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Poetry Newsletter for March 16, 2005 |
I have a folder full of articles/lesson plans that I wrote about poetry and some major poetic devices, "Writing Poetry Writing Tips"  [ASR]. Although I addressed using sensory words and using the right word, I didn't tie the devices with emotion. The series on Emotion in Poetry will attempt to tie them together.Three issues ago, I discussed how to strengthen the emotion in poetry through alliteration. This issue, I want to try to show how metaphor and/or simile can be an enhancer. Viv   Next week's editor will be Becky Simpson   Emotion in Poetry: Metaphor and/or Simile Poetry needs emotion, but we need to create emotion with words, the creation which is called imagery. To enhance the emotion of any writing, we can use poetic devices. Using metaphors or similies is one way to strengthen (intensify, vigorize expression, support, vitalize, justify, stimulate, enhance)emotion. A metaphor is the comparison of two unlike things by saying one is the other. An eample would be "love is honey poured over life." Love is not honey, but the comparison creates a mental image of sweetness added to life. A simile is the comparison of two unlike things by saying one is like or as the other: "Love is like honey poured over life." Metaphors and similes are very like in what they do in writing. Both compare unlike things. Remember the nursery rhyme, author unknown: Twinkle, twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. Comparing the star to a diamond is a simile. But that comparison doesn't show about emotion, right? So, let's think of an emotion. Shame is an emotion that most people have felt one time or another. Now, to what can we compare shame? Shame is like a dirty, smoothering blanket that clouds our sight. Shame is a monster that steals our self-worth. Shame makes us feel tarnished, unworthy, like a statue that has sat in the rain until worn and dull. Shame wraps us in gray, obscuring us from others' love. That gives us a start for a poem that includes the emotion shame and some ideas for metaphors or similes. Shame by Vivian Gilbert Zabel I stand nude before the world, My faults and shortcomings Exposed for all to see. Like a tacky, tattered blanket, A cloud of despair smothers me. Layers of gray with streaks Of blinding black press me To the ground, a broken statue, Tarnished by relentless rain And worn by whimpering wind. I cannot lift my head to watch In case others turn from me, Disdain displayed in their eyes. Shame turns confidence into Disgust for myself, burning Like a fire without warmth, Only a chill leaving no comfort. How can anyone love me When I remain disgraced in life By being who and what I am? "Shame" The preceeding poem has two similes and one metaphor. The one simile states that a cloud of despair, like a tacky, tattered blanket, smothers the narrator. The other says that disgust burns like a fire without warmth. The metaphor compares the narrator to a broken statue. All help strenghten the emotion in the poem, enhancing the feeling of shame. Alliteration is also used: tacky, tattered; blinding black; relentless rain; worn, whimpering, wind; disdain desplayed. I would like for you to see if you can write a poem using one or both poetic devices to strengthen the emotion of your writing. Highlighted Items I read close to a hundred poems trying to find some with metaphors and/or similes that strengthen emotion. I finally found some but not many. I'm sure if I had time to read all the poetry on the site, I'd find more.
