FOUND poetry is all about taking words that were not meant to be a poem in their original form, and turning them in to a poem. These words/phrases/sentences come from newspaper articles, snippets of overheard conversations, recipes, interactions, letters… basically any written materials can offer “inspiration”.
The wording is not changed but your use of line breaks and cuts or by adding or deleting text, thus imparting new meaning. The resulting poem can be defined as either treated: changed in a profound and systematic manner; or untreated: virtually unchanged from the order, syntax and meaning of the original.
Pay attention to the world around you. Inspiration can be found wherever you look for it.
WALT’S NEW FOUND POEM:
THE HEART FOR BUSINESS
Read all about it.
The sweetest memories,
mystic & marvelous surprises
beyond measure
feed your imagination.
Dextrose; maltedextrin
treats await you inside.
Part of a healthy diet,
celebrate, discover; delight.
Entrance, intrigue and delight,
balance is key (Good to know!)
Just stand there
with your mouth open,
tremendous things are in store.
Greetings to you! Visit us anytime!
(Also processing egg and wheat that are shared!)
(C) Copyright Walter J Wojtanik – 2014
***Poetry found on a SweeTTarts Hearts bag!
SARA’S DISCOVERY:
Sara has shared two examples of Found poems:
Found Poetry 1 – InForm
ANONYMOUS ADVICE
Expect
that on any given day
you may be rattled.
Allow fudge served
with marshmallow fluff
to calm you.
Detach
from flowing clouds
hiding loud fire alarms
that you think are chasing
you. Take a deep breath
from an open window.
Admit
that you are hurt,
disturbed, and overcome
with grumpiness. Erase
emotions that nag at you;
talk to a friend.
Face
your unfortunate lack
of tact and resiliency.
Stop shouting obscenities
at every opportunity.
Turn on soothing music.
Fake
a happy mood instead
of brooding over boredom.
Walk like a child, and people
will perceive you as a wrapped-
in-happiness person.
(C) Copyright Sara McNulty -2014
***Taken from Real Simple
(from a monthly column)
****
Found Poetry 2 – InForm
THE MARSHALL
He takes pride
in his aptitude
with a firearm,
giving a thug 24 hours
to leave town.
Thug refuses to oblige,
draws his gun, but is fearful,
frazzled underneath false
bravado. He ends up dead,
par for the course.
Marshall is the consummate
cool hero, cowboy hat dipped
low on forehead, a personal
sense of justice.
(C) Copyright Sara McNulty – 2014
***Taken from, The Atlantic
Article on Elmore Leonard
POETIC BLOOMINGS 
SPRINGBREAK 2014
(from usa today)
The likes of winter
Hungover in drunken stupor
Overstayed its welcome.
Winter’s ice slowly abates.
Life pulses, bubbles, skates amidst the dearth.
Spring aflickers, shakes beneath the earth.
Furrows it’s brow at open expanse;
Anxiously awaits the merited spring,
Into action and recoiled newness upon us bring.
Very nice- I’m in agreement with the last two lines. : )
Spring will come soon friend
I like this, anything about spring sounds good right now.
Totally…thanks
Excellent, Benjamin. A dual-meaning poem of the times.
Thanks, I think I actually did it on accident!
I doubt that, Benjamin.
I’m in the minority here, not displeased with this winter, but I am pleased with this poem.
Love winter being hung over!
a previously written offering once again, http://purplesplatitudes.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/rules-regulations/
found from the sign at the entrance to a Mcdonald’s playland
haha, I like this. Who would have thought ‘Rules and Regulations’ could be so much fun?
thanks Debi, I had to do something while I was there, they wouldn’t let me play! LOL
Michael, you did so much with so little. Intriguing.
I’m glad you started posting here (or returned). I’ve visited your blog and enjoy your writing very much.
thank you, it is nice to be trying to participate here once again in such a talented, supportive community
Love it Michael!
Loved it, Michael.
Nice one Michael. I can sense the restraint from all the regulations. These can put quite a damper upon the little playful ones.
The big playful ones too, sometimes. Thanks for this.
Oh — I like this! Very well done, Michael!
Words taken from https://insidersguide.vzw.com/entertainment/winter-photography-ideas-tips-tricks/?cmp=SOC-MB003761
Capturing Stunning Winter
Winter is an ideal time
the sun low on the horizon casts a bright light
over a wider area – beautiful
The prime of winter
moments of fresh snow,
an untouched white canvas.
