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Written by DressedInPoetry (23 comments posted) 4th February 2008 |
Interesting. I actually prefer free verse in my writing because it's a lot easier; I haven't been writing very long, and I simply find it simpler to just go for it rather than attempting to save a structure. I do hope that I will progress so that I can make a structure and have it make sense, but for now I think I'll stick to free verse.
Anyway, I, at least, try to keep grammar, syntax, and focus in my pieces, and I certainly make sure my spellcheck and punctuation work. It does annoy me when pieces don't do this, I have to admit.
I like that you misspell "spellcehck" and don't use punctuation in the last part. |
Written by Phil (6713 comments posted) 4th February 2008 |
Veronica - if you've been here long enough to notice and be irked by lazy, would-be writers, you've been here long enough to shout about it. It won't get you anywhere but at least it's one more who is working towards something with quality and not 'creating art' because you say it is. Hurrah.
Nothing wrong with free verse - but there's even structure of sorts to that.
Good for you.
Phil |
Fulminating...
Written by patterjack (1193 comments posted) 4th February 2008 |
... against most of the angst-ridden stuff that gushes forth -- generally without the attempt at control through some more structured form -- does little good.
This however is a neat encapsulation of my own feelings .
The use of free verse is perfectly legitimate and not to be denied -- but it should not be merely slathered down on the page .
It requires as much discipline-- in rhythm and imagery in particular -- as any other kind of verse.
patterjack
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Short is sweet!
Written by JohnFHamill (34 comments posted) 4th February 2008 |
What I like is quality not quantity, and that's what you get here! A poem that reflects a slightly controversial writing technique is a hot idea. |
Perfect irony
Written by Blade (14 comments posted) 5th February 2008 |
Personally I've got nothing against free verse if it's good, but I prefer good old rhymed, rhytmic, well structured texts. I'm from Poland and here 90% (or more) of 'young poets' jump at free verse simply because they think it's the easiest. Not only have they no grasp of rules (well, they think there's no rules at all), but frequently they have nothing to say also.
I love how you used the technique to creatively point out the problem. I've written a poem once concerning the subject and I'd show it to you for comparison, but unfortunately it's in Polish. |
Quite a lot ...
Written by fellpony (1608 comments posted) 5th February 2008 |
... of people posting on various sites complain of much the same things. Pointing out the shortcomings doesn't often improve the quality, though it certainly does get people stirred up who care!
The Plough Poetry Prize site complained this year of regular poetic cliches and a continuing decline of grammar and punctuation in the entries received.
Several people have had a pop at standards on here in verse - Talisker posted one on Pidgin English and I posted one about cliche'ed rhymed verse...
http://www.greatwriting.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6971&Itemid=77
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What is poetry?
Written by Veronica_Milvus (626 comments posted) 5th February 2008 |
DressedInPoetry - I would just like to query whether "easier" is the point of writing poetry? "Better" is surely the yardstick we should be using? I'm not an English graduate but I know there are lots of definitions of poetry. I've been thinking about what my own definition is and it is something like:
The most concentrated type of verbal communication, allowing the writer to transmit emotions and observations very directly to the reader, using the rhyme and rhythm of words as well as their meaning.
If we just list out our own emotional observations as a stream of consciousness it might be therapy for us, but is it poetry for anyone else? I think poetry has to speak to other people rather than just record our own thoughts. That is why a positive response from this forum is so valuable in learning the craft.
What makes good or bad poetry? What a re the "rules" of poetry? If anyone wants to join a debate on this, I will start a thread elsewhere on this site. |
Written by Blade (14 comments posted) 5th February 2008 |
I so much agree with the points you've made, Veronica.
"Rules" of poetry? There are grammatical rules, rhyming rules, rhytmic and accentuation rules and many others - which all've been twisted and bended more or less successfully. Of course I know you haven't meant that. I don't think there's any uniform rules that have to be met for a piece of writing to be called poetry. It's all a person's taste, and tastes shall not be discussed. |
Written by audrie (451 comments posted) 5th February 2008 |
I;m about to post my favourite poem and I'd be interested in what others would choose.
Did you get this idea from my answer in 'Rough and Ready'? Glad if you did! |
Written by Fledermaus (3281 comments posted) 5th February 2008 |
| Nice one. You could have written a worse poem though, just to underline your statement. It's too good. |
thread duly started
Written by fellpony (1608 comments posted) 8th February 2008 |
| - go and visit the Poetry forum and add your advice! |
Form or storm
Written by Brett (782 comments posted) 27th February 2008 |
Well done. You have succintly expressed what any aspiring poet should. If there is no form or structure to anything, then we are left with a blancmange of a mess.
I wonder if these people would feel the same if they wanted to be musicians - 'Just bang any old note it'll do.'
Then when you hear them try to rebel against form and structure (even though most are too lazy to learn) or they say that a closed, or even open, form is predictive, boring, or any other excuse they may find for putting hard work into their writing, I always remember someone saying to me that he found 12 bar blues laborious; it can be, but when you here what B.B. King or Stevie Ray Vaughan can do with the notes it is capable of excitement an unpredictability. I feel the same about verse, knowledge and appreciation of structure is essential for any writer to improve, and excite. We may not all do it, but at least we are not musicians who refuse to learn the chords.
Here's pouring you a large gin, V
Brett |
I was away
Written by Josie (2785 comments posted) 7th April 2008 |
| in sunnier climes when you wrote this Veronica. I've only just seen it. Brava signora! You put into a nutshell exactly my own feelings. Free verse? Most of it is prose slithered down the page to make it look something else. Well done you for pointing out what we all have seen and know is true. Again: Brava! |
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