Photo: Laura Purdie Salas
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
At the Bellagio in Vegas (for NCTE), Randy and I had a fun time checking out the conservatory (more about Vegas and NCTE over the next month or so). And behind the check-in desk was a cool seasonal display. I wish there was a person there to give perspective. If I were standing next to it, my head would probably reach to about the top of the white stand. It was huge! The pumpkins were bigger than my head!
It makes me think of:
1) The Giant’s garden, if the Giant from Jack and the Beanstalk had a garden.
2) The excellent ’80s horror movie Pumpkinhead.
3) The spiderweb of the giant spiders in The Hobbit.
And here’s my silly poem first draft:
Thankful for
My generous publisher, Clarion
Every school librarian
My beagle’s veterinarian
Strange beasts–if vegetarian
–Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved
What do you think of when you look at this picture? Take any quick idea and jot down a 15 Words or Less poem. It doesn’t have to rhyme or describe this picture. This is just a jumping-off spot. And this is just a fun exercise–don’t worry about creating a polished poem right now! You can see that I didn’t!
OK, I actually despise the above draft. I rarely come back to change anything, but I want a second try here.
On an Autumn Day…
lens of thankfulness
expands the world.Abundant pumpkins
glow like suns
where weeds were sown.–Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! This 15 Words or Less community and the kidlitosphere at large are two things I really appreciate–so thank you!
I was out of town for Thanksgiving, so am a *little* late getting around to this. I like both of your poems, Laura! The first one made me giggle (love all the rhymes!) and the second one is lovely. I especially like “lens of thankfulness” and “abundant pumpkins”.
Here’s mine (with one extra word, sorry):
If my blessings
turned to pumpkins,
they’d reach up to the sky.
(I’d make pumpkin pie.)
~ Janelle
I’m very late to the party this week, but that photo has been stuck in my head since Thursday!
tendrils snake,
entrance, bemuse…
look askance at
autumn Medusa
Fabulous how you saw Medusa in the vines.
I love this and all your word choices — tendrils, askance, bemuse/Medusa.
Laura,
Came to visit. And admire. What a bunch of word artists live here! Maybe someday…
Thanks, Carol–we have a good time. And we hope you’ll join in:>)
PUMPKIN JEALOUSY
Stacks of
Jack o’ Lanterns
challenge skyscrapers for
majestic scope, identity
crisis.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE CHALLENGE
Amber rose colored
vegetable dumplings piled high
Why? Low self esteem.
(c) Charles Waters 2012 all rights reserved
I like the first three lines especially, Charles–the rhyme of stacks and Jack and all the k sounds. So fun to say! And the thought that the pumpkins are piling high to make themselves look/feel better–Ha!
A cinquain – impressive. Love “identity crisis”.
I, too, like all the “k” sounds in the first one. I also like the “high/why” rhyme in the second.
Laura, I really like your revision! Thought-provoking, yet accessible to kids as well as grown-ups! It’s not 15 words or less, but your photo did inspire me to write something…
Pumpkin
Planted seeds.
Ground was dry.
Watered well,
And dreamed of pie.
Thanksgiving came,
I cleaned my plate!
Gourd things come
To those who wait.
- © 2012 Matt Forrest Esenwine
“Gourd things come” made me smile.
I’m with Buffy…loved the “Gourd things come”!!!
Me too!
This poem made me smile ~ especially the ending! Fun pun.
I second what others have said. I think your second effort is a poem worth holding on to. Like you and this Thursday writing time. Hope your day was blessed with happiness and deliciousness .
Aw, thanks, Janet! I had a lovely Thanksgiving–hope you did, too!
Ode to the Corpulent Pumpkin
On display:
opulent design,
in elegant decoration
In truth:
a treat best squashed,
in gastronomic anticipation.
Truly a first…composed on my Droid…..at an early hour….could not get down to 16, but may try again. Happy belated Thanksgiving to this welcoming little community.
