USER’S MANUAL

Congratulations! You have come upon a fine poetry-making machine. It may be used to create poems of all shapes, sizes, schools, and sensibilities. The Poetry Instigator consists of two parts, PROMPTS (”Blog“) and POEMS (”Forum.”) Feel confident that assembly will go together smoothly and give you years of enjoyment. Spread the word.

ITEM IDENTIFICATION

PIECE 1. “Blog.” Engineered to provide you with “Prompts” with which to create “Poem(s)” (supplied by YOU), “Blog” is updated with one (1) new “Prompt” every week. “Prompts” shall draw upon the entire world.

PIECE 2. “Forum.” Please insert “Poem” (supplied by YOU) into “Forum.” Before viewing or inserting first “Poem,” please register with the Forum. User name and password will also allow you to post “Comments” (supplied by YOU) on other users\’ “Poems.”

WARNINGS

• Use extra care when operating the Poetry Instigator on stairs and near water.
• Please do not use the Poetry Instigator while operating a moving vehicle.
• The Poetry Instigator is not a toy.
• The Poetry Instigator is a toy.
• Wash the Poetry Instigator in warm water and soap.
• The Poetry Instigator is a flammable object. Spread the word.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Lucy Biederman: Controls Engineer

Originally from Chicago, Lucy lives in Arlington, Virginia. Her poetry has appeared in Smartish Pace, Typo, Front Porch, Gargoyle, and New Delta Review and her nonfiction has appeared in Barrelhouse. She is a third-year at George Mason University’s MFA program. Writing prompted Lucy to escape from Ann Arbor under cover of night.

Eleanor S. Tipton: Architect

Eleanor is a native Texan who lives in Washington, DC.. She is an MFA candidate at George Mason University and the recipient of the Virginia Downs Poetry Award. Her poetry is forthcoming in Front Porch and Pleiades: A Journal of New Writing. Writing has prompted her to stand in front of a roomful of strangers in L.A. (near Compton, for real) and share her East Texan love poetry.

Alison Strub: Structural Engineer

Born and raised in Virginia, Alison is the Managing Editor for So to Speak: A Feminist Literary Journal. Writing prompted Alison to walk around Fort Myer and ask Army officers for military myths and war stories.

Siwar Masannat

Siwar is Jordanian and she has a BSc in pharmacy. Her poems have been published or are forthcoming in Hayden’s Ferry Review, elimae and Counterexample Poetics. Writing poetry has prompted Siwar to move across continents from Amman/Jordan to Fairfax/Virginia to pursue an MFA in poetry at George Mason.

Shannon Showers: Drafter

Shannon is a librarian and graphic artist who lives in St. Louis. She received a BFA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MLA from the University of Missouri.