How I Find Topics

• I like odd facts.
• I go to a bookstore.
• I go to the magazine section.
• I look for science magazines.
• I scan the covers and look for single sentence teasers—something that makes me curious.
• I will quote the sentence on the first line and give credit to the magazine.
• I’m off and running with a new poem.

Here’s a poem from my collection that used that technique for a new topic. Surprising facts leads to curious connections. I never know where I will end up.

Tuning Manual

 

“Most toilets flush in the key of E flat.”

                —BBC Knowledge Magazine

                                           June, 2010

 

There is such harmony

in the world and now

we have the final word.

 

Jimi Hendrix tuned

his guitar in E flat

 

and now we learn he

could have sung to

a flushing toilet.

 

I feel better now,

knowing I’m in good

historical company

 

as I sing in the shower

in a comfortable key.