FRACKING FLOWBACK

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SMELTING OPERATION

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"FRACKING FLOWBACK" is the result of a text 'mining' process by which I compiled all the words in my manuscript into a word bank. Then, I used a randomizer to mine the bank and—from the randomly provided words—inserted the ones that would best fit each sentence structure. I also manipulated the order of the original erasure. In fracking, flowback is the chemical liquid that returns to the surface after the fracking procedure beneath ground.

"SMELTING OPERATION" follows a similar procedure to "FRACKING FLOWBACK," except the results overflow the scaffolding. Smelting is an operation wherein heat is used to extract a metal from ore. Both poems are examples of what I've been calling "extractive poetics," in which I use text mining and extractive techniques to write poetry that critiques extractive mindsets and ideology.