|
By Veronica_Milvus
|
|
15 February 2008 |
Im dedicating this one to patterjack, who has been corresponding with me by e-mail on the subject of writing poetry. I love the sound of many of the technical terms of poetry and had to work them in, that is, once I had looked up all the meanings! The result feels like a cross between Kipling's "If" and the Jabberwocky.
LEARNING TO WRITE POETRY
What is a poem, but a brave attempt
to reach another mind, communicate
at limbic level, primitive, unkempt
where meanings, sounds and rhythms resonate.
Describe the solid; shun the abstract noun,
resist the trite cliché, so amateur.
Carve out the form, and nail the scansion down -
Sculpt out of words the bold pentameter.
Explore the metric foot; the great iamb,
the trochee and the waltzing anapaest.
So delicately placing each enjamb
ment. Study all the poets at their best.
Deconstruct the experts as they try
sweet sonnet and the stately villanelle,
spare haiku and the mystical rubai.
Beware the spiky pantoum’s laddered hell!
Perfect your rhymes, then tighten every phrase,
and polish every stanza ‘til it shines -
apprenticed to your craft, wise in its ways
true poetry will shimmer through your lines!
|
Written by Phil (6719 comments posted) 15th February 2008 | Very likely, wise words - but you've also got to have it in you. Alas, drawn though I am to the form, I'm still looking for it.
Liked this - and I think it's probably very good advice to study the methods and form of the very best and try to apply that to our own work. I reckon I can just about manage pentameter.
Look forward to more with a shimmer!
Phil |
Written by Fledermaus (3281 comments posted) 15th February 2008 | Nice. Poetry is a craft and you mentioned many of the tools. Yet by doing so, you do of course make this poem itself a target of very critical reading. I liked most of it; The rhyme, stanzas of four lines each (something I for some reason do myself too when writing poetry), the vocabulary... Only the rhythm didn't seem to be what I would expect given the content.
a good advice to any wannabe poet  | Dedication ?
Written by patterjack (1194 comments posted) 15th February 2008 | I am highly flattered -- a first time ever that i have had a poem dedicated to me !! Thank you .
 At my age it is nice to be thought of as a
pEtterjack rather than a pAtterjack
I would describe this as a piece of clever expository work : and it is certainly carefully crafted. Not a lot of passion ( in the Romantic sense ) but that is hardly to be expected in such a subject
Only the rhythm didn't seem to be what I would expect given the content.
I am not sure what maus is on about here -- perhaps he will elucidate
patterjack
|
Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3352 comments posted) 16th February 2008 | I'm not a fan of writing about writing but as this tries to exhort rather than instruct I was happy to read; not sure why though as I won't be writing any poetry, but if it makes one poet think twice befor posting up their work then it has been more than worth the effort.
All good advice l'm sure and as Oscar said "The only thing to do with good advice is pass it on"
Even I can see it's a well constructed and well crafted piece
Jane |
Only registered users can rate and write comments.
Please login or register. Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
Previous item
