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."
housekeepers near Buffalo Grove ..Delicately, my mind was selecting a muffled tune, out of... Read More
Charlotte Bronte (1816 ?1855) Novelist and Poet.Charlotte was the daughter... Read More
As I picked up some of the polished gemstones in... Read More
The Epic Poem:A Death in Cajamarca, Peru [Atahualpa, in Cajamarca]Advance:... Read More
The Incubus' Flash-lightHe looked inside my head And found a... Read More
Advance: in Mr. Siluk's poetry one finds symbolist values, sensuous... Read More
I AM SO GRATEFUL for simpler times. Stores were closed... Read More
Mother's Day Poetry,I'm Sorry Mom!I'm sorry for the troubles ... Read More
In the quiet of the arctic night- In its deep... Read More
We were exiled from the Garden of Eden. Its... Read More
Robert Burns, a poor man, an educated man, and a... Read More
Ded?cate to Antonio Castillo. L. Of. Los Andes UniversitarioOde to:The... Read More
The Torrents of HellHell's furnace- Likened to a chimney Vomits... Read More
(The city by the bay of Northern California, near which... Read More
English Version12) Black Poncho(of Saint Cosme Hill, by Lima, Peru)Lost... Read More
I will never think twice nor will I roll the... Read More
Truth is stranger than fiction according to many people who... Read More
#25The King and Delka [Split Mawkishness-on Moiromma /Part V]Sickly SentimentalityI... Read More
Storm Rising along the Lima Coast [Summer of 2002]?wind was... Read More
I am among those who know that one never recovers... Read More
AFRICA (to africans in diaspora)africa here i come, africa africa... Read More
FIND the MAGICFind the Magic As you release old bondage... Read More
Take some time to stop and look at nature. Pick... Read More
I Shall Wait..On all the new mornings, and every singking... Read More
Twilight, was now beginning. As forthe sun, it was down-down... Read More
custom home cleaning Mundelein .."I heard what you said, Red. Yet, I have to... Read More
On through the darkness she searches the bones Seeking the... Read More
Bells for Belphegor!...Where immortal veils never meet Belphegor, Arch devil... Read More
Kafka lands resurrected in Crewe deposited by a silvery alien... Read More
[Episode Five]Arizona Blue-GunfighterThe Wolves Nest-in the North[Episode Five]Northern Minnesota Area?Winter... Read More
Part oneI see them in the skies I hear them... Read More
Lima, City with the Stretched out WingsIt's an ink-black... Read More
Sorry would be a start.Though you cant take back your... Read More
To many people contemporary poetry is a turn-off. The reason... Read More
Thank youDedicated to soldiers and their loved onesFor those who... Read More
Man UnbowedUnbowed by sin, the world of man, stands Upon... Read More
It was not me as I am now. It was... Read More
Key Largo:The fans turn lazily in front of the doorThey... Read More
She raised me like I was her own daughter from... Read More
During interviews and general conversations with the public,one of the... Read More
You speak simple, completley understandable justifications I respect them, respect... Read More
Do not be afraid to shine. This world needs what... Read More
English VersionA bunch of us guys in the hutIn ?Nam... Read More
The concept of brief encounters, even romantic encounters, with a... Read More
The Exit Poems [And Socrates]Iron and FireIron can be... Read More
Happy, Sad, Mad and Glad, Moved in down the streetCautious... Read More
"All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling."--Oscar WildePeople write poetry... Read More
Writing poetry is an art, a way of expression, finding... Read More
"Beautiful Dreamer" was written by Stephen Foster just before his... Read More
BoyhoodOh me! Thy glorious days have flown! I mealy noticed,... Read More
Poetry |