perching birds–too bad they leave messes so that cities now try to figure out how to deter them. I like the simplicity of your poem…makes it feel like a truth handed down for eons:>)

    1. Donna, similar thoughts this morning. Nice rhythm and rhyme.

    2. That’s awesome, Donna. Noodles–such a natural connection, but I didn’t make it until your poem.

    1. Donna, similar thoughts this morning. Nice rhythm and rhyme.

    2. That’s awesome, Donna. Noodles–such a natural connection, but I didn’t make it until your poem.

  11. River Rentals

    “All sizes; they bend and float”
    gulls hawk their wares
    to anyone who dares.

    Laura, your thoughts were excellent. Flowers you say! 😉 I thought giant Pick-Up Stix, but opted to pay homage to the little guys on the pier.

    1. A gull marketplace–squawk! Love this, Martha. Oh, pickup stix–how I loved that game!

    2. All I could see were cute little gulls holding the floating noodles up high — just made me laugh when I saw the picture!

  12. River Rentals

    “All sizes; they bend and float”
    gulls hawk their wares
    to anyone who dares.

    Laura, your thoughts were excellent. Flowers you say! 😉 I thought giant Pick-Up Stix, but opted to pay homage to the little guys on the pier.

    1. A gull marketplace–squawk! Love this, Martha. Oh, pickup stix–how I loved that game!

    2. All I could see were cute little gulls holding the floating noodles up high — just made me laugh when I saw the picture!

  13. Grand Canal Theater

    Sticks of light
    glow at night.
    Lead the way
    to see the play.

    1. Very appropriate Pat. The first two lines are very descriptive.

      1. Thanks, Laura. No, I haven’t actually seen them, except in online images.
        I saw pictures of them lit along with lights from the theater. The whole effect was beautiful and surreal.

        1. Nifty–I bet it is beautiful at night! In broad daylight, it’s interesting, but not all that lovely (to me).

  14. Grand Canal Theater

    Sticks of light
    glow at night.
    Lead the way
    to see the play.

    1. Very appropriate Pat. The first two lines are very descriptive.

      1. Thanks, Laura. No, I haven’t actually seen them, except in online images.
        I saw pictures of them lit along with lights from the theater. The whole effect was beautiful and surreal.

        1. Nifty–I bet it is beautiful at night! In broad daylight, it’s interesting, but not all that lovely (to me).

    1. love the first 3 lines reminds me of the pound not far from weir I live

    2. Kate, this is the best image! I read it once and it’s a beautiful nature scene. Then I read it again, and it’s ducks waving their light batons to get their silly goose friends safe on the runway. I love when the 15WOL poems work with or without the image!

    1. love the first 3 lines reminds me of the pound not far from weir I live

    2. Kate, this is the best image! I read it once and it’s a beautiful nature scene. Then I read it again, and it’s ducks waving their light batons to get their silly goose friends safe on the runway. I love when the 15WOL poems work with or without the image!

  15. I Envision

    mashes of
    of giant sailing ships
    cures of gulls
    search for crumbs
    tinny exec’s
    mapping seaside
    treasures

    poem by Jessica Bigi

  16. I Envision

    mashes of
    of giant sailing ships
    cures of gulls
    search for crumbs
    tinny exec’s
    mapping seaside
    treasures

    poem by Jessica Bigi

    1. Oh, this is nice, Joy. the first three lines set the image, and the final two make it connect, give me meaning. Lovely:>)

    1. Oh, this is nice, Joy. the first three lines set the image, and the final two make it connect, give me meaning. Lovely:>)

    1. Bookmarking! Fabulous–I love that these ungainly red sticks (ok, to me, they’re an interesting novelty, but definitely not beautiful) are just a marker to highlight and make you appreciate a day, a moment, the sky…

    1. Bookmarking! Fabulous–I love that these ungainly red sticks (ok, to me, they’re an interesting novelty, but definitely not beautiful) are just a marker to highlight and make you appreciate a day, a moment, the sky…

  17. Rehab
    ‑Pamela Ross

    You can
    blow
    down
    Your house
    Of
    Straws
    I can
    build
    Up
    My life
    Again

    1. I love the form of this on the page, Pamela, and how the one-syllable words are so stark and alone. That last word has extra weight for me, that way. Beautiful. AND a Three Little Pigs allusion, too? Score:>)

      1. Huff and puff, I’ve lost my way in your neighborhood of late. Forgive me. It’s been a roller coaster year. Sometimes I forget my priorities. You are one of them. Poetry is another.

