 Poetry: August 10, 2011 Issue [#4547] |
  Poetry
This week: Letter By Letter Edited by: Stephanie Grace  
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With so many different aspects and ways to approach poetry, I'm pretty sure it'd be impossible to cover them all, but, one week at a time, it can be tried, right?  |
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Hello, my dears! How are you all doing? Staying cool, I hope.
Today, I thought we'd explore what might just be one of the most common forms of poetry: The Acrostic.
What is an Acrostic?
An acrostic poem is one where the beginning letter of each line vertically forms a word or phrase. (We'll look at some variations later). For Example:
Clawing and pawing
at legs and walls;
tiny tiger rules it all.
As you can see, the above acrostic is based on the word 'cat'.
Let's ignore the bad poetic example and just focus on other things...
Now that you know what an acrostic poem is, I'm going to tell you a secret: For the most part, I can't stand these things. Writing them, ehh... yeah, it's pretty easy to manipulate words to work for one, but they can go so horribly, horribly wrong so fast, that it would make any sane person cringe. 
 Please remember that this is all just based on my only personal opinions and preferences.
What Can Go Wrong?
 Many of us are introduced to acrostics at a young age in the classroom. Only, those teachers aren't really inspiring you to write poetry, they usually want something like:
Silly
Tired
Eager
Picky
Happy
Angry
Nice
Irate
Easygoing
To me, that's NOT a poem. Well, it could be, but I think it's more a "list poem" than an acrostic. Maybe it's having a longer name than did it to me, but I always hated when a teacher would say 'acrostic poem' and then expect us just to come up with a word to describe ourselves for each letter of our name. Well, gee... My turtle can probably even fake his way through a poem like that! Just to clarify: I'm not discrediting poems like the above. Some are very moving, powerful, and actually hold meaning. Something about an acrostic feeling like the writer just flipped to each needed letter in the dictionary and picked a word, though, rubs me the wrong way.
Sometimes there can be a complete disconnect from one like to the next:
Dirt and mud
on the couch;
Gotta let the dog out!
Okay, bad example, but you can easily see how it doesn't quite make sense. You want that last line to be more akin to 'Who let the dog in' but it's got to start with a 'G', so it goes the opposite way. Sometimes, planning a little bit ahead with an acrostic is the best way to avoid having a disjointed poem.
Another big thing that makes me twitch is that people will change words, suddenly use slang, or misuse (abuse?) words to make them fit.
Jack and Jilly
are the best
cause they are so
keeewwwwllll!!!
If that doesn't make you twitch, you've got to be trying for sainthood. The word cause is just plain abused in this situation; It should be 'because' so therefore an apostrophe should be holding the place of 'be'. Yes, cause on it's own is a word, but it's not used in the proper way here. Next, of course, is 'kewl'. This is for ANY poem, not just acrostic. For the example, I needed a word that started with k, so I went with the ever-popular slang spelling of the word to suit my needs. In ANY poem or story, slang should only be used to reflect your character. If you're character would write it that way and you're showing something that they're writing, go for it. Keep the slang out of your poetry or stories if you want to be taken seriously. (This definitely includes numbers being used 4 werds!). 
You mentioned Variations...
Oh, sure... Just stop me before I REALLY get to ranting and having fun, why don't you? In spite of all that could wrong with the deceivingly simple-looking acrostic, it is still a wonderful form to play with -especially if you're lacking inspiration! It can be a great exercise just to get the wheels turnin'... Of course, a plain ol' acrostic might not be enough of a challenge for some of you poetic geniuses  so, here are some variations:
The Telestich: This one can sometimes be even easier than a normal acrostic. With this form, you it's the last letter of every line that spells out the word or phrase instead of the first letter.
The Double Acrostic: The first AND last letter of each line are the same so that the same word or phrase is spelled vertically at both ends of the poem.
Honestly, I'm not sure if this has a name or not, but some people will use the middle of each line to spell the word or phrase (centering is important with this one... or a typeface like courier that keeps the same spacing no matter what letter you use...).
Rhyming! There are plenty of different rhyme schemes in this world. Combining rhyme with acrostic is not only an added challenge, but can add to the poetic feeling and lessen the 'list' feeling. (Then again, as long as there's more than one word for each line, that's easily avoidable...).
