Small Press Point Erasures [1]
Matthew Gallant, an English teacher at Timberlane Regional High School in Plaistow, New Hampshire, wrote to us just before the new year with a story of how he struggled to get his students to do something constructive during the two days before Christmas break. Classes had been cancelled for more than a week due to power outages caused by a massive snow storm that had blown through the region.
"Since my classes had either just finished books before the storm, or had already been assigned work due after the official holiday break, I had two days to fill, using only my creativity, a photocopier, and any resources at hand," Gallant wrote. "I had just the day before received my January/February 2009 issue of Poets & Writers Magazine, and was skimming the Small Press Points column when I happened across the section on Erasure. I had the magazine in my bag, deftly made 105 copies of page 18, passed it out to my students for our classes, read it with them, emphasized the important parts for understanding, and said, 'Go! It'll be collected at the end of the period.'" Below are some of the their erasures.
Adam Cook [2]

long as there is power
those that rest
are illegible (in) the fragments (of) heart
while another is trapped in
a blizzard
The haunting
alters by striking
an independent
9/11
is important
was
named finalist for 2004 Award
nevertheless
Jack Disembodied
Poets
mov(ed) on
"reface" the modified
Our aim has
lived in Brooklyn
terrorist attacks
with the alternating tenderness and rage
Alicia Halliday [3]

— —only one
survived rest are missing
so that one
alters
this form
National
mountain
School
used text comment on
what language
has
Ashley Douglas [4]

words that are
missing on the page a brilliant example of this
translation of
poetry has
survived
I can
put it in a blizzard
of brackets haunting
the poet alters an existing text
or erase(s) words. independent
Denver a unique example of form. While 9/11
is an important
finalist for nonfiction, its account is
crowded by the mountain of information that was obligated
to document Disembodied
Editions
used the text that is moving
Brett Lundy [5]

Poets that are
missing that rest
in Winter
only one
survived the rest are fragments
one of the fragments begins
while another is trapped
in a blizzard
of haunting fragments
an independent
report
named National
mountain
Disembodied
every
word of text that remain The
Error of
Terrorism seem to float down the pages as if
literally erased from text.
at the time of the terrorist attacks
this world
pushes
polite society
to see what kind of
teams have been assembled
Chris DePietro [6]

Poets have power in words
as in those that rest on the page. brilliant examples of this
poetry
are fragments.
while another is a single word trapped in
a blizzard
of brackets. The haunting fragments
the poet alters an existing text by striking
independent
compelling
use the text for an erasure a moving commentary
shifting fields of language that have arisen
"The Found
Error,"
the preserved words float down the pages as if in
clouds
this changed world poetry
a poet
can use any source
Dan Ferreira [7]

there is power
missing a brilliant
translation
that has
survived fragments are missing some
trapped in
a blizzard
haunting mind
by striking
independent
unique form
nevertheless crowded obligated
to
shift the world
modified
to
balance the instruments
of
Found
Error
Terrorism preserved to
literally erase
tenderness rage uncertainties
of this world
society has no regard
to
Go ahead
and run
to see what emerges
a complete rough
draft
to join project
manager
to
develop
a
focus
in all areas.
Danielle Dye [8]

known power in words are
missing brilliant
translation of
books poetry
survived intact To indicate
illegible brackets
while a single word trapped in
"a blizzard
of brackets" haunting to mind the best
erasure poetry existing by
erasing words an independent
Commission is an important compelling text in its own right
nevertheless information the commission obligated
Poetics
commentary
shifting fields of language
Found
missing words erased from
terrorist attacks
submissions
create virtual
great thing erasures
any source text
poem emerges. Send
independent
manuscript
assembled
project
percentage assembled
books published particular focus
writing visual art I hope we're developing will prove
new to publishing in all areas.
Danielle Oates [9]

Poets know there is power in words
missing those rest brilliant
in work of ancient
books
fragments missing
illegible included
absolutely trapped
The haunting
erasure existing by striking
right
and
final
embodied
code
used
shifting fields arisen in
our aim
obliterate
Error taken
preserved words
missing in
time
alternating
change
Go Rip
and run
emerge Send us
on a fledgling
will
develop.
Dante Guzzardio [10]

Winter
is a single word
a blizzard
striking
the world
with heavy
clouds.
Derek Knapp [11]

power
of the ancient Greek
survived fragments
that
can trap
a blizzard
by
2004 lists
by
Travis McDonald
used a
Error from
Terrorism
attacks
poetry
Books
and run
it
to
the
readers
of
the particular
writing adds
areas
Emily Aubrey [12]

Poets have power
missing in (the) rest
lyric poetry on papyrus rolls one poem
the rest are fragments missing or,
illegible,
trapped in
a blizzard
haunting
poetry striking
words.
the mountain of information
commentary on
the world
has modified it
Its
/ balance / / against / / the instruments
of / change / obliterating
Terrorism preserved words float down
in Brooklyn
alternating tenderness and rage
push(ing) the envelope
virtual
text
Emily Rose [13]

in words
hat provid
translation he work
lyric poetry has
the rest where words
are illegible
is a word trapped
in an essay
he poet
independent
published
an important
port
its riveting
obligated
with
the text
shifting fields
instruments
of every page with lines
aken
to float down
missing words
age of uncertainties
the name open work
to check Wave
by others. a poet
can Go ahead:
run over words
see poem
and
it
dedicated to art, is collaborative
model a rough
book the
readers
Jillian Devlin [14]

words
rest
in her
heart
while trapped in
haunting fragments
existing
independent in
this
world
against
those that remain.
Jose Crabtree [15]

there is power
in
the
missing
heart
while another is trapped in
a blizzard
of haunting fragments
an independent
crowded by the obligated
aim to adjust the
against
with heavy black obliterating
Error taken
to float
Brooklyn,
erasure
with rage
The
name is submission of
polite society
Rip this
Katie Fiorella [16]

missing
ancient
fragments
missing
The haunting mind
alters
information
Disembodied
language
lines within
the text
run over words
or a proposal
and collaborate
visual art
Katie Wyner [17]