Corpulent, opulent…great, moody words! Love squashed, too. Hehe.
Clever
Totally enjoyed your 16 words! It was worth the extra word!
Love how you phrased the last two lines.
I love your ode and all the interesting words!
Thanksgiving
Roll and bake,
Baste and broil,
Chop and mash,
Stir and boil;
Feast,
Feast,
Feast!
Hope all of you had a happy holiday. Thanks for the weekly inspiration!
Your poem made me smile.
I love this little chant. I can see the hobbit singing this as he cooks!
Thanks Laura. You saw a hobbit…I saw myself for the previous 5 hours. (Maybe next year I can hire a hobbit?)
Awesome!!! Great verbs for Thanksgiving.
Wonderful poem. I can see hobbits or my family. We all get in the kitchen to cook. It’s half the fun.
Yep, that’s what Thanksgiving is like! Great way to sum it up in 15 words.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I, too, am thankful for this fun Thursday activity :•)
One autumn night, the pumpkins were bored
And built a pyramid—gourd on gourd.
Hahaha! Love that. Tiny story, rhyme–terrific!
Third try to post a comment. How strange. Anyway – love your poem. A real fun one.
How fun!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Good pick for this beautiful day, Laura.
Greenhouse Pumpkins
Tender care
throughout the year
Sown for one delicious day
Cornucopia of love
Lovely, Amelia! As lots of people (including me) gripe about the time that goes into fixing a dinner that disappears in 15 minutes, this is a celebration of putting time into what you love. Happy Thanksgiving!
Excellent! I am thankful for those that give the tender care so we can enjoy these beautiful pumpkins!!!
Lovely!
A tasty day of love and blessings. Love your sweet and tender poem, Amelia. Very grateful for watching you grow.
Such pretty words.
Beautiful poem, Amelia! I love the last line.
Laura, that’s brilliant. I’m grateful for this fun challenge every week. Happy Thanksgiving!
Please don’t pinch all the pumpkins
I’m hiding from country bumpkins
shuffle, shuffle,
depart.
Very funny! Good poem!
Happy Thanksgiving, Catherine. I’m always thankful for how frequently you Like my posts and help spread the word. Pumpkins/bumpkins=excellent rhyme!
Thanks, Laura. I can’t imagine blogging life without you now
Cute, Catherine!
Thanks, Penny. Are you having a go?
pumpkins, bumpkins – love it.
Love the rhymes and “shuffle, shuffle”.
I am so thankful for Laura’s weekly challenges and for all of your poems and comments. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
pumpkins piled purposefully
for eye-catching artistry
confound static homogeny -
showcase genetic diversity
That’s awesome!
Oh what a fun poem! I love this!
ellie–I’m thankful for your fun and different way of looking at things. I love that third line especially. Happy Thanksgiving!
Nice, Ellie. “genetic diversity”—perfect!
Love your poem and sentiments, elle.
Thanks, everyone!
Wonderful word choices! I especially like the alliteration in the first line.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Pumpkins picked and piled up high.
Those on bottom-
now squash pie!
Very cute!
This is so funny! I love the words- you did a fantastic job!
LOVE the pun of that last line! Happy Thanksgiving, Cindy!
Funny! I love it :•)
Squash pie – awesome ending.
What a fun poem!
Happy Thanksgiving! I’m thankful that you hold these little challenges for us each week!
Your second poem is lovely, especially the first two lines.
in the field reject
pumpkins decompose
…the last candy corn
© Diane Mayr
Thanks, Diane–and I’m thankful for you, such a regular and wonderful contributor:>)
I love the turn in this one–reject and decompose give the first couple of lines such a feeling of emptiness, but candy corn–that can’t be anything but happy!
It’s like grapes turning to wine, lovely!
Oh this is a great poem! Very good! I love the first and second lines’ imagery combined with the last lines’ funniness!
So that’s where candy corn comes from! Very creative poem.
I like this one too. So imaginative. Wonder where my first comment went.
I love this!