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Poetic Discussion Discuss and debate poetic technique, form, styles and such. DO NOT POST POETRY FOR CRITIQUE OR REVIEW!

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Old 03-31-2008, 11:52 AM   #1
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Rules of writing poetry

I have several times seen people make remarks along the lines of "You have to know the rules before you can break them". The trouble is I left school at sixteen with the knowledge that poetry was written with rhymes at the end of lines of the same length all starting with a capital letter. That was about when I started reading Alan Ginsberg (And yes I was there at the Albert Hall gig) and realised that what I had learned was not necessarily so, not only in poetry but that's another thing.
So my question is this, what are the rules of poetry? And please can you define your terms so I don't have to keep going to the dictionary.
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Old 03-31-2008, 12:18 PM   #2
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I dont think theres rules to creativity such as writing novels and poems etc. Of course theres punctuations and so on but you should explore and find your own style in poems. There are different types of poems:
ABC A poem that has five lines that create a mood, picture, or feeling. Lines 1 through 4 are made up of words, phrases or clauses while the first word of each line is in alphabetical order. Line 5 is one sentence long and begins with any letter.

Acrostic Poetry that certain letters, usually the first in each line form a word or message when read in a sequence.

Ballad A poem that tells a story similar to a folk tail or legend which often has a repeated refrain.

Ballade Poetry which has three stanzas of seven, eight or ten lines and a shorter final stanza of four or five. All stanzas end with the same one line refrain.

Blank verse A poem written in unrhymed iambic pentameter and is often unobtrusive. The iambic pentameter form often resembles the rhythms of speech.

Bio A poem written about one self's life, personality traits, and ambitions.

Burlesque Poetry that treats a serious subject as humor.

Canzone Medieval Italian lyric style poetry with five or six stanzas and a shorter ending stanza.

Carpe diem Latin expression that means 'seize the day.' Carpe diem poems have a theme of living for today.

Cinquain Poetry with five lines. Line 1 has one word (the title). Line 2 has two words that describe the title. Line 3 has three words that tell the action. Line 4 has four words that express the feeling, and line 5 has one word which recalls the title.

Classicism Poetry which holds the principles and ideals of beauty that are characteristic of Greek and Roman art, architecture, and literature.

Couplet A couplet has rhyming stanzas made up of two lines.

Dramatic monologue A type of poem which is spoken to a listener. The speaker addresses a specific topic while the listener unwittingly reveals details about him/herself.

Elegy A sad and thoughtful poem about the death of an individual.

Epic An extensive, serious poem that tells the story about a heroic figure.

Epigram A very short, ironic and witty poem usually written as a brief couplet or quatrain. The term is derived from the Greek epigramma meaning inscription.

Epitaph A commemorative inscription on a tomb or mortuary monument written to praise the deceased.

Epithalamium (Epithalamion) A poem written in honor of the bride and groom.

Free verse (vers libre) Poetry written in either rhyme or unrhymed lines that have no set fixed metrical pattern.

Ghazal A short lyrical poem that arose in Urdu. It is between 5 and 15 couplets long. Each couplet contains its own poetic thought but is linked in rhyme that is established in the first couplet and continued in the second line of each pair. The lines of each couplet are equal in length. Themes are usually connected to love and romance. The closing signature often includes the poet's name or allusion to it.

Haiku A Japanese poem composed of three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables, usually about some form of nature.

Horatian ode Short lyric poem written in two or four-line stanzas, each with its the same metrical pattern, often addressed to a friend and deal with friendship, love and the practice of poetry. It is named after its creator, Horace.

Iambic pentameter One short syllabel followed by one long one five sets in a row. Example: la-LAH la-LAH la-LAH la-LAH la-LAH

Idyll (Idyl) Poetry that either depicts a peaceful, idealized country scene or a long poem telling a story about heroes of a bye gone age.

Irregular (Pseudo-Pindaric or Cowleyan)

ode Neither the three part form of the pindaric ode nor the two or four-line stanza of the Horatian ode. It is characterized by irregularity of verse and structure and lack of coorespondence between the parts.

