Kick the Poetry Can’ts #12
One of the things I think my students and new poets find most difficult about writing poetry is that they want a set of rules to follow: start each sentence with a capital, use complete sentences, make things rhyme, and make everything make sense. What I try to teach them is that some of the best poems or at least the seed of a good poem, can often be found more easily if you break the rules or throw the idea of rules out the window.
Now I’m not saying I find this easy to do. But when I do it, and when I share, it often cracks something open for the writer. To do this I go back to my giant stash of things cut from magazines. (I keep a stack of magazines and a pair of scissors near where I sit to watch TV. It’s a good thing to do at that time.) I go through a magazine and I cut out phrases that I find interesting. In this stash they are all phrases, no individual words. No punctuation marks. In the classroom I put a pile of phrases in front of each student.
The rules are this:
- Use as many or as few of the phrases as you want.
- Do not cut/tear the words apart to make other words. You have to use them just as they are.
- Do not write new words or punctuation on scraps of paper to add to the poem.
You’d think these would be easy rules to follow but a lot of people get hung up on not having complete sentences or not making perfect sense. You can give this a try using the phrases that I share in the picture or you can grab a magazine of your own and cut out a stash of phrases that speak to you.
Here’s my set I chose to work with for this poem (click on the picture to see it full size):
And here’s the poem I came up with as a result.
Family is what you have
at break of day
listening around corners
like father, like daughter
tell me lies one by one
imagine the possibilities
behind the mask
and still the story
something very sorry
in my home
I like it. I might choose to go back and revise it into something more but I also like it just as it is.
Your turn.
Original art by Susan Taylor Brown
Ooh, my favorite phrase here is “tell me lies.” I can think of lots poems for that one.
And I really love your result! I am totally revisiting all of these posts in May to do the work. (drafting a novel this month)
Thank you, Irene. I am so behind on trying to visit all the poetry month posts that I, too, decided to take May to do that. It’s just too much richness all at once.
Who can tell my story?
one at a time
what I learned
it’s all good
do you hear what I hear?
listen up
It’s about time
Thanks for the great idea! I’ve always been intimidated by poetry, but your blog is giving me some hope and inspiration!
This is wonderful. So much said with just a few lines. I love opening with a question like that because it helps the rest of the poem fall into place.
I’m so glad you are feeling less intimidated by trying some of these activities. And yay for posting and sharing!
Who can tell my story
It’s about time
Time to go home now
How do I come home again?
And still the story
Outside the lines
Nowhere to call home
Nice one, Jenn. Thanks for playing along. I loved that line “outside the lines” and wanted to use it too!
There’s never been a better time
to rise and shine
to know
a “good” accident
after the flood
there before you need it
sunshine all over a room
and a casting for souls.
You’re better than you think!
Wonderful, Karen! I love
a “good” accident
after the flood
Great ending. So glad you played along with us.
Do you hear what I hear ?
It’s how you say it
Listen up
my Life take two
Worth the trouble
A thing called hope
Discover the possibilities
See the world
Pinch me I must be dreaming
- Anne McKenna
Great job, Anne. I love the ending you chose.
WOW! And this makes me want to try this. Perhaps as my reward later today after I hit my revision goal, I can sit down with magazines and scissors. Baby steps.
Thanks for this great post!
I’m glad you think it looks like fun, Debbi! I really enjoy playing with these. I have one box I keep a stash of phrases in for when I work with students but these are from my personal stash. You know how it is, sometimes you see a phrase that just speaks to you. I have them in a pretty box on my desk and I can grab a handful and swirl them around on the glass desktop like magnetic poetry without the magnets.
The hardest thing for me and for most people is to not cut something apart when they are crafting the poem but allowing the unexpected and the imperfections is part of the fun.