Diamonds in the pines,
bare limbs in snow and ice
heavy-hanging, covered branches.”
The sun on your back,
sled with the family, walk in the forest,
a good pair of gloves to stay toasty warm
Picture the gray snowy scenes
Look for a pop of color, a bit of color add(s) impact.
Simple compositions in the snow.
this was delightful Debi, I don’t think I am doing these right.
No, you are doing it right. Yours was a lot of fun to read.
Love this Debi!
Wonderful, Debi. Your visuals have their own impact. 🙂 And they capture the wonder of winter’s beginning.
Bingo!
Beautiful, Debi. I like, ‘simple compositions in the snow.’
Nice, Debi! Very visual & pretty.
I gave this another go, hopefully still in the spirit of the prompt
http://purplesplatitudes.wordpress.com/2014/02/26/i-found-ray/
cute!
Yep!
Thumbs-up for this one, too, Michael.
Israeli police Enter Holy Site to Disperse Riot
(February 25, 2014)
Today from atop the Temple Mount
Where once in a past millennium
Preacher Jesus mesmerized the crowds
With talk of salvation and his father’s kingdom
The same spot where Mohammad ascended into Heaven
Ground zero now stages twenty masked Muslims
In the interim between prayer and prayer
Hurling rocks and firecrackers
against armed Israeli police
It is a question of whose Mount it truly is
Since sharing is not a viable solution
Who will lay claim to this iconic holy place
The Muslims who call it the world’s third holiest spot
Or the Israelis whose two ancient temples once majestically stood
And where they pray down below at the West Wall
That a third temple one day will occupy the mount
Which should hold sovereignty over the site
Who will lay claim, Jehovah or Allah
#
nice use of the info and well formed into something new
Nicely done.
I lived in Israel for 12 years. You captured it perfectly
Awesome! I love evreet!
Beautifully done, Sal. And a question which defies an answer. How can one chose who should dominate–the one God or his alter-ego?
Good one Sal. Its quite a battle there.
For me, this emphasises the absurdity of the whole issue of whether it matters, referring to your last line.
Your last line says it all. Wonderful poem, Sal.
Obituary
Harry Weathersby Stamps,
ladies’ man,
foodie,
natty dresser,
and accomplished traveler,
died on Saturday, March 9, 2013.
Harry is relatable and loveable.
He’s not a man who focused
on a laundry list
of impressive academic
or career accomplishments.
He’s a guy
who ate Vienna sausages on Saltines
and considered it a splurge to get a campsite with a creek view.
We all know someone like Harry,
or perhaps we are
a “Harry” ourselves.
###
Love this, RJ. It boils one life down to its essence.
I like the qualities in this Harry. Thx RJ
Me too. He sounded like a nice fellow.
I’m just wild about Harry.
I am mourning Harry and laughing at the same time!
My Yellow Legal Pad – A Mystery
Still,
when most people think legal pad,
they think yellow paper and blue lines.
The true origin of the yellow hue
is actually a mystery.
As far as we know…
###
nice, now I have to go find out where the yellow originated and why
LOL Wonderful, RJ. So true and yet not usually considered.
Deep.
Why I write?
Take pen and paper
Answer it
Even lie
Answer it as though you know
Don’t think about it
(from Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg)
sounds so simple, lol
here, here
Love it Connie!
Yep, I concur. Good one, Connie. Getting the bones right leads to the flesh that gives it appearance. 🙂
Good inspiration here Connie. Overthinking paralyzes the writing process.
Ah, my heroine. I studied at a couple of her workshops in Taos, years ago, and marvelled at her writing and reading, the latter of which reminded me of a cantor.
Wow – your samples made me a ” a wrapped-
in-happiness person”
I’ll have a look round for some poetic findings.
Well, Viv, all you need is a bow.
Wow! I don’t believe I have ever done this before. I think it will be hard to stand toe to toe with any of those!
Born to be Tested
Register!
Bring your confirmation,
pay for your exams
before
the
deadline.
There are no refunds in life,
you are excused but
you may miss events.
Plan in advance
for
impacts.
You are required.
If you have questions
regarding life,
please see a counselor.
