How to write an ecopoetry found poem
|
Writing this type of poetry is a kind of treasure hunt. Search for interesting scraps of language, then put them together in different ways and see what comes out.
You might end up rewriting the poem in the end and taking all the found language out, or you might keep the found scraps of language almost in their original form. Either way, found language is a great way to jolt your imagination.
Our ‘treasure’ will be articles – find a range of articles either online or in print which refer to the environment and/or global warming.
Circle words or phrases which interest you – perhaps you can focus on one ecosystem, for example, words surrounding the arctic. Perhaps you can note down all words referring to scale and write them in a large mind map.
This explosion of technical or emotive words may present a structure to you already – try a 5-minute free-write to assemble them. If not, try a haiku, then expand the ideas you have begun to explore.
Whatever you do, have fun with it! Science and art can create interesting fusions and be important to bridge the gap between the two disciplines, particularly in response to global warming.
See how this is used in Poems from Planet in Peril
See how this is used in Poems from Planet in Peril