Blackout Poetry by Room 12

Have you ever heard of blackout poetry? 

credit: flowmagazine.com

It is a form of "found" poetry, where you select words from a written text to create something new. Once the students got over the shock of me letting them write in books (don't worry, these were weeded books that either were falling apart or hadn't been checked out in years or extra copies from former RICBA sets), they came up with the following: 

Pop!

Sweet candy across my tongue.

Mmmmmmm, nice.

Tastes like chocolate and strawberry.

Chocolate-covered strawberries, anyone?

- A.S., "Willa by Heart"

Pick pretty cool.

Stupid Ryan rolled his eyes.

Huh?

Turkey sandwiches, corn.

Declan, Grandpa Eddie, Lizzy.

Antique.

- A.O., "A Drop of Hope"

I didn't like anything 

but things better spinning on.

My phone, Owen, paddle in the background.

As he shot photos, trying to email you.

Owen.

- C.C., "Because of the Rabbit"

Before that start was said,

it seems impossible that Black entered a single subject.

I inform Percy.

"Yes" said coldly.

Dementor cross the threshold.

I am, Percy, abashed.

- D.M., "The Prisoner of Azkaban"

The Box

June 22

I bother people

I figure myself

Over the next months

My assignments sleeping

- T.C., "Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life"

Sebastian spotted friend

few minutes to two

before their last class began

- A.R., "Dew Drop Dead"

The ghost of our dead cat Bat

Calm down

Pull me back down

We can't move

- N.S., "Every Soul a Star"

Most of the blood

under me ...

noise jumps

quick in a doorway.

How long will it be?

- A.M., "Bloody Jack"

Wanted to compete

Early talked

Canals of venice

Explain things about boat building

September, two weeks

- W.B., "Navigating Early"

Green leaves rotting

trail mills hauled milk to Afghanistan

Money college

Ground woods

Light-headed

- L.S., "Wildfire"

Coral-colored,

those poor,

his smile.

He said to me,

"I assure you, this young lady."

"That's wonderful," Ms Fry said.

I'm so relieved.

Happily

Suitcase

Relieved.

We went behind,

shut the door beind us.

Ripped poster.

Leave guests, ruin property.

Sudden speechless.

- D.P., "Out of My Shell"

Smoke in the air

I leap to my feet and stare

There's a fire burning somewhere nearby

Too close for comfort

Fire coming

Let's try south

South takes longer than I expect

- R.D., "Wildfire"