Back in April 2016 I had the idea of using crossword puzzle clues to write poetry. Don’t know if anyone else has done this before me, but as far as I know I’m the first. I’m now writing one every day and will be creating a chapbook that will be available on Amazon in September… I hope. Not sure how their self-publishing works, but it’ll be ready to publish September 1st. How quickly they can get it on the site is another matter.
I didn’t format this one to show which parts were crossword clues — let me know whether or not you like knowing the crossword puzzle references in the comments below. I make sure to reference which puzzle I got the clues from in the title.
Here it is:
What’s More (NY Times crossword: July 11th, 1995) by Claire Fiori
At the gunslinger’s command,
the home wrecker fled in a frenzy.
No time to have an opinion
To beg,
To gawk,
Only to leave at full speed, as a ship,
before her brain was burglarized.
“Omigod!”
He took her dough,
Nail polish, valued furs and till bills.
What got her years and years of notice
will now provide contempt and neglect.
The now igneous flow of prestige
Greets her brazenly on her forearm bone
To harden and petrify, to make her
a beam fastener for the roof support
that is her life.
No more concerto moments.
No more of Verdi’s villains.
Sell your BMW 535i and get
knocked down a notch.
Meet Mrs. Jetson and her mediocrity,
and do penance for your petulance
and greed.
Wish on a rabbit’s foot and never want
What’s more…
Before long, Evergreens and Alpine songs
will make her of sound mind.
Love affairs on an inlaid floor
bring her a new kind of hygiene.
She is at peace in her Bermuda, for one.
Concisely Claire 
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