For more, check out:
| | Poetry Forms (13+)
Poetry Forms Easily Explained - a work of Bianca with additions by kansaspoet
#945530 by Bianca  |
and search Acrostic -or get lost among the wonderful variety of forms and see how many you can tackle! 
So... Key Points?
Try to use more than one word per line to avoid the 'list' feeling.
Plan ahead! Some letters can really trip you up if you just work line-by-line and it will be obvious to the reader.
Make sure that the meat of your poem -the lines are connected to the subject (vertical word or phrase). It doesn't always have to be directly about it, but the connection should be obvious.
If you're looking for an exercise or feeling uninspired, try writing an acrostic for simple things... dog, cat, table, phone, etc... Just to get your thoughts flowing.
Wow! I really didn't expect this to be so long! I am so sorry for my little rant before... Believe me, that was gentle.  I didn't realize how much I was holding back about acrostics! Again, I'm going to blame my elementary school teachers and my parents. Stephanie isn't exactly the easiest name to use for an acrostic when you're six and, no matter what, I always just put whatever word first came to mind because who was the teacher to tell me that I was 'efficient', 'exhilarating', 'poisonous' or 'arrogant'? It's just no fun when the words could describe anyone, anywhere, I guess (Let's not get me started on those phoney-personalized 'Your Child's Name in a Poem' ads... Ugh!).
Well, hope to see you all again soon! Time for me to ... write the other parts of this newsletter!
 ,
Stephanie Grace
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I just started typing Too bad there wasn't a 'P' in my name.... Umm... Duhh!!! Well, good thing there is a P in my name because I'm about to be completely predictable! For this week, my editor's picks are all acrostics!
| |  | Invalid Item
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#878712 by Not Available. |
This poem just came across as very true to me! It made me smile and nod all at once! (Good thing it didn't make me want to chew gum and walk...).
Another poem that's an acrostic about acrostics! Once again, I was nodding! Good tips in this one too!
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#1533843 by Not Available. |
This telestich is not only beautiful but the language, to me, was poetic and moving.
I really love the idea of this poem and it's meaning. Vanilla Days are always the sweetest in life, in my opinion!
| | | Invalid Item
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#1162084 by Not Available. |
This double acrostic was not what I was expecting --not that I even know what I was expecting. It really took me away to another time and place and I always love that!
This contest gives a new prompt everyday... Why not try using one of those daily prompts to create your acrostic masterpiece?
Another place to put your acrostic (or challenge someone else to add one!). I didn't explore it much, but I'm in love with the idea, so it's getting added so that you can develop your own opinion.
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Thank you to all who take the time to read my ramblings --and even greater thanks to those that take the time to comment! THANK YOU!!!
monty31802: Great newsletter, but I understand Satan was here and wanted to go home because it was hotter here than ----
I believe it!!! When a storm finally broke the heat wave here, it was quite hard for me to contain myself... I wanted to go out and dance in it (old habits die hard, LOL).
troy ulysses davis : I enjoyed your newsletter. I can relate to the uncomforts of the summer. hang in there. keep writing.
Thank you for your kindness and time, Troy! The heat had my brain at a complete standstill. Thankfully, it's starting to work again! Well, somewhat..
Karen : You can't please them all - someone said that. As much as I can't handle the 100 degree weather, I dislike snow more...don't even want to look at pictures.
My favorite season is autumn ... but not the autumn's we've been having lately! I've seen some unsettling Halloween costumes in the last few years and, well, let's just say that Halloween should mean a jacket, not a bathing suit.  I like being comfortable... no sweat at all. I like being in a sweater and jeans or T-shirt and sweatpants and just being... comfortable. Snow is pretty, but best viewed through a window.
Turtle ~ KanyáthƐko:wa:h : Not everyone is going to newer and faster! My two latest purchases for my writing desk are polar opposites. Yes, I bought a new laptop, but it arived in the mail the same day I picked up a 1940's Royal typewriter from my local salvage man.
I slill write out my poems in an old spiral bound notebooke before I type them up. I find it forces me to give them a good review, and I edit as I transfer them over.
Marc
First off, I love both purchases! I miss using a plain ol' typewriter... Even just typing from my written pages, the internet is still such a distraction that it adds time to the task. I wholeheartedly agree with you about the writing bit, hence me making it blue and bold in the hopes that others will jump on our wagon and pick up a few notebooks and pencils --Back to School sales have begun, so now is the time, people! |
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