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Photo: Laura Purdie Salas
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines are here)!
Three things this makes me think of:
1) Kindergarten
2) Pelican pouch
3) Baby bird with its beak gaping
And here’s my first draft!
Hunger
Body small as your palm
Beak gaping like Grand Canyon
Made of emptiness and need
–Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved
Now it’s your turn! Don’t overthink it. Just have fun with it–IN 15 WORDS OR LESS!? 🙂
224 Responses
Locks of Love
Hair down to there
and everywhere.
snip snip clip clip
Now hair to share.
Love this, Cindyb. I’m always so proud of our family members who do this! Great ending.
Nice to know when others do this. I’ve had students do it, too!
My daughter did this when she was eight and included a special note for the recipient as well… I should have made a photocopy first. Such an exciting and proud moment for both of us!
Love the thought and the poem!
This poem is full of meaning! Excellent!
Locks of Love
Hair down to there
and everywhere.
snip snip clip clip
Now hair to share.
Love this, Cindyb. I’m always so proud of our family members who do this! Great ending.
Nice to know when others do this. I’ve had students do it, too!
My daughter did this when she was eight and included a special note for the recipient as well… I should have made a photocopy first. Such an exciting and proud moment for both of us!
Love the thought and the poem!
This poem is full of meaning! Excellent!
The teachers scissors
Sit waiting for me
Temptingly sparkling
Baby scissors are not for me
I have responsibility!
Oops
Sorry it’s over 15 but 🙂 love your bird, Ms. Salas
Detention for you next time, Amelia! Maybe you can take some words out and share some of the info here in a title (the title doesn’t count toward the 15-word limit). Love that Oops at the end:>)
I like that “I have responsibility” thought, and hated the baby scissors!
Baby scissors… blech! It’s a wonder kids learn how to cut at all.
I remember that feeling! I especially like your last four lines ~ great words!
This is very funny!!! And oh so true!
The teachers scissors
Sit waiting for me
Temptingly sparkling
Baby scissors are not for me
I have responsibility!
Oops
Sorry it’s over 15 but 🙂 love your bird, Ms. Salas
Detention for you next time, Amelia! Maybe you can take some words out and share some of the info here in a title (the title doesn’t count toward the 15-word limit). Love that Oops at the end:>)
I like that “I have responsibility” thought, and hated the baby scissors!
Baby scissors… blech! It’s a wonder kids learn how to cut at all.
I remember that feeling! I especially like your last four lines ~ great words!
This is very funny!!! And oh so true!
To dream of all I’ve cut and pasted,
Time certainly not wasted.
Spoken like a writer or a crafter! Love it!
Great that you have a rhyme to capture your art!
Wonderful sentiment!
Love the rhyme and the sentiment!
To dream of all I’ve cut and pasted,
Time certainly not wasted.
Spoken like a writer or a crafter! Love it!
Great that you have a rhyme to capture your art!
Wonderful sentiment!
Love the rhyme and the sentiment!
I’ve always done it backwards,
I still do when I clip .
Isn’t easy to cut left-handed.
It’s snip, adjust,
snip, adjust,
SNIP!
This is fun, Joy! Makes me think of me trying to trim my own bangs! (Don’t forget there’s a 15-word limit, though:>)
Joy, I like the movement of your poem, and you’ve captured a left-hander’s challenge just right-always adjusting.
Love how this routine observation turned into a fun little poem!
I like the structure of your poem and the sound of it, too. Makes me glad to be right-handed!
This has a really fun rhythm — cool!
My husband is left handed and I’ve sensed this very frustration!
I’ve always done it backwards,
I still do when I clip .
Isn’t easy to cut left-handed.
It’s snip, adjust,
snip, adjust,
SNIP!
This is fun, Joy! Makes me think of me trying to trim my own bangs! (Don’t forget there’s a 15-word limit, though:>)
Joy, I like the movement of your poem, and you’ve captured a left-hander’s challenge just right-always adjusting.
