  Poetry
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A lot about becoming a better writer is about getting over "humps."
The first is separating yourself enough from your writing to be able to take constructive criticism. The second is to figure out the difference between telling the reader your point and showing the reader your point.
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A Poet’s Insider Guide to “Show Vs. Tell”
PART ONE: TIME
First thing a writer must understand is that the concept of “show vs. tell” is different for poetry than it is for short stories or novels. Not so much that they become totally different concepts, but enough to say they are like two different species of dog. Sure, they’re both dogs, but a Great Dane needs different care than a Jack Russell Terrier.
Time in one’s life
Several years ago I was in a creative writing class that had a hard time thinking in metaphors. I was, in turn, having a hard time sharing my thoughts on the subject. It was when I was listening to the radio on the way to class that a spark hit my brain, like it did Frankenstein’s monster.
I was listening to Billy Joel’s “Piano Man”, which is full of imagery, and was inspired by how he showed age. Instead of saying he was in his twenties or some other such generality or even a specific age, he wrote: “When I wore a younger man's clothes”
Here’s the difference. Telling is saying an age or age category, like 22 or in his twenties. Showing is giving us this image of a man in his youth.
I toyed with this idea for a while and came up with this line, which can be found in "Invalid Item" : “When she first learned the difference between noun and pronoun” – which gives the impression of early school-age.
Then I also came up with this line (which is from the same poem): “As she became armed with driver’s license, keys and immortality” – leads the reader to a teenage image.
Passage of time
Remember I said I was inspired? After having tried those two images, I decided to try something a bit different within the realm of time. I wanted to show the passage of time as well as showing age and I came up with this line (also from the same poem): “One day she woke to find the pages of forty calendars littering the floor at her feet, like confetti.”
This line not only indicates the approximate age of the woman but also shows some time has passed since the last stanza.
Other examples of time images
I was exploring further to find more examples and found these in Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing by Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs. (The poem's page location will be found in parenthesis after the excerpt.)
Passage of time
Sonnets from the Portuguese: Number14 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
“A creature might forget to weep, who bore thy comfort long,” (704)
A Time Past by Denise Levertov
“those wooden steps are gone now, decayed” (713)
Time of day
Preludes by T.S. Elliot
“Burnt-out ends of smoky days.” (707)
This is not to say that any time you want to indicate time in your poetry you need to use an image instead of just stating it. As with most things, this will depend on the individual poem and your own unique style.
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This first feature is an excellent example of showing time - not once but several instances:
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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 ABOUT THE POETRY/MUSIC QUESTION:
The question from last month:
Dear Writers:
Have you often thought of poetry like music? As a poet and a writer I often like to think of how your hand slowly glides across the paper is like an orchestra playing a symphony.
What are your views on the joy of writing poetry?
Poetically yours,
David Collins poetdc
Submitted By: Vivian 
Submitted Comment:
Thanks, Red, for mentioning my poetry contest. If you looked at the guidelines, you may have noticed that personification is one of the poetic terms writers can choose to use.
As far as poetry and music being compared, poetry should read as if it were musical, whether jazz, classical, modern, or its own beat.
Submitted By: Someone Who Isnt You 
Submitted Comment:
Hmm...yes
This is in regards to David Collins' comment about writing poetry being like playing music. I play the Cello, and I think that writing poetry is very much like playing an instrument, perhaps not like an orchestra playing a symphony though. Playing one instrument is complicated enough, an entire orchestra is complicated beyond one man's imagination. Although I see what your saying.
I believe writing poetry applies more direclty to playing just one instrument, rather than an entire orchestra being played. For example, when playing an instrument, you must worry about technique, feeling, tone, and phrasing, all of which apply directly to writing poetry. Also, when playing an instrument, you get a similar feeling to writing poetry; like you're creating something special.
I feel it's deeper than an orchestra playing a symphony, all the way down to the base of the symphony. One man (or women), one instrument, one moment.
Sincerely, Someone Who Isn't You
Submitted By: Musings
Submitted Comment:
I often think of poetry like music. Lyricists are poets in my opinion. Beautiful poems make beautiful music.
COMMENTS ABOUT LAST MONTH'S NEWSLETTER:
Submitted By: Elisa: Snowman Stik 
Submitted Comment:
Poetry loves me more than I love it. I write a lot of it, but I don't think that my poetry really suits me. Poetry's easier for me to finish timewise, but I much prefer sinking my teeth into reading/writing novels.
And hey, talking to yourself can be fun. Sometimes. 
Submitted By: venom75
Submitted Comment:
Thank you very much for featuring my poem. I greatly appreciate that. Your advice on personification is excellent and something that I'll definitely try.
Submitted By: mousybrown
Submitted Comment:
Thanks for yet another great newsletter! I get such inspiration and gain such knowledge from each newsletter. Thank you for your efforts. Jean Stone Hodges
Submitted By: monty31802
Submitted Comment:
A very enjoyable Newsletter but that is what I expect from you, so to find this in that same way was certainly nothing new. Monty
Submitted By: David E. Navarro
Submitted Comment:
Thanks for a great newsletter. I enjoy your topics and I loved the game on personification with the great example that you provided. Who taught you how to do this? Who gave you this wonderful secret? Who is the owl? Who? Who?
Submitted By: bagofbones
Submitted Comment:
I love the poem, Little Red Writing Hood. Now I have a little story for you.
As I perched the statue
upon the darkened stairs
the spiral almost causing near death
to who this might concern
that I am dead
almost choking myself to sleep.
The feeling crept upon me like
daylight creeps upon the moon
I have no home except the dirt
between my toes and fingers.
The blood is surging slowly and
as painfully as when I left the
home to where no one can find.
Wonderful comments, one and all! You all are my inspiration to keep finding new things to share! (((HUGS)))
GENERAL QUESTIONS:
Submitted By: poeticjustice3
Submitted Comment:
The newsletter was really helpful to me whereas I can get my work on writing.com, but I am still confused as how to really get started. There are alot of links and things to press right on the home page, so I'm just confused. It actually limits me from visiting this site often. Kiki needs help please!
This is what I did when I first joined:
I picked two of my best poems and posted them into my port and waited. When the response was good, I added two more.
It wasn't long before I was looking for forums to add comments in, groups to join, and contests to enter.
Writing.com is huge but it doesn't take long to figure out.
Since Writing.com is much bigger than it was when I joined five years ago, I would start on the "Getting Started" link at the top left corner of every page. There you should find answers to any specific questions and forums for those answers you still need.
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Poetry: September 06, 2006 Issue [#1250]
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