read write prompt #32: reuse, recycle and revise!

I love recycling and was fascinated by January’s recent article about revising poetry, so here’s a quick recycling prompt: Take an old poem and revise it, either polish it or totally rework it — then share both versions with us! If you want, share your thoughts about the process, in your blog post (or here)!

Idea for collaboration
~ Swap poems with a fellow participant and rework each other’s poems!

Come back after the early morning hours next Monday and post a link to your recycled poem, or anything else you want to share, at the Get Your Poem On post that will be waiting for you!

~Juliet.

* * *

Want to collaborate? Leave a note here and see if anyone else wants to hook up. Or contact one of the participants on their blog and see if they’re game.

1. Rob Kistner - June 18, 2008

I think this prompt is one of great benefit to those who participate. Bravo!

I constantly revise, restructure, and ‘meld’ my poetry. Revise (edit) to continually improve the piece (hopefully), making it tighter and of greater impact — and restructure to create a different perspective on the subject matter, thus drawing two poems from the original single effort.

When I ‘meld’ I take parts of two different pieces I’ve written, each usually focusing on different subject matter, but each having a thread that can be consolidated to create a uniquely different poem.

These practices, for me, are great fodder for new work, and solid writing and conceptualizing exercise — especially in moments when your muse just isn’t offering up fresh inspiration.

2. nibblepoems - June 18, 2008

Love the idea of melding, Rob!

I’m going to try it with two pieces I am working on now, both of which mention the moon.

3. blythe - June 18, 2008

Excellent!

I’m tired of trying to revise my own work; anyone want to swap?

Leave a comment or email me at blytheblogger AT gmail DOT com.

4. A Musician’s Warning « Raven’s Wing Poetry - June 19, 2008

[...] is a rewrite of an older poem, “To The Musician”, and a poem written in response to the Read Write Poem Prompt #32: Reuse, Recycle, and Revise. I reworked the original piece into a pantoum. [...]

5. read write poem #7: collaborative revision « pro tempore - June 27, 2008

[...] when Juliet suggested revision as a prompt for RWP, I knew I didn’t want to work on any of my own work (I started an [...]


welcome to read write poem

Read Write Poem is an online gathering place for those who love poetry — and for those who suspect that, with a little nurturing, they could grow to love poetry. Whether you are new to writing poetry or have been writing for years, you are welcome here. If you don’t write poetry but love to read and discuss it, this is also the place for you. Read more about the project.


Get the Read Write Poem badge for your site! We have two versions to choose from. Just click on the badge to the left to snag the code.


read write poll

Tell us about your interest in publishing your poetry in literary journals: (Select all that apply.)

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

other read write poem joints

Facebook (sign up to be added to our mailing list)
Twitter (sign up to be part of impromptu collaborative poem events and to learn more about what's going on with Read Write Poem)

participant-run journals, zines and sites


  • read write poem newsfeed

      Issue 3 of Ouroboros Review is live and includes the work of Dustin Brookshire, James Brush, Joyce Ellen Davis, Michelle McGrane and Carolee Sherwood!

      (Did we miss you? Tell us! Email news (at) readwritepoem (dot) org. Or send us your news!)

      -----

      Dustin Brookshire's Queens of Poetry anthology submission deadline is Sept. 30. Go here for more information.

      -----

      "W.S. Merwin join[ed] Bill Moyers for a wide-ranging conversation about language, his writing process, the natural world, and the insights gleaned from a much-lauded career of more than 50 years."

      He also read a great many of the poems from this year's Pulitzer prize-winning The Shadow of Sirius, published by Copper Canyon Press.

      This excellent program aired on June 26 and is well-worth the watch. Find it here, on PBS.

      -----

      Dave Bonta wants to know: "Why do poets say 'O'?"

      -----

      You can find a video of John Walsh reading "Gash" for Ouroboros Review here and look for a new issue very soon!

      Ouroboros Review is a biannual poetry and art magazine that will include three John Walsh poems in the upcoming issue.

      -----

  • random
    poetry prompt

      A different word or phrase will appear here each time you visit the site or refresh the page. Your current prompt is — buckle

  • random
    collaborating tip

    Write two-word phrases with someone else. One person can supply the first word of the phrase, and the other person can supply the second word. Write your phrases down and each use some of them in a poem.


  • random
    writing tip

    Write a poem based on a character from a dream. Close your eyes and go back into the dream space. What does the character look like? Write an imaginary conversation with the character that can serve as the basis of your poem.

  • random
    reading tip

    Read a poem aloud. Do this by yourself if it makes you nervous, or share it with other poetry-lovers. Listen not just for meaning, but also for the sounds the poem makes. If you can, record yourself and listen to what you’ve read.

  • random
    poetry quote

    Poetry exists as a body attempting communication. — Sam Hamill