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Photo: Laura Salas
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines are here)!
Happy New Year!
I mentioned earlier this week that I’ll be making some pretty major changes to the blog this year, but 15 Words or Less will not be going anywhere:>) I will be trying to increase the ways educators use it, but we will remain a community of poets, sharing our work and rev-starting our brains on Thursdays:>)
Here are 3 things this photo makes me think of:
1) Halloween costumes–I’m not sure why, but that’s what comes to mind!
2) alligators–shudder
3) cookie cutters
And here’s my first draft!
Nan Khatai: Cookies From Home
cardamom, ghee, cashews–
a moment of stillness
while all of India
melts on my tongue
—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:>)?
112 Responses
I stand tall
I see all
Guiding us
to victory
and freedom
For all mankind
- Anne McKenna
Anne, my thoughts were similar. Very nice.
Anne, I like this interesting narrative voice. THe speaker could be benevolent and well-intentioned. Or he/she could be arrogant and misguided. Makes me ponder the possibilities!
I stand tall
I see all
Guiding us
to victory
and freedom
For all mankind
- Anne McKenna
Anne, my thoughts were similar. Very nice.
Anne, I like this interesting narrative voice. THe speaker could be benevolent and well-intentioned. Or he/she could be arrogant and misguided. Makes me ponder the possibilities!
Seeking it,
he clambered high
unaware
it was so nigh…
(Wear your glasses-
don’t deny!)
Love that parenthetical phrase for the ending, Cindyb!
Seeking it,
he clambered high
unaware
it was so nigh…
(Wear your glasses-
don’t deny!)
Love that parenthetical phrase for the ending, Cindyb!
Wow Laura. You went deep for this one. So many avenues available. Again, I followed my first impression brought about by the opening into forever.
Fleur-de-lis
A peace lily
a new year
light the way
for mankind
to rise above
partition.
Well, Martha, you went pretty deep yourself. Good thinking.
Thanks, Martha–I love how you went from a scene looking out the window to a peace lily! Wonderful last line/word.
Wow Laura. You went deep for this one. So many avenues available. Again, I followed my first impression brought about by the opening into forever.
Fleur-de-lis
A peace lily
a new year
light the way
for mankind
to rise above
partition.
Well, Martha, you went pretty deep yourself. Good thinking.
Thanks, Martha–I love how you went from a scene looking out the window to a peace lily! Wonderful last line/word.
With God on Their Side
They embraced the myth,
approached the native
species sword in hand
and declared themselves
dragon-slayers.
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
Yes, I cheated, I counted dragon-slayers as one word!
I like this. It resonates with parts of the history of the world. Good jjob.
This one gave me chills, Diane. Especially the false note of embracing the myth…
With God on Their Side
They embraced the myth,
approached the native
species sword in hand
and declared themselves
dragon-slayers.
Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
Yes, I cheated, I counted dragon-slayers as one word!
I like this. It resonates with parts of the history of the world. Good jjob.
This one gave me chills, Diane. Especially the false note of embracing the myth…
Laura, I really like that! The spices, the moment, and the melting on the tongue.
Knight
I have slain the dragon! But?
where are the roses?
The crowds, the princesses?
?Kate Coombs
I love this idea. All that work slaying the dragon.
Is that all there is?
Thanks, Kate. Aw, I feel bad for this knight! It’s kind of like a first-time book author–you think there’s gonna be all this glory, but then…well, hardly anybody notices you did anything!
Thanks, Pat. And Laura, that’s exactly right! I felt (and still feel) like there should be a ticker tape parade or something when my book came out, and? there isn’t! Except in my head. That’ll just have to do. 🙂
Aw, well…at least *we* know we slayed the dragon:>)
Laura, I really like that! The spices, the moment, and the melting on the tongue.
Knight
I have slain the dragon! But?
where are the roses?
The crowds, the princesses?
?Kate Coombs
I love this idea. All that work slaying the dragon.
Is that all there is?
Thanks, Kate. Aw, I feel bad for this knight! It’s kind of like a first-time book author–you think there’s gonna be all this glory, but then…well, hardly anybody notices you did anything!
Thanks, Pat. And Laura, that’s exactly right! I felt (and still feel) like there should be a ticker tape parade or something when my book came out, and? there isn’t! Except in my head. That’ll just have to do. 🙂
Aw, well…at least *we* know we slayed the dragon:>)
shield, lance, dragon fangs:
helmeted honor foretold;
soldier on ‘neath flag.
