You've been writing poetry since that first assignment in your high school writing class. You know the rules about writing poetry, right? Are there rules? Well, if you frequent the poetry forums across the Internet as much as I do, you'd find that there are a lot of amateur poets who adamantly declare that there are no rules for writing poetry and if someone even suggests reading poetry or books on poetry, many of the amateur poets will throw up a defensive front. My opinion seems to swing fervently toward the opposition. You have to know the rules before you break them; at least that's what I always say.
I know that writing a sonnet in iambic pentameter is an art that has been buried in the tombs of the renaissance, but understanding it, along with the numerous other dying closed forms of poetry, is a powerful tool when writing that prosy contemporary piece. Being a great poet demands an intricate understanding of the way in which language works its edges into a reader's conscience. A poem is a mosaic of sounds, syncopations, and images. All of the little fragments of a poem must work together in a unified fashion to culminate in something refreshing and new.
Refreshing and new? Well, you might wonder how understanding such archaic attributes of poetry such as meter and rhyme might help a contemporary poet craft a refreshing new poem. It is all about the sound and the innovation of it. Even scientists stand on the shoulders of those before them. You don't have to manage a perfect rhyme or a measured foot in a poem to be jumping from the inspiration of Shakespeare's sonnets, but having those rhythms and rhymes teetering in and out of the wrinkles in your brain will send a very subtle vibration of sound through your very own pieces.
In summary, read, read, read, know the rules, and then break the rules. Goodness help you, please break them.
Here are some references to help you along the way:
-Books:
The Practice of Poetry: by Robin Behn
Writing Poems: by Robert Wallace and Michelle Boisseau
A Poetry Handbook: by Mary Oliver
-Websites:
www.poetrylessons.org
www.poetrymagic.co.uk
http://www.unc .edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/poetry-explication.html
http://www.poetry-portal.com/poetry.html
-And don't forget to read some contemporary poetry:
www.poems.com
http://www.pedestalmagazine.com/
Devrie Paradowski is a freelance writer and poet. Her poetry has been published by several literary journals and she has written dozens of articles for various publications including "Poetry Renewal Magazine," and "Poetryscams.com." She is the author of the chapbook, "Something In the Dirt," which can be found at http://www.lulu.com/content/108560 . In 2001, Devrie founded a popular online literary community ( http://www.lulu.com/content/108560 ) that has become highly respected for some of the most honest and in-depth poetic critique on the Internet. In keeping with her commitment to inspire amateur writers to hone their skills, she also founded a local writer's group called, "The Fire and Ice Writer's Group."
custom home cleaning Winnetka ..During interviews and general conversations with the public,one of the... Read More
The funeral rite concluded With the pastor shaking hands, Offering... Read More
I cannot bear to think of when you will be... Read More
Ed Gallagher Dec. 11, 1907 - Sept. 5, 2004This poem... Read More
Storm Rising along the Lima Coast [Summer of 2002]?wind was... Read More
Part OneI tell you a legend of long ago Of... Read More
Asha of DarfurCry, cry-oh little Darfur woman For your sister... Read More
We were exiled from the Garden of Eden. Its... Read More
YOU MIGHT THINK I AM STRONGI THINK YOU GOT IT... Read More
Delicately, my mind was selecting a muffled tune, out of... Read More
Real Power.One Tsunami, and all our armies, Seem belittled by... Read More
BoyhoodOh me! Thy glorious days have flown! I mealy noticed,... Read More
1.Evil's CreationThou knowith evil clings To tender peace-; Nor does... Read More
Way of Life: Rhymes of the IncaPizarro (Spanish conquistador ((1525))The... Read More
On through the darkness she searches the bones Seeking the... Read More
How I wonder what he's doing as I sit alone... Read More
In early fall, in Minnesota, the rain falls, falls, In... Read More
Amy King's first full-length collection, Antidotes for an Alibi, insists... Read More
Take some time to stop and look at nature. Pick... Read More
The following two poems, one in English, the other in... Read More
Shakespeare's sonnets require time and effort to appreciate. Understanding the... Read More
What do you do when you want to write poetry?... Read More
FIND the MAGICFind the Magic As you release old bondage... Read More
English VersionAnd the Death God said: "Let it rise to... Read More
Amy King Antidotes for an Alibi BlazeVox Books ISBN 0-9759227-5-0... Read More
professional home cleaners Glenview ..Iquitos & the Amazon Part OneIt was December 2, l959,... Read More
Fair Andes! Thy arms reach highOf iron-woven solid stone Thu... Read More
Old skin, once held tight Against her skeleton- Rose no... Read More
There once lived an old man and his goodwife On... Read More
Once upon a midnight dreary, coffee cold and vision... Read More
To many non-specialists of literature, poetry is deeply unsatisfying. There... Read More
Kamalakanta was born in Burdwan India in the late 18th... Read More
Have you ever sat there staring at the paper, ready... Read More
"For this reason poetry is something more philosophical and more... Read More
Writing poetry is an art, a way of expression, finding... Read More
A Poem - By Lorraine KemberIt was a day like... Read More
The funeral rite concluded With the pastor shaking hands, Offering... Read More
To many people contemporary poetry is a turn-off. The reason... Read More
Ode to Quetzalc?atlQuetzalc?atl the GreatNo one knew his true name,... Read More
"How Do I Love Thee?" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning was... Read More
Lima, City with the Stretched out WingsIt's an ink-black... Read More
Here is some witty poetry (not sure if that is... Read More
Key Largo:The fans turn lazily in front of the doorThey... Read More
You make me smile like I've seldom done before You... Read More
We were exiled from the Garden of Eden. Its... Read More
Ded?cate to Antonio Castillo. L. Of. Los Andes UniversitarioOde to:The... Read More
now is not the time to open open that great... Read More
"All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling."--Oscar WildePeople write poetry... Read More
The Incubus' Flash-lightHe looked inside my head And found a... Read More
Storm Rising along the Lima Coast [Summer of 2002]?wind was... Read More
Poetry |