Tomorrow we'll be sending out a PassionPoetry newsletter which includes an article about "Altered Poetry".  That is - when you an alter an existing poem in one way or another, to create a brand new poem.

When you get the newsletter, I hope you'll try some of my ideas, and then post your creations, here. Also, please suggest your own tips for creating altered poetry, as well!

Here are the prompts for "Altered Poetry" that I published in the PassionPoetry newsletter last week.  Would love to see your altered poems here!

To see some examples, where I take Shakespeare's "Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day" and use it as the basis for each of these prompts, click here to read the newsletter.

Altering poems, to create new poems, is a fascinating activity that is sure to stretch your poetry-writing muscles in new ways.  You can alter your own poems, or the poems of someone else.

2. Take the last line of an existing poem, or a portion of the line, and make it the first line of a new poem your write. (Note: if you publish this poem in any format, be sure to give proper credit for the original source of the first line)

3. Select one word, at random, for each line of the original poem and write them in a column. Create a new poem by filling in the lines.

Again, you can see some examples of each of these in the PassionPoetry newsletter. 

When I said I wouldn't sell my subscription for a song

I meant the life issues of what's right and what's wrong

As well as the ones of how, why, what, and where

And all the other questions that I dare

A day in my life and most would agree

They'd rather just leave my subscription to me

~copper cat 

The line, "When I said I wouldn't sell my subscription for a song" is part of the last line of a poem by Ogden Nash entitled "Listen to the Linotype" from the book Selected Poetry of Ogden Nash

Bravo, copper cat!  I didn't have much luck finding the poem you cited but perhaps with a little more digging, I will.  I did read some of his work, and I can see your wit and sense of humor definitely matches his!  I really got a kick out of his poem:

Reflection on Babies 
A bit of talcum
Is always walcum. 

How true that most people would rather not be bothered or would "rather just leave my subscription to me". Thanks for your altered poetry efforts, copper cat!

 Because it's altered poetry, I felt I had a wee bit I could offer in the poetry department.  I chose a poem by Edgar Allan Poe entitled "A Dream Within a Dream".  My altered poem follows which I've named "Dream".  This was a great challenge for me, personally.           - chameleon

Here's a little poem that grew out of one line "My luck raises the wind" in Theodore Roethke's poem, "Her Words"

Birds sing my name

My luck raises the wind,

she boasts,

and a plunge of my heart

whips the sea against the boats.

The sun courts me

through the curtain.

Rain chases me for a kiss.

When I tell a lie,

the earth changes course

and spins in reverse.

If I should die tonight

every star shall fall.

Night will sweep aside

her cloak

and bow as I fly past.

KateSinging

25 April 2008 

I couldn't resist this challenge. My altered poem comes from words selected from Rumi's "Rushing Toward the Beautiful One." Thanks for the idea for my blog poem for tomorrow *kisses*

Rushing Toward the Beautiful One by Rumi

Lovers share a sacred decree -

to seek the Beloved.

They roll head over heels,

rushing toward the Beautiful One

like a torrent of water.

In truth, everyone is a shadow of the Beloved -

Our seeking is His seeking,

Our words are His words.

At times we flow toward the Beloved

like a dancing stream.

At times we are still water

held in His pitcher.

At times we boil in a pot

turning to vapor -

that is the job of the Beloved.

He breathes into my ear

until my soul

takes on His fragrance.

He is the soul of my soul -

How can I escape?

But why would any soul in this world

want to escape from the Beloved?

He will melt your pride

making you thin as a strand of hair,

Yet do not trade, even for both worlds,

One strand of His hair.

We search for Him here and there

while looking right at Him.

Sitting by His side we ask,

"O Beloved, where is the Beloved?"

Enough with such questions! -

Let silence take you to the core of life.

All your talk is worthless

When compared to one whisper

of the Beloved.

ONE WHISPER by PoeticJava

Lovers seek a torrent of truth

our words at times flow like still water

turning to vapor. The Beloved

breathes into my soul,

his fragrance,

the soul of my soul.

I escape this world,

escape pride,

yet do not trade even one of him

and while sitting by his side ask:

is the silence of your talk worthless

when compared to one whisper?

 How gorgeous, Ms. Poetic Java!  Ravishing, even!

KS

Why thank you Ms. KateSinging *curtsies*