White Space
White space is the area around the poem.
In one translation of the "Heart Sutra" the Sanskrit term ‘shunyata’, which is commonly translated as ‘emptiness’ in English, is known as ‘boundlessness' - UPAYA Institute and Zen Center.
One term focuses on a lack of, whilst the other focuses on possibility. This is I how propose you think of white space: not empty, but boundless. The white space of your poem is not just a blank area where nothing happens, it is a realm of possibility. It is the silence between the words, a chamber that creates an echo, a canyon, a closet, an open range. So think of the spaces between words, line breaks, and the indentations as opportunities:
"In the narrowest spaces, she doth unravel, as if
a forest fire.” - Louise Mathias
Example
excerpt from "FAQ: Proper Use of Syntax in Poetry" by Jubi Arriola-Headley:
Encounter the full poem here.
Prompt
Divide the page into two spaces as Arriola-Headley does in his poem, “FAQ: Proper Use of Syntax in Poetry.”
In the first space write a poem about expectations.
In the second space make a single statement to dispute these expectations.
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