A little backstory on this poetry prompt series: Laura Purdie Salas once hosted a weekly poetry prompt on her blog called “15 Words or Less.” She decided to pay more attention to her many writing projects, and the world of KidLit has been blessed by a number of new books from her, but I missed waking up on Thursday mornings to a quick photo poetry prompt. With Laura’s blessing, I started this weekly post.
Following Laura on Instagram, I borrowed this photo from her. In an email, she explained that it’s grass in a park across the street from her house. I love how the simplest things that often go unnoticed can be captured in a photo. This photo can become a poem. Laura’s mantra is “Look closer…”
A park bench
Margaret Simon, draft
open
waiting
a resting place
for adventurers
you and me.
Look closer and write a small poem in the comments. Write encouraging comments to others.
At Sharing Our Stories, Ruth invites us to write inspired by a photograph. Her suggestion is to look at the background. Notice something new. Welcome writers from SOS today.
Reflections on the Teche 
I love this photo and your warm, inviting poem, Margaret. Here’s my response:
November’s steady amber gaze
transfigures feathered grass
autumn alchemy
Love these a-words, amber, autumn, alchemy. Lovely.
Simply gorgeous, Molly.
I like how you brought in the color in your poem. The amber is so beautiful but can be overlooked.
“autumn alchemy” opens our imagination to so many possibilities, lovely, thanks Molly!
Thanks for the link to Ruth Ayers. This photo is so clean and bright. I love the light and the perspective. Your last line invites us in…such a warm thought. I think that’s what led me down the path to these words.
Mother has braided
my hair into plaits
so that I can runand play
outsidetoday
Come on!
I have a skipping rope
and sidewalk chalk
There’s a bench
in the parkwhere we can sit
nibbling sandwiches
and gazing up
to find stories
in high white clouds
I think my favorite line is “Come on!” That’s what we say to invite someone to play.
I love the lines to find stories/in high white clouds because it is nature that draws us into the experience, Linda.
Beautiful! This morning I was a little girl again, feeling more like 7 than 70. Thank you.
My favourite are the last three lines. Your poem brings me back to my childhood.
Just like with Margaret’s poem, I love the invitation. Your poem also has such a bright energy. Delightful!
A resting place for adventure – how it beckons! How it begs one to be ready,,. I like the togetherness of “you and me.”
I am but a creature of Earth
Without clear vision
But I taste promise in the wind
and in waving glided grasses
– ok more than 15 words; will condense later …
“Taste promise in…gilded grasses” A lovely response to the invitation.
But I taste promise in the wind is a favorite line, Fran, because I dream that the wind will blow into a new day of hope.
-thanks for reading that as ‘gilded’, which in fact was what I meant to type.
Oh, those final two lines are just lovely!
Margaret, your poem reminded me of the many benches I see along the walking trail. I think of them as invitations to rest, as you do in your poem.
I’ve been reading and thinking too much lately about the need to accept what is and move on, which is probably the thinking that prompted my words today.
boney-bare branches
finger the sky
fall concedes.
“Concedes” is such a powerful word choice here and now. I love the alliteration of your first line as well.
No barbed wire fence here–
only tiny spikes
on slight, wispy grasses
catching morning light
–Laura Purdie Salas
This picture made me think of barbed-wire fences (I have a big scar on one leg from a childhood encounter), walls, detainment camps…so glad nature doesn’t copy human behaviors!
Thanks for “catching morning light” on these
“on slight, wispy grasses.” Lovely, Laura.
Such a beautiful photo! I love all the s sounds in those “slight, wispy grasses.”
Laura, the barbed wire is a stark image of manmade devices. Nature holds no barriers for us.
Lovely nature image from Laura. I like the invitation to adventure in your poem Margaret, thanks! Here’s mine,
Crowned garlands curve
and invite you through skies
Brim with blue
Possibility…
Michelle Kogan
Such a positive tone and I love “brim with blue possibility.”
Thanks Molly, it feels like some possibilities have opened up again since our election!
When I see a picture like this, I long to become a photographer. I couldn’t resist this invitation on my way to sharing my story. Thanks for sharing an image that will linger in my mind.
Curved grass frames
curved tree tops
coaxing us to cartwheel
beyond the frame.
I really enjoyed the idea of moving “beyond the frame.”
Love this alliteration!
And I missed the park bench when I first looked at the picture. We need more resting places! Thanks for this invitation.
Such a well captured image. Thank you for the poetry invitation. My try:
Gently swinging
in the breeze,
I am free.
Dance with me.
Love all those long “e” sounds!
The idea that one photo can bring us to a state of freedom with our thoughts become a joyful moment of pondering, Terje.
Those last two lines are so lovely!
[…] It’s very tall grasses making a series of arches. You can check out the image at Margaret’s post, and the history of these Wednesday night/Thursday morning prompts originally started by Laura as 15 […]
Margaret, Laura’s photo is inviting.Your poem revolves around the simplicity of nature and the restfulness of a park bench. One one of my awe walks I found a bench that allowed for me to sit, rest, and remember times when my children were young and I watched them play. Thank you for that momentary departure back in time.
I love this idea and can’t wait to try it with kids!
What a beautiful reminder to look closer!