Thursday, May 13, 2021

It's Poetry Friday - Risky?


Thanks to Irene Latham, hosting this Poetry Friday, at her blog, Live Your Poem. She's sharing some peeks at her new verse novel arriving next week, D-39: A Robodog's Journey and a lovely poem about poetry for another Artspeak painting. Don't miss her post and all the others who join us on Fridays!



              A few weeks ago, my friend Jane Heitman Healy, who works for Siouxland Libraries in South Dakota, sent me a marvelous poetry packet they had been giving out. Among other things is a booklet with some instructions to write several poetry forms, a small journal, several pages from a book, a marker, and instructions for blackout poetry. I promised Jane a poem from one of those pages and I did it. I believe this is the first time I'm actually attempted this. I read all the pages she sent and finally chose one. I found a spark of an idea, created, and that final part, the blacking out, whew! This was not easy. I cut off some of a word more than once; I blanked out several words I wanted to save; but here it is, a draft? I'm not sure one can have a second draft of a blackout poem. Oops! Thank you, Jane, for all the gifts and all the fun!





     Draft-y

take the lifeline
in high places
imagine doing 
a song
tightrope walking
over
high-rise buildings
she gets her kicks
scared
performance
if you go that high
the most wonderful thing        is        you
change
the wind
shakes me
I decide to go
I'm not afraid
of a high place           that
vanishes
cool assurance
the rest of the way

Linda Baie ©




Skyscraper Stock photos by Vecteezy

22 comments:

  1. Linda, I commend you for your ability to take the page full of thoughts and create your own blackout poem. The lines lead to an inspiration poem. The photo in the background goes so well with the poem making the design striking. The packet of material sound fascinating.

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  2. Oh, how fun! What a neat-o poetry packet! I enjoy seeing the words that stand out to people from a page. It's always different and always fascinating. And, it IS hard to turn off your inner poet and settle into simply finding. It's a different mindset. I kind of like it. But, I will admit...I'm not great at it. Love how your found words create a character, setting and feeling. Lovely.

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  3. Oh wow. Your first blackout. I'm sure there are many to follow. I have a confession to make: I kind of wanted it to end at vanishes...💨 AND - I am afraid of that high place!

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  4. The most wonderful thing is you!! And you made me laugh when you said you're not sure you can have a second draft of a blackout poem. :) :) In THIS POEM IS A NEST, I definitely did revisions! But then, I was simply finding poems and wasn't "stuck" with black ink... maybe not being able to revise makes it more zen like an experience?? Those poetry packs looks great! Thank you for sharing. xo

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  5. I've never tried a blackout poem. You seem to have mastered the technique! I love "the most wonderful thing is you / change" and the transition from fear to "cool assurance." You make the form look like fun!

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  6. Great job, Linda!! I like that you created some narrative tension in your poem, and ended it in a reassuring way. Love "the most wonderful thing is you . .. " :)

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  7. What a very cool poetry packet! I really like:
    if you go that high
    the most wonderful thing is you
    change
    the wind

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  8. Well done, Linda! I agree, blackout poems are challenging! What a lovely poetry packet from Jane that inspired this poem from you. :)

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  9. Cool poem! I like that "cool assurance" ending too, and the tension you create earlier on. What a lovely poem package you received–enjoy, thanks!

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  10. What a great gift! Black out poems can be tricky. I have learned to circle with pencil and try the poem out before committing to the black out part. "If you go that high, you change..."

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  11. It really is challenging doing a blackout poem without completely trashing the page. Yours turned out to be a fine high-wire act! What a great idea for a poetry packet! I would have loved that as a child.

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  12. Tabatha already picked my favorite lines, so I'll just say Well Done! I've been saving magazines and journals to try blackouts and collages. Looking forward to testing out my new Exacto Knife set and my Sharpie Markers!

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  13. Thank you everyone for coming by. I will certainly try this blackout poetry another time. It was intriguing to work with another's words and make them my own. Have a wonderful weekend!

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  14. Wow, this is so good! I love "the most wonderful thing is you."

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  15. This is great, Linda! I love the confidence, especially in the line, "I'm not afraid/ of a high place that/ vanishes..."Go, you!

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  16. Thank you, Ruth and Molly. I'll need to try it again; it was fun!

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  17. Coooool--I read it
    "the most wonderful thing is you change the wind"!
    I took a little workshop in blackout poems and it's harder than it looks for sure.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Heidi, that is what I was thinking for that line, too.

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  18. This is lovely! I also love this section: "I'm not afraid/ of a high place that/ vanishes..."
    Lines to give all of us courage ...

    Kudos for using this form - it's one that intimidates me ... which probably means I should have the courage to give it a try. Thanks for sharing this.

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    1. As you saw above, it was fun, but it was challenging for sure. Thanks, Elisabeth!

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  19. What a fabulous poetry packet! I'll have to share that with my librarian daughter. Wowza on your blackout poem! They are so much fun to create. I love:

    I decide to go
    I'm not afraid
    of a high place

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