blackout poetry

I was visiting artistic odyssey a few weeks back and came across a post on blackout poetry featuring the work of Tyler Knott.

It encouraged me to search for more ....

And when I did - i discovered Austin Kleon

I have to say...... there's something about blackout poetry. 

I love it!

It ignites curiosity - maybe a bit of intrigue - bit of cloak 'n dagger - revelation of code....

You know those movies where you get access to an underworld. 

Where you're driven through dark empty roads lined with very tall ominous trees. Usually you're in a limousine driven by someone who is very still, very silent and very faceless. 

There's music - it's unsettling.

And then you're driven up a very long driveway and at the end there's nearly always a mansion. All lit up and powerful against the dark. They're beautiful those mansions - just like the Siren's song.

But usually you're not really getting all this because you are - of course - blindfolded.

You're taken (by the faceless silent) through those towering doors - you're blindfold is removed.

And there it is - (you can fill this space with you're own imagery....)

For me, it's the thought:

"So! That's what's been going on behind these doors..... so that's what's Really been happening"

Blackout feels the same. 

Like you've been let in on a secret.

"So that's what's Really been going on behind those words! And all this time I though it was saying something entirely different"

via

And what a wonderful way to write horoscopes!

I think this process of creating poetry would be great for kids. Mine can't read yet - but just getting them to circle words then colour in the rest of the page..... well - it would be so interesting to see what they reveal.