Italian sonnet A sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba followed by six lines with a rhyme pattern of cdecde or cdcdcd.

Lay A long narrative poem, especially one that was sung by medieval minstrels.

Limerick A short sometimes vulgar, humorous poem consisting of five anapestic lines. Lines 1, 2, and 5 have seven to ten syllables, rhyme and have the same verbal rhythm. The 3rd and 4th lines have five to seven syllables, rhyme and have the same rhythm.

List A poem that is made up of a list of items or events. It can be any length and rhymed or unrhymed.

Lyric A poem that expresses the thoughts and feelings of the poet.

Memoriam stanza A quatrain in iambic tetrameter with a rhyme scheme of abba -- named after the pattern used by Lord Tennyson.

Name Poetry that tells about the word. It uses the letters of the word for the first letter of each line.

Narrative A poem that tells a story.

Ode A lengthy lyric poem typically of a serious or meditative nature and having an elevated style and formal stanza structure.

Pastoral A poem that depicts rural life in a peaceful, romanticized way.

Petrarchan A 14-line sonnet consisting of an octave rhyming abbaabba followed by a sestet of cddcee or cdecde

Pindaric ode A ceremonious poem consisting of a strophe (two or more lines repeated as a unit) followed by a an antistrophe with the same metrical pattern and concluding with a summary line (an epode) in a different meter. Named after Pindar, a Greek professional lyrist of the 5th century B.C.

Quatrain A stanza or poem consisting of four lines. Lines 2 and 4 must rhyme while having a similar number of syllables.

Rhyme A rhyming poem has the repetition of the same or similar sounds of two or more words, often at the end of the line.

Rhyme royal A type of poetry consisting of stanzas having seven lines in iambic pentameter.

Romanticism A poem about nature and love while having emphasis on the personal experience.

Rondeau A lyrical poem of French origin having 10 or 13 lines with two rhymes and with the opening phrase repeated twice as the refrain.

Senryu A short Japanese style poem, similar to haiku in structure that treats human beings rather than nature: Often in a humorous or satiric way.

Sestina A poem consisting of six six-line stanzas and a three-line envoy. The end words of the first stanza are repeated in varied order as end words in the other stanzas and also recur in the envoy.

Shakespearean A 14-line sonnet consisting of three quatrains of abab cdcd efef followed by a couplet, gg. Shakespearean sonnets generally use iambic pentameter.

Shape Poetry written in the shape or form of an object.

Sonnet A lyric poem that consists of 14 lines which usually have one or more conventional rhyme schemes.

Tanka A Japanese poem of five lines, the first and third composed of five syllables and the other seven.

Terza Rima A type of poetry consisting of 10 or 11 syllable lines arranged in three-line tercets.

Verse A single metrical line of poetry.

Villanelle A 19-line poem consisting of five tercets and a final quatrain on two rhymes. The first and third lines of the first tercet repeat alternately as a refrain closing the succeeding stanzas and joined as the final couplet of the quatrain.


Hope it helps
How was the Albert Hall gig?
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Last edited by rcallaci : 03-31-2008 at 01:45 PM.
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Old 03-31-2008, 12:19 PM   #3
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The spaces didnt work it looks messy now... oh well
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Old 03-31-2008, 12:42 PM   #4
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Now I have a project, can I write one of each? I suppose some of them could be combined.
The gig was great, I went with a girl called Sandy and we sat down on the main floor only about twenty feet from the man. Only down was he wouldn't read "Howl" because he said it was too long. Never mind, I knew it by heart anyway in those days and can still remember big chunks of it.
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Old 03-31-2008, 10:12 PM   #5
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ABC:-

The Family "Great Holiday on Ice" Show.