Love how this routine observation turned into a fun little poem!
I like the structure of your poem and the sound of it, too. Makes me glad to be right-handed!
This has a really fun rhythm — cool!
My husband is left handed and I’ve sensed this very frustration!
Thursday mornings are always a challenge!
The First Cut
Scissors and paper.
Jaws move up
and down mirroring
the motion of
a kindergartner’s hand.
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
Love the Jaws! You’re always up to the challenge:>)
Beautiful capture, Diane. Those young ones do this, and actually I’ve seen some older ones too.
Actually, I’ve found myself doing it, too, when I’m really concentrating!
I love how the poem pulls us in at the end to the kindergartner’s hand… I keep replaying it in my mind like a video. Precious.
Oh, yes! The jaws. I love that.
I, too, love the use of “Jaws”, and also “mirroring/the motion”. I hadn’t thought of it before, but I guess that IS what happens!
Yes, I love the jaws too…really fun poem.
Thursday mornings are always a challenge!
The First Cut
Scissors and paper.
Jaws move up
and down mirroring
the motion of
a kindergartner’s hand.
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
Love the Jaws! You’re always up to the challenge:>)
Beautiful capture, Diane. Those young ones do this, and actually I’ve seen some older ones too.
Actually, I’ve found myself doing it, too, when I’m really concentrating!
I love how the poem pulls us in at the end to the kindergartner’s hand… I keep replaying it in my mind like a video. Precious.
Oh, yes! The jaws. I love that.
I, too, love the use of “Jaws”, and also “mirroring/the motion”. I hadn’t thought of it before, but I guess that IS what happens!
Yes, I love the jaws too…really fun poem.
In the classroom
?Snip!? say the scissors.
?Screech!? says the tape.
Ruler lies still and silent.
Love that you had the tools talking-fun idea!
O.M.G, I love this, Liz… love, love, LOVE!
How the classroom objects become like children themselves is just brilliant.
Love the personification!
Awesome!
Liz, MASTERFUL use of rhythm here. Wow. Such impact in that final line. Three little personalities…
This is just awesome, Liz!!!
In the classroom
?Snip!? say the scissors.
?Screech!? says the tape.
Ruler lies still and silent.
Love that you had the tools talking-fun idea!
O.M.G, I love this, Liz… love, love, LOVE!
How the classroom objects become like children themselves is just brilliant.
Love the personification!
Awesome!
Liz, MASTERFUL use of rhythm here. Wow. Such impact in that final line. Three little personalities…
This is just awesome, Liz!!!
Hi Laura-You’ve captured the mother bird’s work well! They work so hard! You brought a memory back with this pic.
Pretending
Sissy loved
playing beautician.
It took months
for my bangs
to grow back.
Mama cried.
Linda Baie-All Rights Reserved
The whole story in 14 words. That last line says it all. Really well done.
This is wonderful, Linda. It’s fun and pulls on my heartstrings at the same time. “Mama cried.” Yep, I have my own similar memory captured in a poem… maybe I’ll share it on my blog sometime soon.
I have memories similar to this, too, only my two oldest children did it to themselves. I’m pretty sure I did cry when my daughter did it — I had to take her to get her long hair cut into a short ‘do.
I, too, am impressed how your poem tells a whole story in just 6 short lines.
Awesome job, Linda :?)
Hahhaha–oh, sorry! But this is hysterical. So true and tragic. Gothic southern at its best. Feels like a narrator of a book or movie. Love her!
Hi Laura-You’ve captured the mother bird’s work well! They work so hard! You brought a memory back with this pic.
Pretending
Sissy loved
playing beautician.
It took months
for my bangs
to grow back.
Mama cried.
Linda Baie-All Rights Reserved
The whole story in 14 words. That last line says it all. Really well done.
