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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/8641-Sing-Along-Repeat-Sing-along.html
Poetry: December 13, 2017 Issue [#8641]

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Poetry


 This week: Sing Along. Repeat! Sing along.
  Edited by: eyestar~* Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

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

*Fairy2**Delight*Happy holidays, Christmas, Hannukah, Festival of Lights to everyone and blessings of the season! *Heart* I am happy to be the editor for this edition and as I love to sing and write poems, let's have a little fun! *Music1*

In my search for different poem forms I came across this one and.... ta da! It is keeping in the season! *Wink* Read on to find out!



Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

*Star* Here we go! The cumulative song or poem has a simple verse structure, changed by adding words so that each verse is longer than the verse before. Great for group singing, as there is little memoriziation involved.

You may have heard the popular Christmas song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas"! *Smile* It is a prime example of the form and many can admit to it driving us a bit crazy if we have to hear it over and over. *Laugh* Kids love it, along with other parodies of it like "The Hockey Song" and "The Porcupine's Twelve Days of Christmas."

The poem, likely of French origin, was published in England in 1780 without music, as a rhyming chant. In 1909 Frederic Austin published it with its tune elongating the "five gold rings" line musically. *Ringsgold*

*Treepine* On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Three french hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.


and so on until


On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four calling birds, three french hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree." *Wink*


*Star**Treepine**Music2**Gingerbread**Candycaner*


Other poems of the type you may have heard of is "The rattlin' bog" or "The hole in the bottom of the sea" among many others." The children's Christmas song here, "Must be Santa" is another 1961 example. *Laugh* I just discovered a youtube video of Bob Dylan's singing it !*Shock* What a party! I was more familiar with the Raffi version! *Laugh**Santahat*

*Star*The cumulative poem is composed of one stanza of at least two lines. In each verse, the text of the first line introduces a new item, and the other line uses the words to begin a list which includes items from all the preceding verses.
The two lines can be separated by refrains or have a chorus as in "The rattlin' bog" and "Must be Santa".

"Hi ho, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o,
Hi ho, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.

1. Now in the bog there was a tree,
A rare tree, a rattlin' tree,
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-o." etc.




*Santahat*Who's got a beard that's long and white
Santa's got a beard that's long and white

Who comes around on a special night
Santa comes around on a special night

Special Night, beard that's white

Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Clause.


other verses

*Reindeer**Star**Treepine**Gingerbread**Ornament1r*

*Snow5* There you have it in a nut shell! This cumulative style is quite popular and lends itself to added music even if it begins as a poem. A great way to entertain and story tell too. There are tales that are cumulative too but that is another story! *Wink*

Now are you ready to create one? Check out my challenge! *Xmastree*

*Star* Happy days to all and Peace on Earth! Eyestar *Fairy*

*Bookstack2*Sources to explore:

Cumulative Poem/Songs

An African-american Spiritual song: Children Go Where I Send Thee
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children,_Go_Where_I_Send_Thee

Echad Mi Yodea: traditional Jewish Passover hymn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echad_Mi_Yodea

The Yule Days, a scottish cumulative poem similar to the Twleve Days.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Days_of_Christmas_(song)

A cute little rendition of Must be Santa by some kindergarten kids. *Laugh**Heart*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hx8znoP5ds

You can even find Mitch Miller's version! *Shock2*

Any Muppet Fans! The 2 Days of Christmas for you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_rMCwoCLv8

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumulative_song




Editor's Picks

*Snow5*Enjoy!

FORUM
Poetic Traditions Poetry Contest  Open in new Window. (E)
A Contest for Metrical Rhyming Poetry.
#2055137 by Brenpoet Author IconMail Icon

 
STATIC
White Cutlass Open in new Window. (13+)
A parody of "White Christmas" - Day 5, Christmas in July
#2001301 by 🌕 HuntersMoon Author IconMail Icon


 Christmas In Zarahemla Open in new Window. (E)
Inspired by 3 Nephi 1:4-21
#1978893 by Private Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1183717 by Not Available.

