Photo: Laura Purdie Salas
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
Here’s the atrium ceiling from the cruise ship we were on in late December. I love glass ceilings! Here are a few things this one makes me think of.
1)?The carapace of a beetle
2) A fancy necklace
3) An x‑ray of a house
And here’s my poem first draft:
She Wore
Eiffel Tower
as pendant–
Paris, a fancy wrap
she might forget in a taxi–Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved
What do you think of when you look at this picture? Take any quick idea and jot down a 15 Words or Less poem. It doesn’t have to rhyme or describe this picture. It’s just about whatever you think of when you look at it.
140 Responses
My crystal heart thumps
Shaking iron bones
On my wood mouth someone beats
“Anybody home?”
I love your idea of using Paris as a wrap! Great job!
Wonderful sounds and textures!
This is one of my favorites of yours, Amelia. I especially love the first two lines–the way the textures and weights contrast, and the way I hear the sounds.
Interesting what we ‘see’. I didn’t even consider the iron around the glass. This is rather sad.
Oh, I love that, Amelia!
Thanks for your wonderful comments, everyone!
My crystal heart thumps
Shaking iron bones
On my wood mouth someone beats
“Anybody home?”
I love your idea of using Paris as a wrap! Great job!
Wonderful sounds and textures!
This is one of my favorites of yours, Amelia. I especially love the first two lines–the way the textures and weights contrast, and the way I hear the sounds.
Interesting what we ‘see’. I didn’t even consider the iron around the glass. This is rather sad.
Oh, I love that, Amelia!
Thanks for your wonderful comments, everyone!
each facet
of personality
visible
through its own
window
to the soul
Oooh, interesting. Love the play on facet and window…
I like the word “facet” too, separating the parts we are seeing.
I like the use of “facet”, too. Great poem!
each facet
of personality
visible
through its own
window
to the soul
Oooh, interesting. Love the play on facet and window…
I like the word “facet” too, separating the parts we are seeing.
I like the use of “facet”, too. Great poem!
Glazing Over
77 cents to the dollar
bruised hands from
banging, banging, banging
for a hundred years.
© Diane Mayr
I so prefer your jewels and wrap!
Oh, Diane. I love your poems and feel smarter after reading them. In a good way. Love the title play on glass ceiling, and the image of all those bruised hands. I feel a little dumb because I usually have to read your poems 2 or 3 times to be sure of what you’re referring to (and sometimes I go Google something). But you always make them accessible enough and engaging enough that I *want* to read them again and get them. Many poems that are not obvious just beg for me to skip them because there’s nothing I can latch on to. Yours are never like that.
I was thinking more contemporarily, but like that you included the history, Diane-it’s terrific.
So cool that this image made you think of hitting the glass ceiling. Love your title and the sounds of work here.
Wow, powerful poem!
Thank you everyone! I can use the lift today!
Kurious Kitty is Diane Mayr’s alter-ego. –DM
Glazing Over
77 cents to the dollar
bruised hands from
banging, banging, banging
for a hundred years.
© Diane Mayr
I so prefer your jewels and wrap!
Oh, Diane. I love your poems and feel smarter after reading them. In a good way. Love the title play on glass ceiling, and the image of all those bruised hands. I feel a little dumb because I usually have to read your poems 2 or 3 times to be sure of what you’re referring to (and sometimes I go Google something). But you always make them accessible enough and engaging enough that I *want* to read them again and get them. Many poems that are not obvious just beg for me to skip them because there’s nothing I can latch on to. Yours are never like that.
I was thinking more contemporarily, but like that you included the history, Diane-it’s terrific.
So cool that this image made you think of hitting the glass ceiling. Love your title and the sounds of work here.
Wow, powerful poem!
Thank you everyone! I can use the lift today!
Kurious Kitty is Diane Mayr’s alter-ego. –DM
Lovely poem, Laura!
*************
Wall
Hitting a wall
that?s made of glass.
Telling myself
this too shall pass.
?Kate Coombs (Book Aunt)
Thanks, Kate. I’m interpreting this two ways–one serious and one humorous. The humorous one is winning out as I’m picturing myself (and others) doing the whole walking-into-sliding-glass-door thing.
I like the emotion and the rhymes in this.
Lovely!
Lovely poem, Laura!
*************
Wall
Hitting a wall
that?s made of glass.
Telling myself
this too shall pass.
?Kate Coombs (Book Aunt)
Thanks, Kate. I’m interpreting this two ways–one serious and one humorous. The humorous one is winning out as I’m picturing myself (and others) doing the whole walking-into-sliding-glass-door thing.
I like the emotion and the rhymes in this.
Lovely!
I like your little vignette, Laura — it says so much! For mine, I think I was somehow inspired by the hope in Kate’s poem:
FRAMEWORK
Confinement
resignment
locked within your tracks
realization
liberation –
sneak out through the cracks.
- ? Matt Forrest Esenwine
Thanks, Matt. This is cool–I especially love line 3. And then the liberation. Too bad various groups *have* to sneak, but that’s usually how societal change starts, I guess!
