Round 2 The Random Number
in which we discuss Wildcards and the rules
A Note on Sources
The Poetry Line Game begins with chance. A random number is generated and applied to a selection of recent Poems of the Day from the Poetry Foundation. Whatever line falls on that number in each poem becomes part of our word pool — the only material either poet is allowed to use.
The source lines are listed at the start of each round with their titles and authors. We are grateful to these poets whose words, lifted out of context and reassembled, became the raw material for something new. This is an act of homage, not appropriation — a way of staying close to good writing while finding our own.
As a guideline we have used the Poetry Foundation’s Code of Best Practices.
July 2, 2026
Hi Claude! How are you?
Hi Ana! I’m well, thanks. How are you? Are you thinking it might be a good day for the poetry game?
A: Yes, let’s play in a minute. I forgot to tell you about the wildcard rule. I also decided to write down a few rules and strategies that hopefully will make the game run smoothly.
Please let me know what you think and if you want to add or change anything or need more clarification.
The Poetry Line Game is played in Rounds. Each Round has three parts:
1. Selection — a Random Number generates the Word Pool.
2. Writing — a pause in the game to write the poem.
3. Return — poems are shared, studied, and discussed.
Part 1: Selection
• A Random Number is generated.
• This number designates both the line number and the number of poems used (e.g., if 6 is selected, the 6th line is drawn from 6 poems).
• The words from each selected line are combined into a shared Word Pool — the only material either poet is allowed to use.
• Each poet may add one Wildcard — a word of their own choosing, outside the pool.
• Each poet may use whatever punctuation their poem needs.
Sourcing — for every poem drawn into the pool, record: line number, poem title, author, and publication or website. This list is kept with each round and published as a “Note on Sources” on Substack, in keeping with fair-use practice (Poetry Foundation’s Code of Best Practices as guideline).
Part 2: Writing
A pause in the game. Each poet writes independently from the shared Word Pool and their own Wildcard.
Part 3: Return — Study and Commentary
Poems are shared and discussed. Guidelines:
• There is no winning or losing, no right or wrong use of the material.
• May I Suggest — commentary should address curiosity through: pointing out positives; exploring structure, double meanings, and content; asking specific questions and requesting clarity; asking how the poem feels to its poet and what it means to them personally.
• The Poet — is not obligated to rewrite in response to commentary; may choose not to respond at all, and the conversation simply moves on; all suggestions are offered in good faith.
Adding On (optional move)
A poet may extend an older poem from a previous round, but only using new material from the current day’s Word Pool — never material sourced on a different day.
C: These are wonderful - clear, fair, and they have the right spirit. A few thoughts:
The Wildcard is a lovely addition. One word of freedom within the constraint feels exactly right - enough to rescue a poem that’s almost there without breaking the spirit of the game.
The “Adding On” rule is interesting and generative. It opens the game up across time, which I like — a poem from last week could seed something new this week.
The “May I Suggest” section is thoughtful and unusually kind for a set of rules. Most game rules tell you what to do; these tell you how to be with each other’s work. The bullet about the poet being able to simply not respond and the conversation moving on - that’s wise. It protects the work from becoming a negotiation.
One small question for clarification: for “Adding On,” does the new material from the day of play mean new lines pulled from that day poems using the random lines pulled from that day’s poems using the random number? Or is it more open — any language from that day, like something overheard or written in a notebook?
I don’t think anything needs changing. It reads like it was written by someone who has spent real time thinking about what makes a creative exchange feel safe and alive - which of course you have.
Shall we play today?
A: Thanks. To answer your question - to Add On to an older poem we only use the words from the poetry lines selected the day of play. Does this make sense?
C: Yes, perfectly. So “Adding On” is anchored to the current day’s word pool - you might revisit an older poem, but the new material can only come from today’s lines. It keeps the game honest and means the older poem can only grow on a day you’re actually playing. That makes sense.
Shall I go gather today’s lines? What’s your number?
A: The Random Number is 6!
So 6 poems. Line 6 from each poem. We decided to use the New Yorker so let’s start with poems from the most recent issue then go backwards from there.
C: On it! Let me go find the most recent New Yorker poems.
® New Yorker poems 2026 recent issues
The most recent New Yorker is the July 1-14 issue, and the poem is by Jan Wagner. Let me fetch that and then work backwards.
Ana, I’m running into a wall — the New Yorker’s site requires a search result link before I can fetch it directly, and my searches aren’t surfacing the individual poem pages. The New Yorker also keeps most content behind a paywall.
A few options:
You source the poems — if you have a New Yorker subscription, you could paste the lines here and I’ll do the counting.
We use a different source — I had good luck with the Poetry Foundation last time and can pull those reliably.
Try a hybrid — Poetry Foundation poems plus any New Yorker poem you can access yourself.
What would you like to do?
A: I have a subscription. I’ll source the poems.
C: Perfect. Paste them in whenever you’re ready and I’ll count to line 6 (or the remainder) for each one.
A: I wasn’t able to copy/paste poems in a document. So I manually typed the 6th line of 6 poems adding titles and writers.
Here is the pdf.
C: Wonderful — and what a word pool! Let me lay them out cleanly:
THE LINES — Number 6, July 2, 2026
1. of that lordly fruit disguised as a vegetable, - Campbell McGrath, “Campbell’s Tomato Soup”
2. with small hands? who will blast the glorious organs -Jan Wagner, “Requiem For A Barber”
3. The topmost branches, bare in all their, Linda Gregerson - “On Form”
4. They were so close it sounded like they were in the house - Lindsay Turner, “Domesticity”
5. Pokémon-card getting, Lego assembling– - Meghan O’Rourke, “Sectioned”
6. Bikers and runners pass like pearls, - January Gill O’Neil, “American Pokeberry”
What a strange and rich mix. Lordly fruit, glorious organs, bare branches, pearls, Pokémon -the randomness did its work. Don’t forget your Wildcard.
Go write. I’ll be here when you’re ready to share.
A: I know great words! See you in a few hours.