<<silently>>\n<<set $line_1 = "indianapolis is fragile. it is sitting down, carefully. it is trying to">>\n<<set $one = 3>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[explain something. an arithmetic can’t be based on inequalities.|2.1]]\n[[guess toward a modicum of angels. unbelievable.|2.2]]\n[[carry my own redolent weight. lightning struck as a redundant thought:|2.3]]\n[[demonstrate a whole range of contempts, & so what:|2.4]]\n[[elaborate: the intimacy of i-90 never gibed with any coherent structure.|2.5]]\n[[lop off anything vestigial. the ritual of circumcision &|2.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_1 = "the chicago weatherman: he lied again. who can we trust if our tv’s can’t">>\n<<set $one = 4>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[explain something. an arithmetic can’t be based on inequalities.|2.1]]\n[[guess toward a modicum of angels. unbelievable.|2.2]]\n[[carry my own redolent weight. lightning struck as a redundant thought:|2.3]]\n[[demonstrate a whole range of contempts, & so what:|2.4]]\n[[elaborate: the intimacy of i-90 never gibed with any coherent structure.|2.5]]\n[[lop off anything vestigial. the ritual of circumcision &|2.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_1 = "there were shrieks, a glint of sun, the hint of rain when st. louis remembered.">>\n<<set $one = 5>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[explain something. an arithmetic can’t be based on inequalities.|2.1]]\n[[guess toward a modicum of angels. unbelievable.|2.2]]\n[[carry my own redolent weight. lightning struck as a redundant thought:|2.3]]\n[[demonstrate a whole range of contempts, & so what:|2.4]]\n[[elaborate: the intimacy of i-90 never gibed with any coherent structure.|2.5]]\n[[lop off anything vestigial. the ritual of circumcision &|2.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_1 = "minneapolis threw a dark knot of words at my feet, as if that might">>\n<<set $one = 0>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[explain something. an arithmetic can’t be based on inequalities.|2.1]]\n[[guess toward a modicum of angels. unbelievable.|2.2]]\n[[carry my own redolent weight. lightning struck as a redundant thought:|2.3]]\n[[demonstrate a whole range of contempts, & so what:|2.4]]\n[[elaborate: the intimacy of i-90 never gibed with any coherent structure.|2.5]]\n[[lop off anything vestigial. the ritual of circumcision &|2.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_1 = "fargo has signs, but merely mathematical ones, seeking to">>\n<<set $one = 1>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[explain something. an arithmetic can’t be based on inequalities.|2.1]]\n[[guess toward a modicum of angels. unbelievable.|2.2]]\n[[carry my own redolent weight. lightning struck as a redundant thought:|2.3]]\n[[demonstrate a whole range of contempts, & so what:|2.4]]\n[[elaborate: the intimacy of i-90 never gibed with any coherent structure.|2.5]]\n[[lop off anything vestigial. the ritual of circumcision &|2.6]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_1 = "while des moines leans into the room with anticipation, i can">>\n<<set $one = 2>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[explain something. an arithmetic can’t be based on inequalities.|2.1]]\n[[guess toward a modicum of angels. unbelievable.|2.2]]\n[[carry my own redolent weight. lightning struck as a redundant thought:|2.3]]\n[[demonstrate a whole range of contempts, & so what:|2.4]]\n[[elaborate: the intimacy of i-90 never gibed with any coherent structure.|2.5]]\n[[lop off anything vestigial. the ritual of circumcision &|2.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_3 = "so what. the seasons execute their lockstep cavalcade">>\n<<set $three = 5>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[of crows. cawing to the bone. scratching.|4.1]]\n[[of color. but more like nostalgia, especially with|4.2]]\n[[of corn. & the tornados, the ozone have all the tact of|4.3]]\n[[in the sea. the sea? as if a schooner (prairie) could pillage|4.4]]\n[[within itself, coiling in that unexpected way. & then|4.5]]\n[[smart as a knife. sharp as a trick. yet odious like|4.6]]\n

