Inspired by Austin Kleon's Newspaper Blackout Poems, and desperate for a creative jolt, I got out the Sharpie and made poems of elimination.

Have you tried Blackout Poems? They are fun, sometimes easy, and a great way to exercise the poetic muscle. Some poems struggle to make sense while others emerge unexpectedly meaningful. Either way, it's good fun — and better than hours on the couch dazed and glazed over Say Yes to the Dress.

The Lost Voice

After the rain,

friends wanted to hear him sing

In a thrift store, the research began.

Flipping through vinyl, he learned

almost anything is worth 25 cents.

Signs

There may be consequences

Make necessary concessions

Every bump could loom large

You may cling to the past

Move forward

Write your imagination