headline poetry

Occasional poems constructed entirely from headlines found in newspapers from Melbourne, Australia

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Storytellers galore (The Australian 01.03.06)

Storytellers galore, but no story to tell
panic in air as hostie yells ‘we’re crashing’
bling bling jailing
salad bars shut after rat poison
know nothings
mention the war
god sees embryos as living humans
the enemy within
putting a woman on top
palm officer ‘choked me until I wet myself’
me a candidate? Surely not


The Australian 01.03.06
[12, 10, 3, 13, 10, 10, 13, 11, 7, 8]

Oh, please! (The Age 01.03.06)

Oh, please, don’t tell me what I want
getting mobile in the afterlife
world’s fastest man hits the town running two weeks early
inquiring how to keep the rich rich and happy
stylish, but not too sexy
blue collar or floral tie
he rates – but how high?
colourful identity
aging less than gracefully
catchy and cheerful celebration of life turns to soap opera
many happy returns improbable


The Age 01.03.06
[20, 3, 1, 18, 2, 3, 19, 6, 22, 6]

Mobile sport (Herald Sun 01.03.06)

Mobile sport
games shame
stop, you’re nicknamed
smoko runs out of puff
panning for gold
dads win
but some mums may be worse off
favourite twin wins
third time lucky?
singer loses in reshuffle
but it’s too late to quit now, world agrees


Herald Sun 01.03.06
[24, 20, 9, 16, 26, 1, 1, 35, 12, 2, 39]