Hands [15 words or less]


Photo: Laura Purdie Salas

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

15WOLs

Our drum corps, Minnesota Brass, rehearsed at a middle school over the weekend, and this interesting sculpture was hanging in the corner. It makes me think of:

1)?a dandelion
2)?Freddy Krueger (there’s a scene in particular in reminds me of, but I can’t pinpoint the plot around it or find an image of it!)
3) plaster plaques with kids’ handprints in them

And here’s my?first draft (I know–I cheated–16 words–ack!):

Things To Do If You Are Dandelion Fluff

Re-e-e-a-c-c-c‑h toward sky
Wave in breeze
High-five trees
Hold hands with soil and?

Don’t

Let

Go

–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:>)?

 

178 Responses

  1. Freedom

    Cartwills
    of sun shine
    brighten our hearts
    Our souls sing a dance
    Walking hand in hand

    1. You have a positive image here and I like it — “walking hand in hand.”

  2. Freedom

    Cartwills
    of sun shine
    brighten our hearts
    Our souls sing a dance
    Walking hand in hand

    1. You have a positive image here and I like it — “walking hand in hand.”

  3. Loved your dandelion fluff waving!

    I got carried away today. Must stops. I have so many more ideas like those hands trying to get out!

    A Writer’s Brain

    Me next! Me next!
    Write about me!

    Hands down!
    I’m thinking.
    Can’t you see?

    Ocean Mutation

    relative of octopus
    cousin to starfish
    handsome sea anemone
    May I pass you a dish?

    Sticky

    Look very closely
    and you’ll see the trick
    tiny hands and fingers
    make burdocks stick

    Hairball?

    Where’ve handlers gone?
    What’s in lion’s cage?
    Looks like some hairball fluff
    Remnant of rampage!

    1. Ooh, that Sticky one kind of creeped me out, Donna. I love it! I just got burrs in my socks a couple of weeks ago (it had been a long time since that happened). Next time, I’m going to imagine tiny hands reaching out to cling to my shoes and socks.

    2. Donna, your muse is working overtime. I like the relationship between octopus and starfish.

    3. Oh my goodness! What a lot of good ideas! I like them all and I like the rhyme in every one of them.

  4. Loved your dandelion fluff waving!

    I got carried away today. Must stops. I have so many more ideas like those hands trying to get out!

    A Writer’s Brain

    Me next! Me next!
    Write about me!

    Hands down!
    I’m thinking.
    Can’t you see?

    Ocean Mutation

    relative of octopus
    cousin to starfish
    handsome sea anemone
    May I pass you a dish?

    Sticky

    Look very closely
    and you’ll see the trick
    tiny hands and fingers
    make burdocks stick

    Hairball?

    Where’ve handlers gone?
    What’s in lion’s cage?
    Looks like some hairball fluff
    Remnant of rampage!

    1. Ooh, that Sticky one kind of creeped me out, Donna. I love it! I just got burrs in my socks a couple of weeks ago (it had been a long time since that happened). Next time, I’m going to imagine tiny hands reaching out to cling to my shoes and socks.

    2. Donna, your muse is working overtime. I like the relationship between octopus and starfish.

    3. Oh my goodness! What a lot of good ideas! I like them all and I like the rhyme in every one of them.

  5. Round and Round and Round …

    Croupier spins Roulette wheel;
    tiny hands fight
    to be chosen
    for their chance at love.

    Wow Laura. I had no idea that a sculpture such as this existed anywhere. I can’t dispel the image of unborns/newborns competing for a chance at life and love. I can hear the pleas, pick me; me; no, me …! I’ll take them all.

    1. Isn’t it odd and captivating? I don’t necessarily like it (the accumulated dust and grime didn’t help), but I couldn’t look away. I love the image of those tiny hands fighting for their chance at love, Martha!

      1. Thanks Donna. Thoughts prompted from an article in our daily paper — a plea for foster parents who would be willing to care for babies born to addicted mothers. So sad.

    2. Martha, I like your “tiny hands” idea. “Pick me!” Nice.

  6. Round and Round and Round …

    Croupier spins Roulette wheel;
    tiny hands fight
    to be chosen
    for their chance at love.

