Do you have any serial "killer" lines?

skelly · Dec 11, 2009

This is kind of embarrassing but I might as well ask. Do you have any favorite lines of poetry that you have written that are so amazing (to you, at least), so unutterably delicious (to you, at least), so thoroughly beauteous and full of all the raw, God-given talent that you possess...that you re-use them?

I posted a poem in crit recently and noticed that I had written the following:

marshalling these moments
bugled to a ragged muster.

I thought it looked kinda familiar so I did a little sleuthing and found out that I used another version of that line in an entirely different poem posted here for crit a year or two ago.

these moments lined up before her
like weary soldiers bugled
to a ragged muster

I have at least two other poems (un-posted, unpublished) in which there is a line that prominently portrays moments as soldiers being "bugled to a ragged muster." Whether or not these moments are "weary" varies, probably depending on how tired I was when I wrote the poem.

Anyway, it would seem that I am quite fond of that particular line and think it quite clever. About once every two or three years I write something and there it is again...those weary moments and that damn bugle.

dgrintalis · Dec 11, 2009

I imagine many of us do. I've a propensity to use warm instead of warmth, and 'the taste of' appears in several pieces.

I do have a sentence I use in different incarnations in many of my fiction pieces, but I use it intentionally. One version which is in the MS I'm currently querying - Old dreams, broken screams, and wicked, dirty little things. Another version in a sold short story - “Broken dreams, broken screams, and secret, little dirty things.” There is yet another version in one of my current WIPs.

Teena · Dec 29, 2009

Perhaps....but the only thing I can think of right now is that I wrote a dedication on a private gift book of my poetry for a friend (only 2 copies printed).

"I can only give you words
for all I am and all I have
are herewithin."

I liked that so well that I have requested it be used as the epitaph on my gravestone. How weird is that?

I'm intrigued that you return to almost the exact phrasing without remembering it, as though drawn to something that reminds you of an occurrence in a past life, if you believe in that sort of thing. Regardless, Scott, it's a lovely line and very descriptive.

Poetic_Justice · Dec 31, 2009

Answer: Yes. Though, I do it intentionally most of the time. I like to call them "line transplants"

kdnxdr · Jan 13, 2011

This is intriquing (Hope I spelled that right.)

Skelly initiated this thread back in 2009 and although it didn't get but a few posts, I think it's a very interesting phenomenon and wonder if I bumped it up, it might get a little more response.

Now, I will be curious to watch myself and see if I'm 'drawn' to certain lines/words/concepts.

Thanks, Skelly.

Priene · Jan 14, 2011

I have been known to plunder my unpublished back catalogue. Most recently, I had

...........................Evening rushes
to its end. She slumps into his arms,
and someone falls to someone else’s charms.

which was partly cadged from a much earlier

And then the sun will rise
because it always does and doesn't need
your help. And someone catches someone's eyes.

kdnxdr · Jan 14, 2011

I wrote a poem A LONG time ago and this one line haunts me....it's one of my lost poems.

"pin pain
cushioned in my soul,
there to wake me
there to take me
way before I'm old"

I miss that poem alot but my rusty little brain refuses to dredge it up. Maybe hypnosis?

Magdalen · Jan 14, 2011

I miss Skelly! He was into spec poetry, last I heard.

kdnxdr · Jan 14, 2011

Well, maybe he'll show up.

Evice · Jan 18, 2011

A similar thing, i found a scrap of paper a few weeks back with a few lines of poetry scribbled on in my hand writing. The thing is, i dont remember writing it although i often sit up in bed and quickly scribble ideas down when i am half asleep (I found it by the side of the bed)

The other thing is, i am not sure if i wrote it or if i wrote down a line i liked that someone else wrote, its quite good so i cant believe i wrote it and am therefore too afraid to use it in case its not mine! lol

finnisempty · Jan 20, 2011

I do. I call them referential lines whenever they show up. Most of the time it's done on purpose.

KTC · Jan 21, 2011

I get tripped up more on luscious words than on a string of words. I find myself using my favourite words over and over again. And it's obvious sometimes because the words aren't ones that would just come up over and over again in everyday usage. But I can't think of any times I used a phrase/line repeatedly...not off the top of my head, anyway. I probably have, though.

Do you have any serial "killer" lines?

skelly

Kickin it old school, posers beware

dgrintalis

'Tis true, she is a monstergirl

Teena

Bennie's Mom

Poetic_Justice

Pondering affirmation

kdnxdr

One of the most important people in the world

Priene

Out to lunch

kdnxdr

One of the most important people in the world

Magdalen

Petulantly Penitent

kdnxdr

One of the most important people in the world

Evice

finnisempty

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live