Unlocking Creativity: The Magic of List Poems

 Welcome to the enchanting world of list poems, where the simplicity of a list transforms into a magical exploration with words. Discover the allure of this poetic form, whether you're a novice or a seasoned poet, and learn how it can serve as a creative gateway to expression.

The Allure of Lists

In the realm of poetry, a list offers infinite fresh starts. It's a versatile structure that captivates both beginners and experienced poets. Dive into the magic of list poems, where the familiarity of lists meets the nuanced artistry of line breaks.

Line Breaks Unveiled

List poems effortlessly introduce the concept of line breaks. Larry Fagin, in "The List Poem: A Guide to Teaching & Writing Catalog Verse," highlights why: "the line is natural" in a list poem. Whether you're a child or an adult, the familiarity of lists opens the door to exploring the intricacies of poetic composition.

Composing a Poem with Lists

What elevates a list to a list poem? Fagin outlines various pathways, from defying expectations to evocative naming and heightened emotion. A list poem can be organized or random, appearing in lines or prose. The possibilities are as diverse as the emotions it can evoke.

Fagin enumerates a handful of ways in which a list might become a list poem: surprise in the face of expectations; an odd concept for a sequence; evocative naming of things; heightened emotion that builds up. The composition can be varied and random, or organized. It can even appear in prose, not in lines at all. Above all, something could “take off” or happen (not necessarily in a narrative sense).

^{A list that appears in my friend KC's enormous collection of found grocery lists, many of which are featured online at the fantastic You Dropped Your Grocery List. This one was sent in by "Liz in Baltimore who found this in the bottom of her grocery bag."}

"99 Problems" by Morgan Parker

Explore Morgan Parker's "99 Problems" to witness the compelling interplay of expectation and surprise within a list poem. The poem's title hints at its scale, but Parker deftly disrupts the anticipated flow, creating a nuanced exploration of repetitive, oppressive experiences. This poem is from her book There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé (Tin House, 2017). 

1. Playing house I was adopted
2. or the dog
3. I understood
4. They made me the wild creek
   between Class Clown & Most Unique

Playing with Scale

Parker's manipulation of scale within the list format is pure magic. From the repetition of "oppression" across multiple lines to the deliberate expansion into lyric lines, she bends the form to convey complex emotions and experiences. The poem's deliberate refusal to reach a neat 100 leaves readers teetering on the edge of the speaker's weariness.

A Poem's Endurance

The final lines, "98. Be strong / 99. I’m tired," resonate with fatigue rather than completion, emphasizing the endurance of problems. Watch Parker read her poem [here](video link).

 Watch Parker read her poem here. 

Twists on Lists in Everyday Life

Reflect on your own experiences with lists. Have you ever added completed tasks to your to-do list for the satisfaction of crossing them off?  If you have, you created tension (and pleasure) by mixing different types of items under one list. Or perhaps you have encountered an old list you wrote which you never titled, which has over time taken on a patina of mystery to you, and now might as well have been written by a stranger. Lists, whether intentional or found, weave stories and mysteries. Embrace the creativity that arises from juxtaposing unrelated items, and experiment with counting down rather than up.

Writing Prompts

1. Create a list of unrelated items, playing with size and surprise.
2. Write a numbered list that counts down. To what? Up to you.

• Bonus: Remove the numbers and observe how the poem transforms. Which version intrigues you more?

May your journey with list poems uncover fresh perspectives, and stay tuned for more revelations into their captivating world. Take care and happy writing!