It’s that time of year again! What time of year? you wonder. It’s time to scan bookshelves, searching for titles that will create a spine poem. Once you have selected the titles, you stack them, one upon another to create a poem from the spines of your books.
Travis Jonkers, from 100 Scope Notes (http://100scopenotes.com/) puts a call out each year for your (yes, you) spine poetry. He said, “If you do give it a go, take a picture and post it to your blog, or send it my way via email (scopenotes (at) gmail (dot) com). On Tuesday, April 2nd I’ll be posting a gallery with all your work, and continue to add to it for the entire month.” Click here to go to a page of hints and examples of spine poetry.
So before I left home, I scoured my bookshelves.
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start pulling books to create your own poem. Don’t forget to have FUN!
elsie tries writing 
My students had so much fun doing these during the off time our week of testing. I plan on using the pictures to decorate for National Poetry Month next month.
I have yet to write a spine poem. I loved reading your poems! They are so fun!
This is such a great mental exercise — and the results can be surprising and fabulous, like they are here! 🙂
I was just thinking that it was time, Elsie. I just got a book titled “Hold Fast”; it called to me as the ending of something! These are terrific-thanks for sharing about Travis’ yearly tradition!
These are fun! I especially love, “Written anything good lately?” Every time I see these on someone’s blog, I think I will try them, but I haven’t quite pulled it off yet! Maybe in April!
I love your spine poetry. We must promise the librarians that we will put the books back!
These are so fun Elsie! It inspires me to head to the bookshelves! Maybe a post for this weekend.
These are fabulous! I’ve never tried this, but it looks like fun! (Hard fun, that is.)
So much fun! I did this with my students this week! Now I will have to try this myself. Yours were particularly good!
The 1st and last poems are my favorites — you really found the perfect books to make real, meaningful poems! So neat!
Love spine poems… what a great way to revisit the treasures on our bookshelves, in our libraries, or to just have fun!
I love that time of year….and your choice of titles. Also the fact that these are all awesome books.
Wow, this is such a neat idea!
What fun! I’ll have to try it.
So much fun. I did this with song titles from my MP3. It’s amazing the kind of story you can tell just from titles.
These are so fun. I will do just that, scan my shelves and get creative. 🙂
You are good. Not just one but three book spine poems. 🙂
My favorite is the last poem.
What great fun. The pancake poem was delightful. I will have to try this.
What a fun writing! I am stealing this idea! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I forget this and then remember. There are all kinds of possibilities! Thanks for some good examples to nudge me.
Elsie, you’ve inspired me once again. I dove into my bookshelves this morning to join you for a spine poetry post. I love the first one and that final line – the rain came down!
Maybe I’ll prepare one before I leave for Indy in the morning. Then my grandkids will take me away………..not from posting, just with ideas.
These are beautiful, and I love your close up pictures. My favorite line is Up North at the Cabin. Yearning…I guess. I also love how hands-on this is for the students we teach. I’m also wondering if our librarian would let us into her stacks? xo
Elsie, I love these. It has instant appeal. It reminds me of collage poetry, where you cut phrases and words from a magazine and arrange them in lines to create a poem. I will definitely be giving this a try as I have a number of poetry presentations to do this year and this will add an added dimension. Many thanks.
Between spine poems, 25 word stories, 6 word stories, and others, I have so much writing to try out. I like the pancake poem.
These are so fun! My students had a great time last year scouring the shelves of the classroom library. Thanks for the link and reminder.