***Found on an Advance Placement Exam Registration explanation sheet from my daughter’s High School.
Michelle, this is delightful and so representative of today’s bureaucratic school systems. Love it.
can life be multiple choice or open book please? I like how you applied what you found and made it larger.
Poetry in the guidance counsellor’s office? Whodda thunk it?
A Rare Find
“Writer’s Digest Grammar Desk Reference
(The definitive source for clear and correct writing)”
Be careful with the
reader-friendliness
of bungled series
(also classified as
bastard enumerations).
The superstition should
never be used more
than once in a sentence.
If the wear and tear
of the principals
easily distract the reader
the sophisticated method
can be converted
to misuse of flat adverbs.
Auxiliary verbs
would reduce the
five elements
on the back covers
of recent books.
Double-check that the
elements are parallel.
The most essential part
in every sentence accompanies,
embellishes, assists, and refines
all possibilities in the world.
Nouns and verbs do
everything else.
Ellen Evans (c) Copyright 2014
[a “found” poem for CB 2.26.14]
Oh, Ellen. How dare you have doubts about your abilities to use this prompt well! You’ve done it very well indeed.
This is one that I’ll have to share with my writing group. They will love it as much as I do.
Thanks. Once I got into it, the more irreverent it felt the more fun it was! 😀
Yep. Call it social commentary or op-ed. That way it has real purpose. 🙂
This is great!
Very clever poem, Ellen.
Walt, Sara, you’ve outdone yourselves this time. I love your offerings and their example of creative license. I’ll return with something of my own and do comments on the other offerings so far. 🙂
Thank you, Claudsy!
You’re very welcome, Sara.
Ready….. Aim
You’ve got your orders
Memorize your target
When the opportunity arises
Make every shot count
Failure is not an option
There are no second chances
There’s only one winner
Don’t be left behind
Hide in the shadows
Wait for the right moment
Focus on the issue at hand
Don’t blink
Use your own discretion
The decision is yours
Zero in on the target
Point and shoot
Get the job done
Sell to the highest bidder
Collect your reward
Paparazzi rule
© 2014 Earl Parsons
This is a definite instruction manual, albeit a short one–but succinct of intent. I’d like to know where it comes from, Earl. I kept seeing a military officer standing in front of a specialized squad before deploying on a mission. It was mighty effective.
Claudsy – It came from the twisted mind of a military retiree that loves photography, and is always on the lookout for the next thing to capture, or shoot, if you will, with his Pentax.
I live with a photog and understand that one completely. Thanks, Earl.
I have always loved the interchangeable nature of photography/ military terms. There can be some wonderful word play there.
This, for me anyway, invites aiming at the paparazzi.
Good one, Earl!
Stash the Flavor
Ecological harmony,
a legacy of clean healthy soil,
embraces natural methods,
creating flavors of choice.
For tea drinkers,
Organic is wonderful.
Source: Mission Statement, Stash Premium Organic Very
BerryTea
Perhaps it’s because I don’t like tea, but this reminds me of a local supermarket that has its employees wear shirts that say “organic” on the sleeve. I finally said to one, “I’ve never seen an inorganic cashier.”
I can understand that, William. I have problems with logos on everything sometimes, too.
And for my next trick–
Frequent Flyer
Miles—how far they fly.
Watch—see how they respond.
Surprise!
Only miles qualify for the elite.
Perks waver, matching change
In time and flight patterns.
Wings spread, oceans below,
Albatross glides over the depths,
In search of fancier meals,
Social tendencies on hold,
It watches a world seldom touched.
Source: AP News story on Yahoo–”Big Changes Ahead for Frequent Fliers on Delta
I like the use of an albatross as a counterpoint here. Very effective, in my view.
Thanks so much, William. I had no idea where I was headed until that last three lines. It’s sometimes so difficult to find a landing strip when all you have to work with is a lifeless report in your hand. 🙂
😀
Agree with William. An Albatross was a perfect choice.
Thanks, Sara. I appreciate the confidence in choice.
Walt and Sara Wonderful Poems!! Especially love “wrapped-in-happiness” person 🙂
Thanks, Sara!
DC Follies
The Left
The Right
All they do is fight
The Bad
The Good
Messed up neighborhood
They scream
They lie
While we scrape to get by
They steal
They take
Half of what we make
They fill
Their banks
Without one grain of thanks
They blame
And shame
And play corruption games
We hurt
We morn
America is torn
“No more!”
