[15 words or less] Shadeless

?15WOLs?

?Photo: Laura Salas
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines are here)!

I missed you guys! Glad to be back this week! Three things this photo makes me think of:

1) Rockets
2) Umbrellas
3) Post-hurricane destruction

And here’s my first draft!

Waterproof? Yes. Windproof? No.

Umbrella is battered
Umbrella is tattered
Wind gnashed its teeth
and the fabric wings scattered

–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. Clothes on line
    Would never dry
    Almost enough
    to make me cry

    Too dusty anyway

    - Anne McKenna

    1. Oh, THAT’s the thing that was on the tip of my brain but wouldn’t come to me. It’s those metal clothesline thingies! So glad you wrote this, Anne:>) Love the aside of that last line.

      1. My son was walking by saw the Pic and said clothesline which is what I was thinking anyway so I thought here goes. Thank you. Always write my others too late for any comment 🙂

  2. Clothes on line
    Would never dry
    Almost enough
    to make me cry

    Too dusty anyway

    - Anne McKenna

    1. Oh, THAT’s the thing that was on the tip of my brain but wouldn’t come to me. It’s those metal clothesline thingies! So glad you wrote this, Anne:>) Love the aside of that last line.

      1. My son was walking by saw the Pic and said clothesline which is what I was thinking anyway so I thought here goes. Thank you. Always write my others too late for any comment 🙂

  3. Stork?

    Stand on one leg
    Raise my white head
    stretch my arms out
    Wait, no feathers???

    I love your “fabric wings”, Ms. Salas! Great picture!

  4. Stork?

    Stand on one leg
    Raise my white head
    stretch my arms out
    Wait, no feathers???

    I love your “fabric wings”, Ms. Salas! Great picture!

  5. My favorite part is fabric wings. I always love a good metaphor.

    Deserted

    That last strong gust
    left my sail in the dust.
    Alone, bare
    my skeleton may rust.

  6. My favorite part is fabric wings. I always love a good metaphor.

    Deserted

    That last strong gust
    left my sail in the dust.
    Alone, bare
    my skeleton may rust.

  7. With a few additions I see kiddie rides.

    Beach Carousels

    Little cars here
    a few planes there
    kids buckled in
    giggles in the air.

    1. I agree with the other comments, Martha. Kids giggling on rides.
      I like your take on this.

  8. With a few additions I see kiddie rides.

    Beach Carousels

    Little cars here
    a few planes there
    kids buckled in
    giggles in the air.

    1. I agree with the other comments, Martha. Kids giggling on rides.
      I like your take on this.

  9. This picture brought two completely different poems to mind:

    Hurricane Havoc

    Trees stripped bare
    leaf out again
    in time for fall.

    The Aliens have Landed

    We traveled so far -
    open our arms
    to welcome you.
    Where is everyone?

  10. This picture brought two completely different poems to mind:

    Hurricane Havoc

    Trees stripped bare
    leaf out again
    in time for fall.

    The Aliens have Landed

    We traveled so far -
    open our arms
    to welcome you.
    Where is everyone?

    1. Yes! A tv antenna–you guys rock. This is such a simple image, but it’s already been compared to 5 different concrete things. Makes me think this would be a good image to use in a poetry writing workshop with kids…

    1. Yes! A tv antenna–you guys rock. This is such a simple image, but it’s already been compared to 5 different concrete things. Makes me think this would be a good image to use in a poetry writing workshop with kids…

  11. Loved your rhymer, Laura!

    I’m showing my age with this one- but it so reminded me of the Maypole at my elementary school that we loved to play on. Needless to say, it is not there anymore!

    MAYPOLE

    Someone is pulling
    you low and slow.
    Then faster, higher, faster, higher-
    Don’t Let Go!!

    1. Yes. My first thought was of a Maypole, too. But I couldn’t get a poem out of it.
      You did a good job with your idea. I danced the Maypole dance too, many decades ago.:)

  12. Loved your rhymer, Laura!

    I’m showing my age with this one- but it so reminded me of the Maypole at my elementary school that we loved to play on. Needless to say, it is not there anymore!

