Tag: forms of poetry

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The Poet's Pen

Giving Thanks

There are many ways to show gratitude and writing a Thanksgiving poem is the way many have expressed themselves over the years.

“The New England Boy’s Song About Thanksgiving Day”  written by Lydia Maria Child in 1844, is one of the most well-known poems of thanksgiving. (Although, you might recognize it as the song “Over the River and Through the Wood,” published in 1897.)

The poem describes a sleigh-ride through the snow. It begins with, “Over the river, and through the wood to grandfather’s house we go”.

Other well-known Thanksgiving poems include: “The Pumpkin” by John Greenleaf Whittier (1850); “No. 814” by Emily Dickinson; “Fire Dreams” by Carl Sandburg; and “Thanksgiving Time” by Langston Hughes.

The Bible also has thanksgiving verses, many of them poems. The books of poetry are Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.
This year as you prepare for Thanksgiving why don’t you try your hand at writing a Thanksgiving poem.

Give Thanks in Everything
by Darlo Gemeinhardt

You see dirty dishes in the sink,

But I see the wonderful meal we had.

You see dog hair on the couch and floor,

But I see pets offering unconditional love.

You see piles of dirty clothes to wash,

But I see we have clothes to wear.

You see an old crippled body,

But I see someone who has had a long life.

You see kids who need a bath,

But I see the future.

You see the overall messiness and confusion,

But I see family.

You see the need to hurry away,

But I see the need to give thanks.

Darlo Gemeinhardt writes middle grade novels. She believes that there is a story in every dog. In her spare time she takes care of 1 husband (of 40 years), 29 dogs and trains with TALLAO, K-9 SEARCH AND RESCUE. Visit her at From the dog pen.com

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The Poet's Pen

Numbered Poems

This month I thought we might do something different and fun. I want you to write an 81 word poem with one word on the first line, two words on the second line, three words on the third line and so forth. You will end up with 17 lines total. The lines can rhyme or not. It doesn’t matter. Your poem should tell a story or give us a glimpse into something.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DOG AND CAT

Dog (1)
has fleas (2)
making him itchy (3)
causing him to bark, (4)
and bark, bark, and bark (5)
only after playing in the hay (6)
and then chasing Cat up a tree. (7)
When night comes you’ll find Dog and Cat (8)
snuggled with each other under the soft comfy covers (9)
dreaming of bones, and mice, and goodies galore. (8)
And as the new day breaks early, (7)
Dog stretches and yawns, Cat purrs (6)
both ready to go out (5)
and start everything over (4)
again and again. (3)
Dog has (2)
fleas (1)

There’s no end to the variations you can do with this: Alternating the number of words per line. 6,7,8,1,2,3,6,7,8 You get the idea.

Email me your poems. I would love to share them on my website.

Darlo Gemeinhardt writes middle grade novels. She believes that there is a story in every dog. In her spare time she takes care of 1 husband (of 40 years), 29 dogs and trains with TALLAO, K-9 SEARCH AND RESCUE. Visit her at From the dog pen.com

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A Pinch of Poetry

What is blank verse? – Darlo O. Gemeinhardt

What is blank verse? Blank verse doesn’t recognize a rhyme scheme but it does adhere to a developed metrical pattern called iambic pentameter. Each line of verse has five metrical feet consisting of one short (or unstressed) syllable followed by one long (or stressed) syllable.

Blank verse was introduced by the Earl of Surry in 1540 when he published a translation of the second and fourth books of Virgil’s Aeneid.

The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus more commonly referred to as Doctor Faustus written by Christopher Marlowe and first performed in 1592 is a prime example of blank verse.

The Emperor speaking:

     Wonder of men, renowned magician,

Thrice-learned Faustus, welcome to our court.

This deed of thine, in setting Bruno free

From his and our professed enemy,

Shall add more excellence unto thine art,

Than if by powerful necromantic spells

Thou couldst command the world’s obedience.

Christopher Marlowe, Doctor. Faustus, ed. by John Hollander and Frank Kermode, The Literature of Renaissance England, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1973)  Scene XI, Lines 48-54

John Milton’s Paradise Lost, is another example of blank verse. It is divided into twelve books and of course is written in iambic pentameter.

He ended, and his words replete with guile

Into her heart too easy entrance won.

Fixed on the fruit she gazed, which to behold

Might tempt alone, and in her ears the sound

Yet rung of his persuasive words, impregned

With reason, to her seeming, and with truth;

John Milton, Paradise Lost, ed.by John Hollander and Frank Kermode, The Literature of Renaissance England, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1973) Book IX, Lines 733-738.

Look at “Ulysses” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson it too is written in blank verse.

I am a part of all that I have met;

Yet all experience is an arch wherethrough

Gleams that untraveled world whose margin fades

Forever and forever when I move.

Alfred,Lord Tennyson, “Ulysses”  ed.by M. H. Abrams, General Ed, The Norton Anthology of English Literature, rev (New York: W. W. Norton & Company,1968) p.842.

