~ The Poet's Place Cafe~

1. What is poetry? Many people have defined poetry in different ways. Webster's Dictionary defines it as 'an arrangement of words in verse; especially in rhythmical composition, sometimes rhymed, expressing facts, ideas, or emotions in a style more concentrated, imaginative and powerful than that of ordinary speech; some poems are in meter, some in free verse.' If I may paraphrase the others, poetry is the projection of emotion and experience to the reader through theme, imagery, rhythm, and form in finely compressed language. The poet uses distinct imagery, both literal and figurative, supplemented by the rhythmic arrangement of words and phrases in a specifically designed form to convey feelings and ideas to the reader. Like a snapshot photograph, a poem captures a moment of experience in words that can be shared with others through eternity.

2. What is the difference between prose and poetry? The most important difference is the line structure. In prose, the lines run to the margins of the page and carry over to the next until they form a complete paragraph. In poetry, each line is specifically designed based on the poet's intended effect. Poetry is also distinguished by vivid imagery, a lyrical rhythm that supports the theme, and compact language to create an intensity that evokes an emotional reaction from the reader.

3. Why should you write poetry? First, let's be clear. If you're seeking wealth and fame, poetry is probably not the place for you. The market is very limited, and the question of quality is quite subjective, so your chances of selling enough to make a living is very slim. If you would like to express yourself in a community of people who enjoy doing the same thing, the world of poetry is the perfect place for you.

Poetry is an entertaining form of relaxing recreation. Searching for just the right words to craft a line of poetry is akin to an artist mixing pigments on the palette to achieve precisely the right hue of color for a painting.

Poetry can be a therapeutic outlet for pent-up emotions. Expressing those feelings in words on paper will help you deal with them in a manner that will promote better understanding.

Poetry is an effective means of expanding your repertoire of skills by training writers of all persuasions to be more aware of the intricacies in the language they use. The compact nature of poetry forces the writer to trim and compress the language for maximum effect in expressing the very essence of an idea.

You shouldn't worry about whether or not you 'are good enough' or 'have what it takes.' Poetry is more about the journey than the end result, in my humble opinion.

4. What do you need to write poetry? As with all kinds of writing, the first and most important thing you need to write poetry is the commitment to sit down and do it. Ideally, that will start with designating a specific place and time for your writing. The place can be as simple as a place to sit and a flat surface to write on. The time will depend upon the demands of your daily routine. If you are truly committed to writing, you will find some space in that routine for your writing, whether it be rising an hour early for a morning session or in the evening after the kids are tucked in to bed. Being retired, I usually try to get all my chores and errands done in the morning to free up my afternoon for writing. I also carry a pad and pen with me to capture any random moments that may come available, such as in the waiting room of a doctor's office.

STATIC

Write Stuff  (E) What I do. #1044113 by Dave

You'll also need something to write about. That pad and pen come in handy here, too. The world around us is full of fleeting sights, sounds, and impressions just waiting to be captured and transformed into an expressive piece of writing.

Adrift  (E) Where do your ideas come from? #1045193 by Dave

They don't have to be earth-shaking events. Just be alert for opportunities and use your imagination, the same way Don Henley did when he wrote a hit song about his impression of the evening news ('Dirty Laundry').

THE PROSE POEM:

The term 'prose poem' sounds like a contradiction, doesn't it? It refers to a hybrid form that straddles the worlds of both prose and poetry. While it doesn't have the line breaks that distinguish poetry, the prose poem retains the poetic qualities of language compression, vivid imagery and lyrical rhythm. It also often employs other poetic techniques such as internal rhyming and repetition.

Here is an example:

The Candle's Flame of Hope  (E) My winning entry for "The 'I AM' Imagery-Prose" Contest #1193688 by Dave

More examples can be found at the following link:
http://www.webdelsol.com/tpp/

ASSIGNMENT:

Free write for 15 - 30 minutes about some childhood memory. Don't worry about form, grammar, or punctuation. The idea is just to get some ideas down on paper.

After you have captured your thoughts on paper, start tinkering with the phrasing to trim extraneous language, arrange specific images, and develop a rhythm that will help to convey your feelings to the reader. That is how you create a prose poem.

Next, take that prose poem and start adjusting line breaks to design a form that will complement your expression.

Post both forms in the "~ The Poet's Place Cafe~"  forum, and discuss your impressions of the different styles.



SOURCES:

'Pleasures of Poetry' - a workshop created by Melody Gough for ed2go.com.

'In the Palm of Your Hand' by Steve Kowit

'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron

https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/text/prose-poem-poetic-form

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/learning/article/248630




Let the creativity flow from your soul!
Dave
"The Poet's Place "