What Is Erasure Poetry?
Erasure poetry is the art of creating new meaning by selectively removing words from existing text. By blacking out, cutting, or obscuring parts of a source-like a newspaper, novel, or magazine-you transform forgotten or mundane material into a striking, personal poem. It's a meditative practice that blends creativity with constraint.
Materials You'll Need
Gather these simple items from your home:
Found text: Old books, newspapers, or junk mail.
Black markers: Use permanent or opaque correction fluid.
Scissors or Exacto knife (optional).
Colored paper or frames (to highlight your poem).
A ruler or straightedge for clean lines.
Step 1: Choose Your Source
Select a text that resonates with you. Vintage books often have evocative language, while classified ads can spark unexpected stories. Don't overthink it-trust your gut. The right source will provide a rhythm that feels half-written for you already.
Step 2: Skim and Sift
Flip through pages or scan paragraphs. Let your eye wander. Look for:
Patterns in repetition or imagery.
Emotional tones (grief, joy, mystery).
Words that leap off the page in isolation. Use a pencil to lightly circle potential phrases. Don't force it; let the poem reveal itself organically.
Step 3: Erase or Obscure
Decide how to erase:
Blacking out: Use markers to cover unselected words thoroughly.
Cutting: Create windows by slicing shapes around key text.
Layering: Place tape or paper over words you want to hide. Work slowly. Each deletion should feel intentional, like chiseling away stone to free a sculpture.
Step 4: Refine and Reinvent
Once the source is stripped down, ask:
- Does the poem have a beginning, middle, and end?
- Do line breaks create rhythm or tension?
- Could rearranging words improve flow? Add handwritten lines or doodles for depth if desired. This is where your voice truly emerges.
Step 5: Finalize and Share
Mount your poem on colored paper to make it pop. Share it digitally or display it in a frame. Erasure poetry isn't just a craft-it's a conversation between you and the original text. Celebrate what you've unearthed.
Tips for Beginners
Embrace "mistakes": A smudged line might become a happy accident.
Work small first: Try a single paragraph before tackling an entire page.
Experiment with contrast: Play with black-and-white vs. colorful accents.
Try digital erasure: Use apps like Photoshop to erase on scanned documents.
Variations to Explore
Theme-based erasures: Focus on grief, love, or politics.
Collaborative projects: Erase a page with a friend, alternating turns.
Book-length erasure: Turn multiple pages into a cohesive series.
Erasure poetry proves that limitation breeds invention. Grab that stack of old mail and start revealing the poem waiting to be born.