 Poetry: March 12, 2008 Issue [#2274] |
  Poetry
This week: Edited by: Kate - Writing & Reading  
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Greetings! I'm honored to be your guest editor for this week's WDC Poetry Newsletter.
What is a Poem?
A poem is a form of verse that alludes to, but does not tell, what it is. That’s the purpose of prose (or in verse, a metaphor perchance). Maybe an article or a class lesson will tell you what to do, but a poem shows what can be. Yes, the old ‘show’ vs. ‘tell’ ~ poetry shows the image or idea envisioned by the writer of the poem.
True ease in writing comes from art, not chance,
As those move easiest who have learned to dance.
'Tis not enough no harshness gives offence,
The sound must seem an echo to the sense.
An Essay on Criticism," Alexander Pope, quoted in Rhyme's Reason A Guide to English Verse, by poet and critic John Hollander.
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WHAT MAKES A VERSE A POEM?
Poetry has been well defined as "the measured language of emotion." ~ Dictionary.com quoting Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary
Poetry is: "A verbal composition designed to convey experiences, ideas, or emotions in a vivid and imaginative way, characterized by the use of language chosen for its sound and suggestive power and by the use of literary techniques such as meter, metaphor, and rhyme." American Heritage Dictionary
Moon brushes palette cerulean blue daubed with silver;
Guiding the traveler homeward where Morpheus beckons.
Read the above couplet aloud with me. See how the stress naturally falls on the upper case syllables below:
MOON brush es PAL ette cer UL e an BLUE daubed with SIL ver
GUID ing the TRAV el er HOME ward where MOR phe us BECK ons
Now, let's re-write the above example in prose:
Moonlight amplifies the light of distant stars, so they appear to glimmer like lights in the twilight sky, which is a deep purple-blue akin to the ink used on parchment or for tattoos (cerulean blue). Someone walks towards his house along a moonlit road to sleep and dream.
Although I tried to give a visual image of the cerulean blue, I still like the rhythmic poetic version better than the prose. I think it showed, rather than told of, someone heading home as the day waned, to a place of serene respite of the mind.
As writers, we are wordsmiths. We select words that convey ideas, images, sounds, both real and those of our invention. To be a poem, rather than an article or story, however, we take the words a step farther, and piece them together in a way that evokes a sense of the image, idea, or place we want to recall or invent, and the reader to perceive. We mumble the words as we convey them to paper or laptop. Poetry needs to be spoken to achieve its full potential.
Breathe life into your poems and those of others by reading them aloud; adding your own vision and recall and perception to make it the dynamic form of expression the poet intends for it to be, as opposed to reading a factual article or essay or even a fictional well-plotted story.
Poetry’s oral tradition dates back to Homeric epics and the songs of minstrels - a tradition that continues with poetry slams and readings that convey the same impact and involvement of the writer and reader of poetry. I believe all poetry needs to be read aloud, as opposed to articles or essays or stories of fact or fiction. The message and imagery is so visceral it needs the voice of the speaker/reader to make it real and whole.
And today, it's socially acceptable! With nearly everyone wired to cell phones, Blackberries, Ipods, muttering as they walk, sit, eat, who’s to know that you are reading, or writing, a poem; that you are creating instead of somnambulating.
That’s the only way to sense the poem, become involved with it. And to write one. Just as a dancer puts one foot in front of the other, a painter begins by putting brush to canvas in a series of lines and dots of color, a poet forms an image or story by arranging words with rhythm. And just as the artist first learns to connect two dots to shape a three-dimensional image, the poet learns to craft a poem by connecting words to images to patterns of sound, then making them his/her own.
So here are the five basic types of rhythm, whether rhymed or not, in finished lines or not, like putting letters together to form words. They don’t intend to intimidate or proselytize; but are guides to effective self-expression. They are the scraps of fabric that, when sewn together with the vision of the muse creative, becomes a poem unique unto the writer and reader of said poem - yes, poetry is dynamic, a conversation between the poet and the reader, in a language both can understand and each can interpret in his/her own way.
Now, for the rhythmic beat, let's start with a little basic two-step and, since writers are wordsmiths, it's fun to learn what the steps are called. Each beat is called a foot, ergo my reference to dance
IAMB – Two syllables, short then long. Notice how it seems to speed up, add momentum or intensity to the lines. – I’ve bolded the long or stressed syllables in the following examples.
 That time of year we see the snow.
TROCHEE – Two syllables, long then short. Notice the depth and slowing; more pensive to the ear, when reading aloud; pulling the reader into the vision.
Tell me not in mournful numbers.