    Wow Laura. I had no idea that a sculpture such as this existed anywhere. I can’t dispel the image of unborns/newborns competing for a chance at life and love. I can hear the pleas, pick me; me; no, me …! I’ll take them all.

    1. Isn’t it odd and captivating? I don’t necessarily like it (the accumulated dust and grime didn’t help), but I couldn’t look away. I love the image of those tiny hands fighting for their chance at love, Martha!

      1. Thanks Donna. Thoughts prompted from an article in our daily paper — a plea for foster parents who would be willing to care for babies born to addicted mothers. So sad.

    2. Martha, I like your “tiny hands” idea. “Pick me!” Nice.

  7. Wow, Donna’s on a roll!

    The image reminded me of microscopic photos of bacteria. I don’t usually rhyme, and the following is a good example of why I shouldn’t. 😉

    Bacteria

    Known as flora
    on skin and gut
    Millions in your body,
    a microbial glut.

    Diane Mayr, all rights reserved

    1. Ha! I quite like it, Diane. Microbial glut feels like a nice solid phrase to end a poem with:>)

    2. Diane,
      What happens if you re-word the last two lines to:

      Your body holds millions
      of microbial glut.

      That way you keep with the iambs.

    3. I like what you have done with this. You should try rhyme again sometime.

  8. Wow, Donna’s on a roll!

    The image reminded me of microscopic photos of bacteria. I don’t usually rhyme, and the following is a good example of why I shouldn’t. 😉

    Bacteria

    Known as flora
    on skin and gut
    Millions in your body,
    a microbial glut.

    Diane Mayr, all rights reserved

    1. Ha! I quite like it, Diane. Microbial glut feels like a nice solid phrase to end a poem with:>)

    2. Diane,
      What happens if you re-word the last two lines to:

      Your body holds millions
      of microbial glut.

      That way you keep with the iambs.

    3. I like what you have done with this. You should try rhyme again sometime.

  9. Frozen forever

    in snowy plaster

    your tiny palms

    will always warm

    my cold, cold

    heart.

    Andria W, Rosenbaum/all rights reserved

    1. Wow! Good description — “frozen forever in snowy plaster.)
      Love it.

  10. Frozen forever

    in snowy plaster

    your tiny palms

    will always warm

    my cold, cold

    heart.

    Andria W, Rosenbaum/all rights reserved

    1. Wow! Good description — “frozen forever in snowy plaster.)
      Love it.

  11. I like the Dandilion Fluff.

    BIRTHING

    Grab life
    with both hands
    Do NOT let go
    until you reach
    the stars.

  12. I like the Dandilion Fluff.

    BIRTHING

    Grab life
    with both hands
    Do NOT let go
    until you reach
    the stars.

    1. Kate, for some reason your poem brings to mind a picture of a Jackrock. Nice description.

    2. All right, I know this is not what you intended, but now I’m picturing someone bowling this sculpture like a giant bowling ball! I like the whimsy of this–feels like the beginning to a good silly story poem.

    1. Kate, for some reason your poem brings to mind a picture of a Jackrock. Nice description.

    2. All right, I know this is not what you intended, but now I’m picturing someone bowling this sculpture like a giant bowling ball! I like the whimsy of this–feels like the beginning to a good silly story poem.

    1. Those last three lines–fantastic. Great allusion to a pop culture phrase and using it to good effect.

    1. Those last three lines–fantastic. Great allusion to a pop culture phrase and using it to good effect.

  13. Hi Laura, always interesting what others imagine. Love the “high-five trees”. Here’s mine:

    Dreaming

    All those gone,
    in all those wars
    reach out to hold hands
    with our memories.
    Linda Baie ? All Rights Reserved

    1. Oh, my. This fits so well–I’m seeing pale granite gravestones instead of the circle in the sculpture.

  14. Hi Laura, always interesting what others imagine. Love the “high-five trees”. Here’s mine:

    Dreaming

    All those gone,
    in all those wars
    reach out to hold hands
    with our memories.
    Linda Baie ? All Rights Reserved

    1. Oh, my. This fits so well–I’m seeing pale granite gravestones instead of the circle in the sculpture.

  15. What a picture! It gave me dark thoughts, but what better way to think of a poem.

    Help Needed

    Scene of horror,
    this sea of need.
    Too many hands,
    but I reach for one.