Flying forward figures
Glide gracefully through rigors
Harmonise in harlequin costume on
Ice where spotlights shone.
A fantastic, glittering host; imparting jubilation

Couldn't resist including the title and last line in the format

Last edited by Olly Buckle : 03-31-2008 at 10:21 PM.
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Old 03-31-2008, 10:39 PM   #6
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Acrostic:-

Devotion

Languishing in languid pools
Of tears, inhabited by fools
Versifying, trying tritely,
Endlessly, to express politely
Some indication of
Lasting and endearing love.
Abstaining from society
Bowing to propriety.
Opening doors to
Use for walking through
Remaining faithful in adversity
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Old 03-31-2008, 10:49 PM   #7
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Olly, learn by doing, it's your only hope. There's no possible way to even cover all the basic terminology on a thread or in a limited amount of time.
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Old 03-31-2008, 11:11 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ilasir Maroa View Post
Olly, learn by doing, it's your only hope. There's no possible way to even cover all the basic terminology on a thread or in a limited amount of time.
But one can always try....

What I call a "Circle Cinquain"


(From Heaven and Hell do Dreams and Nightmares come)


Dreaming
a vision quest
surfing on a rainbow
I fall through the sky into a
Nightmare


Nightmare
twisted visions
the gates of hell open
I pray to God that I’m only
Dreaming

Dreaming
altered visions
a stairway to heaven
hell hounds bite at my heels… Damn this
Nightmare

Nightmare
a glimpse of hell
dark fire and pitch black night
asleep or awake I’m forever
Dreaming

Dreaming
of nirvana
embraced by nothingness
illusion an empty dream turned
Nightmare



A variation of a Cinquain-

( The Heart is more than a muscle)


My Heart
missing a beat
a blood revolution
caught unawares by this vicious
Attack

Your Heart
in much distress
a great love turned sour
nothing but pain and one bad head
Ache

Our Hearts
once filled with love
now laid in waste and ruin
weak foundations just crumble and
Break






my warmest
bob
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at man’s greed and pride
and what it brings

Just lots of useless
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Last edited by rcallaci : 04-06-2008 at 06:12 AM.
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Old 04-01-2008, 04:13 AM   #9
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The ballad of the over Ambitious Bard.

Sharpened pencil, blank white paper
He started in on his latest caper
Writing poems in various styles
He realized this could take a while.
Sat at his desk, rapt and lost
Thought he could do it all in one post

He sat and laboured all the night
Through into the broad daylight
Ignoring family food and friends
Tied up in pursuit of poetic ends
Ignoring food and sleep he’d lost
Trying to do everything in one post

He would not leave his desk for ought
It seemed the poetic bug he’d caught
But gradually the flow diminished
In doldrums of the block he languished
It seemed as though the muse he’d lost
And the chance to finish in one post

Reference books brought no relief,
He still maintained his firm belief
That it was possible to write
The whole lot in a single night
Writing as though all sense was lost
Trying to finish that endless post

Then writing fever took possession
And in one long never ending session
He wrote his fingers to the bone
At first they left him well alone
“He’d hate us if the chance was lost
To finish this important post”

But after days of mumbling verse
They realized the poor boy was cursed
The project had so filled his head
He laboured on ‘til he was dead
And so at last his life was lost
Trying to complete the accursed post
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Old 04-01-2008, 11:05 PM   #10
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Acrostic

A fun form that hones your skills in word building and meanings


INTOLERANCE

Ignorance is a prerequisite
Negligent thinking- without an inkling
Tantrums and intimidation are its ways of persuasion
Obstinate seasoning - clouds all reasoning
Lackluster imaginings lacking spontaneity
Erroneous predilection-only fuels ones suspicion
Ranting and raving that everyone needs saving
Arbitrary selection - without sincere connection
Notorious and inglorious - not meritorious
Consuming tenacity with no sense of veracity
Exaggerated piety - a show put on for society


BLIND FAITH


Bewitching - not enriching
Ludicrous and ponderous
Illogical- not infallible
Naïve- so easy to deceive
Devouring -not empowering

Fragile- so easy to break
Absolute conviction without restriction
Illusion , delusion, mass hysteria and confusion
Tenebrous epiphanies
Hollow dreams- misplaced memories



FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY


Fortitude with an attitude
Authenticity not complicity
Ideology not mythology
Trustworthy and reliable
Heartfelt and desirable

Homogenized doubt with clout
Obstacle but not impossible
Protection from dejection
Expectation with anticipation

A…
N…
D…

Ceremonial generosity
Humanism is its philosophy
Alms and outstretched palms
Resolution for those in need of absolution
Inspirational, not sensational
Tax deduction , a nice seduction
Yielding to magnanimity



















my warmest
bob
__________________
Nature weeps, the devil sings
at man’s greed and pride
and what it brings

Just lots of useless
little things…


God is Dead; He died yesterday from Nothing...

http://theoddvillepress.com

Last edited by rcallaci : 04-01-2008 at 11:21 PM.
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Old 04-02-2008, 10:29 PM   #11
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The ballade of life

Swaddled infant becomes toddler
Tottering, screaming, staggering waddler
Learns to wash and dress himself
Leave infant nappies on the shelf
To form the words that meet his wants
What it means when they say “Can’t”
Preparing for a future one
Knows one day will surely come.

Off to school to gain the tools
Find out who’s who, what’s hot or cool
Learn to read and learn to write
Chase, run, make friends, fight
Learn to apply your minds own will
Mastering those essential life skills
Preparing for a future one
Knows one day will surely come

Nurturing your life’s new birth
Pushing yourself for all your worth
All the things you have you give
Building trust, a place you live
You and a partner working in common
Making a home for selves and children
Preparing for a future one
Knows one day will surely come

Waking when the night is still
Making peace and making wills
Making the most of the final crumbs
Knowing the day will surely come



That was a bit harder and I have substituted "the" for "one" in the last line
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Old 04-03-2008, 07:09 PM   #12
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Tetractys

I know this is not on the list but I love short poetry and this a fun style. I'll leave it to Olly to go over the forms on silent wishes list.

A tetracty is a 20 syllable poem. It consists of five lines of 1,2, 3, 4 and 10 syllables (making a total 20) It can also be written with another verse but when doing so that verse becomes inverted. 1,2,3,4,10 10 4,3, 2, 1

An example of a double tetractys:

(puppy love)

Love
Passion
Desire
Heart on fire
My body, mind and soul is yours to keep

The scent of you makes my heart skip a beat
Your face is beauty
Breath so sweet
Those eyes
Mine

This can be done in three verses 1,2,3,4,10,10 4,3,2,1,1,2,3,4,10.. and so on-quite challenging and fun.

I like to mix forms as well - In this poem I start with a small acrostic and a series of single tetractys- I broke the rules on this by not inverting as I felt it fit the theme better.

(The Seven Deadly Sins)


Salacious imaginings
Immorality in its totality
Naked consumption

GREED

take
my need
feels so good
must have it now
what I have you can not its mine! all mine!


ENVY

why
not fair
I want it
It should be mine
I deserve it more, I hope you lose it

LUST

heat
desire
need your touch
want it so much
I burn for you, need to ravish you, now!

SLOTH

sleep
lazy
you do it
the easy way
why do it today when there’s tomorrow

ANGER

rage
fury
how dare you
wrath unbounded
no forgiveness you’ll ever have from me

GLUTTONY

more
hunger
not enough
Insatiable
never to rest, I want the best, fill me!

PRIDE

me
the best
so unique
one of a kind
In my mind I’m renowned , don’t you see it?



There are numerological and mystical overtones to the tetracty form. 1,2,3, and 4 add up to 10. Euclid (the great mathematician ) is the one who coined the word tetractys.

Like the haiku this form can be quite challenging - To express a complete thought in 20 syllables is no simple feat-although the form is quite simple.

my warmest
bob
__________________
Nature weeps, the devil sings
at man’s greed and pride
and what it brings

Just lots of useless
little things…


God is Dead; He died yesterday from Nothing...

http://theoddvillepress.com

Last edited by rcallaci : 04-03-2008 at 10:10 PM.
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Old 04-04-2008, 12:34 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rcallaci View Post

...


