How to Write Found Poetry

Found poetry is one of my favorite ways to turn idle moments into creative ones. Whether I’m waiting for a flight, sitting at an airport gate, or relaxing on a plane, I love opening a magazine, circling interesting words and phrases, and seeing what unexpected poem emerges from the page. There’s something magical about discovering a story, a feeling, or a surprising bit of wisdom hidden inside ordinary text. In this post, you’ll see how I created a found poem using a page from "American Craft Magazine.” You can easily do it, too, using any magazines newspaper, brochure, or printed material you happen to have at hand.

She loves poetry,

and metal,

retro-futuristic spacecraft.

Curious about space travel

such as an empty chair

the line between art,

life, and fantasy is blurred

at a playful degree.

Seven goats, four pigs

and two “bedroom bunnies”

sometimes ruin her furniture.

Her magical world

dominates art allowing kids

to process cultural assumptions -

a burden with a mammoth wig,

a cathartic performance.

Found poetry is about discovering unexpected connections hidden in ordinary text. A magazine article about gardening can become a love poem. A travel brochure can become a meditation on freedom. Every page contains possibilities. And it’s a fun thing to do.

The next time you’re waiting for a flight, sitting in an airport, or looking for a creative way to pass the time, grab a magazine and start circling words. You may be surprised by the poem waiting to be found.