"Found" Poems

Gifts for my Mom

A digital scan of a print I made for my mom.  This print was modeled after KCJoughDoitch's "Radial Sunset" on DeviantArt.com.

Hiba's post about Mother's Day inspired me to try some creative projects.  

I have two things to share with you: a picture and a song.  Both of these were gifts for my mom.  I had a lot of fun making them, and I think she liked them.

My Linoleum Print
My mom and dad love boating, the beach, the ocean and lighthouses.

This picture was made using a print-making technique called linocut.  To make a linocut, you start with a square of linoleum.  It's similar to the material used for floors.  It's like a hard rubber.  Using special tools, you cut away at the linoleum to make your picture.  Finally, you cover the linoleum square (called a relief) in ink, and press a sheet of paper on to it.

Audio Collage: The Lake Isle of Innisfree
A few years ago, my mom visited Ireland.  She has Irish ancestry, and celebrates St. Patrick's day every year.  She bought a book of poetry by W. B. Yeats, and gave it to me when she returned.  I decided to try and make a song using a recording of W. B. Yeats reading his most famous poem: The Lake Isle of Innisfree. You can find the transcript of the recording, and the text of the poem below.  You will also find some background information too.

I think I should warn you: this song is pretty weird.  There's guitar music I made, and there are also many sounds I recorded in nature, of water, insects, and birds.  There's also pieces of really old songs, and static and noise.  

I think it sounds like a radio, moving between stations.  This is an original recording, but I do borrow from some other people.  The borrowed sources are at the bottom.  
  
Text: The Transcript and Poem
I'm going to begin with a poem of mine called The Lake Isle of Innisfree. Because if you know anything about me, you will expect me to begin with it. It is the only poem of mine which is very widely known. When I was a young lad in the town of Sligo, I read Thoreau's essays, and wanted to live in a hut on an island in Lough Gill, called Innisfree, which means "heather island."   I wrote the poem in London, when I was about 23.

One day in the Strand, I heard a little tinkle of water, and saw in a shop's window, a little jet of water balancing a ball on top. It was an advertisement, I think, for a cooling drink. But it set me thinking of Sligo, and lake water.

I think there is only one obscurity in the poem. I speak of noon as a purple glow. I must have meant by that the reflection of heather in the water.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;

Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,

And live alone in the bee loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,

Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;

There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,

And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day

I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,

I hear it in the deep heart's core.

- W.B. Yeats

Background Information

W. B. Yeats, near the time of the BBC recording.  Image found at WikiMedia Commons, originally from  National Library of Ireland on The Commons @ Flickr Commons

W. B. Yeats is considered by many scholars to be one of the greatest English-language poets of the 20th century.  He was the first person from Ireland to received a Nobel Prize for literature, but was not popular during his lifetime.

He wrote the poem The Lake Isle of Innisfree in 1888.  He read his poem on BBC radio in 1932.

  

You can hear the original recording of Yeats here.

About My Recording
This song was made from many different pieces.  I used recordings I made playing the guitar.  I also used my iPhone to record nature.

I use several samples of old recordings from ExcavatedShellac.com.

I also use a field recording from Luftrum's Drone Atmosphere, found on FreeSound.org.

All of the sounds were edited and mixed using Audacity.

-Eric, NYC, USA

Level 5 NYC: I Remember (Collaborative Writing Non-Game)

Photo of Joe Brainard (American artist and poet) & I Remember book cover.  This paired imaged was found at We Love You So (However, I can't find attribution for these images.).

This post is a reply to Hakim's post: I Remember It Well.  I think memories are fascinating.  And when we can unlock our memories, we have the potential to share so much about our lives and experiences.  Students in my classes have often written about their memories and experiences.  I would like to 

• share a summary of the class activity
• share some examples of students writing
• invite you all to participate in the I Remember project

I am sharing this here, because I would like all of you to contribute to our collected memories.  After you read our examples below, please share your memories too in the comments.  Maybe we could make our own book own day: I Remember NYC and Bejaia!  From time to time, I will share more selections from our class work.

Some Background

Joe Brainard is an American poet and artist (you will see a few examples of his artwork bellow, borrowed from JoeBrainard.org).  He wrote a book called I Remember.  Every memory starts with the phrase “I remember.” Brainard has a talent for writing concisely. He says much in few words. He limits his writing to the most pertinent or important details to give the reader a clear picture. 

The book is unlike any other book I have read. But my favorite part about reading I Remember is that it always gives me ideas for writing. One critic compared his book to a "memory machine."

Classroom Activity

These are the directions I used for the classroom activity. I call this a "collaborative writing non-game." I challenge students to write as much as they can. But, of course, there is no "winner."