Thank you all! There are some really terrific poems here…this was a great photo to use!
I love the words you found, Matt. I imagine we were thinking similar thoughts, but you wrote them so well.
This has a great sound.
Love the word choices and the rhymes!
Wow, it’s like you spent weeks on it, bravo Matt!
I love lines 3 and 6.
I like your little vignette, Laura — it says so much! For mine, I think I was somehow inspired by the hope in Kate’s poem:
FRAMEWORK
Confinement
resignment
locked within your tracks
realization
liberation –
sneak out through the cracks.
- ? Matt Forrest Esenwine
Thanks, Matt. This is cool–I especially love line 3. And then the liberation. Too bad various groups *have* to sneak, but that’s usually how societal change starts, I guess!
Thank you all! There are some really terrific poems here…this was a great photo to use!
I love the words you found, Matt. I imagine we were thinking similar thoughts, but you wrote them so well.
This has a great sound.
Love the word choices and the rhymes!
Wow, it’s like you spent weeks on it, bravo Matt!
I love lines 3 and 6.
cage or shelter
portal or view
look within
the key
out
Jeanne Poland
I was writing about walls recently for something–always interesting that they can imprison or protect. Just depends on the circumstance. I especially like your very first line, Jeanne…
I, too, like your first line the best — interesting how walls can be either.
Love the way you see the image, Jeanne :0)
cage or shelter
portal or view
look within
the key
out
Jeanne Poland
I was writing about walls recently for something–always interesting that they can imprison or protect. Just depends on the circumstance. I especially like your very first line, Jeanne…
I, too, like your first line the best — interesting how walls can be either.
Love the way you see the image, Jeanne :0)
Your poem shows what I often think of Paris, fancy, haute couture women who dangle things as trinkets, Laura. Here’s mine:
Imprisoned
until
she saw the wall
as a ruse for abuse–
traveled around, then up!
Parisian women are a bit intimidating, right? I love “ruse for abuse”–fabulous!
I like “ruse for abuse”, too. (I feel like I keep copying Laura… but it’s true!)
Very clever!
Your poem shows what I often think of Paris, fancy, haute couture women who dangle things as trinkets, Laura. Here’s mine:
Imprisoned
until
she saw the wall
as a ruse for abuse–
traveled around, then up!
Parisian women are a bit intimidating, right? I love “ruse for abuse”–fabulous!
I like “ruse for abuse”, too. (I feel like I keep copying Laura… but it’s true!)
Very clever!
I am in love with She Wore.
Thanks, Joanne!
I am in love with She Wore.
Thanks, Joanne!
In the Grocery Store
House Sparrows sweep
past produce
peck at pies,
retreat to hideouts
treed
where treasure lies.
I should probably read the 15-word or less rules to see if titles are part of the word count. If so, sorry to sneak in those extra words. I wasn’t sure if folks who don’t have sparrows flitting about the high ceilings of grocery stores would get this without the title.
Love the image of Paris as a fancy wrap that might be forgotten so easily, Laura.
I like the alliteration and the rhymes. I can just picture those sparrows!
Yes, I’ve seen a sparrow or two, always wonder how they catch them. I like the alliteration too.
Thanks, Buffy. This is wonderful–and title words do NOT count as part of the 15, so you’re completely legal:>) I love when birds are in the grocery store–a rare occasion here. And it’s pry not the most sanitary, but it’s so fun. My favorite thing about your poem is that the line breaks and meter feel quite erratic, like a bird flitting about. Great effect!
I love this. I love the flitting line lengths and all the p’s, ee’s, and ie’s. You inspired me to write a sparrow in the grocery store poem too.
Thanks all for the nice comments (I can’t claim that the erratic line breaks/meter were a conscious decision, but glad it works)–and happy to inspire you, Liz!
In the Grocery Store
House Sparrows sweep
past produce
peck at pies,
retreat to hideouts
treed
where treasure lies.
I should probably read the 15-word or less rules to see if titles are part of the word count. If so, sorry to sneak in those extra words. I wasn’t sure if folks who don’t have sparrows flitting about the high ceilings of grocery stores would get this without the title.
Love the image of Paris as a fancy wrap that might be forgotten so easily, Laura.
I like the alliteration and the rhymes. I can just picture those sparrows!
Yes, I’ve seen a sparrow or two, always wonder how they catch them. I like the alliteration too.
Thanks, Buffy. This is wonderful–and title words do NOT count as part of the 15, so you’re completely legal:>) I love when birds are in the grocery store–a rare occasion here. And it’s pry not the most sanitary, but it’s so fun. My favorite thing about your poem is that the line breaks and meter feel quite erratic, like a bird flitting about. Great effect!
I love this. I love the flitting line lengths and all the p’s, ee’s, and ie’s. You inspired me to write a sparrow in the grocery store poem too.
Thanks all for the nice comments (I can’t claim that the erratic line breaks/meter were a conscious decision, but glad it works)–and happy to inspire you, Liz!
What a neat poem, Laura!
