Poetry Prompt no. 2 Connect the Lines

Something original, that we could present to the class that they could do on the spot and see what kind of poetry they could write. I figured this blog could be a nice way to share this fun little exercise too. 

I’m not sure if this type of poetry has a name already, but it’s a variant of Found Poetry, that I’ve been calling Connect-the-Lines.

Take two lines, from two different sources; your favorite poem, a line in a song, maybe even a line from a movie You can use two poems or two songs, just get the lines from two different poems/songs.

You’ll start the poem with one line, and end the poem with the other line, and fill in the gaps with your own words, at least 4 lines of original words, for a 6-line poem.

Here are a few lines from songs and poems you could use, if you’re having trouble thinking of two. (Will tell you who wrote the lines further down if you're curious) 

Love me forever, fix me right

Listen, I’m on a mission, I never been one to fit in

(I think I made you up inside my head.)

I’m bored with the ocean

Darkness there and nothing more

Live coiled in shells of loneliness

And the price we paid is unbelievable

Now today is tomorrow and tomorrow today

Call the morgue and say goodbye, write your will, it’s time to die

Everything’s bound to break sooner, or later

I am the soft stars that shine at night

Everyone buried in wasteland

My spirit’s sleeping somewhere cold

You can think that you’re in love when you’re really just in pain

Night, night after day Black flowers blossom

It was a Common Night

Now try to connect the two lines you picked to start, and end with. Poems don't always need to rhyme, you could go for alliteration, the repetition of similar sounds, line in those tongue twisters "Sally sells sea shells by the seashore" is alliteration of the S sound. 

Rhymes, alliteration, metaphors and similes, there's many ways to make your language feel more poetic. 

Here's my Connect-the-lines poem 

Connect-the-Lines Poem no.1

Love me forever, fix me right

Hold me close, hold me tight

Soothe my haunting fears

Whisper kindness unto my ears

Leave me be when I’m with my book

Don’t remind me of how I look

Make me laugh and not feel so blue

You’re much too good to be true

Make me forget that one day I’ll be dead

(I think I made you up inside my head.)

*Beginning with a line from Frankenstein by Rina Sawayama, ending on a line from a Mad Girl’s Love Song by Sylvia Plath

Now try making your own. Pick two lines from your favorite song, or poem and see if you can connect the lines. You can pick your favorite Taylor Swift song lyric, or maybe you're more of a classic rock person. Or use one of the lines I provided. And have fun. 

If you're curious about the other lines, here's the answer key I promised

Love me forever, fix me right    - Song: Frankenstein by Rina Sawayama

Listen, I’m on a mission, I never been one to fit in Song: Mission by Qveen Herby

(I think I made you up inside my head.) - Poem: Mad Girl’s Love Song by Silvia Plath

I’m bored with the ocean - Poem: I’m Going Back to Minnesota Where Sadness makes Sense by Danez Smith

Darkness there and nothing more - Poem: The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Live coiled in shells of loneliness - Poem: Touched by An Angel by Maya Angelou

And the price we paid is unbelievable - Song: XS by Rina Sawayama

Now today is tomorrow and tomorrow today - Song: Comfort Eagle by Cake

Call the morgue and say goodbye, write your will, it’s time to die - Song: Caffeine by Jeff and Casey Lee Williams

Everything’s bound to break sooner, or later - Song: Ghost Town by Madonna

I am the soft stars that shine at night - Poem: Do not Stand at my Grave and Weep by Mary Frye

Everyone buried in wasteland - Song: Ghost Town by Shiny Toy Guns

My spirit’s sleeping somewhere cold - Song: Bring Me To Life by Evanescence

You can think that you’re in love when you’re really just in pain - Song: Moral of the Story by Ashe

Night, night after day Black flowers blossom - Song: Teardrop by Massive Attack

It was a Common Night - Poem: The last Night that She lived by Emily Dickinson