Here's a magnificent example of simile and analogy (an extended metaphor) by a newbie:
Feedback, Wonderful Feedback First, the feedback from the issue about the Count Up / Count Down poetry: Submitted by lostinapaprbag Your daily newletter opened up to me a hidden door I never knew was there. Practicing and perfecting this new-found form of poetry will become my goal, talking in "count" any chance I get. Yours truly, Pinky. Thank you for the countdown poem. Very good. Submitted by navysunfire I tried countup/countdown... but instead of 10 lines, I did 5 counting up, and 5 counting down. "Invalid Item" That is an interesting adaptation of the countup/countdown. However, technically, I believe you would need two stanzas to have both, each with ten lines. Still you have an grasp on adapting the two for your own style. Submitted by bazilbob Hi, I'd never heard of either the count up or count down poetry form before, so thanx a lot for introducing it to me! I'll definitely have a bash at them sometime! Please let me know how your try goes. Submitted by megsie2584 Thank you for featuring my poem. I was wondering why there were suddenly a bunch of reviews for it in my inbox! :^) I really like trying different poetry forms and styles. It's fun to experiment. Megan Experimenting within reason is fun and safe fun. Submitted by lifewriter I love that format, Viv- the count up and down! I will be using that in the very near future in "Invalid Item" Thanks, I hope you received some really good entries. Submitted by daycare Another excellent job. I like the way you use your examples in this to relay your points. Interesting and well written. Wendie Thank you, Wendie. Submitted by VerySara  This is a good newsletter. I really enjoyed seeing the count down/count up forms. It is not nearly easy as it looks. I was wondering why DANCE WITH RED DEATH is listed twice. Just a question, no big deal. Thanks for the newsletter. VerySara To answer your question, I have no idea. Ish. I don't know what I did. Submitted by auterpauvre Now this is the type of Poetry Newsletter I like to see. Information like this can help us all become better poets. Thank you. I'm glad I can help. Submitted by win I think the countdown form is more powerful with its emphasis on the last word especially if you can pull it off, very very interesting and something that I'm definitely trying out. I was wondering if you could tackle the issue of rhyming vs non-rhyming and when they're best used. I'm a fan of both, but I sometimes find it hard to recouncile the two since rhyming sometimes feels forced >_< For me, rhyming either happens, or it doesn't. I won't force rhyme. I may have to reword or rethink a rhyme scheme rather than have a forced rhyme. As I explained in this newsletter, I wrote what I wanted to say and then worked out the rhyme scheme. With rhyme, I do a large amount of rewriting. Feedback from the February 16 issue, Quintillas: Submitted by Mothermouse--come visit me You did a great job on this news letter, Viv. I like writing poetry using different forms never knowing what they were called. Your newsletters are helpful and informative. Great job on your poems. Thank you. I try to give information and material that will help poets. Submitted by phathm I too prefer free verse, but I sometimes use form for practice. (I rarely like my form poetry.) I thought your quintillas were lovely. phathm Thank you so very much. I often don't like my form poetry either, but I'm so subborn that I keep trying until I end up with something usable. Submitted by panthera Hi! Cool newsletter! I have a question for you. Why do most members/authors want to avoid 'clichés'? They are often great and delivering the message accross with imagery that one is sure will be understood. Got more reasons to like them but I don't intend to write a short story in here! If I come up with a great phrase that others start using because it is just the right one to portray their thoughts, I'd be quite proud. To me, 'clichés' are like a recipe, and to have a phrase become a 'cliché' is because many used it or else it would not be one. If people use them so, it is because they are good, no? I am really wanting to understand that, so if you can light my I'd be thankful! Chatou Ah, but, Chatty, my dear, writers are supposedly trying to express themselves as individuals by using creative language, and not by copying someone else. Using clichés is copying someone else, and those over-used phrases and thoughts are a lazy way to write. I do not enjoy reading any item filled with clichés, do you? Submitted by billwilcox Vivie, You are the most exceptional editor to ever adorn the Poetry Newsletter. Fantastic work, W.D. Oh, my, Bill.  Thank you so much. Submitted by julietpoet Thanks for your thoughful quote, and I'll be sure to keep it so it will remind me of what I have acomplished. Again thank you. I'm so glad you liked the quote. I think we are helped through the words of others, well, sometimes.  Submitted by Tammy~Catchin Up~ I learn something new every day!! I've never heard of a Quintilla. Of course, I love a challenge, so I'm already trying to write one. Thanks for the information. Awesome newsletter, I look forward to reading all the newsletter that I get in my email. Thanks, Tammy I'm still learning. If it weren't for b_boonstra, I wouldn't have all this material that starts me reading, thinking, researching more, and writing poetry forms. Submitted by ♥Flower♥ Viv-- I've always wanted to learn more about poetic devices and see examples of other forms of poetry in use. Your newsletter addresses these issues quite well. I tend to write in free verse. After reading the last several issues, and printing them out to stash in my poetry information binder, I have been experimenting. Thanks for giving me the tools and the information to help me to try to branch out. Be sure to come on by and check out my poetry at my port: http://www.writing.com/authors/olelady ~~~~ Flower. As soon as I can find some time, I will come visit. A question from this issue (the first 20 correct answers submitted will receive 1,000 gift points): What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor? Until next time, read and write beautiful poetry.  |
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