Now, let's add one more beat for the feet, or perhaps a downbeat to the rhythm for the next two 'steps' of the dance rhythmic.
ANAPEST – Three syllables, two short then one long, again the intensity appears to build as we read aloud.
And the sound of a voice that is still.
DACTYL – No, not the tail end of the extinct pteradactyl, but three syllables (which do taper from the stressed first one; again more pensive.
This is the forest primeval, the murmuring pines and the hemlock (note that a troche replaces the final dactyl here).
And for the finale - or to draw attention to a twist or turn in image.
SPONDEE – Two or more consecutive stressed syllables ~ passion, a shout, a name or place, focus the ear and eye on the image presented!
Break, break break On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
NOTE: The above poetic examples from http://www.writing.upenn.edu
I hope this journey with metered poetry has been a bit of fun ~ a dance with words ~ a way to give rhythm to the expression of poems, keeping the conversation with the reader going. The poet's image/vision seeks words to convey the three-dimensional images, sounds, smells, sensations, inspired by the muse creative. The verse need not rhyme to be a poem instead of prose or metaphor - simply evoke a rhythm, perhaps with assonance (vowels that sound similar) or alliteration (consonants that sound similar).
I hope you enjoy the poems, challenges, and forum creative I've selected for your reading pleasure below.
Thank you once again,
Keep Writing!
Kate
Kate - Writing & Reading |
Check out this delightful poetic description of the ‘meter family’ by one of our members
And I hope you enjoy reading the following selections, perhaps to offer a comment with respect to the effective use of metric rhythm to establish or amplify the images and ideals of the muse creative
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Old things in the back of the closet like a skeleton--a revelation poem
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Have some poetry of your own to share? Check out some of the splendid contests hosted by members of our Community to inspire and delight the Muse Creative
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Okay, not a contest, no pressure here, just the pleasure of crafting and sharing your vision poetic
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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
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I hope you've enjoyed this issue of the Poetry Newsletter and thank you for having me as your 'Guest.' Before I totally overstay my welcome, I'd like to share some comments from my last visit, where I explored the versatile Sonnet. Until we next meet, Keep Writing!
Submitted To: Poetry
Submission Time: 12-31-07 @ 8:30pm
Submitted By: Fyn-elf 
Submitted Comment:
Thank you for featuring one of my poems!...Such a nice feeling! EXCELLENT newsletter...informative and I learned a lot about sonnets.
Thank you for writing! I am glad you enjoyed the journey and look forward to a longer visit to your port
Submitted To: Poetry
Submission Time: 12-28-07 @ 4:37pm
Submitted By: merlin 
Submitted Comment:
This probably isn't a new idea, just one that I've had a but of fun with lately, some of my poems can put into the shape of the subject that the poem is about. eg. birds, plants or city skyline. This type of visual poem likely has a name, just don't ask me what it is!Best WishesWyvernz .
I found reference to the form you mention as a 'pattern poem' or 'shaped verse' dating back to the Renaissance. It is called "concrete poetry" and I agree that the creative potential is really potent ~ image and shape and vision I hope you share some of yours soon. Keep Writing!
Submitted To: Poetry
Submission Time: 12-26-07 @ 8:26pm
Submitted By: larryp
Submitted Comment:
KateA very informative newsletter about the sonnet. Sonnets are a very challenging poetry form.It took me a while to write my first one because I was afraid of iambic meter. The more I learn about iambic meter, the more comfortable I feel with it, but it is still a challenge. But, as poets, I think we should enjoy a good challenge.(Glad you liked my prompt #9 for the current round of my contest.) Larry
Thank you for writing. My hurdle was the dactyl, until I realized it wasn't a prehistoric 'end,' but a versatile step for the muse creative
Submitted To: Poetry
Submission Time: 12-26-07 @ 8:08pm
Submitted By: Acme 
Submitted Comment:
Thank you so much for highlighting my 'Sonnet for Spirit' in your poetry Newsletter Write on and take care, Acme
Thank you for writing and sharing the vision of your Muse Creative
Submitted To: Poetry
Submission Time: 12-26-07 @ 8:05pm
Submitted By: Ronis brain tumor is gone!
Submitted Comment:
I have to thank you for the link from the The University of Evansville, where I live and now can put it in my favorites. I wanted to let you know of a poet that many do not really see much. I did an essay and presentation on Edna St. Vincent Millay. She was one of the first female poets to perfect the Sonnet.
Thank you for writing! I recall reading her poems - she had to be one of the first to incite my nascent muse to attempt the dance poetic |
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