The Golden Shovel
The Golden Shovel
Borrowed Words, New Meaning
Borrowed Words, New Meaning
Write a Golden Shovel poem, a form where you take a line from an existing poem and use each word in that line as the last word of each line in your poem. The challenge is to build something entirely new and original while keeping the borrowed words in place.
This form honors the original poem while allowing your voice, perspective, and themes to shine. The final poem might respond to, expand on, or even challenge the meaning of the original poet’s words.
Choose a line from an existing poem (a single, powerful sentence or phrase).
Each word in that line must be used as the last word in each line of your poem.
The poem can be about anything—it does not have to match the meaning of the original poem.
The structure and style are flexible, but the final line of your poem must end with the last word from the borrowed line.
Example: If you use the line “The sun is burning in the sky”, your poem’s lines must end with:
First line: The
Second line: sun
Third line: is
Fourth line: burning
Fifth line: in
Sixth line: the
Seventh line: sky
The poem must use a borrowed line from another poet.
Each word from that line must be the last word of each corresponding line in your poem.
The poem should transform or expand upon the meaning of the original line.
The final product should stand on its own, even if the reader doesn’t recognize the original poem.
Choose a compelling line. Short, evocative lines work well. Try looking at poets like Gwendolyn Brooks, Pablo Neruda, Langston Hughes, or Mary Oliver.
Let the borrowed words guide you, but don’t force them. Think about double meanings, unexpected phrasing, and creative sentence structure.
Make the poem your own. You can use the original poem’s themes, but you can also flip them, challenge them, or tell a completely different story.
Read it aloud. The poem should flow naturally despite the word constraints.
Terrance Hayes’ “Golden Shovel” (uses Gwendolyn Brooks’ We Real Cool)
Nikki Giovanni’s variations on the form
Poets experimenting with song lyrics or famous lines in literature