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Trictionary Poems -Wordplay Fun!





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 I found this wordplay idea in Dave Morice’s book, ‘The Adventures of Dr. Alphabet- 101 unusual way to write poetry in the classroom and the community.’ It appealed as a way to make poetry, while playing with language at the same time.

Here's what you need to do:

Begin by opening a dictionary and choosing a word. Write that word down, then write down the next two, three or four main entry words. Your next step is to take your listed words and combine them (entering them in dictionary order) with your own words to make a poem.

 Here's what emerged in my notebook:

I figured
I would try figure-skating
Around a figurine
While holding a figwort in my favoured hand.
I flailed.

Some people thought Laurence
Somewhat lackadaisical
Others claimed his performance, lacklustre.
Laurence claimed he was merely laconic.
Grinning, he nonchalantly raised his hand to touch his lacquered hair.

Glitter ice formed on the tree
In Godfrey’s winter garden
As he stood in the gloaming.
He was not a man to gloat.

Harold paid homage to the birds
Visiting his garden.
Wearing his homburg
And a heavy tweed coat
He scattered seed
And welcomed them to his home.

 So, there you have my Trictionary verse. Such fun with words in dictionary order. Wordplay delight...
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Comments

  1. Linda B17 November 2018 at 01:19

    What a terrific idea, Alan. I love "I flailed", a good fit after your words before! I've written from finding one word from the dictionary, but never looking for more 'after'. I'll try it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright17 November 2018 at 11:52

      Glad you liked it Linda. Discoveries await you.

      Delete
  2. Kay17 November 2018 at 12:58

    What fun with words! I may have to give it a try to see what happens. I suspect it may involve more flailing than gloating!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright17 November 2018 at 13:15

      Like your take on this Kay. Good luck with your trictionary try out!

      Delete
  3. Buffy Silverman18 November 2018 at 12:08

    This is a fun idea! And it would be a great one to try with kids too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright25 November 2018 at 13:59

      It is indeed a fun idea to try with kids Buffy. Go for it!

      Delete
  4. Michelle Kogan22 November 2018 at 03:33

    These are charming wordplay poems Alan. Whenever I visit a regular book dictionary (before we were online) I loved checking out the words that were around the word I went there for. Fun challenge thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Alan j Wright25 November 2018 at 14:01

    Thank you Michelle for your kind remarks. Like you I have always loved wandering around in the dictionary from time to time.

    ReplyDelete

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