Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
Photo: Laura Purdie Salas
I took this picture of a dapper penguin on the side of an ice machine in a small park on Lake Michigan’s shore in Evanston, IL, last weekend. Here’s what it makes me think of.
1. Penguins must get tired of being compared to waiters and other people in tuxedos.
2. Waiters must get tired of being compared to penguins.
3. Sticking my head in the fridge on hot days as a kid.
Here’s my poem first draft, and it’s quite odd not to be writing in haiku!
Sweat-salt stings my eyes.
I lean into the freezer,
practicing freeze-pop frostiness
in chilly clouds.
–Laura Purdie Salas
What does this picture make YOU think of? Whatever enters your mind, jot a quick 15 words or less poem and share it in the comments! Remember, your poem doesn’t have to describe the actual picture. Feel free to comment on each others’ poems and tell what your favorite part is:>)
I am so impressed with the amazing poems shared here today, inspired by the penguin image. Such a luscious collection of fun, descriptive words. I tried. I couldn’t write. Very frustrating. I tried a number of times, putting down a word, then two, then nothing.
I felt flightless. Like a penguin.
This one’s for you, dear Pamela:
At the Aquarium
Watching
the penguins–
all of us
flightless
yet still
we persist
in flapping.
–Diane M.
Oh, that’s gorgeous, Diane. Pamela, just huddle with our poetry colony today to stay warm:>)
Diane: Your poem is perfect in rhythm and sound — oh those hard pppps and ffffs thump to the tune of my struggles this week– and I am so touched you reached out to me in words. You made me weep. Nicely. {}
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I am grateful to both Diane and Laura for pulling me into your emotional embrace. In words AND deeds. Always.
-Pamela, a member of the flock xoxo
A PENGUIN’S SECRET THOUGHTS
This tie’s to tight, my poor feet,
Why am I getting married in
Floridian heat?
(c) Charles Waters 2012 all rights reserved.
Ha! It’s hard to imagine a penguin having negative thoughts–they always seem so happy:>)
LITTLE P’S THOUGHT BUBBLE
Just once
I’d like to forget
tuxedo, tie, “good taste”
and pajama through the day
- Violet Nesdoly
Penguin in PJs–I LOVE it!
Go get dressed,
put on your best.
Celebrate hearty
at the Penguin party!
:>) Does the penguin ever get tired of putting on his best? Check out Violet’s poem above!
Nature chose our colour
How lucky a canary
Bright and Yellow
Or a peacock
Spectacular!
- Anne McKenna
Love this.
ellie
Aw, poor penguin. I love the canary and peacock–just naming those specific birds put a picture in my head immediately of those birds and their beautiful colors–and the penguin off to the side feeling a bit melancholy about his black and white…
Icebirds waddlehop
and tobbganpop
gliding over icy
Antarctic frost.
Frozen meals await these
eager maître d’s!
Oh, my! waddlehop and tobogganpop might be two of my favorite poem words ever.
Oh….such an affirming comment for a new poet and poster! Got the idea of word combining I think from teacherdance and a few other blogs. Love that. Think I should put the word “these” on the last line, though:
these eager maitre d’s
Shared your book and poem “Hydrophobiac” at my session at IRA. It is going to be a giveaway for someone who sends me an evaluation! Still planning to write something for last week’s photo of the beach stones. In process.
Oh, thank you for sharing BookSpeak! I saw the word combining recently on a blog, too. I’ve done it before, but it was definitely seeing someone (maybe Amy LUdwig Vanderwater?) do this wonderfully recently that made me use it here. It’s one thing I love about a community of poets–you see techniques and can try them immediately and see if they feel right for your poetry process…
I love that tobogganpop and waddlehop too. Great thoughts.
“It might interest you to know, speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world” (from “Litany” by Billy Collins) that I taught about penguins and Antarctica in my 3rd grade and made up a “song” which teaches about all 18 species of penguins and some basic facts and descriptions about them and the “6″ groups of penguins (my analysis). It is sung to a familiar tune and isn’t really poetry, but poetic in a broad sense. My students LOVED learning about all the penguins and the song. So….who knew that there is so much to learn and love about penguins? I did not until I began teaching 3rd grade 14 years ago. This image brought a bundle of penguin memories waddling back to me. Have enjoyed today’s poetic efforts and plan to share with my students!
PENGUIN: a ditty
Pottle wottle
Elegance
No eats
Go fish
Under snow
Icy wish (I
Need love)
I love acrostics, Renee. Pottle wottle/Elegance and Icy wish are my favorite lines:>)
penguin dreams
in shades of night
in black and white
no notions
of color explosions
This one’s stunning, David. I like the whole thing, but I also think the first three lines stand alone beautifully…
Shapes
circles and triangles,
stratigically placed–
become penguins
or astronaughts
lost out in space.
I love this mini-meditation on shapes/creativity/flexibility of form.
Pavlovian salivation
at penguin in tux
on ice cream truck.
Please Dad,
say yes today.
- ellie
Awesome opening line, ellie! And awwww on the ending. C’mon, Dad!
Penguin Thoughts
Marching, dancing,
wearing tuxes—
who are these people?
I swim. I eat fish.
That’s me.
–Kate Coombs (Book Aunt)
Hehe! Must be hard living with a stereotype that doesn’t represent you at all!
I love that ‘freeze-pop frostiness’, Laura. I thought of something different than waiters (who knows why?). Here’s mine:
Call of wedding bells :
wonder how to tell,
even when all signs
read “good taste”?
Hehe, Linda–of course grooms come to mind:>) Clever use of the picture. And thanks!
BILLBOARD
Bold!
Bright!
Bedazzling!
Brainwashed?
Baited…
Bought.
by Diane Mayr
I really love this poem, Diane. Especially the end. I think it captures the picture perfectly as an advertisement.
I especially love “baited” in here. Perfect for a fish-loving bird…