THE WORDS LEFT STANDING

Just Joan

In a Black Out Poem, the author takes copy from a newspaper or magazine and uses a black marker to strike out whatever words or images she sees as unnecessary or irrelevant to the poetic effect
she is seeking to create.  Patterns or artwork can be employed to give an additional visual dimension to the poem.

Any printed material will do; this was taken from a random page of Consumer Reports magazine.  Certain words jumped out at me,
likely my response to the results of the 2016 presidential election.

Thanks to my WordPress buddy, Lana, for the idea and inspiration.

RESIST, REBEL, RECLAIM

blackout-poem

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27 thoughts on “THE WORDS LEFT STANDING”

    • Just Joan December 11, 2016 / 8:59 am

      Thanks, Peter. Once you start looking for them, poems are hiding everywhere! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. chevvy8 December 11, 2016 / 1:40 am

    I like this Joan – both the technique and the message. I agree that no matter the circumstances, we can’t just roll over and die. Power to the powerless I say!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Just Joan December 11, 2016 / 8:58 am

      Thanks, Chevvy. I agree. Little glints of hope are everywhere; we just have to unite, hang on, work for change, and never give up. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
    • Just Joan December 11, 2016 / 8:54 am

      Thanks, 227. Glad to be of service. Google “blackout poetry” and click on “images” to see some other examples, way cooler than mine. 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  4. Tippy Gnu December 11, 2016 / 7:39 am

    I like how you can use this method to find a message of hope in what might be a doom and gloom article.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Just Joan December 11, 2016 / 8:52 am

      Thanks, Tippy. The article was about ways to protect your internet privacy, I think. Messages of hope are everywhere if you really look. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. T. Wayne December 11, 2016 / 9:23 am

    Very interesting way to create. I’d never heard of that before. And I like the results, too.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Just Joan December 11, 2016 / 1:03 pm

      Form is new to me as well, suggested by fellow WP writer/poet, Lana. There is a link to her blogsite on the post, if you’d like to check it out. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • T. Wayne December 11, 2016 / 1:05 pm

        Thanks, Joan. Perhaps in the future, I can try some of these ideas with the poems I write.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Anna Cates December 11, 2016 / 11:33 am

    It’s funny that you’d be focusing at black out poems just now, as I have also been working on a few myself for the first time. What a coincidence! They are also known simply as “found poems,” of which there are several varieties

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Just Joan December 11, 2016 / 1:08 pm

      Thanks for the visit and comment, Anna! This was my first blackout poem; I heard about them from a fellow writer here on WordPress. Seemed appropriate with Winter Solstice on the horizon, the darkest day of the year. There are some impressive examples in Google Images, if you care to browse there. 🙂

      Like

      Reply
    • Just Joan December 11, 2016 / 8:13 pm

      Thanks, Marissa. Maybe I’m a punk rocker deep down? Whoa! That would be deep, really deep, get out the shovel deep. Normally, I’m a jazz, blues, Billy Joel kind of a girl. 🙂

      Like

      Reply
      • Marissa Bergen December 12, 2016 / 4:34 pm

        Who doesn’t love Billy Joel? Anyway, punk is more of a state of mind than a taste in music.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Just Joan December 12, 2016 / 6:41 pm

        I like that, music as a state of mind. Thanks!

        Liked by 1 person

  8. L. T. Garvin, Author December 11, 2016 / 10:21 pm

    Joan, I love your blackout poem! We always have hope, yes we do. This is a cool poetry form, I would have never known about it had I not substituted in jr. high honors English that day. I’m glad you tried it, I’m going to try another one. Thank you also for the shout out!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Just Joan December 12, 2016 / 3:03 pm

      Absolutely! It is one of many types of found poetry. It’s fun, try it with a piece of junk mail or an old newspaper. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. Delbeth Alagar December 15, 2016 / 2:50 am

    Wooooow! This is a very nice blackout poem. I’m interested to make one myself, too!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Just Joan December 15, 2016 / 11:50 am

      Thanks, Delbeth. Appreciate the visit and comment. Good luck with your poem. 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  12. Pingback: BLACK-OUT POEM, TAKE TWO – JUST JOAN 42

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