We cry
America can’t die
The Left
The Right
Are they ready for a fight?
© 2014 Earl Parsons
Earl, you’ve nailed it on DC and what looks to be our future. I like the sparse form you used, too.
Thank you. Regardless of DC, the future is bright. And we, the people, will make sure it stays that way.
One can plan for things, that’s true. Positive attitude counts for a lot.
Lots of thought behind this one. The clipped lines suggest, to me anyway, “enough, already!”
POWerful!
Today
Today’s wake up call encountered flakes
Looks like its a passing phase
The flocks seem blotted in the sky
But soon they’ll fluff some cotton pies
Feathers rhyming from somewhere
Navigating through the dare
Life is flowing as we blink
Coming, going, mixing drinks
Unseen forces in progress
Quander-ing, what comes next?
My day, — contingent not on moves
But a cool or wicked attitude
Love the image of the “flocks seem blotted in the sky,” and the, “Unseen forces in progress.” Nicely placed!
Yes, indeed.
I like ‘navigating through the dare.’ Well done.
Pingback: My Signature | Metaphors and Smiles
My Signature
What’s in a signature?
A promise,
a personality,
a lifelong passion?
Is it art-
a shawl,
mystically beautiful
and shelled of lace?
Is it the
delicacy of silk-
sweet,
simple
and gemstone soft?
What’s in a signature?
Is it color and light-
snow crystal shadow
inviting with texture?
Is it woven-
an island treasure,
samples,
a tassel,
a box,
the feel of luxury,
hope,
or beauty?
What’s in a signature?
Is it linen-
a perfect weave
unique
and mothproofed for longevity?
Is it sturdy and versatile-
durable,
spun and dyed
with a broad palette,
is it a tapestry?
Hooked, knitted or crocheted,
is it inspired by the lighthouse,
a cottage…
Is it an artist and a teacher-
what’s in a signature?
Copyright © Hannah Gosselin 2014
Pay attention to the world around you. Inspiration can be found wherever you look for it.
That’s the truth…I didn’t know I’d be looking to the Halcyon Yarn Catalog for inspiration today…it is really beautiful though!
Note, the only extra words I added were these kinds of words: ”is, it, and, or, the”
and “my,” in the title to fit the Poetic Asides Wednesday Prompt.
Happy writing poetical peeps!
I apologize for my lacking presence in the reading way of writing…it has been trying to find and make time to write these days…not sure why, other than kiddos vacation last week…any way I hope to catch up or hop in soon. 🙂
Thank you for the inspiration and poems, hosts!
No apology necessary. I left you a comment on your blog.
This sounds so like you, whether “found” or not.
Here, we are family. No apologies ever necessary for anything. 😉
Beautiful, Hannah. If there were no name on this, I would know it was yours.
LILAC CAVE
(Inspired by painting Beneath the Lilacs by Claude Monet)
Just beneath the lilacs
Under supercanopy of bloom
Hidden from doom day sun
Inhaling fragrances
Sorting through memories
Set on green carpet
Old and new
We paced down memory lane
Reminisced fondness of times then
That are now ingrained
Upon our history written
Thus we’ll ne’er forget our little lilac cave
For whene’er we crave
A moment to skip the present
Steal a trip to times past
And mist away fill our lungs with lilac
Wonderful!
Love where you got your inspiration from, Benjamin. Love the painting,
and Monet would have appreciated the poem.
The Centenarian
-a found poem from “The Centenarian’s Secret” by Diane Spear Triant
I braked
Glimpsing a hand-lettered sign
Today I am 103!
Stop and say hello
The centenarian
Was sitting beside his rickety cabin
Among a coterie of admirers
Drafted in both world wars
Owned a Model T Ford Depot Hack Wagon
Still used a rotary phone
And backyard well
My notebook swelled
A full-page feature accepted
He died at age 105
The story incomplete
Old letters inside the cabin
Tucked away in a musty bureau?
Anticipation, excitement!
History flowed from John Black’s pen
Written to the centenarian’s grandmother
The tedium of hundred mile marches
A midnight raid into Rebel turf
Capture and torture in a confederate prison
An era gone by
The power of writing
The voice of humanity
Stories live forever
For me, the way you wrote this calls to mind the nature of memory: snippets, pulled together to span a lifetime.
