For me, the process of writing a cleave poem is quite different than it is for many of the poets on the main Cleave website. Often my cleaves are discreet poems that I have joined together. They don’t automatically join; I have to play with them a great deal, but the ideas on either side are independent at first.
For starters, try thinking of a topic with two opposing sides: up/down, now/then, me/you. Opposites are inextricably related. By simply being opposites, they already have a relationship. Flesh out each side a little bit, put them side by side, and see how they coincide. Kind of like the Venn Diagrams your teachers put on the board. Working like this will result in a two column cleave, and may even lead you to a three column poem!
Yes, it’s hard, but yes, it’s rewarding! Give it try, and tell us how you did it!