There are numerological and mystical overtones to the tetracty form. 1,2,3, and 4 add up to 10. Euclid (the great mathematician ) is the one who coined the word tetractys.
how fascinating, thank you
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Old 04-05-2008, 10:39 AM   #14
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Etheree/Ethere


An Etheree consists of 10 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10 syllables. Ehteree’s can also be reversed and written 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. (total of 55 syllables). They can be written with more than one verse but invert the second verse, and so on, depending on how many verses that are intended. Double, triple verse poems are called Ethere. This form is meant to focus on one idea or subject.

These 10 lines are usually done in unmetered and unrhymed verse. Rhymes/ meter adds a different flavor to it –so if inclined go for it. I’m a rhyming fool so I can’t help myself


Example of Etheree:

(House Call)

Eyes
blurry
shooting pain
mouth dry, nose bleed,
bad sweat, all wet, chills
ears hurt, stomach cramps, diarrhea
tooth ache, body sores, migraine, lice
hallucinations, burning fever
Take two aspirin - call me when your dead

(having a little fun with the form)

Example of a Double Ethere:

Storm
Wind, rain
Lightning blast
Thunder power
Nature’s wrath, war path
Clouds in flight; clash and flash
Cold and damp, wet and weary
Sounds of fury, lost in winter
No need to hold me, drowning slowly
Tidal wave, water grave, it won’t behave

Swirling, bubbling, boiling, destroying
Murderous bent merciless intent
Hell bound, heaven sent, pagans wake
Death hound, vicious sound, fire lake
Gathering smoke, no hope
Brimstone smell, farewell
Lamentation
Negation
The last
Storm


I centered this poem(in it's original form to give it a swirling effect- I used rhyme and a few other effects-mainly the (ing) sound to give it a bubbling and moaning effect. This can be a very versatile foam-not constraining or limiting at all – have fun with it….


Note: for the purists technically my double ethere is a countdown-countup being that there is rhyme and meter- and there is one rhyme in the first so that is technically a countdown as well. To me these are Etheree and Ethere-this form is only twenty years old so My Ethere is a variation- dislike the name countdown and countup- so unpoetic. Try it both ways .


my warmest
bob
__________________
Nature weeps, the devil sings
at man’s greed and pride
and what it brings

Just lots of useless
little things…


God is Dead; He died yesterday from Nothing...

http://theoddvillepress.com

Last edited by rcallaci : 04-07-2008 at 09:47 AM.
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Old 04-05-2008, 09:22 PM   #15
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Rictameter



This is another one of my favorite forms to write in. It is very similar to a Cinquain in that is follows the same scheme but with a few variations. 2,4,6,8, 10 then down 8,6, 4 2

You start your first line with a two syllable word and end your last line with that same 2 syllable word.

Here is an Example of a series of Rictameters following a seasonal theme:




Winter
snowcapped mountains
frozen lakes, melting ice
cold starry nights, blankets in white
captured snowflakes, beating hearts, slow motion
your touch, your breath, on me, in me
our eyes kissed, our souls danced
past glance of
Winter

Spring
birds, bees
sun soaked flowers
ocean breeze, gentle rain
waking sunsets, captured rainbows
first time meeting, oh so fleeting, you smile
precious moments, joined together
held forever, lightening flash
just a dash and
splash of
Spring


Summer
ocean madness
hot sands and sunny skies
June bugs, lazy days , radios
sand castles, mud pies, your eyes , surprised~
first kiss, heavenly bliss , heat rise
under blankets embraced
bygone trace of
Summer


Autumn
reds, browns
amber delight
smell of leaves smoky sweet
Halloween candy, turkey treat
whispering willows in harmony weep
your laughter engulfs me complete
overcast, thunder blast
a repast of
Autumn



my warmest
bob
__________________
Nature weeps, the devil sings
at man’s greed and pride
and what it brings

Just lots of useless
little things…


God is Dead; He died yesterday from Nothing...

http://theoddvillepress.com
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