POETRY FINAL

Phi Kappa Phi Forum, Summer 2004 by Grant, Alex

[i]

Describe the sound when a penny drops

into a wishing-well. Consider the relevance

of the following factors: acoustics, knowledge

of wells, odds of fulfillment, presence of stars.

To be written from the coin's point of view.

[2]

Imagine gravity traded as a commodity.

From a bird's perspective, make a case

for public ownership, apportioned by weight.

Set on an uninhabited island.

[3]

Explain the attraction of the moon.

In no more than thirty-two lines, suggest

a new name for the number zero.

Combine the responses in a 12-line pantoum.

[4]

Establish a seamless association between

the following: an executioner's birthday party,

fractal geometry, attention deficit disorder.

Result must be tacitly non-judgmental,

and be suitable for a sixth-grade audience.

[5]

Bonus question - substantiate your findings.

ALEX GRANT

Alex Grant was born in Greenock, Scotland, and currently lives and works in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He is a 2004 recipient of Western Michigan University's John Woods scholarship and the 2004 winner of WMU's Pavel Srut Fellowship in Prague. His poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in Sycamore Review, Poet Lore, and Midwest Quarterly.