    MAYPOLE

    Someone is pulling
    you low and slow.
    Then faster, higher, faster, higher-
    Don’t Let Go!!

    1. Yes. My first thought was of a Maypole, too. But I couldn’t get a poem out of it.
      You did a good job with your idea. I danced the Maypole dance too, many decades ago.:)

  13. COMPANY

    Stripped of my striped top,
    birds rest,
    build a nest,
    dress me in
    their feathers.

    Andria W. Rosenbaum, all rights reserved

  14. COMPANY

    Stripped of my striped top,
    birds rest,
    build a nest,
    dress me in
    their feathers.

    Andria W. Rosenbaum, all rights reserved

  15. Wow, Kate! Talk about a whole different take. Wonderful how you transport the reader back to the origin of the material used to make the umbrella.

  16. Wow, Kate! Talk about a whole different take. Wonderful how you transport the reader back to the origin of the material used to make the umbrella.

    1. Jeanne, I don’t know if I’m interpreting this the way you meant it, but when I spin and then stop, and the ground seems to spin in circles all around me, I can totally see how this would look like (and remind me of, since I have a huge sweet tooth), a cinnamon swirl!

    1. Jeanne, I don’t know if I’m interpreting this the way you meant it, but when I spin and then stop, and the ground seems to spin in circles all around me, I can totally see how this would look like (and remind me of, since I have a huge sweet tooth), a cinnamon swirl!

  17. After Halloween

    Skeletal
    remains of summer.
    Ghostly
    wail of the wind.
    Spectral
    hands of ice nudging
    Winter.

    Diane Mayr, all rights reserved

    1. Oooooooo. This is a keeper! I love the Skeletal/remains of summer, especially. Tomorrow, I’m featuring an old anthology of poems about ice, and this would fit in so wonderfully in that anthology…

  18. After Halloween

    Skeletal
    remains of summer.
    Ghostly
    wail of the wind.
    Spectral
    hands of ice nudging
    Winter.

    Diane Mayr, all rights reserved

    1. Oooooooo. This is a keeper! I love the Skeletal/remains of summer, especially. Tomorrow, I’m featuring an old anthology of poems about ice, and this would fit in so wonderfully in that anthology…

  19. Laura, I like those fabric wings scattering-they would on this windy plain!
    Here’s what I saw:

    Summer goodbyes–
    still remembering the fair!
    (Twinkies, merry-go-rounds,
    music blares.)
    Sad there?s nothing,
    nothing there.
    Linda Baie?All Rights Reserved

  20. Laura, I like those fabric wings scattering-they would on this windy plain!
    Here’s what I saw:

    Summer goodbyes–
    still remembering the fair!
    (Twinkies, merry-go-rounds,
    music blares.)
    Sad there?s nothing,
    nothing there.
    Linda Baie?All Rights Reserved

  21. Fun poem, Laura! I especially like your title and the last two lines.

    When I first saw the thumbnail of the photo on Facebook, I didn’t realize it was an umbrella. It looked like an old fashioned merry-go-round, like the one my grandparents had on their farm when I was growing up. (Hopefully this link will work… it’s a picture of it last year, with my sons riding on it: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152019216455515&set=a.10152019214410515.888189.574540514&type=3&theater)

    MERRY-GO-ROUND MEMORIES

    spinning and spinning,
    grinning and grinning,
    faster and faster,
    whizzing through air?

    nothing can compare.

  22. Fun poem, Laura! I especially like your title and the last two lines.

    When I first saw the thumbnail of the photo on Facebook, I didn’t realize it was an umbrella. It looked like an old fashioned merry-go-round, like the one my grandparents had on their farm when I was growing up. (Hopefully this link will work… it’s a picture of it last year, with my sons riding on it: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152019216455515&set=a.10152019214410515.888189.574540514&type=3&theater)

    MERRY-GO-ROUND MEMORIES

    spinning and spinning,
    grinning and grinning,
    faster and faster,
    whizzing through air?

    nothing can compare.

  23. For some reason this picture made me think of watching an elephant pulling the ropes to raise the canvas for the circus tent. We stood and watched, fascinated with the sight. Hard to describe in only 15 words.