        Thanks and love. Your words move ‑me- to write.

        1. Pamela, I often feel the same way–especially about my online friends and writing community. Life takes over, I lose track, and suddenly–months have passed. The lovely thing about it is that poetry and online friends are still there when you’re able to stop back by. Miss you! Hope all is well? I’m rather hopeless at keeping up with people’s lives on Facebook. Your daughter’s at UW-Madison, right?

          1. Thank you for the sweet note, Laura. You made me smile (and made me feel less intrusive by welcoming me back to your page without hesitation).

            All is well
            although
            There’s so much ‑all-
            In my life
            Over-focused, clarity fuzzy
            That I require
            Mental fresh air

            Yes, the little one finishes her second year
            At U of Wisconsin this month

            Poor child. She is off to Florence, Italy
            In the first week of June.
            Away for a month.
            Studying, writing, performing in a play
            Through the college.

            Life’s rough. 😉

            Hope you and yours are happy and knock on wood healthy. xox

          2. Oh my, how she suffers. “Mental fresh air” — that’s a great way to put it, and you should never feel guilty about grabbing it however you can. Always happy to see you:>) And we’re all doing relatively well, thanks! Younger daughter is home after 6 months in Scotland/India. But she’s hoping to go back for TWO YEARS. Ack. But she has to do what is right and important for her, and I’m trying really hard to be okay with that:>) Everyone else is chugging along!

  18. Rehab
    ‑Pamela Ross

    You can
    blow
    down
    Your house
    Of
    Straws
    I can
    build
    Up
    My life
    Again

    1. I love the form of this on the page, Pamela, and how the one-syllable words are so stark and alone. That last word has extra weight for me, that way. Beautiful. AND a Three Little Pigs allusion, too? Score:>)

      1. Huff and puff, I’ve lost my way in your neighborhood of late. Forgive me. It’s been a roller coaster year. Sometimes I forget my priorities. You are one of them. Poetry is another.

        Thanks and love. Your words move ‑me- to write.

        1. Pamela, I often feel the same way–especially about my online friends and writing community. Life takes over, I lose track, and suddenly–months have passed. The lovely thing about it is that poetry and online friends are still there when you’re able to stop back by. Miss you! Hope all is well? I’m rather hopeless at keeping up with people’s lives on Facebook. Your daughter’s at UW-Madison, right?

          1. Thank you for the sweet note, Laura. You made me smile (and made me feel less intrusive by welcoming me back to your page without hesitation).

            All is well
            although
            There’s so much ‑all-
            In my life
            Over-focused, clarity fuzzy
            That I require
            Mental fresh air

            Yes, the little one finishes her second year
            At U of Wisconsin this month

            Poor child. She is off to Florence, Italy
            In the first week of June.
            Away for a month.
            Studying, writing, performing in a play
            Through the college.

            Life’s rough. 😉

            Hope you and yours are happy and knock on wood healthy. xox

          2. Oh my, how she suffers. “Mental fresh air” — that’s a great way to put it, and you should never feel guilty about grabbing it however you can. Always happy to see you:>) And we’re all doing relatively well, thanks! Younger daughter is home after 6 months in Scotland/India. But she’s hoping to go back for TWO YEARS. Ack. But she has to do what is right and important for her, and I’m trying really hard to be okay with that:>) Everyone else is chugging along!

  19. *It’s 20 words but I like it.*

    LABYRINTH
    Swinging of stalks,
    Vision, blurry,
    Inside voice screams,
    ?Hurry, hurry!?
    Dashing, crashing
    In a daze,
    Pacing, racing
    Through this maze.

    © Charles Waters 2015 all rights reserved.

  20. *It’s 20 words but I like it.*

    LABYRINTH
    Swinging of stalks,
    Vision, blurry,
    Inside voice screams,
    ?Hurry, hurry!?
    Dashing, crashing
    In a daze,
    Pacing, racing
    Through this maze.

    © Charles Waters 2015 all rights reserved.

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