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Poetry Newletter for February 16, 2005 |
| Since my "spare" newsletter was used so that the week of January 26 would have an issue, I hope you don't mind having two issues in a row from me about poetry forms. I found the following on a website, no author given, in the article "How to Write a Quintilla," and I had to use it: "Don't let peers who claim to be poets discourage you from using poetic forms. When you hear a poet say how much he or she dislikes writing in form, remember that a great artist sees the opportunities in every canvas, regardless of shape or size. A poor artist sees only the limitations." (http://www.ehow.com/how_16710_write-quintilla.html) I may prefer writing in free verse, but I find using poetry forms interesting, challenging, and educational. Not only do I broaden my knowledge of poetry, but I broaden my writing abilities. Viv Next week's editor will be Becky Simpson   The Quintilla The Quintilla is a poetry form found in Bianca Boonstra's book of poetry forms. I found little background or information about the Quintilla but found it interesting, if a bit daunting. However, as Jack London stated, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." According to my research, the Quintilla is one of several poems that uses a five line stanza, sometimes called a Quintet. Often, it is misused because people think it is simple, easy to write. As I discovered, simple isn't correct. Writing a Quintilla takes concentration, writing, and rewriting. By the end of the the sixteenth century, the Quintilla was a popular form found in Spanish songs, lyric, poetry, and plays. Each line consisting of eight syllables, the rhyming scheme of this form could and can vary, but only two consecutive lines may have the same rhyme pattern. Four rhyme schemes are possible: Scheme 1: ababa Scheme 2: abbab Scheme 3: abaab Scheme 4: aabba I can hear someone asking, "What does the a b stuff mean?" The end word in the first line is labeled "a." Any end word of any other line that rhymes with the end word of the first line is labeled "a." The end words of the lines labeled "b" are words that rhyme with each other but not with "a." Therefore, in the first pattern, the first, third, and fifth lines rhyme while the second and fourth rhyme. The Quintilla may have more than one stanza, and each stanza may have the same rhyme scheme or one of the others. Bianca used the ababa scheme in the following poem: December's Charm Finally here, December's charm, Northeastern wind brings freezing cold. It doesn't affect me: I'm warm walking on "hot chocolate" just sold. Warmed up, Jack Frost can't do me harm. copyright 2002 by Bianca I don't know how long it took her to write and polish that poem, but I had to write what I wanted to say and then go back and rewrite working in the rhyme scheme I chose. The article "How to Write a Quintilla" states the following: 1. Consider the subject matter that you wish to write about. 2. Select one of the four rhyme schemes before or during the writing process. (I knew which rhyme scheme I wanted to use but had to rewrite to incorporate it correctly.) 3. Write five eight-syllable lines of poetry. . . 4. Repeat as many times as desired (meaning write as many stanzas as desired, but more than one stanza is not required). Skip a line between stanzas. 5. Revise as needed (this step is very important). As I said, I wrote a poem and then revised to have the rhyme scheme I chose, aabba. Cries in the Night Cries echo through the quiet night - Silent sufferings scream, "Not right!" Thunder rips the sky in dispair; Storms of weeping sorrow declare, No comfort ever found in sight. copyright 2005 by Vivian Gilbert Zabel "Cries in the Night"  Then I became braver and tried a two stanza Quintilla, using the abbab rhyme scheme in both. Morning Sun Blazing streaks of rose and gold peek Through the clouds in the east at dawn. The morning sun smiles, earthward drawn; Flowers stretch upward, warmth to seek, Bathing in dew drops on the lawn. Old Sol slides higher in the sky, Causing colors below to live, For life is indeed his to give. Butterflies flit, pretend they're shy - Summer at its most creative. copyright 2005 by Vivian Gilbert Zabel "Morning Sun" I hope you enjoy and will try the Quintilla. Highlighted Items from W.Com I found the following Quintillas which followed the form rules:
I also found the following article about the Quintilla:
