The document provides instructions for how to capture a poem. Poems can be found in unusual places like on the dark side of angels, between sighs and words, hidden among winter trees, or in everyday rhythms like a waltzing couple or the sound of heartbeats, typing, or paper blowing in the wind. Poems can also be glimpsed in inscriptions on stone or sky or overheard in passing conversations. However, even if a poem is captured, it will not reveal all of its knowledge as a poem's voice can be as fleeting and subtle as a whisper through a wall or streak of silk.

1. How to Capture a Poem How to Capture a Poem
Look for one at midnight Look for one at midnight
on the dark side of a backlit angel on the dark side of a backlit angel
or in the space between a sigh or in the space between a sigh
and a word. Winter trees, those and a word. Winter trees, those
elegant ladies dressed in diamonds elegant ladies dressed in diamonds
and white fur, may hide another. and white fur, may hide another.
Look for the rhythm in the feet Look for the rhythm in the feet
of a waltzing couple one, two, three-ing of a waltzing couple one, two, three-ing
in an empty hall, or in the sound in an empty hall, or in the sound
of any heartbeat, the breath of a sleeper, of any heartbeat, the breath of a sleeper,
the bossy rattle of keyboards in offices, the bossy rattle of keyboards in offices,
the skittering of paper blown along. the skittering of paper blown along.
You could find a whole line You could find a whole line
incised into stone or scrawled on sky. incised into stone or scrawled on sky.
Words float on air in buses, are bandied Words float on air in buses, are bandied
on street corners, overheard in pubs, on street corners, overheard in pubs,
caught in the pages of books, sealed caught in the pages of books, sealed
behind tight lips, marshalled as weapons. behind tight lips, marshalled as weapons.
Supposing you can catch a poem, Supposing you can catch a poem,
it won’t tell you all it knows. Its voice it won’t tell you all it knows. Its voice
is a whisper through a wall, a streak of silk is a whisper through a wall, a streak of silk
going by, the scratch of a ghost, the creaks going by, the scratch of a ghost, the creaks
of a house at night, the sound of the earth of a house at night, the sound of the earth
vibrating in spring, with all its secret life. vibrating in spring, with all its secret life.