Erasure
Poetry
Project

Below is a reading list, compiled by Erasure Poetry Project on erasure poetry – from poetry collections that carry the label “erasure poetry” to scholarship (in the form of essays, articles, and book chapters) that study its form and theorize its practice. 

The list is frequently updated. Do reach out to us at [email protected] to inform us about works on erasure poetry in the US context and beyond (by yourself or others) that should appear on the list.

• Madness, Rack, and Honey by Mary Ruefle (2012)
  While not solely focused on erasure, Ruefle’s essays provide rich insights into the poetic process, including reflections on creativity and artistic transformation.

• Against Expression: An Anthology of Conceptual Writing edited by Craig Dworkin and Kenneth Goldsmith (2011)
  This anthology includes key works of erasure and situates the practice within the broader conceptual writing movement.

• The Boundaries of the Literary Archive: Reclamation and Representation edited by Carrie Smith and Lisa Stead (2017)
  Explores the theoretical underpinnings of erasure and its use in literary texts.

• “Splintered Archives: Versions and Versioning through Erasure Arts and Poetry” by Mahshid Mayar (2025)
  Examines works by Niina Pollari and Jenny Holzer to showcase erasure as a creative-activist response to the documental crises of US empire in the twenty-first century.

• Radi Os by Ronald Johnson (1977)
  A revision of the first four books of John Milton’s Paradise Lost, this foundational work demonstrates erasure as a transformative and creative act.

• Nets by Jen Bervin (2003)
  A collection that erases Shakespeare’s sonnets, leaving behind a minimalist, striking reinterpretation.

• The O Mission Repo by Travis Macdonald (2008)
  An erasure of the 9/11 Commission Report, this text turns bureaucratic language into poetic commentary.

• The ms of my kin by Janet Holmes (2009)
  Using Emily Dickinson’s poems as source texts, Holmes transforms them to reflect modern concerns and interpretations.

• Sky Booths in the Breath Somewhere: The Ashbery Erasure Poems by David Dodd Lee (2010)
  A collection of erasure poems derived from the works of John Ashbery, showcasing Lee’s innovative approach to the genre.

• A Little White Shadow by Mary Ruefle (2006)
  Ruefle’s erasure of a 19th-century text results in a meditative and enigmatic collection that highlights the beauty of what is left behind.

• Zong! by M. NourbeSe Philip (2008)
  An erasure of legal documents from an 18th-century slave ship massacre, this book is a haunting exploration of memory, justice, and voice.

• Voyager by Srikanth Reddy (2011)
  This erasure of former UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim’s memoirs reveals layers of history, ethics, and memory.

• A Humument by Tom Phillips (1970-2016)
  A visually stunning erasure of W.H. Mallock’s A Human Document, blending poetry and art.

• Her Read, Graphic Poem by Jennifer Sperry Steinorth (2021)
  Combines visual art and erasure poetry to create layered, multi-dimensional works.

• all this can be yours by Isobel O’Hare (2019)
  Known for their feminist erasure poetry of public apologies, O’Hare’s work critiques power and accountability.

• Other Words for Smoke by Sarah Maria Griffin (2019)
  An experimental collection blending erasure techniques with speculative storytelling.

• Sand Opera by Philip Metres (2015)
  This collection uses erasure to explore themes of war, surveillance, and the human cost of conflict, drawing from declassified documents and other sources.

• Shrapnel Maps by Philip Metres (2020)
  Although not exclusively an erasure text, Metres employs erasure techniques to address the complexities of borders, identities, and histories.

• I’ll Drown My Book: Conceptual Writing by Women edited by Caroline Bergvall, Laynie Browne, Teresa Carmody, and Vanessa Place (2012)
  This anthology includes significant contributions to erasure poetry by women poets.

• The &NOW Awards 2: The Best Innovative Writing edited by Davis Schneiderman (2013)
  Features experimental works, including erasure poetry, that push the boundaries of literary form.

• The Kenyon Review
  Regularly publishes erasure poetry and critical essays on the form.

• Blackout Poetry Journal
  A journal dedicated to showcasing blackout and erasure poetry.

• Erasure by Percival Everett (2001)
  A novel that incorporates elements of erasure to critique cultural and literary representation.

• Falling Awake by Alice Oswald (2016)
  While not exactly erasure, this collection reimagines classical texts, demonstrating affinities with erasure’s transformative methods.

• Notes on Conceptualisms by Vanessa Place and Robert Fitterman (2009) 
  Explores the intersections of conceptual art and poetry, with discussions relevant to erasure.

• “El libro de arena” by Jorge Luis Borges (1975)
  Though not an erasure, Borges’s works often align with erasure’s themes of infinity, fragmentation, and textual transformation.

• Making the Cut: An Erasure Poetry Workbook by Dara Barrois/Dixon (formerly Dara Wier)
  A hands-on guide to crafting erasure poetry, with prompts and exercises.

• Make Blackout Poetry: Turn These Pages into Poems by John Carroll (2018)
  A practical introduction to blackout poetry, a popular form of erasure.

• The Academy of American Poets on erasure poetry
  Includes a brief definitions and some key figures.

• The Poetry Foundation on erasure poetry
  A brief definition and some references to poets.

• The New York Times on creating erasure poetry
  A piece that considers erasure poetry in the context of COVID-19 and its reparative functions.

• Old Scratch Press on creating something new out of something old or discarded
  Includes a short manual and journal suggestions.

• Art of Erasure workshops (various authors)
  Look for online or in-person workshops by erasure poets to gain practical skills and inspiration.