The Blitz Poem, a poetry form created by Robert Keim.

This form of poetry is a stream of short phrases and images with repetition and rapid flow.

Begin with one short phrase, it can be a cliché. Begin the next line with another phrase that begins with the same first word as line 1. The first 48 lines should be short, but at least two words.

The third and fourth lines are phrases that begin with the last word of the 2nd phrase, the 5th and 6th lines begin with the last word of the 4th line, and so on, continuing, with each subsequent pair beginning with the last word of the line above them, which establishes a pattern of repetition.

Continue for 48 total lines with this pattern, And then the last two lines repeat the last word of line 48, then the last word of line 47.

The title must be only three words, with some sort of preposition or conjunction joining the first word from the third line to the first word from the 47th line, in that order.

There should be no punctuation. When reading a BLITZ, it is read very quickly, pausing only to breathe.

Example #1:

Bucket of Poetry

Kick the can
Kick the bucket
Bucket of chum
Bucket of worms
Worms in dirt
Worms in my brain
Brains in my head
Brains in my book
Book of lies
Book of secrets
Secrets in the chambers of the human heart
Secrets in the diary of my teenage sister
Sister of mercy
Sister in a habit
Habit of swearing
Habit of smoking
Smoking gun
Smoking outside
Outside of the box
Outside of what is normal
Normal people
Normal days
Days and nights
Days upon days
Days of storms
Days of no power
Power to the people
Power over people
People who need people
People on the streets
Streets of Philadelphia
Street sweeping
Sweeping under the rug
Sweeping her off her feet
Feet grinding your face
Feet sweating in old shoes
Shoes for the homeless
Shoes for rich women
Women who want
Women who need
Need a change of scenery
Need to stop
Stop needing
Stop reading
Reading poetry
Reading poetry
Poetry takes
Poetry gives
Gives…
Takes…

Copyright © 2008 Robert Keim

Example #2:

Problems with Weeping

We’ve only just begun
We’ve got problems
Problems to solve
Problems to avoid
Avoid eye contact
Avoid your mother in law
Law of the land
Law of gravity
Gravity of the situation
Gravity attracts
Attracts bugs
Attracts flies
Flies over our heads
Flies up in the clouds
Clouds of poisonous gas
Clouds of white
White power
White lightning
Lightning striking
Lightning bolts
Bolts of fabric
Bolts with nuts
Nuts about you
Nuts in a vice
Vice cop
Vice clamp
Clamp your lips 
Clamp down
Down the drain
Down in the dump
Dump your possessions
Dump a lousy girlfriend
Girlfriend is gone
Girlfriend is better
Better off without you
Better off dead
Dead man walking
Dead as dirt
Dirt poor
Dirt in your face
Face the music
Face the crowd
Crowd of people stood and stared
Crown of people walking by
By the light of the moon
By her deathbed, weeping
Weeping willow leaves
Weeping quietly 
Quietly…
Leaves…

Copyright © 2008 Robert Keim

Example #3:

Moment of Want

This is me
This magic moment
Moment in time
Moment of glory
Glory hallelujah
Glory be
Be happy
Be yourselAgain with these questions
Questions asked
Questions repeated
Repeated endlessly
Repeated warning
Warning sign
Warning shot
Shot down
Shot Dead
Dead inside
Dead forever
Forever and ever
Forever dust
Dust in my eyes
Dust in the wind
Wind in the leaves
Wind of change
Change for the sake of change
Change of heart
Heart of a Lion
Heart of the matter
Matter of Fact
Matter of chance
Chance encounters
Chance to redeem myself
Myself in your life
Myself is who I strive to be
Be me
Be who I want
Want you
Want love
Love…
You…

Copyright © 2008 Robert Keim