\nSelect a line to begin writing a poem. Or, if you'd rather play Minnesota nice and not choose favorites, you can generate [[a random poem|Randompoem]].\n\n[[minneapolis threw a dark knot of words at my feet, as if that might|1.1]]\n[[fargo has signs, but merely mathematical ones, seeking to|1.2]]\n[[while des moines leans into the room with anticipation, i can|1.3]]\n[[indianapolis is fragile. it is sitting down, carefully. it is trying to|1.4]]\n[[the chicago weatherman: he lied again. who can we trust if our tv’s can’t|1.5]]\n[[there were shrieks, a glint of sun, the hint of rain when st. louis remembered.|1.6]]\n\n\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_3 = "so i'm a crossroads of drugs, i admit. but not many. just a spoonful">>\n<<set $three = 3>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[of crows. cawing to the bone. scratching.|4.1]]\n[[of color. but more like nostalgia, especially with|4.2]]\n[[of corn. & the tornados, the ozone have all the tact of|4.3]]\n[[in the sea. the sea? as if a schooner (prairie) could pillage|4.4]]\n[[within itself, coiling in that unexpected way. & then|4.5]]\n[[smart as a knife. sharp as a trick. yet odious like|4.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_3 = "there it prayed, asking for humility, a bolt of cloth, a line">>\n<<set $three = 4>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[of crows. cawing to the bone. scratching.|4.1]]\n[[of color. but more like nostalgia, especially with|4.2]]\n[[of corn. & the tornados, the ozone have all the tact of|4.3]]\n[[in the sea. the sea? as if a schooner (prairie) could pillage|4.4]]\n[[within itself, coiling in that unexpected way. & then|4.5]]\n[[smart as a knife. sharp as a trick. yet odious like|4.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_3 = "the eggshell moon had cracked over a blanket woven">>\n<<set $three = 1>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[of crows. cawing to the bone. scratching.|4.1]]\n[[of color. but more like nostalgia, especially with|4.2]]\n[[of corn. & the tornados, the ozone have all the tact of|4.3]]\n[[in the sea. the sea? as if a schooner (prairie) could pillage|4.4]]\n[[within itself, coiling in that unexpected way. & then|4.5]]\n[[smart as a knife. sharp as a trick. yet odious like|4.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_3 = "a dream: my pre-birth mother, round with glinting ideas, made">>\n<<set $three = 2>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[of crows. cawing to the bone. scratching.|4.1]]\n[[of color. but more like nostalgia, especially with|4.2]]\n[[of corn. & the tornados, the ozone have all the tact of|4.3]]\n[[in the sea. the sea? as if a schooner (prairie) could pillage|4.4]]\n[[within itself, coiling in that unexpected way. & then|4.5]]\n[[smart as a knife. sharp as a trick. yet odious like|4.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_6 = "milwaukee was thick with spring soil, & singing.">>\n<<set $six = 0>>\n<<endsilently>>\n<<display 'Poem'>>\n\n\n[[Write another poem|Aboutstart]]\n[[A random poem|Randompoem]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_3 = "so what if the previous night had been black as a murder">>\n<<set $three = 0>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[of crows. cawing to the bone. scratching.|4.1]]\n[[of color. but more like nostalgia, especially with|4.2]]\n[[of corn. & the tornados, the ozone have all the tact of|4.3]]\n[[in the sea. the sea? as if a schooner (prairie) could pillage|4.4]]\n[[within itself, coiling in that unexpected way. & then|4.5]]\n[[smart as a knife. sharp as a trick. yet odious like|4.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_2 = "carry my own redolent weight. lightning struck as a redundant thought:">>\n<<set $two = 2>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[so what if the previous night had been black as a murder|3.1]]\n[[the eggshell moon had cracked over a blanket woven|3.2]]\n[[a dream: my pre-birth mother, round with glinting ideas, made|3.3]]\n[[so i'm a crossroads of drugs, i admit. but not many. just a spoonful|3.4]]\n[[there it prayed, asking for humility, a bolt of cloth, a line|3.5]]\n[[so what. the seasons execute their lockstep cavalcade|3.