Pingback: Taxonomic Trivia | Vivinfrance's Blog
My found fishy poem is here: http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com/2014/02/27/taxonomic-trivia/
I’ll come back andr ead later.
Sorry – I didn’t get to read much as the day I posted my found poem I went to see my cardiologist and ended up staying in for 5 days (just back home) to have a pacemaker fitted. I now have a gazillion emails to sort out, so I guess last week’s offerings will have to wait!
FOUND POETRY
I found myself surrounded by rhymes
beside the church, abaft the chimes;
there’s nowhere else I’d rather be
than this old graveyard beside the sea.
copyright 2014, William Preston
I love the word, ‘abaft.’
I found this one quite hard . . . But here it is
epiphany
By Darlene Franklin
lower case “e”
as commonplace as my cell phone
at 6:00 this cold, dark morning
Me, semi-conscious
Ron the Van Driver, busy until the Twelfth of Never
My boss, incomprehensible
My husband, talented sleeper
“Why?” then “Why?” repeated
He sleeps again
I curse the 5th of November
For making ramp and wheelchair necessary
Sudden insight from decades ago
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.
Like a character in a Karen Kingsbury novel,
God speaks to me in italics.
My epiphany
Based on “Epiphany and an epiphany” by Roberta Brosius at http://www.robertabrosius.blogspot.com/2014/01/epiphany-and-epiphany.html
“God speaks to me in italics.” That line is superb, to my mind.
My thoughts exactly
Those were Roberta’s original words, which inspired me to use her post. . . just giving credit where credit is due!
Me, too, William. Unusual poem.
THE FAMINE
A barren, thirsty field
grows nothing it can yield to sell
and break the wicked spell
of hardship’s living hell. No crops
to share with local shops,
the hunger never stops and fears,
which bring the heart to tears,
imagine all the years to come.
Tomorrow’s hopes are numb
and where a meal comes from is void,
the harvest now destroyed.
A past with days enjoyed will roll
into an lifeless hole
buried by the dust bowl, concealed.
© Susan Schoeffield
(Inspired by an article I read about famine conditions in West Africa.)
now, this is a poem. I felt the pain.
Thanks, Darlene. I appreciate that!
I think this is magnificent, both for its sentiments and its construction.
Thanks for your kind words, William.
It puts me right there looking at some very uncomfortable truths..
And, unfortunately, a lot more widespread than one article can contain. Thanks for commenting, Ellen!
Beautiful, but sad poem. Your internal rhyming was wonderful.
Thanks, Sara.
RUNNING AWAY
Adam hid in the Garden of Eden.
Jonah jumped a boat and was swallowed
by a whale. Man likes to run
from God. As soon as I could walk,
I started running. The Big Boss;
the Head Rabbi – if I saw Him coming
down the hallway, I ducked down
a corridor. He was tall and I felt tiny
in His presence. I ran until He couldn’t
see me anymore. We had once been closer,
but I hadn’t really been around Him
in twenty-five years. Man likes to run from God.
But I was headed in the other direction.
Poem culled from Mitch Albom’s book “have a little faith”.
© Copyright Walter J Wojtanik – 2012
Pingback: The Famine | Words With Sooze
Pingback: Dreamcatcher | echoes from the silence
DREAMCATCHER
Allow yourself
to wake up slowly,
over a matter of minutes,
lolling about
in your grogginess.
Just don’t try too hard
to hold onto those fleeting images.
If you chase a dream,
it’s going to run away.
2014-02-27
P. Wanken
This poem was found in the text of Huffington Post’s online article “9 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Dreaming.”
Nice touch Paula 🙂
So true, Paula. Dreams are rather illusive.
La Petite Wonders
(A Little Garden to Walk In)
She’s
busy as a bee –
all decked out in sparkling dew,
painting a rainbow.
She’s
moon gardens
and monarch madness –
the surprise (of painted ladies)
in secret gardens.
She’s
humming
along with the bees
(down to earth,
covering new ground),
and
all she is
is a little garden
in fields of happiness
making a world of difference —
the perfect spot
for new beginnings
under the stars.
PSC / 2014
Ooops! Hit enter too fast. Forgot t mention my source (CT Flower Show pamphlet – page 7) and my added words (all, and, for, in, is, she, she’s)
Can be viewed on my own blog in that format… if you are so inclined. 😉
Poem should be centered too, but I don’t know how to do that here.