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Headline Poems
Join us in making and displaying these cathartic & therapeutic poems!
Objective
The objective is to create a poem made entirely of headlines from newspapers and magazines. Every day of our lives headlines scream at us from thousands of newspapers across the country. Now scream back! Let them become the creative fodder for your imagination. It's not really the headlines themselves that interest us; it's the words hidden inside. Cut, tear, and mutilate those headlines; find the tiny poem each holds!
Directions
Step 1:
First, scour the dozens of newspapers and magazines in your home to locate interesting headlines & words. Next, cut out fifty headlines. Actually, it's not the headlines that you're going for; it is the words. Don't use the entire headline, only a part of it: a word or phrase, even a letter. A full headline may be used for the title or ending of the poem.
Step 2:
Take these gems and lay them out on your desk, or the floor and play with them. Move the words around; sift through the rubble until a pattern emerges. By nature, headline poems are bold; let loose your secret self and roll with the punches. Do not seek a neat little solution; instead, create a statement that is as sharp, decisive, and witty. Letters and words work the best when you vary the size, shape, and even color. EXPRESS YOURSELF IN PRINT! GO WILD!!!
Step 3:
Back to the drawing board. Now, as the poem sheds its skin and you begin to see its inner beauty, you will most likely need to rummage through the remnants of the newspapers and magazines to pick up those final few words. It's easier now; you've got the roadmap. You just need a couple of more street signs.
Step 4:
Lay it out now just as it is going to look on paper, including the title. Shape it, mold it, carve it as it were stone. Now, don't breathe. We are going to mount this beauty. Select the poster board that will frame this masterpiece. Use plain white 8 by 11 for those literary diamonds who don't want to detract from their purity. Big, bold, splashes of color for those statements that are screaming to get out and dance. 
Step 5:
Carefully place and paste each word on the background. Take your time; there are no second chances. MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!
For more information or if you would like to put up your headline poem on our web site, please email us!
Disclaimer: We did not create the headline poem. This web site was simply designed to spread the popularity of the headline poems and to inform people on how to create them.