\"Writing.Com
*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/1202-.html
Poetry: August 16, 2006 Issue [#1202]

Newsletter Header
Poetry


 This week:
  Edited by: terryjroo
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Hi! I'm your guest editor for this week and hope that I can offer you a little insight on reading and writing poetry. Poetry is my main form of expression, but I'm certainly no expert on the subject. I look forward to your comments on my first attempt to bring you something useful. And remember:

"The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful."
~e. e. cummings


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: 1945043032
Amazon's Price: $ 13.94


Letter from the editor

In Ancient Greece, the most important form of entertainment was provided by the bards. Bards, or poets, traveled from place to place reciting poetry, often accompanied by a cithara or lyre. As time passed, poetry took on a written form and orators fell by the wayside. This took hundreds of years to happen, but happen it did. Soon books of poetry flourished and the educated could read at their leisure. However, poetry was still written to be read aloud and still is today.

Most poets choose their words, punctuation and spacing of their poetry for very specific reasons. Besides their meaning, the sounds of the words play an important roll in the poem. If the poem requires a faster pace, then shorter words with sharper sounds can be used. If the poem is meant to be softer, then longer words with more delicate sounds are used to portray the feeling of the poem.

Punctuation and word spacing also aid in the recital of the poem. For example, a dash requires a longer pause than a comma and no punctuation at the end of a line indicates a very short pause or sometimes none at all. Some poets, such as e.e. cummings used a variety of spacing techniques to slow or quicken the pace of poems.

“In Just—“
e.e. cummings

in Just—
spring        when the world is mud-
luscious the little
lame baloonman

whistles        far        and wee

and eddieandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it’s
spring

when the world is puddle-wonderful

the queer
old balloonman whistles
far        and        wee
and bettyandisbel come dancing

from hop-scotch and jump-rope and

it’s spring
and
         the

                   goat-footed
balloonMan        whistles
far
and
wee


“In Just—“ isn’t a poem meant to be read silently. Of course, the first time you read any poem, you often read it silently, to get a feel for it. Your next step, though, should be to read it aloud. Follow the punctuation, white spaces, and indentations as you read. Use a natural, conversational voice and don’t rush. You will notice in this poem that you can almost hear the long whistles of the balloonman in the beginning. Then you quicken the pace as the children come running from their games. In the end the last far and wee is also at a quickened pace due to the lack of white space. This poem wouldn’t be near as interesting or effective if it were written in basic stanzas with even spacing.

So remember, as you write a poem, you are writing something that is intended to be read aloud. Use all of the tools available to you to make your poem sound the way you, as the writer, have it in mind to sound. And, don’t be afraid to experiment!

I hope you found this issue helpful!
terryjroo


Editor's Picks

** Image ID #1129387 Unavailable **


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#722616 by Not Available.


 Green Glow Open in new Window. (E)
A Virelay - prompt "Green Glow" dedicated to the SLAM Green Room
#1123305 by Annie Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#695685 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1000842 by Not Available.


 How to Make the Perfect Margarita Open in new Window. (18+)
My recipe for friendship ... (Round 2 SLAM)
#865761 by Sophurky Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#690857 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#455997 by Not Available.


 The News Open in new Window. (ASR)
I heard about him leaving, and I felt really odd about it.
#720407 by Turkey DrumStik Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1109781 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1007396 by Not Available.


** Image ID #1129387 Unavailable **


 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: B07YJZZGW4
Product Type:
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available.


Ask & Answer

Since I'm only a guest editor I have no feedback, but I'd love to hear what you'd like to see in upcoming newsletters and I'm sure the other editors would, too!

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor

Removal Instructions

To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.


Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/1202-.html