by Dave Jarecki
In the midst of a peaceful morning walk two springs ago, I happened to glance at the paper and found the following headline staring back at me: “Miracle Baby Inspires Hope.”
Never mind the story. The headline was too rich to ignore — a ready-made prompt waiting for me to write toward it. I spent the next few weeks watching headlines, made a game out of scanning, choosing, writing, then reading to see how closely the poem matched the story. In most cases, it didn’t. In all cases, it didn’t matter.
I’d forgotten about “headline poems” until last week, when, again absently perusing headlines, my eyes fell upon this gem: “Newfound Planet Orbits Backward.”
Pure poetry, the very notion of a single planet in an alien solar system moving against the grain of what gravity demands, the result of a cosmic collision.
This week, even if you aren’t a news person, take a look at what the headlines have to offer. Move the words around as necessary. Don’t read the story. Or, do read the story. Whatever spurs your process along, regardless of the direction in which you spin.
Dave Jarecki writes poetry, prose and strategic communications from his home office in Portland, Ore. Read and listen to his work, as well as the work of guest writers, at DaveJarecki.com.
this is a fabulous prompt, thank you!
Great prompt, Dave. I’ll be checking the local paper carefully.
One tab on my Google desktop is set for box on box of news headlines, but the one that consistently sets me in motion is the How To of the Day.
May the news be with you all.
And if you need extra help spicing up dull headlines… check out the Anagram Times
Robot headlines, here I come!
People could also turn news stories into found poems, if they wanted to get fancypants, or they could do an erasure of a news story, also pretty fancypants. I might try the latter.
Wanda McCollar replied:
August 21st, 2009 at 10:58 am
Yes, I was going to say when I first saw this way early in the morning, but had no time then, this is a different prompt from a found poem, and it seems to me it’ll keep its distance if one does not read the article. However – it could turn into a new, found poem once the article is read. What’s an erasure of news? Would that be -going through an article and picking out phrases here and there to change the meaning of the news?
Thanks, Dave – it’s a wonderful prompt.
Dana Guthrie Martin replied:
August 21st, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Yes, the erasure method is where you take the text and delete, white out or otherwise get rid of words and phrases, leaving only some of the words intact. Look up Mary Reufle’s book Little White Shadow. It’s a great example.
I have always thought newspaper headlines worked very well for poems.
Neat prompt! I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for interesting headlines.
Is it poor form to use the Arts headlines? They’re always so much more interesting and open to interpretation than Regional/World/whatever.
…I just found a hilarious one in BBC Sport. Is it equally poor form to post two next Thursday?
Nathan replied:
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:13 am
Joseph, I would think you could use any headlines you want to use.
And sure, you can post two links — just post them in separate comments so they don’t get caught by the spam filter.
Dave replied:
August 23rd, 2009 at 11:46 am
Joseph – never any poor form. I’ve used sports headlines, weather, arts, even obituaries. Great stuff everywhere.
Excellent prompt! I may have a hard time waiting until next Thursday.
great prompt . . . i’m going to try this!
16 months later
man finds his wedding ring
under the sea
while studying plants
and his wife’s moods
(I’m still practicing tanka. I read this in the news yesterday.)
I’ve really enjoyed writing a poem for this prompt.As you were the inspirational source of my poem Dave,I’m dedicating it to you.
Dave replied:
August 23rd, 2009 at 11:48 am
Well shucks…I’ve never inspired anything of anyone (anything positive, at least). I’m flattered and humbled all in one happy lump.
enjoy.
Make sure you post your poem on the Get Your Poem On post this Thursday, so everyone can read and enjoy the news.
Love the prompt, Dave. I’m looking forward to Thursday’s responses.
fear factor
super-sizing America
means downsizing brains
16 years lost
to senility (tanka)
Yeah, I know I am to post on the Thursday one, but most of the time, I don’t get around to posting on Thursdays.
Posting early helps me get involved with RWP; otherwise, I disappear!
Dana Guthrie Martin replied:
August 25th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Don’t disappear! We would not like that. Not one bit.
Just when I thought that “Newfound Planet Orbits Backwards” was the most melancholy thing to come from space to the news, I learned today of a Suicidal Planet on a “death spiral” – http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090826/ap_on_sc/us_sci_suicidal_planet
I really enjoyed this prompt. Thank you for the kick to my muses! (I’m very new to your site, so I’m just learning all the stuff.) I can’t wait for more prompts!
The headline idea was fun but I found it spinning out of control. Thank you for the suggestion Dave.
Dizzy, Destructive and Down