Spectacles [15 words or less poems]

Photo: Laura Purdie Salas
Photo: Laura Purdie Salas

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

15WOLs

I’ve been having glasses issues lately, so I’ve been to the eyeglass store several times. Sigh. I might or might not have a pair I can live with now. This image makes me think of:

1) bug eyes
2) security scan at the airport
3) magic glasses that would let me look inside of anything

And here’s my?first draft.

Purple Plastic Cat’s-Eye Glasses

Magic lenses

See ?? inside wrapped gifts
????????? behind doors
????????? under snow

But never
Inside
Your heart

–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:>)??

[Note: In March, I am mostly off the grid. So, please feel free to write, share, and comment, but I will not be able to take part, other than posting these posts. I’ll miss my 15 Words or Less friends–see you in April!]

 

 

88 Responses

    1. Amelia, this is very true. It’s amazing what a tiny bit of magnification brings to life.

    1. Amelia, this is very true. It’s amazing what a tiny bit of magnification brings to life.

  1. perhaps the optical
    speckle of a crystal ball
    is not to see the world
    through rose
    colored glasses

    Gazing
    Lenses
    Await
    Squinting
    Spotty
    Eyes
    See

    I spy
    one hundred
    and one
    lenses
    reading
    reading
    helping
    us to see
    to read

    Poems By JessicabIGI

    thought of three today
    hope you have a good mount Laura
    it is relay snowing here today
    I like the pic and your poem

    1. Love that first one — how the crystal ball might not reveal the rosy picture.
      Please clarify “speckle”

  2. perhaps the optical
    speckle of a crystal ball
    is not to see the world
    through rose
    colored glasses

    Gazing
    Lenses
    Await
    Squinting
    Spotty
    Eyes
    See

    I spy
    one hundred
    and one
    lenses
    reading
    reading
    helping
    us to see
    to read

    Poems By JessicabIGI

    thought of three today
    hope you have a good mount Laura
    it is relay snowing here today
    I like the pic and your poem

    1. Love that first one — how the crystal ball might not reveal the rosy picture.
      Please clarify “speckle”

    1. Love this Ellie. It’s reminds me of being asked a question that requires more than a nod or a head-shake while in the dentist’s chair with his/her fingers and several instruments crammed into your mouth.

    1. Love this Ellie. It’s reminds me of being asked a question that requires more than a nod or a head-shake while in the dentist’s chair with his/her fingers and several instruments crammed into your mouth.

  3. SHY GIRL’S LAMENT
    SCHOOL BOYS DELIGHT

    I tried to live in
    anonymity,
    but one beany toot-
    brought all eyes to me.

  4. SHY GIRL’S LAMENT
    SCHOOL BOYS DELIGHT

    I tried to live in
    anonymity,
    but one beany toot-
    brought all eyes to me.

  5. The Spectral Theater

    Rows of apparitions
    don their lenses
    enhancing their senses
    as “Godzilla” comes to life.

  6. The Spectral Theater

    Rows of apparitions
    don their lenses
    enhancing their senses
    as “Godzilla” comes to life.

    1. Lovely verse Kate. Poignant, bringing to mind children who are fitted with needed lenses for the first time.

    2. This is rely nice it would even sound good with out the first two words

    1. Lovely verse Kate. Poignant, bringing to mind children who are fitted with needed lenses for the first time.

    2. This is rely nice it would even sound good with out the first two words

  7. I have only participated in 15 words or less just a few times. I enjoy writing these, so I don’t know why I don’t do it more often. I always have my glasses on top of my head because I can’t read anything without them. Having them there, I am always ready to see.

    Spectacles

    Perched upon my head
    like a bird guarding her nest
    waiting to see the world

    1. My cheaters stay on my head, too, and now that my bags are growing, they double as a headband. Two uses in one, perched for flight or sight!

    2. I do the same thing! If I don’t, it’s a game of hide and seek with the glasses winning.

    3. Leigh Anne, this is very appropriate. I hope you participate as often as you can.

  8. I have only participated in 15 words or less just a few times. I enjoy writing these, so I don’t know why I don’t do it more often. I always have my glasses on top of my head because I can’t read anything without them. Having them there, I am always ready to see.

    Spectacles

    Perched upon my head
    like a bird guarding her nest
    waiting to see the world

    1. My cheaters stay on my head, too, and now that my bags are growing, they double as a headband. Two uses in one, perched for flight or sight!

    2. I do the same thing! If I don’t, it’s a game of hide and seek with the glasses winning.

    3. Leigh Anne, this is very appropriate. I hope you participate as often as you can.

  9. Penny’s multiplex inspired this one:

    Optimal Optical Octet

    Four pairs of glasses
    adjusted, made tighter,
    set on her head:
    no more nearsighted spider!

  10. Penny’s multiplex inspired this one:

    Optimal Optical Octet

    Four pairs of glasses
    adjusted, made tighter,
    set on her head:
    no more nearsighted spider!

  11. I love yours, Laura x

    Attention!
    Stand still.
    Do not cause a spectacle.

    1. Catherine, the “spectacles” seem to be all aligned and standing at attention. Good idea!

  12. I love yours, Laura x

    Attention!
    Stand still.
    Do not cause a spectacle.

    1. Catherine, the “spectacles” seem to be all aligned and standing at attention. Good idea!

  13. Only
    A tiny
    Fly could
    War all these
    Glasses at one time

    Poem by Jessica Bigi

  14. Only
    A tiny
    Fly could
    War all these
    Glasses at one time

    Poem by Jessica Bigi

  15. Half-Seeing

    She peers over half glasses,
    Imparting her love of ancients
    Whom she sees so clearly.

    This word brought to mind my high-school ancient history teacher.

  16. Half-Seeing

    She peers over half glasses,
    Imparting her love of ancients
    Whom she sees so clearly.

    This word brought to mind my high-school ancient history teacher.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

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

Join 2,499 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."