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_2 = "guess toward a modicum of angels. unbelievable.">>\n<<set $two = 1>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[so what if the previous night had been black as a murder|3.1]]\n[[the eggshell moon had cracked over a blanket woven|3.2]]\n[[a dream: my pre-birth mother, round with glinting ideas, made|3.3]]\n[[so i'm a crossroads of drugs, i admit. but not many. just a spoonful|3.4]]\n[[there it prayed, asking for humility, a bolt of cloth, a line|3.5]]\n[[so what. the seasons execute their lockstep cavalcade|3.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_2 = "explain something. an arithmetic can’t be based on inequalities.">>\n<<set $two = 0>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[so what if the previous night had been black as a murder|3.1]]\n[[the eggshell moon had cracked over a blanket woven|3.2]]\n[[a dream: my pre-birth mother, round with glinting ideas, made|3.3]]\n[[so i'm a crossroads of drugs, i admit. but not many. just a spoonful|3.4]]\n[[there it prayed, asking for humility, a bolt of cloth, a line|3.5]]\n[[so what. the seasons execute their lockstep cavalcade|3.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_2 = "lop off anything vestigial. the ritual of circumcision &">>\n<<set $two = 5>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[so what if the previous night had been black as a murder|3.1]]\n[[the eggshell moon had cracked over a blanket woven|3.2]]\n[[a dream: my pre-birth mother, round with glinting ideas, made|3.3]]\n[[so i'm a crossroads of drugs, i admit. but not many. just a spoonful|3.4]]\n[[there it prayed, asking for humility, a bolt of cloth, a line|3.5]]\n[[so what. the seasons execute their lockstep cavalcade|3.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_2 = "elaborate: the intimacy of i-90 never gibed with any coherent structure.">>\n<<set $two = 4>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[so what if the previous night had been black as a murder|3.1]]\n[[the eggshell moon had cracked over a blanket woven|3.2]]\n[[a dream: my pre-birth mother, round with glinting ideas, made|3.3]]\n[[so i'm a crossroads of drugs, i admit. but not many. just a spoonful|3.4]]\n[[there it prayed, asking for humility, a bolt of cloth, a line|3.5]]\n[[so what. the seasons execute their lockstep cavalcade|3.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_2 = "demonstrate a whole range of contempts, & so what:">>\n<<set $two = 3>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[so what if the previous night had been black as a murder|3.1]]\n[[the eggshell moon had cracked over a blanket woven|3.2]]\n[[a dream: my pre-birth mother, round with glinting ideas, made|3.3]]\n[[so i'm a crossroads of drugs, i admit. but not many. just a spoonful|3.4]]\n[[there it prayed, asking for humility, a bolt of cloth, a line|3.5]]\n[[so what. the seasons execute their lockstep cavalcade|3.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_4 = "within itself, coiling in that unexpected way. & then">>\n<<set $four = 4>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[ashes the colors of alabaster, wren, predawn, tin.|5.1]]\n[[a flatlander who’s running & plotting against all rationale.|5.2]]\n[[ink spilled on the forehead of a doll. indelible you.|5.3]]\n[[this promise of farms &/or disco. why it sounded so good. why|5.4]]\n[[anything else that’s roughly comparable. a lutheran cross hangs where|5.5]]\n[[verbs without end, a name without a shoe, how|5.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_4 = "in the sea. the sea? as if a schooner (prairie) could pillage">>\n<<set $four = 3>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[ashes the colors of alabaster, wren, predawn, tin.|5.1]]\n[[a flatlander who’s running & plotting against all rationale.|5.2]]\n[[ink spilled on the forehead of a doll. indelible you.|5.3]]\n[[this promise of farms &/or disco. why it sounded so good. why|5.4]]\n[[anything else that’s roughly comparable. a lutheran cross hangs where|5.5]]\n[[verbs without end, a name without a shoe, how|5.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_5 = "a flatlander who’s running & plotting against all rationale.">>\n<<set $five = 1>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[milwaukee was thick with spring soil, & singing.|6.1]]\n[[spiders were the shapes of snowflakes--detroit remembers.|6.2]]\n[[the boxy sedan of omaha returns. if a weather is right; the news, good.|6.3]]\n[[the power lines in rapid city trace inextricable knots of thought.|6.4]]\n[[often i think of cleveland's treachery. the stars weave & sparkle, conspiring.