what is the community poetry game anyway?

The community poetry game is something we've invented. It is based on a Surrealist game called the exquisite corpse. Everyone is invited to contribute as many lines of poetry as they like. Each line is written on a separate strip, which we provide. We then put the strips in a basket and when we have enough of them, a "guest editor" is invited to pick six strips at random and then arrange them into a poem, which is stapeled on to a larger sheet. You might think that a poem created in this way could not possibly make sense, but in our experience, they often make perfect "poetic" sense.

During Poetry Month, we will be playing the game in three locations. (See post below for specifics.) We will collect lines from each location to use at the other two. This means that the game will be played by the entire community, not just by the community that shows up at a single event.

Please stop by and say hello, contribute lines, and read the poems.

Or you can play the online version, below. Simply submit your line as a comment to this post and we will print it out and include it in one of the poems. Please no lines longer than 15 words. Please also remember that this is a game for all ages and choose your language and subject matter appropriately.

For more information about the exquisite corpse:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exquisite_corpse

dates, times, and locations for this year's community poetry game

April 5th First Thursday Event, Downtown Association, Paseo Nuevo, 5-8 pm

April 16th, High School Celebration of Tamayo, Art, and Poetry, SBMA, 10 am-12 pm

April 28th, Youth Summit, Channel Islands YMCA, Sunkengardens at the Courthouse, 8-1:30 pm

last year's community poetry game

Last year we played a pilot version of the community poetry game at the Natural History Museum as a part of Artist's Field Day, an event put on by the Channel Islands YMCA. A fun time was had by all. Below, some poems and pictures.

last year's community poetry game pictures

last year's community poetry game sample poems

Remember that each of these lines were contributed by different people and chosen randomly for each poem. You will notice that many of them were inspired by the location at the Natural History Museum.


Nature Magic

What do butterflies dream and do their dreams flutter-by?
Poppies orange as marmelade sweeten the air.
Bright bobcat, you move into the interior like I do, totem.
The frogs call like carnival barkers.
Willow stick, willow stick, stick, stick, Ouch House-Ah!
Owl with outstretched arms, I want to wear you.



Flowing Spaces

Water flowing down my spine
Consciously creating unknown spaces to move within
Sounds of music fill the air, The sounds make shapes
that linger when the music is gone
supporting and cushioning the energy outward
when the trees sway, they play
like the people

We are All Connected

I hear beautiful music amdist the trees and colorful works of art
how do you keep flowing?
Ancient Life, we are all connected
The water is cold, but the granola bar is great
apples, a yellow basket, and paintings
people have beautiful stories

what the community poetry game poems look like

Contact

beth@sbpoetteachers.com

Send me an email. I'm happy to answer questions or add you to the email list.