    1. Reaching for one when there are many reminds me of the starfish on the beach…there may be too many, but it helped that one instead of none.

      1. Yes. I was thinking of that starfish story, too. One is better than none.

      1. Yes, Martha. I think the all the news lately has affected my thinking. Yet I still want to know what is going on in the world, even though sometimes it is depressing.

    2. This makes me think of all those good charity causes and having to choose just one or get spread too thin.

    3. I thought of people drowning, a literal image your poem could fit (as well as so many more kinds of horror, of course). Your simple, positive final line is lovely, Pat.

  16. What a picture! It gave me dark thoughts, but what better way to think of a poem.

    Help Needed

    Scene of horror,
    this sea of need.
    Too many hands,
    but I reach for one.

    1. Reaching for one when there are many reminds me of the starfish on the beach…there may be too many, but it helped that one instead of none.

      1. Yes. I was thinking of that starfish story, too. One is better than none.

      1. Yes, Martha. I think the all the news lately has affected my thinking. Yet I still want to know what is going on in the world, even though sometimes it is depressing.

    2. This makes me think of all those good charity causes and having to choose just one or get spread too thin.

    3. I thought of people drowning, a literal image your poem could fit (as well as so many more kinds of horror, of course). Your simple, positive final line is lovely, Pat.

  17. For some reason a few of my comments are showing up for the incorrect composer. Just know that they could apply to all. It’s a fascinating image. (I blame everything on “sigh“berspace.)

  18. For some reason a few of my comments are showing up for the incorrect composer. Just know that they could apply to all. It’s a fascinating image. (I blame everything on “sigh“berspace.)

    1. Now, that’s a positive spin on this that I really like. Fitting that it was hanging in a school, because that really is what a school is–a lot of teachers and other staff reaching out to kids…nice!

    1. Now, that’s a positive spin on this that I really like. Fitting that it was hanging in a school, because that really is what a school is–a lot of teachers and other staff reaching out to kids…nice!

  19. Many, many students, too, sometimes too many in a classroom.
    I was a teacher and I like that you thought of students needing help.

  20. Many, many students, too, sometimes too many in a classroom.
    I was a teacher and I like that you thought of students needing help.

  21. the sun people
    flinging rays
    at passing planets

    That is a crazy, creepy sculpture. Your dandelion fluff turned it into something happy.

    1. Ellie, your “sun people flinging rays” turned the creepy sculpture into something happy.

    2. Well, I wanted to go the Freddy Krueger route, but that came out at 23 words. Creepy is definitely what it is! Not sure I’ll even look at a child’s drawing of the sun with the pointy rays sticking out without thinking of this poem!

  22. the sun people
    flinging rays
    at passing planets

    That is a crazy, creepy sculpture. Your dandelion fluff turned it into something happy.

    1. Ellie, your “sun people flinging rays” turned the creepy sculpture into something happy.

    2. Well, I wanted to go the Freddy Krueger route, but that came out at 23 words. Creepy is definitely what it is! Not sure I’ll even look at a child’s drawing of the sun with the pointy rays sticking out without thinking of this poem!

  23. love laura’s poem and love the sculpture!

    Let me help you
    to see
    what is possible
    when you let yourself
    be free.

    1. Thanks, Diane. This captures the sort of psychedelic vibe that I also get from those multitudes of hands.

  24. love laura’s poem and love the sculpture!

    Let me help you
    to see
    what is possible
    when you let yourself
    be free.

    1. Thanks, Diane. This captures the sort of psychedelic vibe that I also get from those multitudes of hands.

  25. Keepin’ busy
    makes me dizzy!
    Time to stop-
    drop the mop.
    Feet up.
    Tea cup.

    1. Love the progression from too busy to resting. Wonderful how you saw this image as a busy person needing that third arm, or more!

  26. Keepin’ busy
    makes me dizzy!
    Time to stop-
    drop the mop.
    Feet up.
    Tea cup.

    1. Love the progression from too busy to resting. Wonderful how you saw this image as a busy person needing that third arm, or more!

  27. My first thought was Dante’s Inferno and souls crying out from hell,
    But on a lighter note–

    The Haves and Have-Nots

    One man reaches
    Another clasps
    Two souls saved
    And the world goes round.