This is wonderful, Linda. It’s fun and pulls on my heartstrings at the same time. “Mama cried.” Yep, I have my own similar memory captured in a poem… maybe I’ll share it on my blog sometime soon.
I have memories similar to this, too, only my two oldest children did it to themselves. I’m pretty sure I did cry when my daughter did it — I had to take her to get her long hair cut into a short ‘do.
I, too, am impressed how your poem tells a whole story in just 6 short lines.
Awesome job, Linda :?)
Hahhaha–oh, sorry! But this is hysterical. So true and tragic. Gothic southern at its best. Feels like a narrator of a book or movie. Love her!
What a wonderful imagination you have, Laura! I just love that you saw a baby bird’s gaping mouth in a pair of scissors and came up with that beauty of a poem. Here’s mine…
THIS TIME
Cutting through fabric
of hurt and betrayal,
please God,
this time,
let the seam hold.
© Michelle Heidenrich Barnes, all rights reserved.
Love the sewing references, and especially that last line.
Oh, wonderful metaphor, Michelle. Mending life’s problems!
The last line really hit me.
What a touching poem!
Michelle, the yearning in this one is gorgeous. I love that image of the seam stretched to its breaking point! And thanks–those baby birds just wouldn’t shut up in my head:)
A powerful 15 words!
What a wonderful imagination you have, Laura! I just love that you saw a baby bird’s gaping mouth in a pair of scissors and came up with that beauty of a poem. Here’s mine…
THIS TIME
Cutting through fabric
of hurt and betrayal,
please God,
this time,
let the seam hold.
© Michelle Heidenrich Barnes, all rights reserved.
Love the sewing references, and especially that last line.
Oh, wonderful metaphor, Michelle. Mending life’s problems!
The last line really hit me.
What a touching poem!
Michelle, the yearning in this one is gorgeous. I love that image of the seam stretched to its breaking point! And thanks–those baby birds just wouldn’t shut up in my head:)
A powerful 15 words!
Touch?!
You made your cutting remark.
Now try to take it back.
Oh, isn’t that the way it always is! …regrets, regrets, regrets.
I like the touch?. Like a jab, & those scissors cut deeply!
Wise message.
Yeah. Sometimes I realize too late that my verbal “victory” is anything but. So true.
Great take on the scissor prompt.
Touch?!
You made your cutting remark.
Now try to take it back.
Oh, isn’t that the way it always is! …regrets, regrets, regrets.
I like the touch?. Like a jab, & those scissors cut deeply!
Wise message.
Yeah. Sometimes I realize too late that my verbal “victory” is anything but. So true.
Great take on the scissor prompt.
Connections
Fold paper many times
let scissors take the lead
no matter the design
Connected indeed!
Who doesn’t love making snowflakes?! Although when it came to paper doll chains as a kid, somehow mine always did find a way to separate. :/
I agree Michelle. The dolls in my chains were adverse to holding hands, but I loved the snowflakes and pine trees.
I like your title for this, Martha. Good idea.
A New connection! Scissors help us be talented, don’t they?
Looks like we had a similar idea! 🙂 I especially like your last line.
Fantastic, Martha. I love tiny specific poems like this that hold a whole world in them.„
Ah…very nice!
Connections
Fold paper many times
let scissors take the lead
no matter the design
Connected indeed!
Who doesn’t love making snowflakes?! Although when it came to paper doll chains as a kid, somehow mine always did find a way to separate. :/
I agree Michelle. The dolls in my chains were adverse to holding hands, but I loved the snowflakes and pine trees.
I like your title for this, Martha. Good idea.
A New connection! Scissors help us be talented, don’t they?
Looks like we had a similar idea! 🙂 I especially like your last line.
Fantastic, Martha. I love tiny specific poems like this that hold a whole world in them.„
Ah…very nice!
How creative to see a little bird’s mouth, Laura.
I look at these scissors and I think “scissors.” I also am stuck back in the classroom. Ha.