Additional reading:

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Macbeth

Robert Frost’s “Mending Walls” and “Birches”

How to Write a Blank Verse Form

  1. Observe the world around you and let it inspire you.
  2. Train yourself by reading and listening to poetry.
  3. Write for a specific reason. Don’t be afraid to tap into your emotions.
  4. Carefully choose your words.
  5. Use concrete images and vivid descriptions. Avoid cliches.
  6. Don’t let yourself fall into free verse.
  7. Read your poem out loud.
  8. Edit and share.

Darlo Gemeinhardt writes MG novels and the occasional poem.

She spends a good portion if each day taking care

of twenty-five dogs. That’s why she believes, “There’s

a Story in Every Dog.”

www.fromthedogpen.com

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A Pinch of Poetry

Haiku: Poetic Forms II

We’re going to explore a very short Japanese form of poetry known as haiku. This type of poem reflects a simpler side of Japanese culture.

And you know me. Simple is just my style.

A haiku poem consists of 3 lines with a pattern of syllables arranged in 5, 7, 5. Usually the lines don’t rhyme, but in this type of poetry, sounds are not as important as the imagery anyway. Typically the subjects of these poems are about nature but not always.

When I write haiku, I personally focus on a natural scene that touches me in a unique way. Nature has a way of speaking to a poet’s soul without using words.

So how do we take those impressions and translate them into poetry?

[bctt tweet=”Nature has a way of speaking to a poet’s soul without using words. #poets #poetry”]

First, when writing haiku, it’s always important to use vivid figurative language (such as a simile or metaphor) to paint a picture of whatever scene or object you are observing. And you should always use concrete imagery to describe your subject, meaning you need to use language that appeals to the five senses.

I suggest you jot down words and phrases about your subject using the above techniques. Then begin to arrange the words and phrases into lines.

Because the form limits you on lines and syllables, you have to choose your words very carefully. It might appear an easy poem to write, but don’t be fooled. You may find that it takes some extra thinking to arrange the right words in an order that will speak poetically.

The point is that you want to show the reader what impacted you in order to let them experience that same feeling or emotion. You don’t want to tell them. Hence the golden rule of writing in general.

There’s a great description and examples of haiku poetry on www.literarydevices.net and Shadow Poetry.com.

If you need a little more guidance, Creative Writing Now also has excellent tips for writing haiku poetry.

You should probably take note that because haiku came from Japanese culture and language, it may be perceived and written a little differently in English. I am only conveying the accepted English guidelines for writing this type of poetry.

However, if you’re interested, Shadow Poetry also covers some of the cultural and language differences. As a bonus, they offer a host of resources for writing many other kinds of poetry as well.

 [bctt tweet=”Simple is just my style. Learn to write haiku poems. #poetry #poets”]

Now it’s your turn.

Take a walk or find a quiet place to sit and observe an area outside. What inspires you? Do you notice anything that creates a unique impression? See you if can jot a few observations and create a haiku.

Feel free to post your poems or questions in the comments below!

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A Pinch of Poetry

Poetry Defined

Teachers of literature typically define poetry as anything other than prose. Even though this definition is true, it’s vague at best.

Poetry has been around for a long, long time. Some historians even believe that poetry in the form of oral tradition predated the practice of writing. You can find poems in every major movement, era, and time period in human history. Likewise, throughout the ages it has developed many forms.

The best way to define poetry is to describe the various forms that it takes.

Narrative poetry tells stories.  Lyric poetry is usually shorter and uses strong imagery to create an emotional effect.

Concrete poetry expresses the theme through the design and the placement of the words. Haiku are short Japanese poems focused on the theme of nature.

Sonnets are highly structured poems that make use of iambic pentameter and rhyme scheme.  Similarly, villanelles make use of refrains, stanza, and rhyme.

The modern free verse form has opened up even more possibilities for poets because ironically this “form” of poetry is defined as any poem that doesn’t fit the molds of the other forms.  It’s a form without a form.  The rules are whatever you make them.

Essentially poetry can be fun or serious.  It can be simple or complex. Most poets try to communicate a complex message in as few words as possible.

Recently, I was sitting in a conference session with well-known poets, Sara Holbrook and Michael Salinger as they defined contemporary poetry perfectly. They called it “snapshot writing” and described it as “non-fiction focused through a creative lens.”

How appropriate.

If you think about it, much personal poetry today is non-fiction with a few exceptions.  Poetry takes our everyday encounters and transforms them into extraordinary experiences, whether for better or worse.  We poets paint pictures of our emotions that are too deep to describe with simple language.

[bctt tweet=”Poetry takes our everyday encounters and transforms them into extraordinary experiences. #poetry #writerslife”]

Of course these are only a few of the many ways we could define poetry.

One thing is for sure.  Poetry is not simply anything other than prose.

It’s a unique form of linguistic expression that allows for much creativity and imagination.  Poets can play with words, sounds and techniques until they come up with the perfect mixture that expresses the exact meaning and emotions they want to express.

Therefore, you could say my personal definition of poetry is an artistic arrangement of words to capture an experience.

What is poetry to you?  Comment below your definition of poetry.