Jeanne Poland
I like your phrase “soldier on ‘neath flag”
“dragon fangs” — Why do we never hear of dragon fangs? As soon as I read this, I thought, “Of course, dragons have fangs. Deathly, meaty, sharp fangs.” But I don’t think I’ve ever seen them referred to! I like all the nouns in line 1, and the words helmeted, foretold, and soldier have such a nice ring (literally) to them, all together.
shield, lance, dragon fangs:
helmeted honor foretold;
soldier on ‘neath flag.
Jeanne Poland
I like your phrase “soldier on ‘neath flag”
“dragon fangs” — Why do we never hear of dragon fangs? As soon as I read this, I thought, “Of course, dragons have fangs. Deathly, meaty, sharp fangs.” But I don’t think I’ve ever seen them referred to! I like all the nouns in line 1, and the words helmeted, foretold, and soldier have such a nice ring (literally) to them, all together.
Croc slaying braggart
Boldly elevates his victory
Don’t turn your back on reptilian mothers.
CHOMP!
Perfect Cathy. Mothers are a force with which to be reckoned.
This brought an out-loud laugh!
Thanks for the smiles.
Ha! Yes! I have a phobia of gators/crocs, so normally I’m on the side of the conqueror, but I do like the idea of this arrogant guy getting his just desserts. :>)
Croc slaying braggart
Boldly elevates his victory
Don’t turn your back on reptilian mothers.
CHOMP!
Perfect Cathy. Mothers are a force with which to be reckoned.
This brought an out-loud laugh!
Thanks for the smiles.
Ha! Yes! I have a phobia of gators/crocs, so normally I’m on the side of the conqueror, but I do like the idea of this arrogant guy getting his just desserts. :>)
Love that you thought of cookie cutters, Laura, and that ‘all of India melting on the tongue’-nice. It was hard this time; I wanted more words! Looking forward to new things from your blog!
Day follows day,
frozen thoughts.
Would choose
thundering
on horseback
in the frays
of danger.
I like your phrase “thundering on horseback.”
Thanks, Linda. Oooh. “in the frays/of danger” — intriguing. I’m seeing a character who is numb either with depression or indecision who would rather be stuck anywhere other than inside his/her own head. No idea if that’s what you were thinking, but it’s what I picture with it!
Love that you thought of cookie cutters, Laura, and that ‘all of India melting on the tongue’-nice. It was hard this time; I wanted more words! Looking forward to new things from your blog!
Day follows day,
frozen thoughts.
Would choose
thundering
on horseback
in the frays
of danger.
I like your phrase “thundering on horseback.”
Thanks, Linda. Oooh. “in the frays/of danger” — intriguing. I’m seeing a character who is numb either with depression or indecision who would rather be stuck anywhere other than inside his/her own head. No idea if that’s what you were thinking, but it’s what I picture with it!
Wow! What a hard one! But my first idea is that Dr. Seuss book, Yertle the Turtle.
So here’s my try.
I’m Lord of the Universe!
As you can see,
Even the alligators
bow to me.
Perfect rhyme and rhythm. You can’t go wrong with Dr. Seuss.
hehhehe–love the arrogant tone here. Could be a kid playing make believe, but it could also totally be a conquering megalomaniac. Excellent!
P.S. Thank you for all the thoughtful comments you leave for the other poets:>)
Wow! What a hard one! But my first idea is that Dr. Seuss book, Yertle the Turtle.
So here’s my try.
I’m Lord of the Universe!
As you can see,
Even the alligators
bow to me.
Perfect rhyme and rhythm. You can’t go wrong with Dr. Seuss.
hehhehe–love the arrogant tone here. Could be a kid playing make believe, but it could also totally be a conquering megalomaniac. Excellent!
P.S. Thank you for all the thoughtful comments you leave for the other poets:>)
Prayers done
I peek through the church windows
and let my imagination
fly free
Great picture! Happy New Year, everyone!!!
Yes! That does look like the shape of a church window.
Good idea.
Happy New Year, Amelia! I love the scene this paints. Great setting–works so nicely with the pic, but stands alone, as well.
Prayers done
I peek through the church windows
and let my imagination
fly free
Great picture! Happy New Year, everyone!!!
Yes! That does look like the shape of a church window.
Good idea.
Happy New Year, Amelia! I love the scene this paints. Great setting–works so nicely with the pic, but stands alone, as well.
Peekaboo!
Through the frame,
My mind and eye compose.
I lift my camera,
Focus,
Snap!
What an image. I like this very much.
Good way to end it. “Snap!” I like that.
Yes, Jane! I can rarely resist taking a quick pic when I see a frame all set up like this. I esp like line 3…
Thanks, Laura, Pat, & Martha. And thanks for the inspiration and the forum, Laura!