 
STATIC
The Last Hello Open in new Window. (E)
A parody of "The First Noel", my first contest entry.
#2104088 by Jade Amber Jewel Author IconMail Icon

STATIC
Joy to the World Open in new Window. (E)
Alternate words to a well known Christmas Carol
#2105967 by Angel Author IconMail Icon

 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS Open in new Window. (E)
On the first day of Christmas my true love sent- a Dear John letter to me.
#1500585 by Oldwarrior Author IconMail Icon

 The Twelve Days- My Friend's Way Open in new Window. (13+)
A 'Twelve Days of Christmas' parody...
#578769 by Professor Q Author IconMail Icon


 A Christmas 'Ditty' Open in new Window. (E)
Sometimes, you just gotta have fun when writing. A small Christmas poem, written for fun
#2142622 by Sum1's Home Author IconMail Icon


 
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Ask & Answer

Hey all! How about a challenge? Create a parody of the "12 Days of..."
or create a cumulative poem of your own! *Quill*

Send them to me and
I will highlight them in my next edition and gift an awardicon to my two favourites! *Ornament1v*



*Starstruck* Last month I wrote about Rilke's letters to a Young poet! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!*Heartp*

Thanks tokomall Author Icon
Hi!
Wow! What a beautiful poem it is. It really inspires me and the last line “Love consists of this: two solitudes that meet, protect and greet each other." Oh My God how beautifully this line explains the love. I like this."


"Me too! Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm. *Delight*"

Thanks toVaughan Jones - ONE Scribe Author Icon
"Very true and greatly informative. I am NaNoing at present, but I love poetry, and I still take part in the Daily Poem contest. Thank you for this newsletter."

Thanks to GabriellaR45 Author Icon

:This is a 5-star editorial !! I particularly like Rilke's poetry.
I cherish and have saved a few of his poems. You did a wonderful job
collecting lots of fascinating information about Rilke and his travails.
Nice going, my friend. All the best, Gab"


*Blush* I appreciate your support. I have a few favourites too. Wish I could read German though." *Wink*

Thanks to Monty Author Icon
"Poetry that put me back in school many years ago."

LOL! I hear ya! *Wink*

Thanks to Boulden Shade (fka Jeff Meyer) Author Icon
"Brilliant expose` on Rilke's advice. And all of his answers are, to us poets, as intuitive and common sense as 2+2=4. We already know these answers, but to have them reiterated from a successful voice is validating and reassuring.

Thanks for allowing us all to be young poets receiving advice from an historical Master."


"I am so glad you enjoyed it! I always get a little something when I go back and reread the masters.*Smile* Thanks for your kindness."

Thanks to Azrael Tseng Author Icon
"Rainer Maria Rilke was my favourite male poet during my university days studying German and Literature at the University of Kassel. His 'Duino Elegies' were a source of inspiration and deep thinking for me as I too struggled with issues of spirituality, like he did. Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen? I still remember this line after two decades. Thank you for featuring him in your newsletter, and reminding of a forgotten love."

"Oh I know what you mean. He was one of my first studies and touched spaces at that time! Glad he came to mind for this newsletter. I came across the book when I was tidying up. LOL. Guess I needed a reminder too. *Laugh* I am glad to hear he inspired you too. and wow, you could read the original German? So cool!"


Thanks to ~Minja~ Author Icon
"I was talking with a friend of mine, who is a poet as well, the other day and I told him: sometimes I question creative side of me. What if I'm not a writer at all? He said: why do you say that? Because I let myself to get distracted with ordinary things in life, like right now I have to do homework and read plenty of non creative material. Then, there's always laundry, making lunch, house cleaning and everything else that makes a person to function like robot, I answered. He said: when you feel it, you do (which is my opinion on writing by the way- I write when I feel like writing- and right now my pen is empty. I have fluorescent markers though). I asked him: do you think other, famous poets felt the same or they really led extraordinary, artistic lives where there was no room for non-creative thoughts or even conversations? Like, you can't make an artist from a person, you have to be born as one. He said: I think they just balanced their time on this planet. Sure, I said, maybe I'm just having high expectations. It's just hard when you don't have anything to balance with. There's this quote either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. Excuse me now, I'm off to clean my house and after that I have to think of lunch.

According to Mr. Rilke, I really am poor artist because I can't find anything creative in doing homework and housework. Oh well, at least I admitted it before this newsletter came out.

p.s. Thank you for highlighting my poetry quiz. I forgot I have it in my port.


"Thanks you for this sharing. I have to laugh as yep, doing homework or housework can be really routine. I try to sing while doing dishes. And Rilke, I am sure had his trials and did suffer illness alot. Maybe we in our heightened creative life see the ideal... and shoot for it! I say, express anyway! You never know when a coal can become a diamond. *Laugh*"

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