For each of these three syllabic Flarf poems, the originating search terms are shown in parentheses at the end.
SLOUCHING TOWARD SAINTHOOD It takes hard work to start from scratch. Your day may include a cocktail. They tend to be consumed quicker, so keep a spare on hand during the sacrificial process, when high voltage can no longer protect you. You’ll probably see some tiny holes and that’s exactly what should be happening. (anode rod / cattle ranching) SPOILERS Most of the main characters get killed in a variety of entertaining ways. They’re poisoned through the nose or mucous membranes, abused at the end of a massive shaft in circular motion, or part of an arm may be bent and melted away. Most of them are very attractive, and you get to see some anatomy. (crank / planet) TIPS FOR AN ASPIRING ESCORT Here in Texas, emotions can run high and impulsive decisions can harm you. Plan for success! Beauty, accessories and a unique accent do not function to add interest, accolades or clients if you do not factor in specific challenges and common problems. To be well respected, understand the value of being clean and getting inspected. (chimney / option)
RECIPE FOR A FLARF POEM
Choose your search terms—at least two different words, maybe a phrase or two.
Open a search engine (Google, Bing, Duck Duck Go, Brave, Safari) and type your search terms in one at a time or all together.
Decide the ground rules. Will your Flarf poem be based on only the first link that the search engine returns for each term? the first three links? the first five?
Open the links you’ve found. Copy and paste all or part of their associated text into Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Scrivener—whatever works for you.
A Flarf poem is a type of found poem, so mix it up. Experiment with collages of text from combinations of your search results. You don’t need to use everything. Take what you need and leave the rest, as the saying goes.
Edit to create the effects you want—long lines or short ones, a fixed form (a rhymed or unrhymed sonnet, a triolet, a haiku, a tanka, a haibun, a syllabic poem . . . ) or free verse—and give your poem a title.
At least half the fun of writing a Flarf poem is producing a work of transcendent badness, but more pedestrian badness is an achievement in its own right, so don’t worry that your Flarf poem isn’t good enough. Feel free to share your poem in the comments. Include the search terms you used, and consider describing any procedures you followed that departed from the steps listed here. I can’t wait to read and, with your permission, restack what you come up with.
X.P. - you bring us the most interesting ...
I hesitate to say "forms" because I think you're bringing us processes as much as forms.
Whether I try them or not, you wake up my mind in delightful ways.
Thanks for that and for this post.
lollollollol You sent me down a couple of rabbit holes into a delightful new adventure! Leave it to you, X.P., to come up with fabulous titles for those little ditties! Here's my reply to you (my 1st flarf ever--I assume I'll get worse or more perverse with practice)
Flarffy and He at the Dog Park
stumblingawkwardjarring
stumblingawkwardjarring
took his doggerel off the leash
let it run until in a
zeugma moment she
broke his heart and his chiasmus
broke his flarffing license
broke his dangling participle
many that are first/shall be last/
maintaining proper grammer
poetry will be dead in 15 minutes.
(flarf/poetry)