|6.5]]\n[[it must. but listen: the midwest is filed with years of wrong impressions.|6.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_4 = "smart as a knife. sharp as a trick. yet odious like">>\n<<set $four = 5>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[ashes the colors of alabaster, wren, predawn, tin.|5.1]]\n[[a flatlander who’s running & plotting against all rationale.|5.2]]\n[[ink spilled on the forehead of a doll. indelible you.|5.3]]\n[[this promise of farms &/or disco. why it sounded so good. why|5.4]]\n[[anything else that’s roughly comparable. a lutheran cross hangs where|5.5]]\n[[verbs without end, a name without a shoe, how|5.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_4 = "of crows. cawing to the bone. scratching.">>\n<<set $four = 0>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[ashes the colors of alabaster, wren, predawn, tin.|5.1]]\n[[a flatlander who’s running & plotting against all rationale.|5.2]]\n[[ink spilled on the forehead of a doll. indelible you.|5.3]]\n[[this promise of farms &/or disco. why it sounded so good. why|5.4]]\n[[anything else that’s roughly comparable. a lutheran cross hangs where|5.5]]\n[[verbs without end, a name without a shoe, how|5.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_5 = "anything else that’s roughly comparable. a lutheran cross hangs where">>\n<<set $five = 4>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[milwaukee was thick with spring soil, & singing.|6.1]]\n[[spiders were the shapes of snowflakes--detroit remembers.|6.2]]\n[[the boxy sedan of omaha returns. if a weather is right; the news, good.|6.3]]\n[[the power lines in rapid city trace inextricable knots of thought.|6.4]]\n[[often i think of cleveland's treachery. the stars weave & sparkle, conspiring.|6.5]]\n[[it must. but listen: the midwest is filed with years of wrong impressions.|6.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_4 = "of corn. & the tornados, the ozone have all the tact of">>\n<<set $four = 2>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[ashes the colors of alabaster, wren, predawn, tin.|5.1]]\n[[a flatlander who’s running & plotting against all rationale.|5.2]]\n[[ink spilled on the forehead of a doll. indelible you.|5.3]]\n[[this promise of farms &/or disco. why it sounded so good. why|5.4]]\n[[anything else that’s roughly comparable. a lutheran cross hangs where|5.5]]\n[[verbs without end, a name without a shoe, how|5.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_4 = "of color. but more like nostalgia, especially with">>\n<<set $four = 1>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[ashes the colors of alabaster, wren, predawn, tin.|5.1]]\n[[a flatlander who’s running & plotting against all rationale.|5.2]]\n[[ink spilled on the forehead of a doll. indelible you.|5.3]]\n[[this promise of farms &/or disco. why it sounded so good. why|5.4]]\n[[anything else that’s roughly comparable. a lutheran cross hangs where|5.5]]\n[[verbs without end, a name without a shoe, how|5.6]]\n

[[Instructions]]\n[[About the Process]]\n[[About the Author]]\n

<<silently>> \n<<set $one = (Math.floor(Math.random()*6))>>\n<<set $two = (Math.floor(Math.random()*6))>>\n<<set $three = (Math.floor(Math.random()*6))>>\n<<set $four = (Math.floor(Math.random()*6))>>\n<<set $five = (Math.floor(Math.random()*6))>>\n<<set $six = (Math.floor(Math.random()*6))>>\n\n<<if $one eq 1>> <<set $line_1 = "minneapolis threw a dark knot of words at my feet, as if that might">> <<endif>>\n<<if $one eq 2>> <<set $line_1 = "fargo has signs, but merely mathematical ones, seeking to">> <<endif>>\n<<if $one eq 3>> <<set $line_1 = "while des moines leans into the room with anticipation, i can">> <<endif>>\n<<if $one eq 4>> <<set $line_1 = "indianapolis is fragile. it is sitting down, carefully. it is trying to">> <<endif>>\n<<if $one eq 5>> <<set $line_1 = "the chicago weatherman: he lied again. who can we trust if our tv’s can’t">> <<endif>>\n<<if $one eq 0>> <<set $line_1 = "there were shrieks, a glint of sun, the hint of rain when st. louis remembered.">> <<endif>>\n\n<<if $two eq 1>> <<set $line_2 = "explain something. an arithmetic can’t be based on inequalities.">> <<endif>>\n<<if $two eq 2>> <<set $line_2 = "guess toward a modicum of angels. unbelievable.">> <<endif>>\n<<if $two eq 3>> <<set $line_2 = "carry my own redolent weight. lightning struck as a redundant thought:">> <<endif>>\n<<if $two eq 4>> <<set $line_2 = "demonstrate a whole range of contempts, & so what:">> <<endif>>\n<<if $two eq 5>> <<set $line_2 = "elaborate: the intimacy of i-90 never gibed with any coherent structure.">> <<endif>>\n<<if $two eq 0>> <<set $line_2 = "lop off anything vestigial. the ritual of circumcision &">> <<endif>>\n\n<<if $three eq 1>> <<set $line_3 = "so what if the previous night had been black as a murder">> <<endif>>\n<<if $three eq 2>> <<set $line_3 = "the eggshell moon had cracked over a blanket woven">> <<endif>>\n<<if $three eq 3>> <<set $line_3 = "a dream: my pre-birth mother, round with glinting ideas, made">> <<endif>>\n<<if $three eq 4>> <<set $line_3 = "so i'm a crossroads of drugs, i admit. but not many. just a spoonful">> <<endif>>\n<<if $three eq 5>> <<set $line_3 = "there it prayed, asking for humility, a bolt of cloth, a line">> <<endif>>\n<<if $three eq 0>> <<set $line_3 = "so what. the seasons execute their lockstep cavalcade">> <<endif>>\n\n<<if $four eq 1>> <<set $line_4 = "of crows. cawing to the bone. scratching.">> <<endif>>\n<<if $four eq 2>> <<set $line_4 = "of color. but more like nostalgia, especially with">> <<endif>>\n<<if $four eq 3>> <<set $line_4 = "of corn. & the tornados, the ozone have all the tact of">> <<endif>>\n<<if $four eq 4>> <<set $line_4 = "in the sea. the sea? as if a schooner (prairie) could pillage">> <<endif>>\n<<if $four eq 5>> <<set $line_4 = "within itself, coiling in that unexpected way. & then">> <<endif>>\n<<if $four eq 0>> <<set $line_4 = "smart as a knife. sharp as a trick. yet odious like">> <<endif>>\n\n<<if $five eq 1>> <<set $line_5 = "ashes the colors of alabaster, wren, predawn, tin.">> <<endif>>\n<<if $five eq 2>> <<set $line_5 = "a flatlander who’s running & plotting against all rationale.">> <<endif>>\n<<if $five eq 3>> <<set $line_5 = "ink spilled on the forehead of a doll. indelible you.">> <<endif>>\n<<if $five eq 4>> <<set $line_5 = "this promise of farms &/or disco. why it sounded so good. why">> <<endif>>\n<<if $five eq 5>> <<set $line_5 = "anything else that’s roughly comparable. a lutheran cross hangs where">> <<endif>>\n<<if $five eq 0>> <<set $line_5 = "verbs without end, a name without a shoe, how">> <<endif>>\n\n<<if $six eq 1>> <<set $line_6 = "milwaukee was thick with spring soil, & singing.">> <<endif>>\n<<if $six eq 2>> <<set $line_6 = "spiders were the shapes of snowflakes--detroit remembers.">> <<endif>>\n<<if $six eq 3>> <<set $line_6 = "the boxy sedan of omaha returns. if a weather is right; the news, good.">> <<endif>>\n<<if $six eq 4>> <<set $line_6 = "the power lines in rapid city trace inextricable knots of thought.">> <<endif>>\n<<if $six eq 5>> <<set $line_6 = "often i think of cleveland's treachery. the stars weave & sparkle, conspiring.">> <<endif>>\n<<if $six eq 0>> <<set $line_6 = "it must. but listen: the midwest is filed with years of wrong impressions.">> <<endif>>\n<<endsilently>>\n<<display 'Poem'>>\n\n\n[[Write another poem|Aboutstart]]\n[[Another random poem|Randompoem]]

<<silently>> \n<<set $titlefirstnum = (Math.floor(Math.random()*50))+1>>\n<<set $titlesecondnum = (Math.floor(Math.random()*11))+1>>\n<<set $poemid = ($one) + ($two * 6) + ($three * 36) + ($four * 216) + ($five * 1296) + ($six * 7776)>>\n<<set $titleid= $titlefirstnum - 1>>\n<<set $stateid= $titlesecondnum - 1>>\n<<set $poem = $poemid + ($stateid * 46656) + ($titleid * 513216) + 1>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 1>> <<set $titlefirst = "a letter concerning ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 2>> <<set $titlefirst = "marquette and joliet discover ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 3>> <<set $titlefirst = "upon entering ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 4>> <<set $titlefirst = "exploding ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 5>> <<set $titlefirst = "indifference to ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 6>> <<set $titlefirst = "driving through ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 7>> <<set $titlefirst = "flying over ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 8>> <<set $titlefirst = "finally leaving ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 9>> <<set $titlefirst = "a drug lab in ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 10>> <<set $titlefirst = "burning down ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 11>> <<set $titlefirst = "why the elderly live in ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 12>> <<set $titlefirst = "how to draw ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 13>> <<set $titlefirst = "the haute cuisine of ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 14>> <<set $titlefirst = "the glaciers came to ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 15>> <<set $titlefirst = "the skyscrapers of ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 16>> <<set $titlefirst = "the future of ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 17>> <<set $titlefirst = "there are no good cows in ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 18>> <<set $titlefirst = "who will save ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 19>> <<set $titlefirst = "farmers fighting for ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 20>> <<set $titlefirst = "the state with the most accordions per capita is ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 21>> <<set $titlefirst = "maybe, ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 22>> <<set $titlefirst = "the history of archery in ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 23>> <<set $titlefirst = "arguing against ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 24>> <<set $titlefirst = "everyone's first kiss is ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 25>> <<set $titlefirst = "a taxpayer's hell: ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 26>> <<set $titlefirst = "the seventh reason to avoid ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 27>> <<set $titlefirst = "we don't speak no french in ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 28>> <<set $titlefirst = "beyond ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 29>> <<set $titlefirst = "the visigoths never (but should have) attacked ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 30>> <<set $titlefirst = "germans sank the u.s.s. ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 31>> <<set $titlefirst = "in the back seat with miss ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 32>> <<set $titlefirst = "accountants picnic across ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 33>> <<set $titlefirst = "the clouds over ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 34>> <<set $titlefirst = "daffodils invade ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 35>> <<set $titlefirst = "what remains of ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 36>> <<set $titlefirst = "forseeing the death of ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 37>> <<set $titlefirst = "i named my child after you, ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 38>> <<set $titlefirst = "you used to be the sea, ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 39>> <<set $titlefirst = "you seem to have misplaced your glasses, ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 40>> <<set $titlefirst = "they make more than mothballs in ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 41>> <<set $titlefirst = "jesus was born in ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 42>> <<set $titlefirst = "never underestimate ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 43>> <<set $titlefirst = "oh, the things we would do in ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 44>> <<set $titlefirst = "the script to your first heartbreak, starring ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 45>> <<set $titlefirst = "give 'em hell, ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 46>> <<set $titlefirst = "vacationing beneath ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 47>> <<set $titlefirst = "my band will never play in ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 48>> <<set $titlefirst = "i'm sorry, ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 49>> <<set $titlefirst = "& the owls are calling for ">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlefirstnum eq 50>> <<set $titlefirst = "before ">> <<endif>>\n\n<<if $titlesecondnum eq 1>> <<set $titlesecond = "north dakota">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlesecondnum