altered prose by Terri Guillemets, 2019
from The Man Who Loved Jane Austen
by Sally Smith O’Rourke, 2001, page 53
What I do
altered prose by Terri Guillemets, 2019
from The Man Who Loved Jane Austen
by Sally Smith O’Rourke, 2001, page 53
remix lit
altered prose by Terri Guillemets, 2019
from The Man Who Loved Jane Austen
by Sally Smith O’Rourke, 2001, page 53
Fantastic shores
in bed at night his mind had a ferocious imagination
reality and unreality haunted his turbulent brain
the years ticked, an infinite clock of destiny
searching moonlight for the promise of a future
his reveries of heart were coasting on a fairy’s wing
as the world and universe drifted by fantastic shores
but the sea, work, and women — physical outlets —
were his anchor — something old, hard, and soft
—Terri Guillemets
scrambled blackout poetry created from F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, 1925, Scribner 2004 trade paperback,
Book party!
Let’s get drunk at the library
and have a book party!
“What a good time!” she said
in an excited whisper.
—Terri Guillemets
scrambled blackout poetry created from F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, 1925, Scribner trade paperback, 2004,
Girl-heart
her smiling girl-heart danced
behind the grey, grey hair
—Terri Guillemets
scrambled blackout poetry created from Enid Bagnold, National Velvet, 1935,
Fight for our lives
like wild animals, I am happy hiding
the artificial frightens my being —
but it is time to fight for the earth
—Terri Guillemets
scrambled blackout poetry created from Rafe Martin, Birdwing, 2005,
Midlife midriff
Eating a lot of garbage and dessert-obsessive
for several months, I put on a few pounds
— and more.
Waddling is hell, and fat is a problem for the heart
— I’m hungry & in pain.
Waist weight is a cruel joke, and age is no help.
—Terri Guillemets
scrambled blackout poetry created from David Sedaris, Me Talk Pretty One Day, 2000,
Killing nature
the wilderness died
of a broken heart —
from bad decisions and
evil battles of grown men
—Terri Guillemets
blackout poetry created from Rafe Martin, Birdwing, 2005,
From the ashes
everything would
be all right —
from the ashes
hope was aflame
—Terri Guillemets
blackout poetry created from Rafe Martin, Birdwing, 2005,
Dawn swirls to life
swirls of light
as morning blazed alive
the darkness left
—Terri Guillemets
blackout poetry created from Maud Casey, The Man Who Walked Away, 2014,
Water cycle
to cry is beautiful —
the beauty of one’s pain
leaving the heart
—Terri Guillemets
blackout poetry created from Maud Casey, The Man Who Walked Away, 2014,
O! Nature
Nature —
exquisite beauty and elegance
antique yet fresh
—Terri Guillemets
blackout poetry created from “Pericles,” Plutarch’s Lives, The Harvard Classics, 1937,
Ode to middle age
How like a lovely autumn morning,
serene middle age —
a sanctuary of mind, a chapel;
the age of faith on a deep foundation,
and the age of reason;
silver fellowships, libraries and deep reflection,
wine, liberty, a milder manifestation of the soul;
brilliance upon our lips, more profound, subtle;
the rich flame of the good life, how sweet —
listening to the murmur of change
—Terri Guillemets
blackout poetry created from Virginia Woolf, A Room of One’s Own, 1929, Grafton paperback, 1977,
Insomnia ticking
three o’clock —
anxiety, regret
in the depths of worry
swept away in the
whirlwind of nothing —
a horrible nothing
—Terri Guillemets
blackout poetry created from Octave Mirbeau, The Diary of a Chambermaid, 1891–1900,