Let's Make Some Lists

List and repetition in poetry

Hello, List Makers!

Today we’re branching out a little from haiku. We are talking about ways to use lists and repetition in poetry, including, but not limited to haiku.

curl, crash, and recede
ocean waves curl, crash, recede
curl, crash, and recede

The Power of Lists and Repetition

One way to break out of a poetry rut is to take something non-poetic and transform it into a poem. I love using lists and instructions in poetry. I also love repeating a list, making it into a kind of chant.

In the haiku comic for today, I simply repeated a list of things the ocean does but used a haiku format and some poetry tricks to make it sound like a poem. When you read this poem out loud you may find your mouth is mimicking the motion of an ocean wave breaking on the shore and receding back into the ocean.

If you spend enough time with my haiku, you will notice I use this trick a lot. I love repeating lists.

Lists and repetition are poetry staples and aren’t just for haiku. Last year, I created an exercise for an online poetry workshop where you write instructions for making a sandwich and transform it into a poem. Here is an example from that workshop:

How to Find a Moment of Peace in the Middle of a Hectic, High-Pressure Day

First, you need two
small slices of time. Make sure
the slices are about
the same size.
Put some leftover
love on a plate and top it with
BBQ sauce. Heat the love for
one minute in the microwave.
While your love is cooking, you need to
spread gratitude on one slice of time
and hope onto the other slice.
Thoroughly mix the love into
the BBQ sauce after heating.
Spread the mixture onto the slice
with the gratitude
and put a piece of sharp wonder
on the other slice of time
where you spread your hope.
Close the sandwich
and heat in the microwave for
an additional 30 seconds
to melt the wonder.
Cut the sandwich in half
if you wish,
and then enjoy!

You can find more details about this exercise here:

In my book, Quantum Joy Infinite Melancholy, I included a prose poem comic that was a listcicle. The poem is called, 11 Thoughts as I Float Away From the Space Station (In No Particular Order).

Here is an excerpt of thoughts one through five (paid members will find a PDF of the entire prose poem comic below my signature):

Your Turn!

Make a list and turn it into a poem. Feel free to make any kind of poem you like. If you want a constraint, write a haiku using a short list. Please feel free to share your poems in the comments. Sharing your poems gives other people the boost of courage they need to share their work.

Be the poetry you want to see in the world!

Cheers,

Jason