Hand Preference Test
Honey, reach for those scissors there.
Ah, yes. You need a different pair.
Patricia, you must have been a great teacher. I’m left-handed but taught to do many things with my right hand including using scissors. No complaints, I’m definitely ambidextrous. Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for your kind words, Martha. I don’t know about “great” but I worked hard, as did all the other first grade teachers. I think we all checked for hand preference. Made it so much easier for the little lefties.
So simple, yet it says a lot! I like your rhyme, too.
Thanks, Patricia. That’s funny! But then scissors brought this lovely scene into your head. This poem has such warmth and love in it. We all want this teacher for our kids:)
How creative to see a little bird’s mouth, Laura.
I look at these scissors and I think “scissors.” I also am stuck back in the classroom. Ha.
Hand Preference Test
Honey, reach for those scissors there.
Ah, yes. You need a different pair.
Patricia, you must have been a great teacher. I’m left-handed but taught to do many things with my right hand including using scissors. No complaints, I’m definitely ambidextrous. Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for your kind words, Martha. I don’t know about “great” but I worked hard, as did all the other first grade teachers. I think we all checked for hand preference. Made it so much easier for the little lefties.
So simple, yet it says a lot! I like your rhyme, too.
Thanks, Patricia. That’s funny! But then scissors brought this lovely scene into your head. This poem has such warmth and love in it. We all want this teacher for our kids:)
She is the family pivot point;
they cross her
like scissor blades,
bound together,
cutting apart.
(I am a one-word cheat–sorry, I had a 15-word version, but did not like as well.)
Love your hunger “made of emptiness and need,” Laura.
Wow. That does sound like a family.
The way my mother talked, she would connect to this very much Buffy. The middle child, she often said she was pulled too many ways. Perceptive poem.
Strong images in this!
Wow!
Very nice, Buffy. Great imagery!
This took my breath. I love it.
Wow is right, Buffy. So much meaning lurks between these five lines!
Oh, Buffy–fabulous. I think very family has one of these (and I’m glad it’s not me–such a responsibility). Last 2 lines really got me.
She is the family pivot point;
they cross her
like scissor blades,
bound together,
cutting apart.
(I am a one-word cheat–sorry, I had a 15-word version, but did not like as well.)
Love your hunger “made of emptiness and need,” Laura.
Wow. That does sound like a family.
The way my mother talked, she would connect to this very much Buffy. The middle child, she often said she was pulled too many ways. Perceptive poem.
Strong images in this!
Wow!
Very nice, Buffy. Great imagery!
This took my breath. I love it.
Wow is right, Buffy. So much meaning lurks between these five lines!
Oh, Buffy–fabulous. I think very family has one of these (and I’m glad it’s not me–such a responsibility). Last 2 lines really got me.
First day of kindergarten
I try safety scissors
And cut one small string.
This makes me think of my kids when they were first learning to use scissors.
One small string…love that!
That first day, every single thing is important. That ‘one small string’ shows it well!
Leslie, there’s something so cozy and intimate about this one. Thanks for joining in!
First day of kindergarten
I try safety scissors
And cut one small string.
This makes me think of my kids when they were first learning to use scissors.
One small string…love that!
That first day, every single thing is important. That ‘one small string’ shows it well!
Leslie, there’s something so cozy and intimate about this one. Thanks for joining in!
I love the images in your poem, Laura!
NO MELTING ALLOWED
fold and fold,
snip and snip.
careful cuts
create
crisp, sturdy snowflakes
in any season.
Lovely, I love the word choices.
Ah, snowflakes! Love all your alliteration!
I like all those hard “c” sounds. They go with the meaning of “cut.”
I like that contrast between ‘sturdy’ & what one usually things about snowflakes-perfect title too!
Thanks, everyone! 🙂
Thanks, Janelle–I love paper snowflakes and your word choices here, particularly “crisp”!
I love the images in your poem, Laura!
