Word Association Poem 9 1 List whatever words

Word Association Poem #9

• 1. List whatever words come into your head over a set period of time. Do this for 5 minutes. (You have to stop being conscious of the selection of words. As Forester says, “Don’t think, just write. ”)

My list from 2016: He’s a rat Mouse Men Plans Awry Wrong Right mighty Mouse Cat Dog Rough Tough Kids Arrogance Self-doubt Re-route Forgive GPS Mess Clean Dirty Bastard Wu-Tang Clan Stan Eminem Candy Swamper Custodian Chuck Steak Minecraft Technology Nature Books Looks Eyes Soul Power Weakness Week Month Break Christmas God Devil Hell Hot Cold Weather December Give Get Chaos Busy Stress Finals Breathe Meditate Count In Out Side Ride Car Window Mirror Black Disturbing

2. Look at the words, think about them, figure out why you thought of them so close together. 3. Use the words to create a poem. Rearrange, cut, paste, erase, add – do whatever it takes to turn this list into a poem. 10 line minimum.

Forgive Me My car windows need cleaning I meditate without breathing In disturbing December I measure stress by the weather My busy breath is my weakness Preparing for finals week’s mess So as God as my witness I’ll reroute my GPS To the true nature of Christmas Not just give, but forgiveness

• Here’s my list from 2015…

He’s a rat Snitch Switch Sides Rides Cars Booze Lose Win Victory Palm Hand Hairy Beard Lumbersexual Plaid First hipster Tattoos Trendy Pretend Dress-up Grunge Country Napa Westwood Hills Nature Tree Apple Reciprocating Saw Jigsaw Puzzle Muzzle Dog Whines Wine Vineyards Highway 29 I’m 36 Not rich In wealth Health Self Mirrors Zits Gray Scared Trouble Stand up Rights Unfair Indignation Nation Election day Soda tax Apathy Tenure Secured Captain Ship Waters Rough Channel TV Cancel Cable

Poem 1: Indignation Nation The reciprocating jigsaw Secured the captain’s ship On election day The gray backs whined about vineyards And the cableguy couldn’t look in the mirror On election day Our indignation Stood up By sitting down On election day When apathetic hipsters, Soda haters, and wealthy winners Played dress-up On election day

Poem 2: The Lumbersexual I’m not a rat No country snitch Got wealth in health But I’m not rich Hipster plaid At thirty-six Got gray hair, But I still get zits

I’m the lumbersexual The very first hipster I cut down an apple tree With my beard and my flannel I’m the lumbersexual

I lived in Napa In the Westwood Hills Tenured secured So I can pay my bills Trendy tattoos Highway 29 blues But I got bars I ain’t talkin’ ‘bout booze

I’m the lumbersexual The very first hipster I cut down an apple tree With my beard and my flannel I’m the lumbersexual