Index Poetry
Annie Dillard warms up for a session of writing by reading the first word of each chapter in a book’s index. Of course, it’s nonsense, but it does get the mind working–trying, as our minds always do, to make sense where no sense exists.
Here is a list of the first word of all the chapters in Anne Lamott’s book, Bird by Bird.
getting short shitty perfectionism school polaroids set false how looking broccoli radio jealousy index calling writing someone letters finding giving
Your task, should you choose to accept, is to arrange these words into a short poem. Feel free to add up to five extra words.
38 responses so far ↓
Shaddy // January 2, 2009 at 12:31 am |
How can looking short
In shitty school index polaroids
Set jealousy?
Can getting broccoli,
Giving someone a radio,
Calling,
Writing letters or
Finding false perfectionism?
Gullible // January 2, 2009 at 12:54 am |
“…to make sense of where no sense exists…” Sounds like my autobiography. I shall return…with dreaded doggerel.
annlinquist // January 2, 2009 at 6:04 am |
Calling jealousy false,
Looking broccoli-shitty for someone–
how giving!
Like writing radio letters,
finding short index polaroids,
getting re-set with school perfectionism
Hello!
Gullible // January 2, 2009 at 7:38 am |
This one is taxing my brain into overload. I can’t get past “Polaroids of perfectionism” and “getting short, shitty letters from editors.”
Shaddy // January 2, 2009 at 3:33 pm |
Gully,
Your phrase composition “getting short, shitty letters from editors,” is priceless. (It IS hard to get past the blunt form letter responses and to become enthusiastic about writing again, although I’m getting used to being slapped in the face).
Thank you for making me chuckle outloud.
Shaddy // January 3, 2009 at 3:55 am |
(I must be nuts to come back for seconds on this challenge!)
How does radio
set false jealousy?
By finding perfectionism
in broccoli,
Calling someone’s
polaroids shitty.
By giving, getting,
looking or writing
Short school index letters.
Gullible // January 3, 2009 at 6:55 am |
Shaddy, you are soaring like an eagle. I think you are recalling how much you love to write.
KathyH // January 3, 2009 at 1:20 pm |
School Polaroids Index
Calling perfectionism false
Someone writing short letters
With broccoli colored jealousy
Giving
Getting
Radio set blaring
Finding how looking shitty hurts
Shaddy // January 3, 2009 at 4:34 pm |
Wow, KathyH!
You worked magic with this challenge. I especially like “broccoli colored jealousy.”
Oh, and “Finding how looking shitty hurts” is another gem.
You added just the right words to give poetic depth to those lines.
Bravo, my friend!
KathyH // January 3, 2009 at 5:58 pm |
Thanks Shaddy. I must say this was a challenge. It caused me to say all kinds of bad words, throw tantrums, and go out in the yard and scream. I fretted over this for two days! Last night, I said to …. with it, I can’t do it. It was that word ‘index’ that kept messing me up. I don’t know how in the world you came up with two poems. And both very good. And very clever. And very creative.
KathyH // January 3, 2009 at 6:13 pm |
Ann–this was certainly a big challenge, especially after reading your poem. “Looking broccoli shitty for someone. How giving!” was my favorite line. What an image. I wanted to put an ! after ‘image’ but I figured I better not. Ha.
Walk // January 4, 2009 at 10:34 pm |
Here’s my lame attempt with the five extra words: cards, love, to’s, through, nude
Giving short shitty broccoli index cards (1)
Finding someone love(2) letter’s
Writing false radio how-to’s (3)
Getting perfectionism through (4) school
Set Looking nude (5) polaroids
Jealousy Calling
Shaddy // January 4, 2009 at 10:49 pm |
Hey Walk.
Come on now. Give yourself credit for accepting the challenge in the first place. I’m not thrilled with my attempts either. This type of writing is absolutely not fun in the same way writing normally is.
I struggle with feeling confused on a regular basis. I also love a challenge. Looking at all those words and trying to find a connection between them both confused and challenged me, big time!!
We writers are a strange lot, I reckon. Who in their right mind would spend time doing what we do?
KathyH // January 4, 2009 at 11:00 pm |
Walk–are you kidding me? I have read your poem a couple of times. Now, from where I’m sitting as I read your last two lines, it appears that you are “looking at nude polaroids” and becoming “jealous”. Maybe you don’t realize how so very funny this image is. Maybe you should go back and read your own writing! Oh, one more thing. Does your wife know you’re sitting around looking at nude pictures?
KathyH // January 4, 2009 at 11:53 pm |
And another thing Walk–can’t you get in trouble for writing false radio how to’s? The question in my mind though–how to what? And what radio station are you sending these false how to’s to? Ha!
Summergoose // January 5, 2009 at 1:59 am |
Someone set on writing,
Confidence index getting short
Shitty jealousy calling-
How broccoli green-
Radios false perfectionism polaroids
Finding school,
Looking forward,
Giving letters life.
