I have just received a long awaited copy of the 'Collected Poems- Wendy Cope.' This comprehensive anthology provides an  impressive overview of the much admired U K poet's work, across several decades.  Wendy Cope has long impressed as a witty, insightful poet, whose work is both memorable and full of humourous intent. The human condition is extensively explored in her work.  Her first collection of poems was published in 1986. Eight further anthologies have followed as well as two poetry collections for children. She has further edited six additional anthologies.  I have been immediately inspired by my reading of the lengthy first line index at the back of 'Collected Poems.' It has inspired me to create a Cento poem. The Mystery Of A Poet’s Inspiration  -After Wendy Cope   Where do you get your ideas from? -An English meadow early in the morning A talented young chimpanzee A three letter beginning with f The fat boy in the seat across ...

 Here are a couple of First Line Index Poem connected to the theme of school life. Short and sweet renditions of this poetry form, courtesy of  UK Poets, Alan Ahlberg and Michael Rosen. Schools returned back this week across Australia, so the  theme is most apt. Hope you enjoy reading them as much as I liked making them. A Seagull Came To School -After Alan Ahlberg First day back at school The bell rings Everyone goes out to play I see a seagull In the playground It follows me into the classroom The teacher groans There’s something in Harrison’s desk -Boys will be boys. Alan j Wright   Random Conversation Walking Home From School -After Michael Rosen It was summertime I was walking home from school My friend Roger says People often say to me Wipe that face off your smile. Alan j Wright It is once again Poetry Friday. Our host is Jan from Bookseed Studio  . Jan shares lots  her favourite follow up links.   

 I previously shared a first line index poem in March last year. It was titled 'Island Observations .' I recently returned to this poetic form using the index from Carol Ann Duffy's anthology '101 Poems For Children' as inspiration. I must admit, I love the challenge these poems present. You are driven by the urge to be a word weaver. It is a process requiring patience and being prepared to let the words settle for a while. You want the lines to display connectiveness. Lots of reading aloud is required to determine if the resulting poem has a sufficient sense of flow to it. Here's what I made of these special lines... Exploring At Night First Line Index Poem   In winter I get up at night At nine of the night, I open the door   And we left our beds in the dark The first whisper of stars is a faint thing Big Dipper, Giant Racer, Figure of Eight Fish-bones lay in the smelly bin Monday, I found a boot   Come on everybody Come play with me...

Sometimes we must respond to an inner call... I found myself returning once more to the intriguing challenge presented by first line index poems.  I feel much happier with this one, although it took a while to juggle and coax the various lines into place. It was a bit like herding cats at first. However, more importantly, it was definitely an engaging writing challenge.  I am pleased I persisted.  Here is a link to my original post written in May 2021, fully explaining the process for composing these beguiling poems-    First Line Index Poems Island Observations – First Line Index Poem The trees are coming into leaf The young girls are cutting the cabbages The fishermen are patient As they sit here happily drinking And they, of course, Not knowing  For years, there have been no fish in the lake. A hush falls, Along the promenade. You ask for a poem, Before I leave the island. I say, In Manchester, there are a thousand puddles Where the three fields meet. Al...

First Line Index Poems I was recently reading 'The Writing Life' by Annie Dillard where the author made brief mention of the fact that some days she reads part of any poetry anthology's index page of first lines. These first lines were considered to possess the potential to set off a new writing direction, particularly the words that stood out as strong and suggestive of further thought and action. I pondered this action by Annie Dillard and decided  maybe, just maybe I could take this a little further... Could I use these first lines and jostle them about into a more or less cohesive list of lines that formed a poetry montage... Not every anthology has an index of first lines, it must be noted. However, I found some among my poetry collection that did and chose some from which to attempt this new challenge. The first was Roger McGough's 'You At the Back.' The second anthology was Dylan Thomas's, The Notebook Poems 1930-1934.  First Line Index Poem After Rog...