Peekaboo!
Through the frame,
My mind and eye compose.
I lift my camera,
Focus,
Snap!
What an image. I like this very much.
Good way to end it. “Snap!” I like that.
Yes, Jane! I can rarely resist taking a quick pic when I see a frame all set up like this. I esp like line 3…
Thanks, Laura, Pat, & Martha. And thanks for the inspiration and the forum, Laura!
Sheltered under covers
she soars:
spear aimed
demon wrestled
town saved
heroine embraced;
saga retold.
Your poem is making me hungry, Laura!
Oooh. A feminine hero. I like that.
You do a good job using just a few words to express you idea.
Me, too! Except I don’t care for cardamom that much. But I wanted some kind of exotic cookie:>) I love your storytelling poem!
Sheltered under covers
she soars:
spear aimed
demon wrestled
town saved
heroine embraced;
saga retold.
Your poem is making me hungry, Laura!
Oooh. A feminine hero. I like that.
You do a good job using just a few words to express you idea.
Me, too! Except I don’t care for cardamom that much. But I wanted some kind of exotic cookie:>) I love your storytelling poem!
THE END
My last view of you
victorious,
sweetened the beast’s
boiling breath,
and Death’s darkness.
Andria W. Rosenbaum/ all rights reserved
Good alliteration — “beast’s boiling breath” — and a vivid image.
Oooh, lines 3 and 4–awesome!
THE END
My last view of you
victorious,
sweetened the beast’s
boiling breath,
and Death’s darkness.
Andria W. Rosenbaum/ all rights reserved
Good alliteration — “beast’s boiling breath” — and a vivid image.
Oooh, lines 3 and 4–awesome!
Dragons don?t exist, they say.
Still, he slew one, anyway.
Vimana came. He flew away.
~~Barbara J. Turner
I learned something new today–Vimana. Thank goodness for Wikipedia.
Just like dmayr , I, too, had to look up Vimana. That explains why he flew away. Excellent choice.
Glad you used that word. Learning a new word is fun
Oooh…so is this usage of vimana as a flying chariot kind of thing? So the wagon is not winged, I assume? I love the use of an exotic, new-to-me word!
Dragons don?t exist, they say.
Still, he slew one, anyway.
Vimana came. He flew away.
~~Barbara J. Turner
I learned something new today–Vimana. Thank goodness for Wikipedia.
Just like dmayr , I, too, had to look up Vimana. That explains why he flew away. Excellent choice.
Glad you used that word. Learning a new word is fun
Oooh…so is this usage of vimana as a flying chariot kind of thing? So the wagon is not winged, I assume? I love the use of an exotic, new-to-me word!
Stone fast,
I draw on the strength
Of the skies to guard
The hidden door.
~Elisabeth M. Priest
I like the mystery of the “hidden door.”
Beth, that first line is wonderful. Unusual, but totally accessible in the feeling it gives. And I love “strength/Of the skies”!
Stone fast,
I draw on the strength
Of the skies to guard
The hidden door.
~Elisabeth M. Priest
I like the mystery of the “hidden door.”
Beth, that first line is wonderful. Unusual, but totally accessible in the feeling it gives. And I love “strength/Of the skies”!
Laura, my husband gave me a new little leather notebook, just the right size for 15 word poems. So my first page has this poem.
The view
clear-cut
salted mountain old
guard with sword and shield
forever bold.
Oh, how fun! I mostly write on my laptop, but I do love little notebooks dedicated to specific little projects! “Salted” is such an evocative word here. Love it. Especially since this past summer, my husband and I toured the world’s oldest known salt mine in Austria. Great details and tone!
Laura, my husband gave me a new little leather notebook, just the right size for 15 word poems. So my first page has this poem.
The view
clear-cut
salted mountain old
guard with sword and shield
forever bold.
Oh, how fun! I mostly write on my laptop, but I do love little notebooks dedicated to specific little projects! “Salted” is such an evocative word here. Love it. Especially since this past summer, my husband and I toured the world’s oldest known salt mine in Austria. Great details and tone!
What a nice gift, and a good way to save your posts.
You never know, you may use them again in the future.
What a nice gift, and a good way to save your posts.
You never know, you may use them again in the future.
Thank you, everyone!
Thank you, everyone!
AND THE WINNER IS ?.
Standing ramrod straight,
Concealing nervous vibrations,
Gliding to the stage,
Receiving 1st place medal.
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.
AND THE WINNER IS ?.
Standing ramrod straight,
Concealing nervous vibrations,
Gliding to the stage,
Receiving 1st place medal.
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.