Friday, April 3, 2009

Wandering in the rain with poems

It is an "April showers bring May flowers" day in New York. The rain is coming down and it's misty. From my view, it's almost as if I live up high in the clouds. I do adore my rainy days.

It is a perfect day to write poems. I'm going to show you a wonderful way to write poetry called Found Poems. You take words from various sources: books, songs, movies, conversations from people; then make them into poetry.

I'm going to use two examples to illustrate this. This paragraph is from the book: Sew Easy Papercrafting by Rebekah Meier.

"Remember how fun it was to color with crayons? Go back to your creative roots and rediscover the joy of crayons with this handmade card. With a little coloring here and a little embroidery there, your card is finished, already matted and ready to be framed. Iron transfers, used in this project for the butterfly design, can be found in the needlework department of any craft store"

Now, your wondering how can you make poems from this paragraph? I usually go intuitively with words that pop out of me. I'll be making these poems right on the spot. With little editing.

Found Poem#1
Go back to
Crayons
Remember
Rediscover
The Butterfly
in
your roots
of
Joy.

Found Poem#2
What is the color
of fun for you?
Does a little coloring
make you want to
be a Handmade person
or a Finished frame person?


I feel by now you get the idea. Let's try classic literature. Here is the first paragraph of my fave, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

"There was no possibility of taking a walk that day. We had been wandering, indeed, in the leafless shrubbery an hour in the morning; but since dinner (Mrs. Reed, when there was no company, dined early) the cold winter wind had brought with it clouds so sombre, and a rain so penetrating, that further out-door exercise was now out of the question."

Found Poem#3
I wander in
possibility
of the clouds
and the winter wind
penetrating the question
of my mind.

Found Poem#4
In the taking of a walk
that day
There was no company
in the hour of rain
only the leafless
shrubs and sombre
door waiting for
my return.


I hope this weekend, you try your hand at writing found poems. It is fun and stretches your creativity. Of course, there will be more merriment with poetry as Poetry month continues. Have a fabulous Friday. As always, Sweet Dreams to you all.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

fun, fun, fun!!! hey, shell. maybe we could do a found poetry booklet. you write and i illustrate??? think about it! i'm serious!

in her shoes said...

love the poems! looks like we were both inspired by today's rain. have a great weekend!

*r

Tristan Robin said...

all very very nice - but I especially like the second Jane Eyre inspiration. Very evocative.

Rain is better for you than me. It's raining here in CT (about 1 1/2 hours from the city), too - but all it makes me want to do is curl up with a quilt and good black and white movie!

GlorV1 said...

Very nice Shell. I write poetry from time to time and I just love those poems you wrote on the spot.

I have to give it a try as well. Poems for my paintings. Or maybe short 2 paragraph stories. Oh how fun. Take care and I love the rain.

Anonymous said...

Shell, That's awesome. I love found things and now words. Have a great weekend.
jj

Sarah said...

Hi Shell, I love these found poems! I love that opening paragraph from Jane Eyre too. I will have a go myself later.
We still have bright sunshine here which is lovely but rain is coming I just know it! Have you seen Khaled's blog? (It's on my blog list) I can't remember ever where I found different people so you may well have done! If not, have a look-he is a poet too and is posting different poems of his own and other people's this month. I always enjoy what I read there too.
Sarah :)

Khaled KEM said...

Hi Shell,

What a great idea you have here?! I love this kind of creativity. I try it myself from time to time. I like fond poem #3.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for Sarah and her kind words about my blog. I will take my time to visit your blog.

Khaled

http://afancifultwist.typepad.com said...

Hmjust might give it a go!! You are so delightful did you know that? No rain here, just wind that makes you want to jump in a vat of chapstick ;) xoxo

Judy Hartman said...

Love this, Shell!
What a great process!

couragetocreatewriteandlove said...

this is good very good indeed!

Wordless Wednesday: Spring