I’m having a horrible day. Among other things, I am currently waiting (in ‑6 degree weather with no heat) for a tow truck because my car decided to stop working out of the blue while I was driving. Anyway, the poetry here is always a bright spot in my Thursdays, but especially so today!
The picture made me think of snowflakes. Not sure why, but maybe it’s because I’m so cold, LOL.
Delicate, intricate crystals
Melt away with the slightest breath–
Yet a sky-full
Transforms my world.
Oh that’s beautiful Janelle. Sorry you are stuck and cold!
Perhaps you are wishing for a ceiling of protection? Sorry for your bad day & that the warm-up happens soon.
Love this, Janelle–something beautiful comes out of something bad!
Oh no, Janelle! So sorry that your day is rotten. I hope you got towed pretty quickly. I love your ode to the beauty of even ethereal, disappearing things. Lots of wonderful sounds here! Hope your day is going better now!
Thanks, everyone! (For the sweet comments and the warm thoughts, too.)
I was stuck in my car for an hour and a half, waiting. Then, when I finally got to the service place, it turned out their furnace was broken and I had to sit in their FREEZING waiting room for three hours. I survived, though, and have been slowly thawing out ever since… 🙂
What a neat poem, Laura!
I’m having a horrible day. Among other things, I am currently waiting (in ‑6 degree weather with no heat) for a tow truck because my car decided to stop working out of the blue while I was driving. Anyway, the poetry here is always a bright spot in my Thursdays, but especially so today!
The picture made me think of snowflakes. Not sure why, but maybe it’s because I’m so cold, LOL.
Delicate, intricate crystals
Melt away with the slightest breath–
Yet a sky-full
Transforms my world.
Oh that’s beautiful Janelle. Sorry you are stuck and cold!
Perhaps you are wishing for a ceiling of protection? Sorry for your bad day & that the warm-up happens soon.
Love this, Janelle–something beautiful comes out of something bad!
Oh no, Janelle! So sorry that your day is rotten. I hope you got towed pretty quickly. I love your ode to the beauty of even ethereal, disappearing things. Lots of wonderful sounds here! Hope your day is going better now!
Thanks, everyone! (For the sweet comments and the warm thoughts, too.)
I was stuck in my car for an hour and a half, waiting. Then, when I finally got to the service place, it turned out their furnace was broken and I had to sit in their FREEZING waiting room for three hours. I survived, though, and have been slowly thawing out ever since… 🙂
the clouds
the moon
the sun
the rain
free to look
but not to leave
Oh, I love the ‘looking out’ idea. There is some positive in this. Nice.
I was thinking like a beautiful prison 🙂
Love the confining feeling created by those short, parallel, definitive lines. Nice!
Thanks, Laura.
A sad poem… makes me think of an animal in a zoo.
the clouds
the moon
the sun
the rain
free to look
but not to leave
Oh, I love the ‘looking out’ idea. There is some positive in this. Nice.
I was thinking like a beautiful prison 🙂
Love the confining feeling created by those short, parallel, definitive lines. Nice!
Thanks, Laura.
A sad poem… makes me think of an animal in a zoo.
When she stood tall,
The ceiling cracked,
Raining crystal splinters
Down their backs.
Love the allusion you’ve captured, & the raining crystal splinters is terrific.
Yikes! Great imagery.
I get such a great image of this unfolding woman or creature, rising majestically. Love the sound of raining crystal splinters, too.
“Raining crystal splinters” is unexpected and terrific!
I love line 3, too ~ what an image!
When she stood tall,
The ceiling cracked,
Raining crystal splinters
Down their backs.
Love the allusion you’ve captured, & the raining crystal splinters is terrific.
Yikes! Great imagery.
I get such a great image of this unfolding woman or creature, rising majestically. Love the sound of raining crystal splinters, too.
“Raining crystal splinters” is unexpected and terrific!
I love line 3, too ~ what an image!
Glass Ceiling
Oh, please,
birds, bats and bees-
Hear my plea.
Stop watching me!
So frantic. I like the thinking of the outside to in.
This one makes me giggle. 🙂 Love the rhymes.
We used to have a skylight, and it was a bit freaky the time or two a bird perched up there!
Glass Ceiling
Oh, please,
birds, bats and bees-
Hear my plea.
Stop watching me!
So frantic. I like the thinking of the outside to in.
This one makes me giggle. 🙂 Love the rhymes.
We used to have a skylight, and it was a bit freaky the time or two a bird perched up there!
DEFINITION OF ATRIUM
A glass dome stainless
Steel spiderweb that wraps you
In their love cocoon.
© Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
Ha! stainless / Steel spiderweb led me to expect on thing, and then you totally turned the tables on me with the ending!
DEFINITION OF ATRIUM
A glass dome stainless
Steel spiderweb that wraps you
In their love cocoon.
© Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
Ha! stainless / Steel spiderweb led me to expect on thing, and then you totally turned the tables on me with the ending!
OMG! Chicken Little was right,
the sky is falling in squares of light!
OMG! Chicken Little was right,
the sky is falling in squares of light!