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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/5733-Stronger-Words-Make-Better-Poems.html
Poetry: June 19, 2013 Issue [#5733]

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Poetry


 This week: Stronger Words Make Better Poems
  Edited by: Pat ~ Rejoice always! Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Welcome to this week’s Poetry Newsletter! I am happy to serve as your guest editor for this issue. Poetry is all about the senses. It should involve as many of the senses as possible. Poetic devices help to achieve this. In this issue, I’ll talk about the importance of making the best word choices to engage as many of the senses as possible.


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

Poetic devices include rhythm, rhyme, meter, alliteration, enjambment, metaphors, similes, and many more. I’d like to talk for a bit about word choices. Whatever other poetic devices you employ when writing a poem, the words you choose make all the difference. Every word should be held accountable. In other words, every word should serve a purpose. If another word would do a better job, then it should be used.

Careful thought must go into every word choice. Take the time to use the Ideanary here at Writing.com. If you’re unfamiliar with that tool, look in the left margin and click on Writing.com tools. Then, click on Ideanary. Type in a word and click Go. You’ll get an awesome list of words to choose from. Sometimes I type in one of the words on the list to see what ideas I get from the second list.

Use the dictionary too. I prefer the online {link: http://www.merriam-webster.com/}. It includes a thesaurus as well. Don’t be afraid to search for just the right word that says what you want it to say. A poem should sound like a poem. That doesn’t mean it has to rhyme. It just has to sound like poetry when read aloud.
Engage as many of the senses as you can by making rich, strong word choices. That doesn’t apply only to adjectives either. Choose strong nouns and strong verbs. Let the nouns and verbs evoke the most vivid images possible. Merely move? Or ripple? Or slither? Or flinch? Let the verb show the reader what’s happening.

A pet peeve of mine is making poor rhyming choices. I love rhyme in poetry, but not just for the sake of rhyme. The rhyme should be so subtle that it’s like the background music in a ballet. The poetry is the dance. The music enhances the dance like the rhyme enhances the poem. I hate it when I read a poem that has twisted the lines just so they end with the rhyming word. A better way is to either find a better rhyming word that actually fits in the line or start from scratch with a different rhyme.

Merely playing an instrument does not necessarily create music. Making lines rhyme does not necessarily make a poem lovely. Good poetry deserves and requires thought and effort to pull all the poetry devices together into a lovely, choreographed dance.


Editor's Picks

Below, I’ve listed a few poems that I believe show this choreography. Some employ rhyme and others do not. Various poetry devices are seen in them, but the key is that the devices are balanced and work together smoothly to form a beautiful poem, one that the reader enjoys reading several times. I hope you’ll take time to read them and let the author know how they made you feel.

Sestet for an Irish Summer Open in new Window. [E]
Natural Ireland in mid-Summer
by deemac Author Icon

Complete Seduction Open in new Window. [13+]
Free verse poem of seduction.
by Diane Author Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

La' Guillotine Open in new Window. [13+]
A sad love poem set at the Guillotine in revolutionary france.
by Demolition Dan Author Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

The Empty Cradle Open in new Window. [E]
In memory of Megan Kathleen ~ a life cut far too short.
by Of Fire Born mourns Mama Author Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

The Song of Hope Open in new Window. [E]
A quote and poem based on the quote.
by 👼intuey Author Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

 
Leaving the Tiger Open in new Window. [E]
Sleep, sleep, sleep
by Cappucine Author Icon


 
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Ask & Answer

What makes a poem different than prose to you? How do lines on a page evolve into poetry? Why do certain poems move you with their message and their poetic presentation? I’d love to hear from you.

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