NO MELTING ALLOWED
fold and fold,
snip and snip.
careful cuts
create
crisp, sturdy snowflakes
in any season.
Lovely, I love the word choices.
Ah, snowflakes! Love all your alliteration!
I like all those hard “c” sounds. They go with the meaning of “cut.”
I like that contrast between ‘sturdy’ & what one usually things about snowflakes-perfect title too!
Thanks, everyone! 🙂
Thanks, Janelle–I love paper snowflakes and your word choices here, particularly “crisp”!
Super poem, Laura very imaginative
Sharpened focus
Plies and pliers
Ikea ballet
Don’t know hot to spell plies 🙁
I think you spelled it right ~ it just needs an accent on the e (and I don’t know how to type one on here!)
I love “plies and pliers”, and your last line made me smile because I own several pairs of scissors (and other things) from Ikea.
Cool!
Love this! Ikea ballet is so creative !!
Thanks, Penny!
For those who’ve experienced Ikea, it’s perfectly shown. Fun Catherine.
Ha! I really like the way you’ve melded two totally separate things here. Very cool, esp the Ikea ballet. (I like Ikea:>)
What a clever take on this prompt!
Thanks!
Super poem, Laura very imaginative
Sharpened focus
Plies and pliers
Ikea ballet
Don’t know hot to spell plies 🙁
I think you spelled it right ~ it just needs an accent on the e (and I don’t know how to type one on here!)
I love “plies and pliers”, and your last line made me smile because I own several pairs of scissors (and other things) from Ikea.
Cool!
Love this! Ikea ballet is so creative !!
Thanks, Penny!
For those who’ve experienced Ikea, it’s perfectly shown. Fun Catherine.
Ha! I really like the way you’ve melded two totally separate things here. Very cool, esp the Ikea ballet. (I like Ikea:>)
What a clever take on this prompt!
Thanks!
Living Dangerously
Scissor sword
snipping air,
she ran with scissors.
Didn?t care about
consequences.
She dared.
~~Barbara Turner
Ha! Great title, and I really like the joie de vivre (no idea if I’m spelling that right). Nice last line!
Living Dangerously
Scissor sword
snipping air,
she ran with scissors.
Didn?t care about
consequences.
She dared.
~~Barbara Turner
Ha! Great title, and I really like the joie de vivre (no idea if I’m spelling that right). Nice last line!
Frustration.
Fingers fumble and don’t fit.
Follow the line
With blades slicing backwards.
Need Lefties.
Vie, I love all the f sounds and the fingers fumbling. Nice!
Frustration.
Fingers fumble and don’t fit.
Follow the line
With blades slicing backwards.
Need Lefties.
Vie, I love all the f sounds and the fingers fumbling. Nice!
Gallery
Thumb and finger
kiss and part.
Red, construction paper heart.
Refrigerator-keepsake art.
~Penny Klostermann
Penny, it’s wonderful rhythm-wonderful explanation in so few words! I love the “refrigerator-keepsake” art.
Oh, I love this one! The images and rhymes combine to create a wonderful poem!
Ooh, Penny, this is perfect. Just a lovely, heartfelt gift, like the perfect valentine–brava!
Laura stole my word– “perfect”; this poem stole my heart!
Gallery
Thumb and finger
kiss and part.
Red, construction paper heart.
Refrigerator-keepsake art.
~Penny Klostermann
Penny, it’s wonderful rhythm-wonderful explanation in so few words! I love the “refrigerator-keepsake” art.
Oh, I love this one! The images and rhymes combine to create a wonderful poem!
Ooh, Penny, this is perfect. Just a lovely, heartfelt gift, like the perfect valentine–brava!
Laura stole my word– “perfect”; this poem stole my heart!
TEN-HUT
Stainless steel shears
Prune follicle waterfall
For basic training.
© Charles Waters
TEN-HUT
Stainless steel shears
Prune follicle waterfall
For basic training.
© Charles Waters