This week: Is It Prose? Is It Poetry? Yes. Edited by: Jayne  
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| Hello, I'm Jayne! Welcome to my poetic explorations. My goal with these newsletters is to take us on a journey through the forms, devices, and concepts that make poetry so powerful. Sometimes, a series of newsletters will interconnect, while other issues will stand alone. I strive to ensure they are informative but fun and do my best to spark your curiosity. Don’t forget to check out this issue's curated selection of poetry! |
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If you've ever read something that looks like a solitary paragraph but pulses with a rhythm you can't quite name — and hits you a little harder than a typical piece of writing — you've probably encountered prose poetry. It lives in that funny little grey area where storytelling and lyricism collide, offering the best of both worlds. And no, it's not just a sneaky way for poets to avoid committing to line breaks (although, utmost respect for finding a creative loophole in that particular struggle).
In truth, prose poetry isn't easy. Without a traditional poetic structure to lean on, it runs the risk of slipping into microfiction. There's nothing wrong with microfiction, but when you're aiming for poetry, you don't want to accidentally write a short story instead.
What Exactly Is Prose Poetry?
At its core, prose poetry is a poetry form (I know! Don't panic because it's form poetry!). The form rejects traditional line breaks while keeping all the other hallmarks of poetry: vivid imagery, rhythm, emotional weight, and sometimes even repetition. It's poetry that's decided to take up space and refuses to apologize for going big.
But Wait—If it Looks Like Prose and Quacks Like Prose, Isn't it Just Prose?
Prose poetry is defined by its poetic intent. Instead of a traditional plot structure, it leans heavily on vivid imagery, layered meaning, and emotional resonance—but without the clear narrative arc of a story. Like conventional poetry, it may capture a moment, a thought, or a sensory experience and leave it up to you to find a conclusion.
And before you say it, it's not just a vignette either.
While a vignette often sketches a brief scene or slice of life, prose poetry uses heightened language, layered meaning, and rhythmic intensity to explore emotion, thought, or experience. One is a window into a moment and the other is the ethereal energy the moment left behind, like you just missed it.
Think of it this way:
 Prose poetry is an emotional burst that revels in language and sound. It may suggest a story, but it's not obligated to. It's often abstract, focusing on the weight of words, its own musicality, and the emotional resonance it leaves behind.
Fiction is typically driven by plot, character development, and resolution—even in short forms like flash fiction.
A vignette offers a vivid snapshot of a moment, a setting, or a character. While it can be poetic, it is usually presented as an observation, not an experience.
Two Pillars of Prose Poetry
If you're still confused (and I swear I'm not making this whole thing up), here are two ways to identify prose poetry:
1.The Rules Are Made to Be Broken
Prose poetry will mess with grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure if it serves the mood or message. Sentences might stretch endlessly or collide in fragments. Prose poetry doesn't answer "what happens next?" Instead, it challenges you with, "What does this moment mean?"
2. No Resolution Required
Unlike fiction, a prose poem doesn't believe it owes you a neat ending. It can close on a heartbeat, a lingering thought, or an image that leaves you hanging or slaps you across the face. Even a vignette, though it may not have a traditional plot, usually delivers a sense of completion—not unlike a photograph. Prose Poetry deliberately shakes the camera so you can't quite see the image, then hands you the blurry Polaroid and says, "Here. Feel something."
Essentially, if a poem and a short story had a delightfully dramatic child, they'd name it Prose Poetry. It can capture a fleeting moment or spiral into surrealism. Sometimes it's narrative; sometimes it's pure emotion. It can be as short as one line or as sprawling as a teenager's first attempt at dream journaling.
The How and Why of Writing Prose Poetry
The best way to learn to write prose poetry is to read prose poetry. It's like learning a language: it makes more sense once you understand how things fit together. The more you practice, the better you get. There are plenty of reasons to give it a go:
Freedom: No line breaks! Go ahead and chase your thoughts without worrying about where to split them.
Intensity: Without those breaks, prose poems often create a sense of momentum—like a thought that won't stop running, but without the critique of run-on sentences.
Emotion: The condensed nature of poetry mixed with the storytelling power of prose is a perfect way to deliver hard-hitting truths and observations.
Famous Prose Poetry Examples (I Told You I Wasn't Making This Up!)
There are plenty of prose poetry examples out there, but here's a few to get you started:
"Be Drunk" by Charles Baudelaire—The ultimate call to live passionately Read it here.
"The Colonel" by Carolyn Forché—A searing piece of political witness that reads like a nightmare you can't shake. Read it here (18+)
"A Story About the Body" by Robert Hass—Rejection and desire with stark, unexpected imagery. Read it here.
"The Prose Poem" by Campbell McGrath—A winding journey with perfectly poetic language (I admit the title is a little less than poetic). Read it here.
Let's give it a try, shall we? Here's how:
1. Pick a memory.
It can be mundane, strange, or unforgettable.
2. Don't stop.
No line breaks. No stopping to overthink. Just let the images roll, and the words hit the page.
3. Get Weird.
This isn't traditional storytelling. Relax your structure. Let metaphors sneak in. See where your thoughts naturally drift. Follow a rabbit hole of ideas. An existential grocery shop. A cracked sidewalk is your grandmother's laugh lines. The garden is a graveyard of anger and everything you've planted blossoms with rage.
4. Feel It Out.
Prose poetry often leans into voice and rhythm. Don't worry about making it "sound poetic." Make it sound like you.
Sometimes, the best writing happens when we stop worrying about the rules. Prose Poetry is a great place to let yourself blur the lines and see what lands on the page.
As always, happy writing! |
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Poetry: April 02, 2025 Issue [#13061]
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