The Eye Poem was invented by Kenneth L. Beaudoin (1913-1995) one of the founders of the Poetry Society of Tennessee.
In an Eye Poem, you create a poetic collage using visual and verbal imagery.
A free verse poem is constructed by combining images from magazine pages with words, phrases and clauses to create a poem on one page. The objective is to create a mood or inspiration. Do not write a poem first and then look for pictures. The poem is a discovery of words that fit with the graphics. You should be able to read the poem three feet away.
For examples -- Example #1 and Example #2.
For a short tutorial about Eye Poems, please click here. Many thanks to member Emily Williams for putting this together for us!
In an Eye Poem, you create a poetic collage using visual and verbal imagery.
A free verse poem is constructed by combining images from magazine pages with words, phrases and clauses to create a poem on one page. The objective is to create a mood or inspiration. Do not write a poem first and then look for pictures. The poem is a discovery of words that fit with the graphics. You should be able to read the poem three feet away.
- Find a picture or pictures up to 8 1/2 x 11 inches. Vertical is best.
- Go through one or more magazines and find words or phrases etc. that remind you of the graphics (pictures). Cut the words out neatly and place on the page of graphics. Do not use words smaller than 14 font. LARGE WORDS will be read louder and have more emphasis.
- Do not cut out letters to make a word.
- Position the words and images on the page; if the Eye Poem will be submitted for contests, publication, or will be framed, keep a border of white space around the poem so that no words or images are cropped during production/publication.
- The first line of your poem will be its title.
For examples -- Example #1 and Example #2.
For a short tutorial about Eye Poems, please click here. Many thanks to member Emily Williams for putting this together for us!