"The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time."
So said Betrand Russell, and I agree. Creating blackout poems, the process of choosing words from a page of text and restructuring them into poetry, is a great way to turn those forced idle moments--wasted time--into instances of creativity.
After a summer of travel, where delays weren't uncommon, I made a habit of bringing my blackout poetry kit along. Selecting the right words, adding playful illustrations, and coloring became therapeutic and relaxing while waiting in hotel lobbies, train stations, and airports. Instead of watching the clock, I focused on the page in front of me, letting the words, lines, and colors take me away.
Distance Between is a compilation of blackout poems made possible by all kinds of unexpected opportunities.