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Poetry should please by a fine excess and not by singularity. It should strike the reader as a wording of his own highest thoughts, and appear almost as a remembrance.
John Keats (1795 - 1821)
Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting with the gift of speech.
Simonides (556 BC - 468 BC)
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Poetry for Beginners: Part II – Using Poetry Templates
“Imitation is the sincerest of flattery” (Charles Caleb Colton, Lacon, volume I, no. 18) - and it can be a great teacher, too.
You should already know that writers can learn a lot from reading the work of the historical great and current great writers. Imitating their voice and style can help us, too. These writers can also inspire us to find our own way, even if it’s with a little help.
I am an education major, and as part of my independent study, I watch the Florida Education Network. Last week I saw a high school language arts teacher use the “Where I’m From” poetry template with great success. I thought, “Why should they get all the fun,” and decided that this type of template could be used by poets of all age and skill levels.
The biggest benefit of using a poetry template is that it frees you from some of the potential stress in creating a poem. The skeleton is already there for you. All you need to do is add the muscle and heart; which are imaginative images and dynamic word choices.
The original “Where I’m From” poem, by George Ella Lyons, takes you by the hand and into her past. It is easy to see how following the template can help any level writer create a visual piece.
Template:
I am from _______ (specific ordinary item), from _______ (product name) and _______.
I am from the _______ (home description... adjective, adjective, sensory detail).
I am from the _______ (plant, flower, natural item), the _______ (plant, flower, natural detail)
I am from _______ (family tradition) and _______ (family trait), from _______ (name of family member) and _______ (another family name) and _______ (family name).
I am from the _______ (description of family tendency) and _______ (another one).
From _______ (something you were told as a child) and _______ (another).
I am from (representation of religion or lack of it). Further description.
I'm from _______ (place of birth and family ancestry), _______ (two food items representing your family).
From the _______ (specific family story about a specific person and detail), the _______ (another detail, and the _______ (another detail about another family member).
I am from _______ (location of family pictures, mementos, archives and several more lines indicating their worth).
If you are writing and your words are flowing, but they keep going off the template path - don’t be afraid, go with it. That’s a good thing. The template is only a guide; go ahead and make it your own.
Next month: I will present other poetry templates to tempt your poetic palate. This particular poetry template is like a "Mad Lib" in that it guides you more. Next time you will have to work a bit harder, because the templates I have coming up are closer to poetry forms than templates.
OF NOTE: George Ella Lyon is a children’s book author and poet. Her poem, “Where I'm From,” can be found in her book by the extended name: Where I'm From, Where Poems Come From, as well as several places on the internet (especially at school or teaching websites). You can also find hundreds of online examples where people used this template to create their own “Where I’m From” poetry.
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Theme: "Where I'm From" Poetry and more!
Poetry (Lyrics and flash fiction) contest
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Do you have a 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: emerin-liseli 
Submitted Comment:
Wow! What a fantastic newsletter. This is my first subscription to the poetry newsletter, and I definitely enjoyed learning about the history of the concrete poem. I never thought of that type of poetry being so old. Smile
Thanks again. --Emerin
Submitted By: ridinghhood-p.boutilier 
Submitted Comment:
Thanks for your insights on visual and concrete poetry. I followed an additional link from those you provided to www.collageworks.blogsome.com and am inspired by their "collage poems". I create paper art dolls but love the idea of combining these into images and text. Blessings!
Submitted By: me_kaitlin
Submitted Comment:
This was a very good issue. Very interesting, and inviting - it makes me want to try some concrete poetry. Great job! 
Submitted By: Piglet
Submitted Comment:
I really like how concrete poetry can be combined with art to make a cohesive piece, so I particularly enjoyed this newsletter. The robotype.net website was a lot of fun!
Submitted By: andromeda
Submitted Comment:
Hmmm...I really don't understand a concrete poem. At least not how it works. ah well, I'll get it eventually. Andromeda
Is it just that you don't know how to construct a concrete poem?
If that is the case, then we could go on for days - because concrete poetry is
so varied, and in this variation it can get complicated.
At its simplest level it is a poem that is in the shape of something that is
relevent to the poem. For example, if your poem is about a garden you may
choose to format (place the words in) the poem in the shape of a flower.
Did that help? If not, let me know what part is still confusing and I'll try to
elaborate further.
That goes for anyone else that may be confused - or have questions about - this, or any other poetry form.
Thank you all for your wonderful comments and questions - keep 'em coming!
Holly aka Red Writing Hood
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Poetry: September 19, 2007 Issue [#1956]
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