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Blackout Poetry Project

The Boutelle-Day Poetry Center at Smith College

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Erased Land

This image shows a blackout poetry piece on a page that has been cut to have a strange shape with jagged edges. The header indicates it is page 49 of the work. The words on the page are filled in with white paint, and the shape of the block of text is outlined in black, scribbly marker. On the upper left side, there is gray paper pasted to the page, with floral washi bordering it. One one side of the gray paper, there is a cut out and pasted image of a woman laying back with her legs crossed. The washi tape goes over her eyes. One the other side of the gray paper, there is a cut out and pasted image of a female child. Next to and below these images, there is thicker, black tape with yellow and blue flowers on it. Beneath this tape, there is an X-shape made with the previous washi tape, and a square image of vintage cassette tapes on top of the X. Underneath this image, and underneath the X, there is another square peaking out, which resembles a stamp and says "AOLDEN AGE" in a banner at the top. The rest of this stamp image is not visible.

One unexpected fling away

This image shows a blackout poetry piece with a header indicating it is page 234 of a T.S. Eliot work. Most of the words on the page are crossed out in straight black lines, with certain words remaining and with a square drawn around them. These words reveal a new poetic message. The squared words have many circles of blue, purple, and pink drawn around each of them. These circles connect and bump into each other, creating a multi-colored, bumpy shape on the page. On the bottom left of the page, there is a old black and white photograph that has been cut and pasted to feature only a woman in a sophisticated dress with gloves and a purse, holding hands with a female child who is also wearing a formal dress. There are black lines that have been drawn across both of their eyes.

invent my absence

The image shows a blackout poetry page, with black marker crossing out most of the text, and the remaining text revealing a poetic message. In the midst of the crossing out, interrupting it, there are images towards the top and middle of the right side. In the top right middle, there is a slightly open mouth, with red lipstick and white teeth, featuring a cut out in the middle where the word "traces" appears. On the top right side, there is a topless torso, featuring a cut out right beneath the chest, where the phrase "her body" appears. Below the mouth, there is a black silouette of two people on top of one another, kissing, in red light. There is a cut out towards the bottom half of both people, where the phrase "the plague" appears. To the right side of the people, there is the naked bottom half of a human figure, with a hole cut out where the torso and the thighs meet, where the word "feeble" appears. Beneath this, there is the upper half of a topless woman with long, straight, black hair held to the side with golden rings, who is holding a yellow heart-shape to her chest.

THE COCK PARTY

The image shows a blackout poetry piece that has been almost completely colored in with a black marker, except for some words and the bottom quarter of the page. The words reveal a new poetic message on the page. On the blank bottom quarter, a line from another source has been cut out and pasted. On the bottom left side, right where the line between black marker and blank page meet, is a pasted cut out of a white, pedestal serving tray with red grapes or gooseberries piled on top of it. On the middle right side, there is a pasted cut out of a human figure cast in red light, making an expression of pain. Beneath this human, there is a pasted cut out of a cantaloupe, with a big slice missing, showing the orange and seedy inside. This cantaloupe is resting on a bed of leaves and a flat serving tray.

You’ll be my stone

The image shows a blackout poetry piece with a header that signifies it is page 278 of a T.S. Eliot work. A black marker has crossed out many of the words, revealing a new message amongst all of the marks.

Flattered in sleep

An graphic pop art image of a sun setting into the sea with decorative clouds and text reading Erased Land

Erased Land 2024-2025

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