The Golden Shovel is a poetic form invented by the poet Terrance Hayes. The last words of each line in a Golden Shovel poem are, in order, words from a line or lines taken from a Gwendolyn Brooks poem, “The Pool Players. Seven at the Golden Shovel” widely known as “We Real Cool.”  Read the “Golden Shovel” by Terrance Hayes.

Read a little more on the form here.

Taking inspiration from this, several poets use some other short poems such as “The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams as the basis. Another short poem “Dust of Snow” by Robert Frost can be used as a basis also. Or you can choose the one that you like.  Although, strictly speaking, the original and authentic Golden Shovel is written in honor of Gwendolyn Brook’s poem mentioned above.

Good luck writing and submitting.