Blog Prompt #2

Found Poem

Activity:

Create a found poem in the form of either a Newsreel or a Biography. Like a collage, a found poem takes an existing text(s), rearranges their words and images, and presents the new text as a poem. According to poets.org, “a pure found poem consists exclusively of outside texts: the words of the poem remain as they were found, with few additions or omissions. Decisions of form, such as where to break a line, are left to the poet.”

For example, Hart Seeley heard poetry in the news briefings conducted by former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in the early years of the Iraq War. Here is Seeley’s poetic translation of Rumsfeld’s often bewildering speech.

The Unknown

As we know,

There are known knowns

There are things we know we know.

We also know

There are known unknowns.

That is to say

We know there are some things

We do not know.

But there are also unknown unknowns,

The ones we don't know

We don't know.

1.    Decide on the form of your found poem: Newsreel or Biography.

Ø  Newsreel guidelines:

·      Decide on a specific theme to organize the Newsreel

·      Follow Dos Passos’ example by drawing upon specific public texts, such as newspapers, advertisements, song lyrics, etc.

·      Narrow your selection to key words and phrases that advance the theme

·      Using your poet’s eye, rearrange the textual fragments

·      Provide a clever title taken from the original texts

·      At the bottom of the page, give a list of the sources used in the Newsreel.

Ø  Biography guidelines:

·      Decide on a specific theme to organize the Biography

·      Select the public figure who symbolizes this theme. (The figure can come from either the period we are studying or from the present day.)

·      Find your subject on Wikipedia and print the entry. 

·      Using your poet’s eye, and pen, pencil, and/or highlighter, create your found poem out of the words of the Wikipedia text

·      Provide a clever title taken from the original text

2.   Things to remember as you create the Newsreel or Biography

·      All the words must come from the original texts, including conjunctions, prepositions, articles, etc.

·      Sketch out early drafts on paper so you can rearrange words, phrases, and sentences quickly

·      Pinpoint key words or images that create impact and evoke the theme.

·      Experiment with line breaks, repetition of key words and images, and punctuation.

·      Print out early drafts to see how it looks on the page. Is it visually appealing?

·      Read aloud as you create to test the rhythm

·      If you require inspiration, consult The Big Money.  

3.   Post your poem

4.   Comment

·      Comment on at least 2 found poems posted by your groupmates. Each comment should be approximately 100-200 words (or more if you’re inspired).  Pick out a piece of the found poem that made an impression on you and to offer a thoughtful response to the writer. Feel free to provide a brief analysis of the poem or any of its parts.

Post to your blogs by noon on Monday, February 11. Post your comments to your groupmates' blogs by noon on Wednesday, February 13.