eq 2>> <<set $titlesecond = "south dakota">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlesecondnum eq 3>> <<set $titlesecond = "minnesota">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlesecondnum eq 4>> <<set $titlesecond = "wisconsin">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlesecondnum eq 5>> <<set $titlesecond = "michigan">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlesecondnum eq 6>> <<set $titlesecond = "iowa">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlesecondnum eq 7>> <<set $titlesecond = "missouri">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlesecondnum eq 8>> <<set $titlesecond = "illinois">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlesecondnum eq 9>> <<set $titlesecond = "indiana">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlesecondnum eq 10>> <<set $titlesecond = "ohio">> <<endif>>\n<<if $titlesecondnum eq 11>> <<set $titlesecond = "nebraska">> <<endif>>\n\n<<endsilently>>''<<print $titlefirst>><<print $titlesecond>>''\n(poem #<<print $poem>>)\n\n<<print $line_1>>\n<<print $line_2>>\n<<print $line_3>>\n<<print $line_4>>\n<<print $line_5>>\n<<print $line_6>>

\nB.J. Best is the author of several books of poetry, including //But Our Princess Is in Another Castle// (Rose Metal Press, 2013), //Birds of Wisconsin// (New Rivers Press, 2010), and //State Sonnets// (sunnyoutside, 2009). He has lived in Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, and Minnesota, yet has never been to North Dakota. The gall.\n\nFor more, visit:\n[[B.J.'s blog|http://bjbestpoet.wordpress.com/]]\n[[B.J.'s website|http://bj.desperadopress.com/]]\n\n[[Start|Aboutstart]]

More than 25 Million Poems about the Midwest

(function(){\nvar bs = String.fromCharCode(92);\nif ("\s\s".length>1) {\n eval(scripts[i].text.replace(new RegExp(bs+"/"+bs+"/","g"),"").replace(new RegExp(bs+bs+"s","g"),bs));\n}\nelse {\nWikifier.parse = function (b) {\n function alter(from,to) {\n //var g = "(?=(?:[^\s"'\s\s\s\s]*(?:\s\s\s\s.|'(?:[^'\s\s\s\s]*\s\s\s\s.)*[^'\s\s\s\s]*'|\s"(?:[^\s"\s\s\s\s]*\s\s\s\s.)*[^\s"\s\s\s\s]*\s"))*[^'\s"]*$)";\n //return b.replace(new RegExp(from+g,"gi"),to);\n }\n b = alter("\s\s$","state.history[0].variables.");\n b = alter("\s\sbeq\s\sb", " == ");\n b = alter("\s\sbneq\s\sb", " != ");\n b = alter("\s\sbgt\s\sb", " > ");\n b = alter("\s\sbeq\s\sb", " == ");\n b = alter("\s\sbneq\s\sb", " != ");\n b = alter("\s\sbgt\s\sb", " > ");\n b = alter("\s\sbgte\s\sb", " >= ");\n b = alter("\s\sblt\s\sb", " < ");\n b = alter("\s\sblte\s\sb", " <= ");\n b = alter("\s\sband\s\sb", " && ");\n b = alter("\s\sbor\s\sb", " || ");\n b = alter("\s\sbnot\s\sb", " ! ");\n return b\n};\n}\n}());

\nYou will be writing one of 25,660,800 possible poems about the Midwest. Simply click on the line of poetry that is most appealing to you. You will continue to choose further lines for a total of six. At the end, the entire poem will be displayed, along with an appropriate title and the poem's unique ID number.\n\n[[Start|Aboutstart]]

\nThis project was built in [[Twine|http://www.gimcrackd.com/etc/src/]].\n\nEach poem is six lines long, with six choices for each line. Therefore, the total number of possible poem texts is 6^^6^^, or 46,656. The titles are randomly generated, independently of the poems. There are 50 possible phrases and 11 possible states, for 550 potential titles. That means there are 25,660,800 unique title and poem text combinations.\n\nOulipo is a group of French writers and mathematicians who created much quasi-random poetry. Specifically, this project is modeled after Raymond Queneau's //Cent Mille Milliards de Poemes// (//A Hundred Thousand Billion Poems//), which is comprised of ten sonnets with interchangeable rhymes.\n\nFor more complete thoughts about the project and process, check out this [[blog post|http://bjbestpoet.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/today-i-published-46656-poems-but-you-need-to-help-write-them/]].\n\nMany thanks to Sarah Busse, Christopher Hagge, and Charles Nevsimal for suggestions for some of the titles.\n\n[[Oulipo|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oulipo]] on Wikipedia\n[[Interactive version|http://www.bevrowe.info/Queneau/QueneauRandom_v5.html]] of //A Hundred Thousand Billion Poems//\n\n[[Start|Aboutstart]]

