%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 Review #4651617 |
 | The Sound of Ice  [E] A poem inspired by the writing style of Bill Watterson of Calvin and Hobbs fame  |
| (5.0)| ** Image ID #1482287 Unavailable **  Welcome to WdC from the "Newbie Welcome Wagon" Greetings, Simon! Welcome to our International Inspiration Station, aka Writing.Com. The following observations are offered in the spirit of friendly hospitality and constructive support, but they are nothing more than one man's opinions, so take them or leave them for whatever you think they may be worth. TITLE: The title of a poem is like the marquee on a theater. If there is nothing to spark some interest, the prospective reader is probably not going to enter. The title applied to this composition invites that browser to share one of Mother Nature's mystical wonders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chxn2szgEAg . CONCEPT: One of the easiest ways to learn how to do something is by imitation. From the very first words we speak as infants, we are encouraged to follow the ways of others to learn the proper ways of doing things. We mimic those behaviors over and over until they become second nature and we develop the confidence we need to venture out on our own. Writing poetry can be learned in much the same way. When we started writing poetry, many of us probably recalled the Mother Goose rhymes of our childhood and made our first humble attempts with that model in mind. The technical aspects of both classical and modern poets can be emulated to great advantage. Read their poetry and study it closely. When you come upon a poem or passage that impresses you, scrutinize it, breaking it down word by word to learn the techniques and devices that make it work so well. If you study a particular poet extensively, you may find your own writing inadvertently following similar emphasis and inflection, even though you intended to write independently. It becomes contagious. The important thing is to develop the skills and build your confidence in the use of various poetic tools. While imitation of the technical elements of crafting can be helpful, the philosophies and ideas of others should not be copied directly just because they are successful or popular. If they appeal to you, do the research and study the primary sources on the topic until you have a full comprehension of the topic. Only then will you be able to express those thoughts in your own terms. Language is a malleable medium, like clay, to be molded and shaped to suit each individual’s purpose. Once you have developed the skills to mold effectively by imitation, you will be able to find your own style and rhythm so that every element in your being can contribute to your poetry. No one else was born to your parents at just that time and place and has lived through the exact same experiences and reached the same conclusions as you have. Therefore, you are the only one qualified to express precisely what you think about any situation. This is what makes your work original. Emotional freedom, integrity and the special quality of your own work are not what you start with, but they are what you finally attain through patience, diligence and inspiration. FORM & STRUCTURE: In traditional poetry, the fixed shape of the meter, rhyme, and stanza creates an emotional distance which facilitates universal acceptance. The poet writing free verse must compensate for the lack of traditional structure by designing the title, line, stanza, and rhythm to provide the greatest impact in an efficient manner. Otherwise, the poem will be nothing more than prose in disguise. Careful design of the word selection and arrangement, the length and density of each line, and the breakdown of stanzas must provide a natural rhythm. That is, through much toil in search of precise language, experimentation with forming lines and stanzas, and extensive revision, the poet carefully crafts a work that appears natural, authentic, and convincing to the reader. While dividing the composition into several stanzas helps to sharpen the focus and control the pace, the irregular stanza, ranging from three lines to six, and line, ranging from two to fourteen syllables, structures in no particular pattern generates a sense of excited utterance to reinforce the word pictures your narrator is painting. POETIC TECHNIQUE: Just as the conductor of a symphony orchestra controls the tempo and power of the music with a delicate nuance, a poet guides the pace and force of the poem by manipulating sounds through word selection and arrangement. If done well, rhyming can be pleasing to the ear and fun to create, testing the wit and ingenuity of the poet. It can also serve as an audible echo or resonance for emphasis. Additionally, rhyming can be an organizing device to create zones of similarity for your poems and linkage to connect different thoughts. The rhyming in this poem is skillfully executed without discernable distortion of the language. The application of the Onomatopoeia technique ( https://literarydevices.net/onomatopoeia/ ) makes your portrayal come to life on the screen. OVERALL IMPRESSION: Art happens in two places: in writers' minds as they create it, and in readers' minds as they perceive it. Creative writers explore possibilities through a lens colored by past experience and share them with an unseen audience. They call upon a unique reservoir of such enlightenment, conceptual skill and innovative research to evoke some spiritual reaction from your audience--be it joy, melancholy, shock, or any of a thousand others. This was a thoroughly entertaining interlude. Thank you for sharing! If you are interested in learning more about the craft of composing poetry, or merely chatting with a few like-minded wordsmiths, we would love to have you join our discussions in "The Poet's Place " group.Here's wishing you fair winds as you continue to navigate this universe known as Writing.Com. Let the creativity flow from your soul!  Dave "The Poet's Place " * All items are rated in accordance with the guidelines provided in "Comment-In-A-Box"  My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .
|
|||
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
You have not yet responded to this review.