Poets have much power
the
mind
alters by
unique form The
compelling text
soar
within
lines obliterating
The Foundation
words float
literally
with alternating tenderness the uncertainties
always push
polite society
Kenny Do [18]

Power
provided
fragments
of
a blizzard,
words
soared
every page
missing
the
same
writing art.
Kerri Hunkele [19]

know there power
provide
translation Of
fragments
illegible
single trapped
in Review
haunting the
alters
in
9/11
soared to
2004
crowded by
graduate of Disembodied
men
call the world
For
aim
across
change
Error
Terror float as if
the missing live
sure
of uncertainties
and
out of the
merges
we'll
dedicate
to
teams
collaborate
bookstore
first will fall. "Though focus
about model developing
approach areas."
Lanna Fuller [20]

Poets have as much power in words
as those brilliant
ancient Greek(s)
only one poem
is trapped in
a blizzard
of haunting mind,
existing by
an independent
(named for the mountains of the world.)
Lindsey Ravmikaitis [21]

power in words
rest on the page brilliant
work of
poetry
where words are missing or
trapped
bring to mind the best
poetry
erasing words.
a unique form
is compelling
riveting
and
moving
fields of language
between
change obliterating every
word another
Error
perserved down the pages
poetry
is always open work
where users create
text Rip
out words
post it
on visual art
a rough
draft
if moved to do so
manage
a review
print it, market it, and receive
visual art developing a
new approach
Maree Magliocchetti [22]

power
in
fragments
alters
independ(ence)
unique
and compelling
of Disembodied
world
instruments
remain.
The Foundation of
New York
alternating uncertainties
of
polite society
Wave(s)
create
any source
emerg(ing)
on visual art
worth
site so
team(s) members
receives
focus
about art
in all areas.
Natalia Raney [23]

missing
Winter
the
fragments
are
trapped
in
The haunting
form
of several
crowded
Disembodied
instruments
with heavy black
clouds
he performed
uncertainties
Nicole Brown [24]

Poets know that there is
nine books that
absolutely
put
haunting
Report(s)
of
the 04
mission
to the School of
commentary
the Mcdonald(s) has
been
against
obliterating
the original chapter
that
has no regard
of the Wave
Patrick Olmstead [25]

power
missing in
Winter
only one has
survived
a blizzard
in
Denver a unique
mountain
arisen
between
the instruments
change with
another
preserved in
time attacks performed
with rage one who
has no regard for
others.
Rip
out and
see what emerges
a
model worth noting.
sample
All
teams,
all areas.
Rebecca Dugas [26]

there is power in
missing a page. (A) brilliant
translation
that one poem has
survived fragments are in some
cases the heart
(A) single word in
a blizzard
bring to mind
poetry existing by striking
Fact independent
in its own right
it soared
used
shifting arisen the
second
It's
against
change heavy black lines obliterating every
save that Found
taken from the
Terrorism
missing lived
at the time
tenderness of one who
Robert Romolo [27]

there are
missing
books on papyrus rolls
the rest are missing
brackets
in
a blizzard
to
poetry
or
published this
Report
the report was
riveting
by information
of Jack Kerouac
Poetics
Sarah Harb [28]

Power
as in a
translation
where words
are fragments
in
an essay
of the best
text by
a unique
balance(d)
poet
Poem(s) send
a
dedicated visual
hope
approach all areas.
Scott Adie [29]

those that provide this
translation of the
lyric that wrote only one
fragments where some
brackets begin
while another is
put
haunting the best
Poetics
the preface
of every page
float
the text
press a
name of
society for
more
great
use
Sean Clemens [30]

there is as much power in
poetry only one poem has
survived To indicate where words are missing or
independent in
a unique form of
its riveting account
by the mountain of information that
used the text for an erasure
shifting fields of language
For instance,
/ Its / / adjust the / / between
and / across / / and / balance / / against / the instruments
of / change / over every page
preserved words
say
with the alternating tenderness and rage has experienced the uncertainties
of this changed world
Of course,
—even this one.
punctuation
a fledgling independent
dedicated to the publication of writing
Sophia Carver [31]

known much power
missing brilliant
fragments. To indicate
a blizzard
haunting mind
alter(ing) existing
While
compelling
soared
nevertheless by the mountain
Disembodied
commentary
reads: redress between
and balance against
change black
remain
from the Foundation
Vicki Polito [32]

those that rest on the
fragments indicate where
cases are illegible so that one heart
absolutely can
a blizzard
haunting to mind
alters an existing
example of this
important and compelling right
adjust the / lines within
over every page heavy black lines
those that remain
original
words float down the
performed
rage
the same name open
to interested
others. the great
can
run over any
emerges
new approach