First, I’m visiting with MsMac at Check It Out today. I hope you’ll stop by and see what’s going on and say hi:>)
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
Photo: Sergey Kustov
Cool! This image makes me think of:
1. Baby dolphins or whales swimming along the underside of their moms
2. The smaller planes remind me of penguins, which look (cutely) awkward on land but so graceful under water.
3. My flight to Chicago a few years ago where I clutched onto Randy because the turbulence was so bad even the flight attendants were buckled in. I truly thought we were going to crash.
Here’s my poem first draft!
First Flight
Baby planes,
all jut and strut,
shine and whine,
hurtle through sky
with unexpected
grace–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:>)
JAPANESE GRANDMOTHER
sees the silver bird
from its belly drops
oval pointed shapes
heart all but stops.
- Violet Nesdoly
*********
I’m terribly late to this party, but Thursday and Friday saw me up to my neck in something else. Regardless, I like to challenge myself with this each week, so here I am….
I saw this sinister picture when I had dragged the photo onto my desktop, and it displayed as a tiny thumbnail.
Violet, this is powerful. Rhyming poetry that ISN’T funny is difficult to pull off, but when it works, it’s awesome. And this works. That image of death dropping out of the plane took my breath away a little bit…
Why, thank you! Working on your 15-word poems is teaching me to listen to my intuition. I like how you make varied suggestions in your intro, sending us in different directions.
I like knowing that is useful–thanks! I always just wanted to make sure that my sharing my poem first didn’t make anybody feel they had to see the same thing in the picture that I saw:>)
What a fun exercise. My poem went over the 15 words just a bit.
Two children
And a mother
Struggling to get by
She gives them all her love
And soon they learn to fly
FOLLOW THE LEADER
Supersonic transport
teaches youngins how to
trust themselves …
and f l y.
(c) Charles Waters 2012 all rights reserved.
And I thought it was scary watching a toddler lurch across the floor! Love the separation of that last line…
It’s great reading everyone’s poems. Maybe I’ll try one of my own one of these days…
Ruth, yes! This is the perfect place to try writing a poem. Just fast, easy, no expectations:>) A way to get your brain going whether you’re going to do anything else with the poetry exercise or not. Thanks for stopping by to read…
Bird Race: A Haiku
Seabirds ride the waves.
Don’t bet on the albatross.
It prefers the sky.
I love the sounds in that second line, Jane–and the way the seabirds’ ride on the waves sounds so silky. Thanks for playing!
The Flight Club
Today
I took
off
the veneer
Confidence
crushing
my descent
Flailing
face first into
fear
-Pamela Ross
I love that crushing, Pamela. Makes me think of air pressure crumpling up a little plan.
like sharks
jets give
birth to
live young
con
stant
ly
in
mo
tion
lest
they
dive
(i hope the broken fragments of words don’t bump the word count, otherwise i cheated)
Oh, I love the word fragments, and you’re well within the 15:>) I especially like “live young.” That always sounds so cold and impersonal on nature shows, and it fits sharks and jets perfectly. And now I’m hearing the music of West Side Story in my head!
sharks and jets! how could i miss that connection? that’s pretty funny, the way the subconscious will string together things and then let you see them (or not) at your own speed.
I know! One of my favorite things about poetry, especially, since we’re making weird connections and don’t know why at the time. Or aren’t aware of the other way those words connect. :>)
Follow me
Across the sea
To the site
Where we were cast.
There we’ll rest
In ancient nests,
Singing rites
To flights long past.
Lovely, I like ancient nests!
What a haunting and intriguing poem. Love the 4th line, especially!
Sorry I cheated. Yesterday, I was literally too tired to count!
So funny–I didn’t even notice. We won’t hold it against you this time!
Metallic birds
gliding, soaring.
Engine prevents falling,
spluttering, juddering.
Diving aloud but no waddling please.
Waddling is such a great contrast to soaring.
Ha! I, too, love the waddling. And juddering. Must go find out if that’s a real or made-up word!
Cocoon
aligned in perfect
symmetry,
heartbeats synched in
mimicry—
mother, lover, child
in the womb
I like the rhyme symmetry/mimicry.
I really enjoy how your title makes another slant rhyme with the last line. And “heartbeats synched in/mimicry–” — fantastic!
Stay close.
No distractions–
Keep your eyes on me.
Together we’ll fly
as one family.
Cute!
Lovely–I love the maternal voice here!
I think you sparked my ideas today, Laura. I love your jut and strut, shine and whine! Here is my thought.
Don’t you know
I love to celebrate
my twins in tow?
It’s almost Mother’s Day!
Thanks, Linda! Love the joyful voice here:>) “in tow” is perfect with this image!
Flying School
With silver flicker
of fins and tail,
flying fish
find air -
set sail.
- ellie
That’s lovely!
love it.
i posted my poem before reading the others. interesting that you saw fish as well.
Ooh, this makes me think of an old-fashioned, spectacularly illustrated poetry collection full of other worlds and magic… I love “find air.”
Thanks everyone. I was inspired by Laura’s first suggestion and tried to combine images of fish (school, fin) with airplanes (silver, tail, air). Find air was the hardest line so I am glad you liked it.
Copycats!
Always trying
to do everything
the big boys do.
Hehe! This made me remember days of tagging along after my older sisters when I was a kid:>)
Neighborhood Watch
Two birds
too small
to identify
chase
one
capricious
irascible
crow.
Don’t
come
back!
I like the two/too/to and the one capricious, irascible crow.
in our neighborhood it’s the jays chasing the cardinal, but it works. fun!
I love the crow description. Reminds me of my dad. I love the emphatic ending and spacing, too!