WoPoLi

Transmission as part of the poem

Transmission as part of the poem

Sondheim wrote through mailing lists, preserving subject lines as titles and allowing messages to enter an active social environment. The poem was not simply composed privately and later uploaded. Its sending, reception, repetition, objections, and interruptions formed part of the work. The Electronic Literature Organization describes Internet Text as a continuous project produced through email lists, computer-mediated communication, programs, and online protocols.

A poet can reproduce this technique using the visible forms of digital communication:

From: breath@body.net
To: nobody@offline
Subject: RE: RE: last words
Date: after the connection failed

I sent the same silence again.

Headers, timestamps, forwarded text, reply marks, bounced messages, spam warnings, and delivery notices can all become formal elements.

A poem might unfold as a sequence of failed emails:

Message sent.
Message delayed.
Message rejected.
Recipient does not exist.

The communication system then becomes a metaphor for relationships, death, exclusion, or longing.

The Message

From: breath@body.net
To: nobody@offline
Subject: RE: RE: last words
Date: after the connection failed

I sent silence

Message sent.
Message delayed.
Message rejected.

I sent the same silence again.

Recipient does not exist.

I sent myself

Message retained in memory.

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From the blog

About the Author: Sarah B. Royal

Sarah B. Royal’s writing defies convention. Her poetry and prose traverse the boundaries between structure and spontaneity, often weaving together philosophical inquiry, cultural reflection, and personal narrative. With a background in experimental literature, she is known for crafting works that challenge readers to engage intellectually and emotionally.

Her acclaimed palindrome performance play, 777 – A Story of Idol Worship and Murder, showcases her fascination with mirrored storytelling and thematic symmetry. In o x ∞ = ♥: The Poet and The Mathematician, Royal explores the intersection of poetic intuition and mathematical logic, revealing a unique voice that is both analytical and lyrical.

Royal’s collections—such as Lost in the Lost and Found, Haiku For You, Lantern and Tanka Too, and the WoPoLi Chapbook Series—highlight her commitment to neurodivergent expression and poetic experimentation. Whether through childhood verse or contemporary fusion poetry, her work invites readers into a world where language is both a tool and a playground.

Sarah B. Royal continues to expand the possibilities of poetic form, offering readers a deeply personal yet universally resonant experience. Her writing is a testament to the power of creative risk, intellectual depth, and emotional authenticity.

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