 Poetry: June 14, 2006 Issue [#1096] |
  Poetry
This week: Edited by: Red Writing Hood <3  
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Challenge yourself to try new things in the writing world - the voyage may bring you to places inside yourself you never knew existed.
Red Writing Hood <3
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I adore writing poetry. I’ll arm myself, with pen and paper at the ready, and accept any challenge of conquering a new poetry form.
Last year was the first time I questioned whether or not I could meet the challenge and bury it on the battlefield. Sure, I’m a perfectionist, but what could make a person who’s played with poetry for almost thirty-five years hesitate before charging? It was the narrative form.
I’m not talking about the ballad or epic, which are types of narrative poetry, or other rhyming narratives. I’m referring to the more modern – freer – narrative poetry. It was different than anything I’d ever done before. To me, it seemed more like a story than a poem. I even remember wondering how they could get away with calling it poetry.
EXAMPLES TO READ: (both easy to find on Google if you aren't familiar with them)
Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden
The Wood-pile by Robert Frost
I write stories and poetry, but when I write a poem – I’m in poetry mode, and I felt stuck in neutral. How could the Poet in Me mix the two?
Stephen Minot said, in Three Genres – The Writing of Poetry, Fiction, and Drama, “Narrative is as natural a structure for poetry as it is for prose.”
Poet in Me then rationalizes that Story Writer in Me borrows stuff from the “Poet’s Toolbox” to write more effective stories, so why not knock on her door and borrow a couple of things?
Narrative Poetry Basics in Brief
BRIEF HISTORY
Narrative Poetry is poetry that tells a tale and can be traced back to Homer's Iliad and possibly beyond.
MUST HAVES
*Tell a story.
*Pay particular attention to rhythm and sound.
COULD HAVES or What's The Poet's Choice In All This?
*YOU choose the form or whether or not to even use a particular form (aka ballad, etc.)
*Imagery - depth of imagery up to the author – but keep in mind that a primary part of poetry is imagery, and you are writing a poem that tells a story, not a short story.
*Rhyme - use it or not - internal, external or none.
Since I’ve tried using narratives in my poetry, I feel as if I’ve written some of the best work I ever have in my life. It has opened a door I never knew was locked and I crossed a threshold into a land I never knew existed.
Simply, It has helped me grow as a writer.
WRITING EXERCISE: If you are a writer that really considers yourself more of a poet, try out narrative poetry as a way to build a bridge to story writing. If you consider yourself mainly a storywriter, use the narrative form to ease your way into poetry.
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The first five are non-rhyming, like the narratives I refer to above - the rest use rhyme.
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Gotta question, answer, problem, solution, tip, trick, cheer, jeer, or extra million lying around?
If so, send it through the feedback section at the bottom of this newsletter OR click the little envelope next to my name Red Writing Hood <3 and send it through email.
Comments on last month's newsletter:
Submitted By: Vivian 
Submitted Comment:
Thanks, Red Ridinghood, for highlighting my article on grammar practices that irk me. Seems as if I find more and more as I read or listen. Ish, what a sad situation. ~~ Viv
Submitted By: lightandshadow
Submitted Comment:
I couldn't agree more with you about antiquated language. It has it's uses and can be used very effectively and I deeply admire those who have done so, but there are times when you shouldn't use it. One of my largest groans of "oh no" is when I see it in a poem that is obviously modern in terms of other langauge used in the poem.
Submitted By: John~Ashen 
Submitted Comment:
Good spiel. I think using antiquated language is like cooking with lard when oil is available, and most folks don't know when to use lard over oil.
Submitted By: monty31802
Submitted Comment:
Another great Newsletter, if you don't understand it you have a difficult time with the rhythm. I have to admit I like a lot of antiquated poetry as long as it is that way from start to finish.
Showing my age, Monty
Submitted By: merlin 
Submitted Comment:
Interesting NW, you raise a good point on using antquated language (or not) although It can be fun to try & work out the meaning of really old poetry. Wyvernz
Submitted By: ghost 
Submitted Comment:
Interesting view on antiquated language use/usage??. I would like to hear your point of view regarding the use of lower case vs Upper Case...
Thanks for putting this together, and oh, yes, is there a way for me to access previous editions of this newsletter?
Regards, ghost
If you are speaking of lower/uppercase usage at the beginning of each line of poetry in a stanza, then I'm easy - I read both without cringing. Not everyone is like that, and I've had many people rate lower and frown on using uppercase. At first I didn't know better, and let my Word program automatically make each line begin with a capital letter. It was happier that way and who was I to rock the boat. 
Using all uppercase is an older, more traditional way to write your poetry and using lowercase (unless it is the beginning of a sentence) is a modern way to format your poetry.
To access previous Poetry newsletter editions, click here: http://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/topic/Poetry
Thank you all for your wonderful feedback. I appreciate each and every comment!
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