WikiPoems are cut-up poems using found phrases from random Wikipedia articles. For instructions and details, see my classroom handout “Writing a WikiPoem"
Roadrunner Years
stay that firewood tongue, which boasts
eruption, erosion, and growth
blend in with the dark night sky, visitor
elevation widens the cracks
avoid the sculpted city
that succulent scorpion fruit
hooked spines kneeling
at a prehistoric table
oxbow garden made into a desert
pristine as rattlesnake handprints
miles away, the shape it traced
a mechanical human-made hydra
blend in with the dark night sky, visitor
purpose displayed, it does not carry names
pinnacle experience, efforts left behind
celestial coyotes painted by time
— Written using text from the Wikipedia entry for City of Rocks State Park, 22 Sep. 2025
The Wreckage of Bo-Bo Crompton
Bo-Bo Crompton, unreliable and hasting
he jumped from the train
late to be fitted for shoes
collided with bogies
from Goblin junction
proving themselves under the bridge
coupled inside
they emerged powerful
barking a push-pull gospel
Bo-Bo Crompton
stocky inconvenience
rapidly became unpopular
halted at the throat
no bell warnings given
stripped and scrapped on site
police fulfilled the routine
then returned to traffic
the recovery abandoned
Bo-Bo Crompton
shoeless at the terminus
yet another examination he didn’t pass
— Written using text from the Wikipedia entry for British Rail Class 33, 29 Aug. 2025.
Paper Animal
many hours alone
two weeks in total
potential blessing for
the artistic mind
sadly surreal
deeply discouraged
immersed in the illness
of prodigious expression
puppet maker
wood and paper
his materials
watercolors and ink
his philosophy mirrored
an immersed imagination
fantasy—personal fantasy
nurtured and destroyed by fire
fairy tales, folktales
first graphic and strong
now embodied and weak
very few still standing
Volcano Party
the news had spread to
engagements in the city,
spindle of initial speculations
midnight party
on the tallest mountain
bright moon, fine weather
focus on the sea
in the low broken clouds
there, eruption of movement
crew of five, high
above the last ever ceiling
widely popular, all-out active
each easily a hero
third-degree special
inspired beyond recognition
a flaming metal Jesus
weeping, transported
snapping wristwatch time
the radio carries
taking off, gaining altitude
arrival, the unlimited skies
— Written using text from the Wikipedia entry for 1957 Cebu Douglas C-47 Crash, 29 Aug. 2025.
The Great Divide
follow the flat and narrow worm
undulating with discovery.
hazard its crossing with care,
detour before it is crushed.
trail the Victorian bunny,
that scrivener of high country plains.
steep its offering in water from lakes,
course eucalyptus and hawthorn
entrance the hybrid tiger,
away from where it suffered
in a small box for viewing.
provide a short rest.
cross over to the mountain
standing granite and grand.
fully formed, no council advised,
no inner circle provided
oppose the trestle of timber pylons,
the forest made gravel and flat,
turned against itself, an isolated domino
pointed west for the final descent.
rejoin the tiger, bunny, and worm,
clearing the damage beside.
narrow the surface, this rough century past,
until the path recommences—or the grave.
— Written using text from the Wikipedia entry for Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail, 22 Sep. 2025
Basic Empire
megalomaniacs
blacked out by addiction
consuming and controlling
like a child playing wargames
programming students
like units on the map
almost endless, none shifted
failed by order, damage threatened
then, eventually,
someone broke the rules
— Written using text from the Wikipedia entry for Empire (1977 video game) 22 Sep. 2025
The Sculpture Feast
wild duck, play in the current
open to the lower depths
taken to cherish the second world
a fisher’s boat crowning the main
the emigrant, directed
by muses of intrigue and love
doors wide as an umbrella
opened to the sea of lights
beginning a prominent tradition
our village of a dream replaced
national drama in theatre's facade
the king by time there lies
fate, performed in cherry orchards
by a long-legged masquerade
emblem of a century, symbol of here
this twentieth ‘one more time'
— Written using text from the Wikipedia entry for Lithuanian National Drama Theatre, 2019.
Regular Suns
Helios, champion
of regular suns
home and away,
round robin
carrying over
the second phase
this final season
known, used, lost
Lost Bridges
so tall was an American rock
charted in the history of everything
chase the white gold, deconstruct
you fly away on ceremony,
away on march, a dream self
streaming to capture ghosts
lost boys, high as well as warped,
buzz on June unimagined
released by hopeless peaks and valleys
run, run, live
— Written using text from the Wikipedia entry for Driver Friendly, 29 Aug. 2025
The Auger
He, the auger
describing the basics
the earliest ideas
visiting rare earths
the frequency, an echo
a resonant pulse
spin, lion, spin
solid on so-called sand
knight of the quantum
his society letters
a memory based on
this exchange
the relationship:
physical impurity
colossal resistance
splitting, separation
— Written using text from the Wikipedia entry for George Sawatzky, 29 Aug. 2025.
One Mouth Song
various disturbances
dynasties overrun
one mouth song
unclear
civil tang
one mouth inside it
lacking closure,
volume
spring and autumn
intelligentsia fallen
in charge of being wise
submit and survive
an invitation declined
character bestowed and destroyed
headquartered
for reasons unclear
proceeded to hang
so much for being wise
— Written using text from the Wikipedia entry for Shen Song, 29 Aug. 2025.
The Iron Horse
pull away from
the powered axle
modified to ride
from rifle barrels.
the horse won
his own right—
Tom Thumb suffered
and held trials.
Stop using horses.
— Written using text from the Wikipedia entry for Tom Thumb (locomotive), 29 Aug. 2025