Wonderful Feedback Some feedback is encouraging and provides pats on the back. Some include inquiries. Some are thought-provoking. All comments are welcomed. This time I have the feedback for two issues, from two issues back to back, but I will only include the ones about alliteration. Submitted by navysunfire I wonder how well haikus and alliteration go together..... Thanks for another educational newsletter! I have been inspired, and it's partially your fault! ;) Hmmm . . . alliteration and haiku. That combination would be a challenge but possible. It is nice to be blamed for something good, though. I really appreciate the nice comments and thank yous. Thank you to the following for letting me know that they appreciate the newsletter about alliteration: Submitted by Write-fully Loti  Delightful newsletter and refreshing as well. Thanks Viv. Submitted by ann29log The parts of your "news letter" I have read are very helpful and interesting.Eventually I will browse through it more thouroughly. Keep up the good work. Submitted by daycare Excellent job on this. It is most informative and something I would like to try. Thanks for the inspiration. Wendie Submitted by Puditat Aaaah, Viv. Alliteration is such a lovely tool, it has always been one of my favourite things (not that I use it often). Thanks for the witty way you offered the subject and the great links too. Submitted by Lexi  Viv, Alliteration is something that I find very enjoyable when reading poetry. It's something certainly entertaining and pleasing to the ears. Thank you for covering that in your issue! ~Lexi Submitted by Rapunzel Viv, This is a little late in coming, but thank you for mentioning my contest in your Poetry Newsletter. I truly appreciate the exposure. Sincerely, S.Rapunzel Submitted by plainsue Dear Editor: How do poets come up with titles for their poetry? Do you write the title then write the poetry? or come up with the title after you write the poetry? I sometimes start with a title, one that came to mind or was triggered in some way. Other times, I write the poem and then decide on a title. I'm sure that there are poets that always start with a title, and there are others who write the poem and then the title. In other words, either way is fine. Submitted by beirdd Viv, Thanks for the poetry newsletter. I always enjoy reading it! I thought you might want to take a look at a piece I wrote back close to the end of 2004,
I used alliteration in that poem extensively to invoke the idea of whispering. Beirdd Thanks for sending the link to your poem. I hope all readers will read it and review it for you. NOTE: The following two comments show that everyone does not agree or else want to give me something to ponder, to consider, and to see if I can explain. Submitted by bazilbob I'd never thought of aliteration quite like making the emotion stronger, I thought of it as a sort of emphasis technique, which, of course, is similar, but I think it's slightly different...Also, is it that the sound of the letter that is repeated gives the poem a certain mood? Submitted by Holly Jahangiri Good newsletter, Viv! I'm not quite sure I understand how alliteration strengthens the emotion of the piece, but let me give that some more thought... I can see where it would set a tone (e.g., "dull, drab, dolorous day" - monotony and boredom) but if it's always true, then there must be some psychology behind each sound. So, then, which letters convey joy? Which sounds convey sorrow? Which ones represent anger or passion? I think first we need to look at some definitions for strengthen. According to Roget's Thesaurus and Marriam Webster's Collegiate Dicitonary, strengthen means any of the following: intensify vigorize expression support vitalize stimulate enhance Alliteration captures the readers attention and, once used with creative words of emotion that start with the same sounds, intensifies, enhances, vitalizes, supports, and/or vigorizes the expressions of emotions used. No, the letters do not show or create emotion; but I never said they did. The alliteration "strengthens" (enhances, intensifies, vitalizes, etc.) the emotion created with the words. Jessie and I exchanged emails discussing our disagreement on alliteration ad nauseum, to the point where both our tempers were frayed. Finally, she wrote: "In fact, right at this moment, I couldn't give an Arabian alligator's ass for alliteration." My response to her ironic alliteration was that the letter A's do not create the irony, but the words themselves. The alliteration just gives the irony more punch. One last example: If I looked out the window on a winter day and saw bare trees against an overcast sky, I could write "gloomy day," or I could write "drab, dreary day." The imagery created by the alliteration enhances or vitalizes the emotion of the depressing day. I hope the explanation helped clarify not confuse more. The feedback about Count Up and Count Down poetry will be included in the next issue I edit. Until next time, read and write beautiful poetry. Viv |
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