Poetry Friday: Found Poems
I’ve always wanted to try writing a “found poem,” but never really got around to it. But then I was cleaning out my coupon holder yesterday, and ended up with an enormous pile of expired coupons. Hmmm…I really didn’t want to throw them away. I totaled up their combined value to be more than $16.00. Think of the money I could have saved if I had only shopped a little more! 🙂
Then I started reading the fine print, and found a treasure-trove of fun words. I scribbled them onto a notepad, and began playing around them, splicing a phrase here, switching a noun there.
Here’s what I ended up with, using only the words that appeared on the coupons. It’s a rough draft of a found poem:
Ok, so it’s not a children’s poem. But it was fun, fun, fun!
I found a great article by Laura Purdie Salas describing more great info. about found poems: what they are, how to avoid copyright issues, and a neat process that she uses to create them. You really need to check this out!
Some great sources for found poetry text:
- recipe boxes
- CD titles and movie jackets
- today’s junk mail
- your makeup bag (yes, there are actual words in there!)
- a road map
- the care tags on your dirty laundry
- this year’s seed packets
- the back of a cereal box (fun one for kids!)
- a magazine cover
- the obituary page of a newspaper (I’ve actually done this one before. It’s not really as gruesome as it sounds…it just gets you a nice mish-mash of people words!)
My next found poem is going to come from my daughter’s Hope Chest. If it turns out the way I hope it will, I may just frame it for her as a keepsake.
Today’s Poetry Friday host is Tara at A Teaching Life. Thank you, Tara! Happy writing, everyone!
It’s the first time I’ve heard of a ‘found poem’ – such a lovely illustration you just shared with us. Just goes to show there are treasures to be found in discarded coupons and other knick-knacks. It is a reminder that poetry is everywhere – if one cares enough to look at the ‘fine print’ as you just did. 🙂
Thank you, Myra! Yes, poetry is everywhere! I tend to look for images to inspire my poetry. What I like about writing a found poetry is that you have to pay attention to words, too. It’s like a collage of fun words that, when rearranged, fit together like a puzzle.
Clever use for unusable coupons, Liana! I like your poem a lot.
Thank you, Tabatha!
I love “the value of what is in store exceeds what has expired.” I love all the words with multiple meanings. I don’t think I’ll ever read coupons quite the same way.
Thanks, Liz! That was my favorite part, too. Who knew coupons could be so much fun?
How I love this! Who knew I’d been throwing away poetry every month (along with an array of missed opportunities to buy toilet bowl cleaner 50 cents cheaper). I live and die by couponing and now I find out they can free my mortal soul. Hallelujah and Amen.
I know!!! You know, I remember getting a book of Target coupons with a haiku written for each, and should have thought of it then. Savings are poetic! 🙂
Your poem is perfection (you had me at the title) :).
Thanks for the smile today. More, please!
Awww, thanks so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I love your found poem, Liana! I tried to write a bunch of these once, but didn’t come up with anything too special. Maybe I need to try it again.
Yes, give it another try, B.J. Find something that has a lot of words that appeal to you. And check out Laura’s article…she has a really neat process for making it all come together. (Then share it at the Garage, please! I want to see it!) 🙂
Wow, Liana, I never would have thought to use coupons as a source for a found poem. And I’m impressed with what the process yielded for you. Thanks so much for the link to Laura Purdie Sala’s article. As it happens, I was trying to create a found poem this week from an article I read, but I felt I was infringing on copyright. I’ll have to try to go back to it using Laura’s approach.
Thank you, Carmela! It’s a bit rough, but for me, the draft is always the most difficult step. Have fun!
How fun! Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you, Ruth!
LOVE it!! You definitely succeeded!
Thank you, Mary Lee! It was a fun little exercise, for sure.
This is terrific, Liana! I am excited to try writing a found poem one day soon! = )
Thanks, Becky! Have fun with it!
Indeed, found poems are everywhere, waiting to be – well, found!
Nice job with this one. As the “Coupon King,” I can really appreciate it!
Thanks Matt!