Found Poems

Found poetry is a type of poetry that is created by repurposing existing texts, such as newspaper articles, advertisements, menus, or even other poems. Instead of writing original lines, the poet selects words, phrases, or passages from these sources and rearranges them to create a new poetic work. The resulting poem often retains the language and imagery of the original text but imbues it with new meaning, rhythm, and emotional resonance through creative arrangement. 

The following Found Poem MUST be along the lines of one of the topics discussed in the book, "Dictionary for a Better World." (For reminders, click here)

Steps:

1. Choose a variety of written materials such as newspapers, magazines, books, advertisements, or even online articles. Ensure that the sources are diverse and cover different topics and styles.

2. Read and explore: Instruct students to read through the selected materials, either individually or in small groups. Encourage them to highlight or mark any words, phrases, or sentences that catch their attention or evoke a particular emotion.

3. Collect language: Instruct participants to collect language snippets that resonate with them or spark creativity. They can jot down these excerpts on sticky notes, index cards, or directly annotate the source material.

4. Arrange and experiment: Once participants have gathered their language snippets, encourage them to experiment with arranging and rearranging the words and phrases to create new combinations. They can explore different arrangements, line breaks, and structures to find the most compelling composition.

5. Craft the poem: Using the collected language, guide students in crafting their found poem. Encourage them to consider themes, imagery, and tone as they assemble the words and phrases into a cohesive poem. Remind them that found poems don't need to follow traditional poetic forms and can vary in length and style.