Collage, Blackout…and Your Languages
Vagabond Voices November call for submissions
What if you let writing be the warm, cozy thing you come home to in the evenings? The warm blanket next to the woodstove? What if you tried something so different and experimental that it sent all of your expectations flying on the fall breeze?
It might be fun. It might be different. You might surprise yourself. And best of all?
You can probably do this and (enjoy it) in any of your languages — the ones you live and breathe, the ones you grew up speaking…and the ones you reinvent yourself in, play in.
I’m inviting you to come in, brush off, grab your paints, scissors, markers, and glue. Then? Make a creative mess…and see what happens.
Collage Poetry and how you might try it on for size.
Seriously, it’s going to fit you like a cozy sweater. And the options are vast. I’m going to keep my suggestions loose and experimental. Here is the general idea:
Choose some lines, in writing to cut, snip and paste…
Associate those with something visual…
Enjoy this experience, profoundly.
Some ideas for your collage poetry
Consider the visuals you can include. Slips of paper, photos, your kid’s artwork, the label you pry off a bottle, a bit of wrapping paper, a piece of your favorite t-shirt that is now falling to bits.
Maybe, maybe your collage is 3-dimensional. Maybe you don’t use glue at all — perhaps you just assemble and take a photo.
Feel free to mix and match writing from old newspapers, magazines, books, poems…old letters.
Feel free to mix and match languages.
If you have something you can’t imagine cutting up — a book, a piece of printed memorabilia? You know, it is ok to make a copy.
And if you’re using a language that you can’t find in print? It’s ok to find your words online and print them yourself.
Be inventive — and tell us about your process.
And then there’s blackout poetry…
Any kind of print material is game. Books, newspapers, magazines, but also handouts, political propaganda ;) the syllabus from a course your taking…
See if you can gather enough words to find a sentence…or two.
If you can’t bear to blackout your favorite book? Well, just like with collage — feel free to copy or print something out.
And don’t forget the visual side of this story. Blackouts don’t have to only be in black ink. Maybe you include a doodle, a pattern or texture as you work. Maybe your poem takes on a shape.
Have fun and enjoy some creative play.
As always, I love reading your responses to our monthly themes — but I know you’ve got other things on your minds as well. So feel free to send me your other stories too.
And if you’re new to our community? You can get in touch with me about contributing a story here.
In celebration of last month’s Vagabond Voices
Last month was such a special one in our Vagabond community. If you haven’t seen some of these incredible pieces yet, stop by, read, and say ‘hello.’
Like a Train Racing Down the Station by Pablo Pereyra
The Wanderer’s Elixir by Francine Fallara
My Language by Vaishali Paliwal
Tongue with Two Lands by Sonia Motwani
Sweet Cashews by Isabella Moimaz
The Mystic Raconteur by Rajesh Vairapandian
It’s my birthday and I’m crying by Jessica Tefenkgi Ruelle
Nomad by Agnes Louis
A Poem/A Prayer for the Exile by Isaac Middle
Migrations Clandestines by yours truly ;)
Happy writing!
