OuliPost #3: Belle Absente or as I like to call it: I am absent.

This prompt threw me for a big loop. I am not sure it's entirely correct or done properly. Next time, I was use digital text rather than an actual newspaper. I am old-fashioned, what can I say. Also, I feel the poem lost meaning 4 words in. There's always next time. :)


WARM-UP #3: BEAUTIFUL OUTLAW (BELLE ABSENTE)
The outlaw in question is the name of the person (or subject) to whom the poem is addressed. Each line of the poem includes all the letters of the alphabet except for the letter appearing in the dedicated name at the position corresponding to that of the line: when writing a poem to Eva, the first line will contain all letters except E, the second all letters except V, and the third all letters except A.
Choose someone mentioned in your newspaper to whom to address your poem. Compose a beautiful outlaw poem following the procedure outlined above and using words sourced from your newspaper text.
As with the previous warm-ups, please feel free to share the results in the comments.

Here it is.

For S.H. Jun:

Foreign Fixes

Organized culture joined yet maligned with average, fixed, and dependable equipment deteriorate into a wreckage

Six sized images object to legal environmental pressures likely lowering quality

Firm lengthy planning builds visual clashes between kind experts and quoted

Joint barriers accept expanded deliveries of the seized wooden goods from Kyrgyzstan

Assumed job curves suggest flexible officials expand weekly with zero equity


Sources: Multiple articles in The Boston Globe, March 24, 2014: "Besieged rail firm seeking new deal.",  "Apply Pressure.", "Satellite spots more debris in search for missing plan."

Oulipost Practice #2: Iambic Pentameter..Shakespeare's Pissed

As April approaches, we've been given some prompts to help us get ready for our Oulipo project.

I am actually quite surprised and proud of this one. Now, I know it's far from perfect but.........it's better than I even imagined.

The prompt:


WARM-UP #2: BLANK VERSE AMIDST THE PROSE

And now for something slightly more difficult...compose a poem using unintentional lines of iambic pentameter found in your newspaper (or practice source). Blank verse is poetry written in regular metrical but unrhymed lines, almost always iambic pentameters. More background:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blank_verse

I studied blank verse for a bit and then gave it go. 

The result: 

Social Distortion

Bemused components communicate rants

In three retired eloquent essays

Propelling processes using software

Knowledge to collect research on topics

Such as conceived fear in newfangled words

Cheeky subjects progress widely across

A myriad of people in parades

Pamphlets circulate the precious crusade

Wrapped in humanities killing real thought

SOURCE: “Who killed the SAT essays?.” (The Boston Globe, 3/14/13).

Oulipost and Me: What have I gotten myself into? (Assignment #1)

*Note: Regular followers of this blog, all 0 of you, please make a note that as of today this blog will exist solely to house a poetry project.

Assignment #1

1. WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT OULIPOST?

 Well, I am not sure. After reading about the project, I thought wow..that sounds cool. I may want to do this just to get back into the writer mindset. Now, here I am..typing out Assignment #1. It sounds like a challenge and I like challenges..

2. WHAT, IF ANYTHING, SCARES YOU ABOUT OULIPOST?

Everything. I am not a poet. I am barely a writer I am terrified of the outcome. Forgive me all..you will probably be reading some terrible lines.  Not to mention time constraints, etc. 


3. HAVE YOU WRITTEN EXPERIMENTAL OR FOUND POETRY BEFORE? IF

SO, TELL US ABOUT IT.

Nope, unless you count a found poem I created using an abandoned face wash bottle. 

I am also not entirely sure I fully understand found poetry. I think I view it in a strict..must use only the words you see on the page. I don't know if that's accurate. 


4. WHAT NEWSPAPER WILL SERVE AS YOUR SOURCE TEXT?

The Boston Globe


5. WHO’S YOUR SPIRIT OULIPIAN?

Valérie Beaudouin

We share a last name and she works the web. I am astounded.