Poetry Craft: What is a Golden Shovel?

As part of our Poetry Craft series, Catherine Smith discusses how to write a Golden Shovel poem.

Can you explain what a Golden Shovel poem is?

The ‘Golden Shovel’ is a poetic form, where the poet chooses a line from an existing poem and uses each word from that line as the last word of each line in their new poem. It was devised/invented by American poet and educator Terrence Hayes in tribute to the poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks. Ravi Shanker described it as ‘the 21st Century Sonnet.’ There are variations and expansions of the form, which are also exciting, taking poets in more new directions.

Why do you think poets are drawn to this form?

Maybe because it’s a relatively new ‘form’ and therefore the ‘body’ of Golden Shovel poetry is growing, and it doesn’t feel as though ‘everything’s already been done.’ It’s a wonderfully flexible, surprising way of writing, often freeing writers from ‘the terror of the blank page.’ It can facilitate a radical re-thinking of meaning, subject and tone, allowing for a really imaginative ‘deep dive’ and has already yielded many extraordinary and memorable poems. This form makes a connection with other poems – the new poem is in some sort of dialogue with a pre-existing poem, but it can also challenge and subvert the ‘original’ line – and that can feel daring and exciting. It’s also a really ‘user friendly’ form; anyone, at whatever stage of their creative journey, can try it, and learn more about themselves as a writer. It can feel like a playful way of writing; you don’t need to have any preconceptions about what your poem should be ‘about’ or what it should ‘achieve.’ Trust the process – see what happens – surprise yourself!

Do you have any tips for selecting a strong line? Should the quoted line be a well-known, classic poem, or does it not matter?

I think there are various strategies for ‘selecting a line.’ Some suggestions: you could take a short or a long line from a poem you love – if that happens to be from a well-known poem, fine, but it might be more interesting to take one discovered in a poem found in anthology from a poet you hadn’t read before – and see where it takes you. Or ask someone to find you a line – one you might never have read before – and see what happens. Perhaps open a good anthology (e.g. Staying Alive, Bloodaxe, 2002) at a random page, and whichever poem’s there – that’s where the line must come from. Or go off-road – find a line from a ‘How To’ manual, or a leaflet about Council services, or a recipe…

Do you have a favourite Golden Shovel poem – either one you’ve written or one by another poet?

I’m still discovering Golden Shovel poems, and I am enthralled by dozens of them! But a current favourite is ‘Johannesburg Boy’ by Jackie Wills (from Woman’s Head as Jug, Arc, 2013) taking a line from Brooks’ The Near Johannesburg Boy as her inspiration.

For poets looking to refine their Golden Shovel skills, where should they start?

Enrol on this course! It’ll be fun, and you’ll generate new work, at whatever stage of your writer’s journey.

My main ‘go to’ source book is The Golden Shovel Anthology: New Poems Honouring Gwendolyn Brooks (ed Peter Khan, Ravi Shankar, Patricia Smith, with a forward by Terrance Hayes, published by Arkansas). Poems written in this wonderful form are appearing in individual pamphlets, collections and anthologies, so look out for them in your own reading. There are various internet articles/resources – put ‘Golden Shovel’ into your search engine for the latest. Set aside an hour or two and try writing one, using a line from a poem you know well, and one from a poem you’ve found that day. Don’t worry about whether it’s any ‘good’ – challenge yourself to find new ways of thinking about each of the words, because you’ll be ‘writing towards’ them.

Trust the process, and you’ll become more confident.

Catherine Smith has published two pamphlets (The New Bride and The New Cockaigne) and three full collections of poetry, The Butcher’s Hands, Lip, and Otherwhere. Twice shortlisted for Forward Prizes and once for the Aldeburgh/Jerwood First Collection Prize, she was selected as one of ‘the twenty most exhilarating poets of her generation’ in the PBS/Arts Council ‘Next Generation’ promotion, and also one of Mslexia’s Top Ten Women Poets. She co-adapted her pamphlet-length supernatural narrative poem, The New Cockaigne, for a Live Literature show. She has performed her poetry at The Royal Festival Hall, and Latitude and Port Eliot Festival. Her poetry for adults and for children is widely anthologised. She has taught poetry for adults, teenagers and children for over 20 years and many of her students are now published poets. 

Catherine will be running Digging Deeper with the Golden Shovel Studio with us this Summer. This course is currently fully booked, so if you would like to be added to the waiting list please email [email protected].