Grover Lewis, in his collection "I'll Be There In The Morning If I Live" (Straight Arrow Books, 1973), includes a poem entitled "Poem Found On The Dais After The President's Declaration of War On Poetry". If not for copyright concerns, I would reproduce the whole thing here, but suffice to say, the poem is simply a list of 21 study questions, beginning with asking about the speaker and what sort of man he is, moving through all the usual high school English quiz questions, and concluding with a directive to criticize and evaluate the poem. Genius, if you ask me.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Ten things I hate about you. To-do lists. Shopping lists. Lists of possible suspects. A list of reasons why lists never work. Bucket list. Listing to starboard. Passenger list. List of ingredients. Your kiss is on my list. Blacklisted, unlisted, "A" list, shit list.
Your list may be the entire poem (and if so, you'll need to be clever about it, as Mr. Lewis was with his title), or just a part of it. Maybe you won't even include an actual list, but merely reference one.
Next on the list? Sign the link list.
25 comments:
love this prompt, Shay! love it.
i'm thinking of this list-song, "Instructions," by Veda Hille. i bet you'd like it:
http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/Instructions/2WZjbM?src=5
Wonderful prompt. I am very much in a work grind right now, but will be thinking about it. k.
Love lists.. I have only done it once before, but then by using googlism.. so I used that to get started. My entry has an element of found poetry ... hope that's ok..
Once again I posted the wrong link.. hmm it's slightly frustrating when the old entry remains.... Here is my correct link.
http://brudberg.wordpress.com/2014/08/22/procrastination-is-what-i-do-best/
I live prompts. I would never think of this. My effort might be awful, but I am always challenged. Six kids to prepare for school Monday (doctor, dentist, orientations, supplies, clothes, shoes, etc). I'm pulling my hair out leaving it to the last week. I guess I was in denial about summer ending. Hey, maybe there is a list in there somewhere. Ha
Great Idea! I just read 'Miracles' by Walt Whitman to my class today, and thought what an amazing "list poem" this is.
I fixed your link for you, Bjorn.
Things have calmed down somewhat here, though I haven't been able to write much--but I can't pass up a Fireblossom Friday, especially one that happens to have inspired a little activity in my brain cells. Thanks, Shay, and thanks toads for bearing with my invisibility lately.
I was going to go with my shit list, but I don't have that kind of time!
Cool prompt, lady.
My poem is for Susie and FB's prompts this week so I have linked to both.
A bit of dalliance in the glades of literature.
Fireblossom you have hooked me again! I wanted to post something about my upcoming mini-vacation and this is just perfect for it! Plus, I had to give making a poem out of list a good shot!
Love it!
Marco's link takes us to Susie's blog...?
When I cam here just now the red x was showing so I was able to correct the error. I corrected a link for Marco's blog Wednesday and didn't realize his name was in the space today where I should have added my name.
This popped up (while I was meeting a machine at the Y). I just kept thinking how there are so many lists in poems I write and read lately. I'm tired but glad to be here.
I'm behind from yesterday reading/commenting...thank you to those who visited me and I really will catch up with you this weekend for sure!!
Thank you, Fireblossom for the challenge! :)
I'll just add my inane comment to the growing list . . .
Cheers!
JzB
Susie, the Xs show if you are still logged in for Mr Linky.
Marian, your link takes us to Mr Linky!
my link works for me, and a bunch of you have visited? geez, technology.
don't get me started on how i accidentally created a second Goodreads account for myself yesterday. certainly not intended, what a mess. if any of you see me #2 over there (a maniacal photo of me drinking coffee, not my Goodreads author photo), just ignore it! i'm trying to figure out how to cancel the account. that was crazy easy to do by accident, be forewarned!
That's strange, It works for me now too but led me astray when I was on my tablet.
I like list poems. I did one once on all things grey - fun. I enjoyed doing this second one about lists. Thanks for the neat prompt.
Fun prompt--thanks. k.
I'll be around to read the late birds before the weekend is out! :-)
Thanks for this prompt....it turned out to be very emotional for me.
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