    Circus

    Watch the elephant
    as he pops up the tent.
    Smell aroma
    of a sawdust scent.

    1. Great sensory stuff here! You’re right…complex idea. Maybe you could replace “Smell aroma of” with something that adds new info, since sawdust scent perfectly gives us that aroma? It’s fun puttering around with these sometimes. I’m amazed at how much CAN be said in 15 words!

      1. Yes! Thank you. Love your suggestion. I’m blank right now, but interested in working with this later. Perhaps a longer poem will come.

        1. And it was just a thought. You should totally ignore it if it doesn’t resonate with you–or if you don’t want to put more than 3 minutes into the 15WOL poem. I rarely do:>)

  24. For some reason this picture made me think of watching an elephant pulling the ropes to raise the canvas for the circus tent. We stood and watched, fascinated with the sight. Hard to describe in only 15 words.

    Circus

    Watch the elephant
    as he pops up the tent.
    Smell aroma
    of a sawdust scent.

    1. Great sensory stuff here! You’re right…complex idea. Maybe you could replace “Smell aroma of” with something that adds new info, since sawdust scent perfectly gives us that aroma? It’s fun puttering around with these sometimes. I’m amazed at how much CAN be said in 15 words!

      1. Yes! Thank you. Love your suggestion. I’m blank right now, but interested in working with this later. Perhaps a longer poem will come.

        1. And it was just a thought. You should totally ignore it if it doesn’t resonate with you–or if you don’t want to put more than 3 minutes into the 15WOL poem. I rarely do:>)

  25. The Dandelion Seed

    Scared of flight
    until the wind whispers,
    “come fly with me for the day.”

    Laura E. Adams, All Rights Reserved

  26. The Dandelion Seed

    Scared of flight
    until the wind whispers,
    “come fly with me for the day.”

    Laura E. Adams, All Rights Reserved

  27. Love the structure of this poem, Diane. Those one word lines are fun to read alone!

  28. Love the structure of this poem, Diane. Those one word lines are fun to read alone!

  29. The Dandelion Seed

    Scared of flight
    until the wind whispers,
    “come fly with me for the day.”

  30. The Dandelion Seed

    Scared of flight
    until the wind whispers,
    “come fly with me for the day.”

    1. Hi Liz!
      I love the character you give to the wind. Snatches, pockets and especially–leaving you the bones.
      Hope you are well on your way to having a better weekend.

    1. Hi Liz!
      I love the character you give to the wind. Snatches, pockets and especially–leaving you the bones.
      Hope you are well on your way to having a better weekend.

  31. After Summer

    She poses
    coquettishly
    but the pretty is gone.
    All that remains
    are the bones.

    ~~Barbara Turner

  32. After Summer

    She poses
    coquettishly
    but the pretty is gone.
    All that remains
    are the bones.

    ~~Barbara Turner

  33. The Emperor?s Tailors at Work Once Again

    Umbrella skeleton sits
    and awaits,
    her new robe?s fastening
    festival.
    Dreams of turquoise and bling.

  34. The Emperor?s Tailors at Work Once Again

    Umbrella skeleton sits
    and awaits,
    her new robe?s fastening
    festival.
    Dreams of turquoise and bling.

  35. Not sure which one so I’ll post all 3.

    THE DAWNING OF OUR AWNING
    Being sent inside
    Is when I start to buckle up
    For winter?s frosty ride.

    ONCE I SEE OUR AWNING
    Being brought inside
    I begin to buckle up
    For winter?s frosty ride.

    BEACH UMBRELLAS
    Baldachins stripped from slanted
    Metallic branches
    Rumpled in dust and shame,
    Remnants of a
    Hurricanes furor.

    © Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.

  36. Not sure which one so I’ll post all 3.

    THE DAWNING OF OUR AWNING
    Being sent inside
    Is when I start to buckle up
    For winter?s frosty ride.

    ONCE I SEE OUR AWNING
    Being brought inside
    I begin to buckle up
    For winter?s frosty ride.

    BEACH UMBRELLAS
    Baldachins stripped from slanted
    Metallic branches
    Rumpled in dust and shame,
    Remnants of a
    Hurricanes furor.

    © Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.

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