    ~~Barbara J. Turner

    1. My first thought was much like yours and I also chose to go a bit lighter. What you wrote is lovely.

    2. We all need to help and be helped. Lovely, Barbara. Though I like the hell image, too:>)

  28. My first thought was Dante’s Inferno and souls crying out from hell,
    But on a lighter note–

    The Haves and Have-Nots

    One man reaches
    Another clasps
    Two souls saved
    And the world goes round.

    ~~Barbara J. Turner

    1. My first thought was much like yours and I also chose to go a bit lighter. What you wrote is lovely.

    2. We all need to help and be helped. Lovely, Barbara. Though I like the hell image, too:>)

  29. Such an abundance of hands! The image made me think about how in some circumstances, many hands can make light work, and in others, many hands can make for total chaos! Here’s what I wrote:

    All hands and no head
    reach every which way
    in any direction
    but never
    one.

    1. Sounds like you’ve been on a committee or two, Debbie:>) P.S. I JUST read PICTURE DAY PERFECTION today while waiting for my husband at the bus station. Loved it! I was not a fan of picture day as a kid (though not for the same reason as your mc:>) My poem “Tomorrow Is Picture Day?” from my oop collection STAMPEDE is about picture day imperfection, too. Thanks for coming by to write!

      1. Thank you for your kind words about Picture Day Perfection! Picture day is such a memorable milestone of childhood. And I’m pleased join in the writing fun here. My friend and critique group partner, the fabulous Buffy Silverman, was telling our writing group about your weekly 15-word challenge, and it sounded like a great thing; I’m hoping to become a regular. 🙂 Thank you for providing this supportive forum and writing opportunity!

  30. Such an abundance of hands! The image made me think about how in some circumstances, many hands can make light work, and in others, many hands can make for total chaos! Here’s what I wrote:

    All hands and no head
    reach every which way
    in any direction
    but never
    one.

    1. Sounds like you’ve been on a committee or two, Debbie:>) P.S. I JUST read PICTURE DAY PERFECTION today while waiting for my husband at the bus station. Loved it! I was not a fan of picture day as a kid (though not for the same reason as your mc:>) My poem “Tomorrow Is Picture Day?” from my oop collection STAMPEDE is about picture day imperfection, too. Thanks for coming by to write!

      1. Thank you for your kind words about Picture Day Perfection! Picture day is such a memorable milestone of childhood. And I’m pleased join in the writing fun here. My friend and critique group partner, the fabulous Buffy Silverman, was telling our writing group about your weekly 15-word challenge, and it sounded like a great thing; I’m hoping to become a regular. 🙂 Thank you for providing this supportive forum and writing opportunity!

  31. I thought of how easy it would be to climb with all of these hands. Although I haven’t done any tree climbing in a long time, I climbed more than my share as a child. It was so awesome to have that view!

    Backyard High-rise

    Higher
    higher?
    grasping leafy arms.
    Ah … the view
    as my limbs nest in yours.

  32. I thought of how easy it would be to climb with all of these hands. Although I haven’t done any tree climbing in a long time, I climbed more than my share as a child. It was so awesome to have that view!

    Backyard High-rise

    Higher
    higher?
    grasping leafy arms.
    Ah … the view
    as my limbs nest in yours.

  33. BURIAL
    Hands stretched
    In gratitude
    For having known Momma
    As she?s released homeward bound to
    Join Dad.

    © Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.

  34. BURIAL
    Hands stretched
    In gratitude
    For having known Momma
    As she?s released homeward bound to
    Join Dad.

    © Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

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

Join 2,492 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 FlynnCCRA.W.3CCRA.W.4CCRA.W.5centoschapter bookschoral 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 SweeneyLion of the Skylist poemslittle free librarylive writingLullaby and Kisses Sweetlyricsmadness poetrymargaret simonMarilyn Singermary lee hahnmask poemsMeet My FamilyMelissa StewartMentors for Rentmentor textsmetaphorMichelle Myers LacknerMillbrookMinnesota Book Awardsmoonmy 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)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 poemsrefugeesresearchreviewsrevisionrhyming 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 conferencesYouTubeZap Clap Boomzenozentangle
Show More Show Less

Join Laura's monthly newsletter for eductators

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