 Poetry: August 21, 2019 Issue [#9717] |
This week: Without Rhyme, With Reason Edited by: Kate - Writing & Reading  
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"...the writing of poems....
the call of overhearing music that is not yet made."
Mary Kinzie, in A Poet's Guide to Poetry
Poetry is the lyrical rendition of the rhythm of sight, sound, touch, taste; of living, seen through the eyes of a poet and consigned to paper and laptop and keyboard until it can be read aloud. Yes, all poetry needs to be read aloud. I am honored to be your guest host for this edition of the WDC Poetry Newsletter. |
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Greetings!
Today I'd like to explore this scenario. For once, you have your place to yourself. Anybody else is out and you have at least one treasured uninterrupted hour to spend writing. A rare opportunity to wax poetic without petty or profound interruptions. You take a pad of paper and a pencil so you can move about as you are inspired. Great opportunity, rare chance, great opportunity....
And your mind is as blank as the page, no, not quite, there's a lot of nonsensical chatter, a bill to pay, who forgot to turn on/off something, those annoying birds outside, chattering, whatever. And when you touch the pencil's point to the paper, ready to commune with your muse poetic, you find he//she has also taken off, and the lonely dot of your pencil doesn't move. Seeking inspiration, you draw a blank.
If you tell me this has never happened to you, not ever, I won't believe you. I can beieve you've never had an hour uninterrupted, but not the other part, the dreaded closed door blank page. So, let's go with it, and open the door, releasing the words that need expression as a blank verse.
Blank verse flows well from every day speech, and works to free the muse poetic either in passion or reflection. In place of an end-rhyme patter there's an internal metric beat. Think how you tap your fingers to the downbeat of a tune.
 Blank verse does not have ending rhymes (for the most part). As opposed to free verse, however, does have a dominant meter - most often the iambic pentameter (i AMB, i AMB 5 times in a line), but if you read aloud (as all poetry needs to be read to be heard), then as in speech, you will find additional rhythmic patterns for emphasis or reflection. Blank verse also works with a contemplative or meditative dactyl (strong downbeat, two short softer beats following).
 Blank verse, as the sonnet, is generally focused on an image and a contemplative theme to resolve the image. Unlike the sonnet, however (other than no end-rhyme), there is generally not a strongly defined turn (volta) or summation. If there is, it's subtle.
 Blank verse traditionally does not have end rhymes AND the images conveyed are not ended in each line. The verse focuses on a longer, more detailed contemplation and ejambment carries through to the next line, to stop where the thought or image would naturally conclude, while maintaining the rhythm into the next line. Then, in the next 'line' you will find a stop in the form of a period or comma, before beginning the next thought. That's enjambment for you word sleuths  .
 Although there is not customarily end-rhyming in blank verse, internal rhyme - within a line or to tie together an enjambed thought - often serves to focus an image.
 Rhythm and cadence is also conveyed in blank verse by use of assonance - repeated vowel sound within a line or enjambed image, and alliteration - repeated consonant sounds within said line or enjambed image.
I see blank verse as similar to a story poem, but with meter and rhythm to convey passion or contemplative reflection.
And remember - the one rule of poetry = read all poetry aloud 
My resources - "A Poet's Guide To Poetry," Mary Kinzie; (c) 1999 by the University of Chicago.
Write On
Kate
Kate - Writing & Reading
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For your reading (aloud) and reviewing pleasure ~ a sampling of the variety of blank verse ~ read aloud and listen to the rhythm ~ then pen one of your own to share
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Thank you for this welcome to your virtual world. I hope you've enjoyed this exploration
May you draw images in verse that's blank, and vivid when read aloud.
Write On
Kate
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