25 Comments
User's avatar
Gloria Horton-Young's avatar

So cleverly presented. I'm always envious of your creativity.

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Thanks Gloria! That’s really kind of you! I have a special relationship with my scanner, lol.

Expand full comment
Gloria Horton-Young's avatar

Ha!!!!

Expand full comment
Neil Barker's avatar

Really like the imagery in this cut-out poem, Duane.

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Thanks so much! I used to make cut out poems all the, but I used to try to incorporate them into the collages. Some worked, a lot didn’t. I’m finding this format of separating them but situating them together works in a much more interesting way, interesting to me anyway, lol.

Expand full comment
Kim Nelson's avatar

"the silent girl inconceivably beautiful stood flickering"

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Thanks Kim! One of my favorite bits too!

Expand full comment
Andrea Fisher's avatar

Amazing- I love this so much. Ok, I know I say this often here-meaning on your substack-BUT it is true. Cut out…or composed…always scintillating! Almost forgot,Duane your collage arrived. I am going to frame this and keep it on my writing desk. I’ll send a pic.

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you Andrea! So glad you got the collage!! I love teh idea of it being in a creative space! Thank you again!

Expand full comment
wildflower's avatar

So so good!!!

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Awe thank you!! So happy you like it!

Expand full comment
Zivah Avraham's avatar

Fantastic - I love this. I’m a sucker for cut out, black out and similar poetry made from other texts.

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you so much! It’s such an interesting and insightful process. It’s a great way to discover stories you didn’t know you wanted to tell, and confessions that you didn’t know you needed to say. And it always uncovers intriguing turns of phrase. Thanks again!

Expand full comment
Sonia Otero's avatar

Love it!

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!

Expand full comment
Ann Collins's avatar

Sublime 👊💛

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Much appreciated!

Expand full comment
Kimberly Warner's avatar

Beautiful!!!!

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you so much, Kimberly! I appreciate it!

Expand full comment
Kassi Wilson's avatar

🥰

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

🙏🙏

Expand full comment
The Sea in Me    (Síodhna)'s avatar

Love this Duane!

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you so much!

Expand full comment
Manuela Thames's avatar

Love, love, love this!!

Expand full comment
Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you! I love making these cut out poems, they're always a surprise. The themes, ideas, and narratives are always a kind of discovery, but I’m never sure if anyone actually finds them as interesting as I do, lol. Glad you enjoyed it!

Expand full comment