Gullible // January 5, 2009 at 4:40 am |
Kudos to Shaddy, Ann, Kathy and Walk for creative ingenuity.
As for me, I hate 19 of those words, especially “broccoli.” My favorite word is “shitty,” which is what I think of “broccoli” being in the mix.
Shaddy // January 5, 2009 at 6:48 pm |
Hey Summergoose,
How does a Summergoose survive during cold winters?
Gullible // January 5, 2009 at 8:34 pm |
Yes, yes, yes, Summergoose. I was going to leave a message for you at 920, telling you there was something here that was right up your alley.
Walk // January 5, 2009 at 11:49 pm |
Y’all done good. This was a tough one, makes me worry about what “Goofing-around 3″ is going to be.
Shaddy // January 6, 2009 at 2:30 am |
If this is goofing around, I hope Ann doesn’t get serious.
Summergoose // January 6, 2009 at 4:59 am |
Shaddy, I would LOVE to go south to warmth but it is not in the cards. I did go far enough south to go from 15 feet of snow to 1 foot – that will have to do… that and a hot toddy or two.
Gullible // January 6, 2009 at 6:59 am |
Summergoose, how does a cruise to Alaska in mid-May sound? Port Townsend writer’s conference aboard ship.
Gullible // January 6, 2009 at 7:00 am |
PS: Check out the Elder Storytelling place for today, Jan. 5.
KathyH // January 6, 2009 at 1:50 pm |
Hi Summergoose. Fifteen feet of snow? Send a couple feet my way! I want to build a snowman with my granddaughter.
I loved your poem, especially the first two lines. “Someone set on writing…confidence index getting short”. True words.
KathyH // January 6, 2009 at 2:11 pm |
I think Ann is sitting on a stool, perhaps enjoying a hot bowl of tomato soup as she searches for just the right Goofing Around 3. And we have been put in a holding pen, milling about, pawing the ground with nervous anticipation and excitement. And she is secretly smiling at our predicament.
annlinquist // January 6, 2009 at 2:44 pm |
I’m hesitating because Goofing Around-3 is a bit daunting. Rather than expressing nervous anticipation, you might consider running, screaming, from the room. A challenge, yes. A lot of self trust will be involved. Stay tuned.
KathyH // January 6, 2009 at 3:00 pm |
Uh oh.
Walk // January 6, 2009 at 6:17 pm |
Self trust? Self trust???? If there’s one person I don’t trust its Self.
Shaddy // January 7, 2009 at 12:50 am |
Ann,
I ran screaming from the room; my husband took one look at me, shook his head in dismay and shoved me back in here.
Now I’m babbling to myself:
“I won’t be daunted.
I’ll be undaunted.
Ann may haunt
and even flaunt me
but never daunt me
not even a bit.”
To challenge number 3
I say
“ready or not,
come and get me.”
(The door’s unlocked).
Gullible // January 7, 2009 at 9:13 am |
Nice to have a supportive spouse, eh, Shaddy?
Summergoose // January 8, 2009 at 4:44 am |
My goodness, reading this back and forth is like a warm hug
Shaddy // January 9, 2009 at 5:57 pm |
Hang around Summergoose; we’ll keep you warm all winter long, and beyond.
By the way, your submission is very well done. I like it because you made a lot of sense out of the tangle of words.
darksculptures // June 20, 2009 at 2:58 am |
Now I am well aware that I have arrived at the scene long after the ambulance left, but how could I avoid taking a closer look at the crash site!
This challenge tangled my brain like angel hair pasta left cooling in the sieve.
Here we go!
How shitty
finding radio calling school writing false letters
Giving perfectionism
(to) someone writing index letters (while) getting (and) looking (at) polaroids
(In) set broccoli jealousy!
annlinquist // June 20, 2009 at 2:48 pm |
Welcome, DA. Delightful addition! I see this is your first visit here. Are you an ex-student of my Beginning Writers Workshop class?
Feel free to roam and post. Lots of good folks here, all interested in consuming pasta of all kinds.
darksculptures // June 20, 2009 at 3:43 pm |
Hi Ann,
Yes, I was a student in the March 2009 BWW class. But, I don’t consider myself a former student. I consider myself a continuing student, as I find myself applying your lessons on a daily basis.
My final 500 was the story about the firefighter and the burning building. (Maybe that will jar some memories.)
If not, just know that you have been an overwhelming influence on my personal growth! I can’t thank you enough and that is why I am here. I want to repay the debt by offering you my support in all of your endeavors.
I just completed a descriptive essay based on your lesson, “The Room Where I write”. What an amazing evolution of words on the page. The essay completely took on new meaning since my first meager scratching in class. I would love to share it with you some day if you’re interested.
DA
Ducky // July 13, 2009 at 4:18 pm |
Writing letters; taking Shitty Polariods of perfectionism
False jealousy index set high
Finding; looking for a school giving broccoli getting how short?
Radio calling someone
annlinquist // July 13, 2009 at 9:07 pm |
Good one, Ducky! Glad to hear from you!