Tower Bridge [15 Words or Less]

Hello, and welcome! This is 15 Words or Less Poems, a low-pressure way to wake up your poetry brain (guidelines here), and I’m very glad you’re here. 

Tower Bridge, London
Photo: Laura P. Salas

I love boats and water and bridges. I took this pic while we were on our Thames Rocket boat tour, as the guide explained to us that when a U.S. businessman bought the London Bridge (now in Lake Havasu, Arizona), he thought THIS was the bridge he was buying. This image makes me think of several things:

  1. people holding hands across borders
  2. bombing of bridges during war
  3. self-building robotic bridges

And here’s my first draft.  Even when robots are building bridges, it still works best to have two (or two teams) of robots starting on opposite shores and working toward each other. My poem feels more like a maxim or a proverb than a poem, but it’s all I’ve got time for today!

It’s your turn! Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS! (Title doesn’t count toward word count.)

 

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26 Responses

  1. Ahhhh…summer vacation has finally arrived! I’ve missed participating during these last few hectic weeks. Laura, I love your poem, maxim, proverb and its message of finding strength when both sides “stretch toward the center.” Here’s my not-nearly-so-profound take:

    What a surprise!
    Can’t believe my eyes!
    A picture from London
    showing bright blue skies!

    1. Of course. Those blue skies jump right out at you! Love the rhythm and rhyme.

    2. Thank goodness for not-so-profound! Yes! This was a stunningly beautiful day in London. The weekend we were there were record high temps for that time of year (early May). Not at all what I expected;>) Happy summer, Molly!

  2. BRIDGE UNBUILDING

    London bridge is falling
    and my mother’s calling,

    “Ouch!”

    (Lego pieces make a grouch.)

    1. Cute Cindy. I have a vivid picture in my mind of my little great-granddaughters building those towers with their “largest” Legos.

  3. Strength and wisdom in your verse Laura. I’ve always enjoyed the history of the “real” London Bridge. September is fast approaching and my eyes saw:

    Twin Towers

    Stately, strong
    standing tall
    evil wrongs
    towers fall
    yet still
    hearts fill,
    we stand tall.

    1. What lovely use of rhyme, and I love the way your words and line breaks force me to pause between last three lines. Powerful stuff, Martha–thank you.

    2. You’ve captured the sorrow all over again, yet end on hope. Lovely.

  4. Your picture and your poem made me think of politics, Laura, and the shockingly evil insults folks feel they have the right to say publicly. I like watching old movies. People talked to each other nicer back then.

    Bridging the Gap

    How to agree
    to disagree
    when too angry
    for civility?

    1. I like old books, too. Much more civil, less bloodshed, more intelligent words.

      Could doses of
      Civility
      and touches of
      Humility
      bring back our lost
      Gentility?

      1. I’m listening to a great audiobook called, Wait, What? Funny but fabulous thoughts on communication. https://amzn.to/2tJ0m3Z A little civility in the world would sure be nice…love the simplicity and rhythm of your poem.

  5. Alas, I could see nothing friendly about this picture. But for some reason, the poems kept coming fast and furious. I shall stop and close this up now before I ramble on more…

    No hugs lost here:
    Some fear,
    Some cheer;
    Two distant shores
    Between I steer.

    Or:

    At arms length
    With elbows rigid
    Two shores touch
    But water’s frigid

    Or

    Too many bridges crossed
    Too far away,
    You’re lost.
    Burned bridges
    At what cost?

    1. Oh, that middle one is the one that captured me! A cold war in 12 words…

  6. You are on a roll, Donna. I might like your middle poem best, but all three are good.

  7. Poem by Jessica Bigi

    our minds arching worlds
    building, creating,
    teaching, learning
    towing cloud- books
    reading time- passages
    We remember

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