actual calc is\n\npoem id +\n(state id * 46656) +\n(title id * 513216) +\n1\n\n\nwhere\npoem id = 0 to 46655\nstate id = 0 to 10\ntitle id = 0 to 49

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_5 = "ashes the colors of alabaster, wren, predawn, tin.">>\n<<set $five = 0>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[milwaukee was thick with spring soil, & singing.|6.1]]\n[[spiders were the shapes of snowflakes--detroit remembers.|6.2]]\n[[the boxy sedan of omaha returns. if a weather is right; the news, good.|6.3]]\n[[the power lines in rapid city trace inextricable knots of thought.|6.4]]\n[[often i think of cleveland's treachery. the stars weave & sparkle, conspiring.|6.5]]\n[[it must. but listen: the midwest is filed with years of wrong impressions.|6.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_5 = "ink spilled on the forehead of a doll. indelible you.">>\n<<set $five = 2>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[milwaukee was thick with spring soil, & singing.|6.1]]\n[[spiders were the shapes of snowflakes--detroit remembers.|6.2]]\n[[the boxy sedan of omaha returns. if a weather is right; the news, good.|6.3]]\n[[the power lines in rapid city trace inextricable knots of thought.|6.4]]\n[[often i think of cleveland's treachery. the stars weave & sparkle, conspiring.|6.5]]\n[[it must. but listen: the midwest is filed with years of wrong impressions.|6.6]]\n

B.J. Best

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_5 = "this promise of farms &/or disco. why it sounded so good. why">>\n<<set $five = 3>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[milwaukee was thick with spring soil, & singing.|6.1]]\n[[spiders were the shapes of snowflakes--detroit remembers.|6.2]]\n[[the boxy sedan of omaha returns. if a weather is right; the news, good.|6.3]]\n[[the power lines in rapid city trace inextricable knots of thought.|6.4]]\n[[often i think of cleveland's treachery. the stars weave & sparkle, conspiring.|6.5]]\n[[it must. but listen: the midwest is filed with years of wrong impressions.|6.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_5 = "verbs without end, a name without a shoe, how">>\n<<set $five = 5>>\n<<endsilently>>\n[[milwaukee was thick with spring soil, & singing.|6.1]]\n[[spiders were the shapes of snowflakes--detroit remembers.|6.2]]\n[[the boxy sedan of omaha returns. if a weather is right; the news, good.|6.3]]\n[[the power lines in rapid city trace inextricable knots of thought.|6.4]]\n[[often i think of cleveland's treachery. the stars weave & sparkle, conspiring.|6.5]]\n[[it must. but listen: the midwest is filed with years of wrong impressions.|6.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_6 = "it must. but listen: the midwest is filed with years of wrong impressions.">>\n<<set $six = 5>>\n<<endsilently>>\n<<display 'Poem'>>\n\n\n[[Write another poem|Aboutstart]]\n[[A random poem|Randompoem]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_6 = "often i think of cleveland's treachery. the stars weave & sparkle, conspiring.">>\n<<set $six = 4>>\n<<endsilently>>\n<<display 'Poem'>>\n\n\n[[Write another poem|Aboutstart]]\n[[A random poem|Randompoem]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_6 = "the power lines in rapid city trace inextricable knots of thought.">>\n<<set $six = 3>>\n<<endsilently>>\n<<display 'Poem'>>\n\n\n[[Write another poem|Aboutstart]]\n[[A random poem|Randompoem]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_6 = "the boxy sedan of omaha returns. if a weather is right; the news, good.">>\n<<set $six = 2>>\n<<endsilently>>\n<<display 'Poem'>>\n\n\n[[Write another poem|Aboutstart]]\n[[A random poem|Randompoem]]

\n[[minneapolis threw a dark knot of words at my feet, as if that might|1.1]]\n[[fargo has signs, but merely mathematical ones, seeking to|1.2]]\n[[while des moines leans into the room with anticipation, i can|1.3]]\n[[indianapolis is fragile. it is sitting down, carefully. it is trying to|1.4]]\n[[the chicago weatherman: he lied again. who can we trust if our tv’s can’t|1.5]]\n[[there were shrieks, a glint of sun, the hint of rain when st. louis remembered.|1.6]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $line_6 = "spiders were the shapes of snowflakes--detroit remembers.">>\n<<set $six = 1>>\n<<endsilently>>\n<<display 'Poem'>>\n\n\n[[Write another poem|Aboutstart]]\n[[A random poem|Randompoem]]