How to write a Verbatim poem

Extract a whole passage of text from writing that is not meant to be poetic, and add line breaks.

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Don't

• Add your own words
• Delete words to change the meaning of the text
• Cherry pick words and phrases to force a poem that really wasn't there
• Take text from a poetic source such as a poem, song lyrics or a novel

Do

• Take out the odd word or reverse a contraction (can’t/can not) to make a line scan better
• Add or remove punctuation marks for consistency or effect
• Use italics to denote speech, change of voice or emphasis
• Replace numerals and symbols with words

Other ways to create a Verbatim Poem

We also accept extracted poems – where similar elements found in one place are composed together. For example, lines from this list of famous last words might be shaped into a sonnet.