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Comedy defends the commonplace; tragedy explodes it.
Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
The only rules comedy can tolerate are those of taste, and the only limitations those of libel.
James Thurber (1894-1961)
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Laugh Lines - Comedy Genre Poetry Forms ~ PART 2 - Witty Words
Whether you've got them, in denial about them, or way too young to care about them, I'm not talking about those crinkly crow's feet that grow around your eyes, or the grooves around your mouth. While laughter may be the cause of those lines, we really will be talking about various poetry forms that start snickers: those that fall into the comedy genre.
The forms I will talk about in this second installment are sometimes used like fist, sometimes like a slap, but no matter the force with which you wield your comedic poetry - try to whip with your wit and not your anger; be creative, be clever, not cruel.
Clerihew
The Cleriwho? Er, WHAT?!
If you're asking that question right now, just think David Letterman or Jerry Seinfeld in rhyming couplets.
Generally speaking, when creating a Clerihew you want to go for wit, sarcasm, irony and just plain silliness.
When Bentley first created the form they featured a name in the first line and ended it with the witty punch-line/gag but you can ridicule anything, so get don't bogged down by that.
BRIEF HISTORY
The Clerihew is named for the English detective-story author Edmund Clerihew Bentley, its creator. This form can be traced back to 1905 when Bentley published a collection of them titled, "Biography For Beginners." It's been said that he began to write them as a way to relax from the rigors of class work as a teenager.
MUST HAVES
*Must be in the Comedy Genre.
*Two lines that rhyme, and then two more with a different rhyme - a total of four lines.
The rhyme scheme is:
A
A
B
B
Here is an example of one of the first known Clerihew's:
Sir Humphrey Davy
Abominated gravy.
He lived in the odium
Of having discovered sodium.
Edmund Clerihew Bentley (1875-1956)
(Source: http://www.schoenml.org/112fp/clerihew.htm)
COULD HAVES or What's The Poet's Choice In All This?
*Rhyme - or rather how you rhyme, slant (ants, trance), full (ants, pants) - you pick.
*Use of meter, and what type of meter (Williams 70).
*Length: all clerihews I've seen or have written are four lines long, but if poetic license incites you to create clerihew chains, who am I to disagree.
OF NOTE
The information above was taken from my item: "The Comedic Clerihew" [E] and the sources listed below.
~*~
Satire
Satire isn't only used in poetry; it is often used in essays, plays, short stories, and more. "However, satire is not a frontal attack. It does not take the moral high-ground of a self-righteous assault; it makes its point through humor and wit, like Mad magazine or The Onion" (Padgett 163).
BRIEF HISTORY
Satire is believed to be originally Latin, although some would argue for Greek origins. Either way, it has been around for a long time. Satire comes in many forms, and poetry is only one of those structures.
MUST HAVES
*Must satirize (mock) something.
COULD HAVES or What's The Poet's Choice In All This?
*Genre, while I've listed this under comedy in this article, it doesn't have to be. However, by its mocking nature it usually is comedy.
*Rhyme or not, and what type of rhyme if used.
*Use of meter, and what type of meter, if used.
*Length of lines and length of poem (NOTE: Satire is not restricted to poetry).
*Who, where, or what you satirize.
OF NOTE
My favorite satire isn't poetry *gasp*; it is "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift. It is a super sampling of satire. If you haven't had a chance to read it, you are missing out. Read it here: http://art-bin.com/art/omodest.html.
~*~
Parody
Writing a parody can be a fantastic learning tool. It can help you discover your own unique voice, by mimicking the style of other writers. However, parody - a relative of satire - isn't only mimicry. Ron Padgett defines it, in The Teachers and Writers Handbook of Poetic Forms, as "exaggerated imitation, usually humorous, of a work, or style of art" (Padgett 129).
BRIEF HISTORY
Parody is as old as Greek drama, which places it at more than 2500 years old.
MUST HAVES
*Must mimic or exaggerate someone, some idea, or something.
COULD HAVES or What's The Poet's Choice In All This?
*Rhyme or not, and what type of rhyme if used, although, if parodying a poet's sonnet (or other poetry form), stick to that rhyme scheme.
*Use of meter, and what type of meter, if used, although, if parodying a poet's sonnet (or other poetry form), stick to that meter.
*Length of lines and length of poem (NOTE: parody is not restricted to poetry).
*Who, where, or what you parody.
*Again, it doesn't need to be in the comedy genre, but with the mocking nature it usually leans this way.
~*~
ARTICLE SOURCE NOTES:
Padgett, Ron. The Teachers & Writers Handbook of Poetic Forms. 2nd. NY: T & W Books, 2000.
Williams, Miller. Patterns of Poetry: An Encyclopedia of Forms. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University Press, 1986.
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Theme: Comedy genre poetry.
Clerihew:
Satire:
Parody:
Not within the theme but recommended by others: (this is a new section I am trying out, I want to feature some work that was: not only noticed, but recommended by other people through the feedback section - not by the author themselves. This doesn't mean that you can't still send your own work in the feedback section, please do because we want to see it. However, I want to highlight some work that people who don't know the author, but thought enough of the work to recommend it to me.)
Submitted By: cookie_writer
Submitted Comment:
I read this poem and really loved it. I don't know if it falls into a form as I am still learning and it just touched a cord with me.
Loved the newsletter, and looking forward to next week. ~Cookie
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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: Ronis brain tumor is gone! 
Submitted Comment:
I actually saw your post in "Simply Positive" when you asked about these forms. I had been wondering what these forms were and was glad to know that they were right here in the Newsletter! Great job with explaining these, I might have to check them out to try!
Submitted By: THANKFUL SONALI Library Class! 
Submitted Comment:
Thanks for featuring my nose - uh - poem!  - Sonali
Submitted By: Mark
Submitted Comment:
Every time I read your newsletter, I realize how little effort I put into this compared to people such as yourself. Thank you for the shortcuts, directions, and impetus to do more. Great newsletter, as always.
Submitted By: Dale Arthur
Submitted Comment:
I liked your last newsletter about nonsense poetry and its conventions. Your article helped me remember a poem I have on site "Invalid Item" . It was kind of fun to look at it again! Thanks!
I think it is great that many of the Poetry newsletter readers want to experiment with unfamiliar poetry forms. They are fantastic writing exercises. Thank you all for your wonderful comments - keep them coming!
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Poetry: May 28, 2008 Issue [#2419]
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