How to Write a Cross Out Poem

Cross out is a poem for a person who enjoys word games or a fun way to pass the time. It can be a bit tricky, but once you are finished and have completed the poem in the correct manner you will be glad you worked so hard on it. Read on to learn how to write a cross out poem.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A thin felt tip pen, or a dark black pen (thin)
• A newspaper or magazine article

1. On the second line of your article find the first word that catches your eye and would make sense if followed by more words.

2. Draw a box or rectangle in ink around this word. Do not circle the word, because then some of the letters may be cut off.

3. Next, skip a line or two and place a rectangle around the first word you see that would make sense.

4. Place your pen underneath the center of the first rectangle drawn around the first word. Draw a very straight line from the center of this box to the center of the second rectangle/box.

5. Skip a few lines and again, place a rectangle or box around the next word that first catches your, then connect the second box to the third.

6. For readability you may not go upward, next to, directly underneath, across white space, or through pictures from one word to another. Boxes with words or photo captions also do not count. You must complete these steps using only the words in the article. A newspaper article is a little bit easier to do this with because the columns are right next to each other. In this case, you can move diagonally and downward from one column to the other, but you cannot go back up.

7. Once you run out of words, that is the end of your poem or thought. Read it out loud. The idea is to have a complete thought or idea, not matter how strange. The more of these you do, the better you will be at it. On average, it takes people until their second or third try.

Tips & Warnings

• If two columns in an article are next to one another then you can go across from one column to the other, but only in a downward motion. You can't go back up to the previous column, but you can zag downward over to that column.
• This works best if you try to find words further a part and not right underneath each other.
• You could also write this poem as a surprise message to a loved one.
• Do not circle words.
• Do not go up, backward, or across white space or pictures.
• Only outline single words, not two words or phrases. If an item has two parts, circle only one (Jason Jules- circle Jason or Jules).
• Be sure line is very straight from one box to the other; otherwise it will look like you are circling other letters.