Tyger [15 Words or Less Poems]

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.

tiger face 15wol
Photo: Laura P. Salas

Hello, writer and educator friends. My life grows ever more intense (I really didn’t think that was possible), and I miss you guys!  

When I attended that drum corps show in Farmington, MN, a few weeks ago, I was inside the high school and saw this art project, where different students had each created one segment of a grid that created a tiger. I love this. It reminds me that even inside prescribed tasks, we each show our own voice and style. This image makes me think of:

  1. schizophrenia
  2. a big community mural on the side of a building
  3. William Blake’s poem, of course (though this tyger has a bit more asymmetry than symmetry, perhaps)

And here’s my first draft. 

 two paintbrushes 15wol

Blanket statement for July/August. Hope you’re having a wonderful summer. Mine is overwhelmingly busy and emotional. When you Comment, I get an email, and I will be doing my best to read every poem you guys write. But my availability over the summer to comment on each poem will be limited. I hope you’ll write because you love it and enjoy this community. Please know I value your participation, even if I am not able to respond much this month.

It’s your turn! Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS! (Title doesn’t count toward word count)

20 Responses

  1. CHANGING THE PICTURE

    Every morning
    something new
    tells me THAT’S
    what I must do.
    I desire
    impromptu.

  2. Laura I love this pic and your the poem I love your tidal

    Poem By Jessica Bigi

    Writers Block

    Jungle gyms
    of typewriter T’s
    jumble across
    blank pages
    SHUS Whisper
    A tiger lies
    Lessoning

    1. Laura I love this pic and your the poem I love your tidal

      Poem By Jessica Bigi

      Writers Block

      Jungle gyms
      of typewriter T’s
      jumble across
      blank pages
      SHUS Whisper
      A tigers lying
      Lessoning

  3. Picasso came to mind with this picture, but then something more urgent led to my poem.
    Thanks for continuing 15 WOL Laura. Hope life slows down for you soon.

    Waking, I don’t feel like me:
    confused, no personality.
    Then ahhh — my magic morning coffee.

  4. My first thought was those sliding puzzles we used to get where you put numbers in order or assembled a picture by sliding tiles… so what if when you got it put together it became real?

    sliding puzzle

    hidden
    in a jumble -
    thumbs scramble,
    assembling
    tiles tumble
    tiger’s rumble…
    trembling -
    choose
    to lose?

    by Donna JT Smith, 2016

    1. I thought about those sliding tile puzzles, too. though my poem went a different way. Love your poem- clever!

  5. Laura, wishing for you a less intense day, more peaceful moments, and soon mergence of things askew into one blissful setting for this phase in your life’s journey.

    Unity

    One alone
    two companionship
    three welcome
    then more;
    spaces filled
    pieces fit
    puzzle solved;

    CommUNITY!!!

  6. Fierce, dangerous gaze
    Cold, distant eyes
    Red-hot fire
    Cold white ice
    A tumultuous reflection

  7. I started writing about sliding jumbled tiles–then saw Donna’s poem and decided to start again. I’m raising monarch caterpillars again this year, and this is what’s happening now:

    Monarch Morning

    casting her striped skin
    for a green-and-golden case
    she reassembles the puzzle pieces

    1. Well, that’s one way to look at it! Reassembles the puzzle pieces- love it!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,547 other subscribers

Are You Looking For?

Poetry Friday posts

Classroom Connections posts

All my poetryactions

Go to my Poetry page for:

  • National Poetry Month projects through the years
  • Small Reads Roundups (poems grouped by topic)
  • Introductions to several favorite poetry forms
Tags
#waterpoemproject15 Words or Less Poems20for2030 Painless Classroom Poems50 State Poemsacrosticsactivity pagesactivity sheetALAA Leaf Can Be...Amy Ludwig VanDerwaterA Need to FeedanthologiesanthologyA Rock Can Be...art projectsaudiopoemsawardsbad newsBarbara Juster EsbensenBilly Collinsbiopoemsblog tourbookalikesbook festivalsBookSpeak!book spine poemsbook trailersbop poembyr a thoddaidcafepresscalendar poemsCamp Read-a-LotCan Be... bookscan be... poemsCapstoneCarol Varsalonacascade poemsCatherine FlynnccbcCCRA.W.3CCRA.W.4CCRA.W.5centoschapter booksCharles Waterschoral compositionschristina rossetticinquainsCLAclassified ad poemsclassroom connectionclassroom connectionsClover Kittyconferences and conventionscrown sonnetscybilsdansaDare to DreamDavid Elliottdeeper wisdom poemdefinitosdiamantesdiversitydizaindodoitsuDot DayDouglas Floriandownloadablesdrum corpse.e. cummingsekphrastic poemsepistolary poemsequation poemsessentialethereeseventsexquisite corpseFairy Tale Garage Salefamilyfibonaccifiction picture booksfinding familyfirefightersforeign editionsfound poemsfree author zoomsfree versefrom studentsgeesegeorgia heardghazalGift Taggiveawaygolden shovelgoldilocksgratitudehaikuheart of aheart of a teacherHeidi MordhorstHelen FrostHighlightshow-to poemshow to make a rainbowI Am FromI Am poemsidiomsif you want to knit some mittensIf You Were the MoonILAimagepoemsinterviewin the middle of the nightIRAIrelandIrene LathamJ. Patrick LewisJanet WongJoyce SidmanKendraKerlanKidlit Comboslailaura's board booksLaura's booksLaura's poemsLaura's readingsLaura ShovanLee Bennett HopkinsLilian MoorelimericksLinda Booth SweeneyLine Leads the WayLion of the Skylist poemslittle free librarylive writingLullaby and Kisses Sweetlyricsmadness poetrymagnipoemsmargaret simonMarilyn Singermary lee hahnmask poemsMatt Forrest EsenwineMeet My FamilyMelissa StewartMentors for Rentmentor textsmetaphorMichelle Myers LacknerMillbrookMinnesota Book Awardsmoneymoonmy reading lifemy writing processN+7naaninarrative poemsNational Poetry Month 2012 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2014 (riddle-ku)National Poetry Month 2015National Poetry Month 2016National Poetry Month 2017 (#wonderbreak)national poetry month 2018 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2020National Poetry Month 2021 (#EquationPoem)national poetry month 2022 (sticky-note poems)National Poetry Month 2023 (Digging for Poems)National Poetry Month 2024 (magnipoems)ncteNerdy Book Clubnifty newsnifty stuffNikki Grimesnonfictionnonfiction booksNonfiction Writers Dig Deepnovelsnovels in verseodesOne Minute Till BedtimeoppositifyOskar's VoyagepadletpantoumsparodiesPatreonpeacepersonalpet poemsphotopoetryphrase acrosticspicture booksplagiarismpoempicspoemspoems for two voicespoemsketchpoetic pursuitsPoetry 7poetryactionspoetry activitiesPoetry Blastpoetry booksPoetry FridayPoetry Friday AnthologiesPoetry Princessespoetry promptspoetry sistersPoetry Tips for Teachersprogressive poempublishing processpuddle songPutridquotationsraccontinosRandy Salasread-aloudreadaloudreading poetry in the classroomRebecca Kai Dotlichrecipe poemsrefugeesresearchreview copiesreviewsrevisionrhyming booksrhyming nonfictionrhyming picture booksRhyming Picture Books the Write Wayrhyming poemsRiddle-kuriddle poemsRock Can Be...Rock the Blogrondeau redoublesRudyard Kiplingsalas snippetsSCBWIschool visitsScotlandseasonssecrets of the loonSELsestinasshrinking daysskinnyskypeslice of lifesmall readssnack snooze skedaddlesnowman-coldsonnetsStampede!storm poemstorytimestorywalkstudent poemsstudent workSylvia VardellTanita Davistankatautogramteachableteacher resourcesteen/adult poemsterza rimasthankfulthank yous and referencesthe business sidethings to do iftracy nelson maurertrioletstunie munson-bensonvideosVikram MadanvillanellevillanellesWater Can Be...wealthy elementaryWe BelongWhat's InsideWhy-kuwinterwonderwonderbreakword of the yearwordplaywordsmithswork for hirewritingwriting bookswriting processwriting promptswriting the life poeticyoung authors conferencesYouTubeZapZap Clap Boomzenozentangle
Show More Show Less

Discover more from Laura Purdie Salas

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Join Laura's monthly newsletter for eductators

Get three of Laura's favorite poetry activities when you subscribe to "Small Reads."