Window [15 Words or Less Poems]

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.  [Also, subscribers, did you get an email notification this morning that this post was up? I didn’t, and I’m wondering if there’s a glitch.]

airplane window
Photo: Laura P. Salas

Although I don’t like sitting in the window seat on airplanes, I do like craning my neck to see out the window occasionally. My WHOLE row was empty on my flight home from Florida last month, and I scooted over several times to admire the view. This image makes me think of several things:

  1. Prison
  2. The leaking skylight we had in our old house before a bathroom redo
  3. Ships made of clouds

And here’s my first draft. I thought about how I often think it would be so cool to be able to go out and touch the clouds, and how dreamlike that would be. But mostly, I’m just glad the clouds are there, even if I can’t have them (if you know what I mean). That got me thinking about things we wish for for ourselves but have to be content that they are at least there in the world.

freedom 15wol

 

 

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

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

21 Responses

  1. You are right Laura it is good to enjoy the thing me do have in our lives

    Poem By Jessica Bigi

    The First T.V

    no sound
    sticky stars
    faded black
    and Wight
    grandfather
    bought one
    to watch
    world series
    boxing

    1. You are so right Jessica. The frame of the window reminds me of one of the first TV sets I saw, minus the color of course!!!!!

  2. Good morning. I have not yet received the usual E‑mail notification of a post; I went to your website to check things out. I suppose the “sigh“berspace gremlins are at it once again. Anyway, found the picture and it is perfect for this day.

    If Only

    Birds eye view:
    majestic beauty.

    Real time:
    eyes frantically
    search for elusive
    maybes or nots.

    1. Thanks for letting me know, Martha. Yes–the distance and confidence of a bird would be freeing, wouldn’t it?

  3. No email notice- but I came looking for you!

    A CHILD’S IMAGINATION

    People live in the clouds up high,
    sitting and watching,
    and sometimes they cry.

    1. So true Cindy. What a poignant picture! Maybe they are watching those below who are crying, especially a child.

    2. Thanks, Cindy! Love this whole little folktale in this simple but so clear language. Feels like looking into a kid’s head!

  4. I did not get the email this morning, so it is floating around up there somewhere…
    This suddenly looked like crashing waves to me, and imagined looking at a storm through a lighthouse window.

    Lighthouse Watch

    Waves charge
    To grimacing
    Shore
    Gnashing
    Crashing
    Splashing
    Safe from storm
    Inside
    I am.

    Donna JT Smith

  5. I did not get an email notice either…just realized that something was missing from Thursday morning!

    First Flight

    riding wings of hope
    overcoming the pull of despair
    she glides above the storm

  6. Wonderful view on wishing, Laura.

    A Crackled cloud
    through magic glasses.
    Perspective wowed
    ’til enchantment passes.

  7. I so enjoy following along on your poetic journeys, Laura. Love your poem today! Here’s my effort:

    Perspective

    Distance softens
    Earthly turmoil
    From here it all seems
    so minor.

    Don’t land the plane!

    1. Ha! I love this reminder to keep perspective. Isn’t that what draws us (or at least me), in part, to oceans and mountains. That knowledge of bigger things, which makes our problems feel minor. Lovely.

    1. Your poem made me think of the word “stream” and how we use it this way–I never consciously made that connection before!

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."