Directions:  Read until you have a memory you can write about.  Write your memory in the space.  Try to write as much as you can.  You can write more than one memory.  When we stop, pass your paper to the next person in your group and write again.  You can also write memories inspired by your classmates’ writing.  The only rule is you must start every memory with the phrase: I remember.


The Results
Below, you will see writing from my students, the volunteers in our classroom, writing from Brainard's book, and my writing too.  After doing this for a semester, we had about 40 pages of writing.  I'm not going to share all of that now.  I will share a small section.  After reading, I hope you will share your memories too.  Remember, you can write anything that comes to mind, or appears in your thoughts.  The only rule is: you must start each memory with the phrase: "I remember..."

I Remember...
I remember bubble gum. Blowing big bubbles. And trying to get bubble gum out of my hair.

I remember blowing big bubbles. They were very big.

I remember when I was in school I loved to make big bubbles until they blew up in my face.

I remember my first time that I tried to blow big bubbles. The gum got stuck to my nose.

I remember a street full of bubble gum on the walls next to it. It was called “Bubble Gum Alley.”

I remember my dad helping me pull out a loose tooth when I was a kid.

I remember when I didn’t tie my shoes I was very angry.

I remember opening the gifts before Christmas when my mom was cooking.

Untitled, 1978, mixed media collage. This image is copyrighted by JoeBrainard.org.

I remember during a bike race, I wanted to impress my girlfriend and I fell off my bike.

I remember that I didn’t learn to ride a bike until all my friends had already learned. I didn’t want to be left alone.

I remember when I was a child like to play with the dolls and I makeup with my mom’s makeup. 

I remember when I was in the kindergarten, I didn’t have friends because I hit so many of my classmates.

I remember my first of day class in the kindergarten, when I stood alone. I fled my classroom.

Untitled, 1978, assemblage. This image is copyrighted by JoeBrainard.org.

I remember how beautiful snow made the Lower East Side look. (So black and white.)

I remember when there was so much snow that school was cancelled for a week because the school bus couldn’t drive in the snow.

I remember shoveling the driveway with my brother, and digging caves out of the huge piles of snow we made.

Whippoorwill, 1972, oil on canvas. This image is copyrighted by JoeBrainard.org.

I remember wanting to leave football practice so I could play with my dog.

I remember that I looked forward to the free candy I got after a soccer game more than the game itself!

I remember being embarrassed to blow my nose in public.

I remember how many allergies I had last winter. I couldn’t stop cleaning my nose, so that it was red like a clown by February. 

I remember that my nose was dripping because I was sick when I met my boyfriend. He thought I was pretty even though my nose was running.

I remember starting many books that I never finished. I remember feeling very guilty because the author would be disappointed with me.

I remember this book I never finished.

I remember reading a book every night when I was a kid.

I remember feeling liberated the first time I stopped reading a book I didn’t like instead of finishing it anyway.

I remember reading a book that captivated my attention. When this author started to be a writer, he didn’t know what to do with his life. I have read almost 10 books from him.

I remember how much I loved Paulo Coelho. This writer made me love the idea to enjoy a book, living the story.

Carte Postale, 1978, mixed media collage, by Joe Brainard.  This image is copyrighted by JoeBrainard.org.

Respond
What did you remember when you read our memories? Please share in the comments.

Love with the complain. (An original translation from Urdu)

From: Waraich, Level 4 NYC

This is a Urdu poetry.  I did the translation in English.  Believe it or not, this is so hard.  It takes three to four hours.  Firstly, I look the right word, than correct sound and finally correct spelling.  After that I opened the dictionary in my language with nice cup of coffee.

When I   left  your love  after that .  

Problem comes to  me how  I will forget  you

My  heart  sadness  coming   to my  eyes.

The   gloomy  of  my   soul  how  I  show   you.

                                     .

                                   

When  loneliness   change   into the  poison

That  time   how   I   pass,  how   I  tell  you.

Some talks your love change to hate.

I afraid that talks, do not forget you.

______________________________________________

It's necessary, I say, I love you
Give me permission, I say, I love you


I confess and thousand time
I love you, I love you


Life is short for the love
Why the hearts are not clean, I love you


You are so beautiful with anger.
You have any complain, I love you.


You say something, I say something.
It's not necessary now, I say, I love you

______________________________________________

Note: Waraich typed this in class last Thursday, but we did not have time to finish publishing.  Everything you see above is his own hard work.  We will update later with images of the original Urdu text, and some information about the poet.

Urdu is the national language of Pakistan. (There are also many other languages used in Pakistan.)  Urdu is also spoken in parts of India and Bangladesh.

I added the photos of the text without Waraich.  I don't know if the correct images are with the appropriate translations.  If you know Urdu, please let me know!
  

-Eric, NYC, USA