Tag: poet

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A Pinch of Poetry

Poet Snapshot: Langston Hughes

I fell in love with Langston Hughes’ poetry when only a teenager in high school. Still today, I enjoy reading and re-reading his beautiful word pictures. This talented African-American poet’s work contributed greatly to the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920’s.

One thing I admire about his work is that he wrote in simple, everyday language. Yet his poetry exhibits creativity and beauty that examines the struggles of everyday life, especially of black Americans. Although his poems are usually easy to understand (and some are quite short) the complexity is between the layers of figurative language he uses.

I connect with his poetry personally because the themes touch on our common experiences: disappointments, love, sorrow, hopes, etc…

As you read through five of my favorite poems below, note his simple, elegant style and the depth of his messages. We can learn from this poet that powerful imagery, figurative language and themes are more important than word count.

[bctt tweet=”Powerful imagery, figurative language and themes are more important than word count. #poetry #poets”]

“Dreams,” probably one his shortest poems, examines the effect of disappointment. Take a look at the metaphors and the imagery. Did you also notice the sound devices of alliteration and rhyme?

“Theme for English B” addresses the issue of race on the surface. Underneath it reveals the power of poetry to break the barriers between people and find common ground. Yet even with the complex theme, he still uses simple language and imagery to communicate his message.

“Mother to Son” is a brilliant poem in which he takes on the persona of a mother encouraging her son. He reveals the darkness we encounter in life but leaves us with encouragement to press on. The extended metaphor of the broken down staircase paints a detailed picture of the speaker’s struggles. Each attribute of the staircase can symbolize a different kind of difficulty.

“Dream Deferred” is another short poem that paints a distinct image of disappointment through the use of metaphor. The message poignantly comes through his use of rather disgusting images. His technique shows that it’s not the number of words you use for the effect, but it’s how you use them.

“Dream Keeper” is probably my top favorite Langston Hughes poem. In a succinct way, the poet describes the delicate nature of dreams. His metaphors of “heart melodies” and “blue cloud-cloth” are such unique, amazing images that leave a deep impression on the reader.

Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed reading just a few of the many poems Langston Hughes penned. If you want to read more poetry by this poet, click here.

Did any of these poems resonate with you? Tell me below.

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A Pinch of Poetry

Keeping Poetry Simple

One of my goals as a poet is to make poetry practical and less intimidating for writers while respecting it as an art form. Maybe that’s why I get a little irritable when I see poets going to great lengths to make their poetry enigmatic.

I’m not saying that we should write greeting card poetry or Mother Goose poems. And I’m not implying that poetry should be an easy craft.

What I mean is that in the very act of writing a poem, an artist is trying to convey a message to a reader. If the reader walks away baffled and frustrated, what purpose has been accomplished?

Complexity and mystery have a crucial role in crafting the poem, but they shouldn’t be the reason people avoid it.

Of course, part of the enjoyment of poetry is figuring out the artistic secrets hidden within the words. But it shouldn’t take a doctorate in linguistics to excavate the meaning.

Because poetic trends come and go kind of like the style and color of jeans that’s in for the year, I have a proposition.

Let’s make poetry simple again.[bctt tweet=”Let’s make poetry simple again. #poets #poetry”]

Yes, I’m swimming against the complicated wave that contemporary poetry seems to be surfing. Maybe I’m kind of like my hero William Wordsworth when he started writing British poetry that everyday people could understand to rebel against the sophisticated language and concepts of his predecessors.

I, too, believe poets need to write so that people can experience it and understand it at the same time.

Poetry should always push your writing and creativity to its limits. Since poetry is an art, we have to keep in mind that it should be approached with respect and effort.

Consider William Carlos Williams “The Red Wheelbarrow.”  This  unusually short poem is recognized as a brilliant work of poetic art.

Isn’t the simple beautiful?

The poet intricately paints the image of a rain-glazed, red wheelbarrow, sitting near some chickens. The first words “so much depends” along with the imagery of rain creates a solemn mood so you know someone’s very life is affected by this simple everyday object.

Williams’ renowned piece proves that a uncomplicated poem can create a powerful image and mood.

Another one of my favorites is John Updike’s “January.”

In four succinctly crafted stanzas, the poem captures the beauty of a snowy winter day. Everyone can relate to the short gray days of winter when the sun seems distant.  The poet’s language invites us to imagine the artifacts of winter, such as the lacey, barren trees and a frozen landscape.

What I’d really like writers to realize about poetry is that a simple poem can be just as moving as a more complicated one.  Complexity definitely has it’s place in structuring the poem and creating powerful imagery and mood, but it shouldn’t rise through the surface to create confusion.

Just remember that simplistic poetry–like a piece of art– can still radiate with sophistication if you use your words and techniques effectively.

Disclaimer: you might not get a book contract by taking my advice on keeping your poetry simple. But maybe together we can turn the tide.

I’d love to hear your opinion. Do you prefer complexity or simplicity when it comes to poetry? Tell me below.

[bctt tweet=”Simple poetry–like art–can radiate with sophistication if you use words and techniques effectively. #poetry”]

 

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A Pinch of Poetry

The Art of Poetry

In my opinion, poetry is the high art form of all writing.

Crafting a meaningful poem can’t be done by anyone, but I believe anyone can learn to craft an extraordinary poem.

Hence the purpose of this blog A Pinch of Poetry where we will take our poetic talent to the next level.

Let’s consider visual art for a moment.  We could agree that most anyone can draw, color, or paint even if on the level of creating stick-figure abstract art.  But not everyone will become the next Van Gogh or Picasso.

So what makes renowned artists’ work more valuable than say a third-grade rendition of family life?  What defines them as “artists” rather than someone playing around in paint?

Techniques and intention distinguish art and poetry because they create aesthetic beauty.

Professional artists employ certain techniques to create an effect on the viewer or reader.  Every brush stroke and medium or color chosen is with a purpose.  Nothing is accidental. If you study a work carefully enough, you will discover secrets hidden deep within it that the artist is trying to share with you.

So it is with the art of writing poetry.

[bctt tweet=”Authentic Poetry is truly a high art form. #art #poetry”]

Crafting a poem goes beyond penning words on a page.  Many people can write a poem if given instructions just as so many could create a drawing.  But only a few will take poetry to another level and create written art.

How so?

When creating a poem, the poet has to consider the subject and the meaning they want to get across in as few words as possible.  Then he or she chooses the techniques which will best create images to convey those messages.  Some of those techniques are metaphor, personification, meter, alliteration, etc.

While we all have had the definitions of these techniques mercilessly beaten into us by our English teachers, implementing them is not as easy as it might seem.  And not all techniques are appropriate for every poem.  A poet decides what will work just like a visual artist decides what colors to use in a painting.

Every word and technique chosen has a purpose and meaning.  Nothing is accidental.

So if you’re already a poet then you can consider yourself an artist because authentic poetry is truly a high art form.  If you’re not poetically inclined yet, I look forward to helping you get acquainted with the craft.

Consider it an artistic adventure.

Have you ever considered poetry an art?  Tell me your thoughts below.

“VanGogh-View of Arles with Irises” by Vincent van Gogh – Web Museum (file). Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VanGogh-View_of_Arles_with_Irises.jpg#/media/File:VanGogh-View_of_Arles_with_Irises.jpg