A golden shovel poem is a unique poetic form that pays tribute to a specific poem or poet by using each word from the original poem as the last word of each line in the new poem. This innovative poetic form was created by Terrance Hayes, an accomplished American poet, who introduced it in his poem “The Golden Shovel.”
The golden shovel poem is not only a creative way to honor and engage with a beloved poem, but it also serves as a means of exploring new avenues of expression and generating fresh interpretations. By using the words of a preexisting poem in the creation of a golden shovel poem, poets are able to establish a connection between their work and that of the original poet, while simultaneously adding their own voice and perspective to the conversation.
In order to create a golden shovel poem, poets often start by choosing a poem that resonates with them on a personal or thematic level. They then select a word from the chosen poem and use it as the end word of the first line in their new poem. Each subsequent line follows suit, using the next word from the original poem. This process continues until the last word of the original poem is reached.
The result is a poem that integrates the spirit, theme, or tone of the original poem, while also offering an entirely new and original piece of literature. The golden shovel form allows poets to engage with the work of their predecessors in a meaningful way, creating a dynamic and ongoing dialogue within the realm of poetry.
Understanding the Golden Shovel Poem
A golden shovel poem is a poetic form created by Terrance Hayes in 2010. It takes its name from the line in Gwendolyn Brooks’ poem “We Real Cool” that says, “The pool players. Seven at the Golden Shovel.” This form is a tribute to Brooks and is known for its intricate structure and the deep meaning it can convey.
The structure of a golden shovel poem involves taking a line or lines from another poem and using each word as the final word of each line in the new poem. In this way, the new poem “shovels” the words of the original poem into each line, hence the name “golden shovel.”
The golden shovel poem can be a challenging form to work with, as it requires selecting a line or lines from another poem that resonate with the theme or message the poet wants to convey. The poet then needs to craft their new poem around these borrowed words in a way that adds depth and meaning to the original line.
By using this form, poets can pay homage to their favorite authors or works, while also creating something unique and personal. The golden shovel poem allows for a creative interplay between the original line and the new poem, resulting in a rich and nuanced piece of literature.
To effectively write a golden shovel poem, it is important to carefully choose the original line or lines and consider their significance in relation to the new poem. The poet should aim to create a seamless flow of words throughout the poem, while also adding their own voice and perspective.
The golden shovel poem is an exciting and dynamic form that encourages poets to experiment with language and form. It allows for a deep exploration of existing works and themes, while also offering a platform for personal expression and creativity.
Definition and Characteristics
A golden shovel poem is a type of poetry form that was created by Terrance Hayes in 2010. This form of poetry takes a line or lines from another poem and uses each word of those lines as the last word of each line in the new poem. The new poem does not have to relate to the original poem thematically but can use the words to create an entirely different meaning.
One of the key characteristics of a golden shovel poem is its structure and use of words. The poet must carefully choose a line or lines that will serve as the inspiration for the new poem. Each word of the chosen line(s) is used as the last word of each line in the new poem, which can lead to interesting challenges and creative wordplay.
Another characteristic of a golden shovel poem is its ability to pay homage to the original poet and poem. By incorporating lines from another poem, the poet is able to create a connection between their work and the work that inspired them. This can add another layer of meaning to the new poem and invite readers to explore the original poem as well.
Overall, a golden shovel poem is a unique and challenging form of poetry that requires careful consideration of words, structure, and meaning. It offers poets a creative way to engage with existing poetry and create something new and thought-provoking.
Origins and Influences
The golden shovel poem is a poetic form that was introduced in 2010 by the American poet Terrance Hayes. The term “golden shovel” is derived from a line in a poem by Gwendolyn Brooks, a renowned poet and the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. The line goes, “The golden shovel burying the golden urn.”
The golden shovel poem is not only inspired by Gwendolyn Brooks’ work, but also by the poet’s personal experiences and the African American literary tradition. Hayes wanted to honor and pay tribute to the poets who have influenced him and his writing. The form is a way for him to connect with these influences and engage in a creative dialogue with their work.
The structure of a golden shovel poem is unique and intricate. It involves taking a chosen line or lines from a pre-existing poem and using each word from that line as the end word of each line in the new poem. In this way, the golden shovel poem both borrows from and pays homage to the original work, while also allowing for individual creativity and interpretation.
Influences from African American Poets
Many golden shovel poems draw inspiration from African American poets who have made a significant impact on the literary world. These include Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, and Robert Hayden, among others. By incorporating their words into the structure of the golden shovel poem, contemporary poets are able to celebrate and continue the legacy of these influential writers.
Influences from Personal Experiences
The golden shovel poem also allows poets to explore and express their own personal experiences, perspectives, and emotions. By selecting a line from a poem that resonates with them, poets are able to incorporate their own thoughts and feelings into the new poem, creating a meaningful and unique piece of art.
Overall, the golden shovel poem is a form that has been influenced by a variety of sources, including Gwendolyn Brooks, African American poets, and personal experiences. Through the use of this form, poets are able to pay tribute to their influences, engage in creative dialogue, and share their own voices with the world.
Writing Techniques and Examples
A golden shovel poem is a unique form of poetry that combines the work of a well-known poem with a new poem. Created by Terrance Hayes in 2010, the golden shovel technique involves taking each word from a chosen line or lines of an existing poem and using those words as the final words of each line in a new poem.
This technique allows poets to pay homage to the original poem while adding their own creativity and interpretation to it. It requires careful consideration of the chosen line or lines, as well as an understanding of the structure and meaning behind the words.
Here is an example of a golden shovel poem, using the opening line from Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise”:
You may write me down in history
But still, like dust, I’ll rise
Using these lines, the poet can create a new poem by taking each word as the final word of each line, like this:
History
Rise
From these two words, the poet can then build a new poem, exploring their own thoughts, emotions, and experiences:
In the pages of history, I write my own
With each word, I rise above my fears
This example showcases the unique and creative approach of the golden shovel technique. It allows poets to both pay tribute to the original poem and express their own individual voice and perspective.
Overall, the golden shovel poem is a powerful writing technique that encourages poets to engage with established works and create something new in the process.
Significance and Impact
The golden shovel poem has had a significant impact on contemporary poetry, both in terms of its form and its message. This unique poetic form, inspired by Gwendolyn Brooks’ poem “We Real Cool,” has allowed poets to pay homage to their literary influences while also creating new and innovative works.
One of the key aspects of the golden shovel poem is its form, which requires the poet to take a line (or lines) from a pre-existing poem and use each word as the end word of each line in their own poem. This technique not only creates a subtle homage to the original poem but also challenges the poet to craft their own work that stands on its own merits.
By using this form, poets are able to engage in a literary conversation with the poets who have influenced them, creating a sense of continuity and connection across generations. This intertextuality is central to the golden shovel poem’s significance, as it allows poets to explore themes and ideas in new and exciting ways while also paying respects to the poets who have come before them.
Furthermore, the golden shovel poem has had a profound impact on the representation and visibility of marginalized voices in poetry. By using the words of prominent poets and infusing them with their own experiences and perspectives, poets can reclaim and reshape the narratives that have historically excluded them.
Through the golden shovel poem, marginalized poets are able to enter into a literary canon that has often ignored or marginalized their voices. This form allows them to assert their presence and demand recognition, challenging the literary establishment to reconsider what is considered “worthy” of inclusion.
Overall, the significance and impact of the golden shovel poem lie in its ability to blend tradition and innovation, allowing poets to both honor their literary influences and create new works that champion their own voices and experiences. This form has opened up new possibilities for poetic expression and has played a crucial role in expanding the boundaries of contemporary poetry.
