Eric's Journal » Poetry and Literature http://journal.elmillerdesign.com I should be doing something more productive. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:45:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 The Mudd Run http://journal.elmillerdesign.com/2005/07/30/the-mudd-run/ http://journal.elmillerdesign.com/2005/07/30/the-mudd-run/#comments Sat, 30 Jul 2005 23:08:22 +0000 Eric http://journal.elmillerdesign.com/?p=11 Fort Jefferson in the Dry TortugasI finally posted photos from my recent sailing trip in the Florida Keys. I also posted a narrative of the trip that I wrote for the Puget Sound Writing Project.

]]> http://journal.elmillerdesign.com/2005/07/30/the-mudd-run/feed/ 0 How to Write a Lousy Poem with Very Little Effort http://journal.elmillerdesign.com/2005/07/07/how-to-write-a-lousy-poem-with-little-effort/ http://journal.elmillerdesign.com/2005/07/07/how-to-write-a-lousy-poem-with-little-effort/#comments Fri, 08 Jul 2005 05:02:21 +0000 Eric http://journal.elmillerdesign.com/?p=9 Many years ago in an language arts methods class, the instructor had us do this activity just for fun. Write a poem according the following formula (as best I can remember);

  • Line 1: “In the __________ of my mind” (fill in the blank with a nonsensical metaphor, think of Simon and Garfunkel)
  • Line 2: “I forgot to __________ “
  • Line 3: write an exclamation with appropriate puncuation!
  • Line 4: write a self-contradictory or paradoxical statement.

Keep in mind that the lines should not relate to each other or rhyme. Here is an example:

In the zamboni of my mind
I forgot to walk the dog
Wait, hold the elevator!
The sun casts the darkest shadow

Now try to write your own poem and post it as a comment.

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