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Poetry: July 06, 2005 Issue [#440]

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Poetry


 This week:
  Edited by: Vivian Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

         I have a folder full of articles/lesson plans that I wrote about poetry and some major poetic devices, "Writing Poetry Writing TipsOpen in new Window. [ASR]. Although I addressed using sensory words and using the right word, I didn't tie the devices with emotion. The series on Emotion in Poetry will attempt to tie them together.

         I have discussed how to strengthen the emotion in poetry through alliteration, metaphor and/or simile, and allusion. This issue, I want to try to show how personification can be an emotion enhancer.

Viv
A logo for Poetry Newsletter Editors


Next week's editor will be Becky Simpson Author IconMail Icon


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Letter from the editor

Personificaiton


         Personification is the giving of human traits to non-human things that cannot have those traits. Dogs can experience fear; therefore, writing about a fearful dog is not personification. Clouds cannot experience anger; therefore, "angry clouds" is personification.

         Writing a poem about a talking cat may have personification, but that doesn't mean the personification enhances the emotion of the poetry. Therefore, we need to go more in depth to understand how the use of this poetic device can and should aid the emotions found in the words.

         Writing about dark, towering clouds may create a feeling of dread, but look what happens when we use personfication:

The dark, towering clouds rumbled their anger
As they smothered the frightened sky in blackness.

         Now the emotion - stronger, more pronounced - catches our attention. Of course anger is an emotion, but having the clouds exhibit the anger enhances it.

         I often use personification in my poetry, almost subconsciously, because it does add to the intensity of emotion: sighing tree branches, whispering winds, sleeping flowers, frightened sky.

"The ChapelOpen in new Window.

Like a chapel on a rugged crag, its steeple pointing upward,
My life doesn’t huddle protected in the valley
Beneath trees that keep the blistering sun at bay.
Walls of stone slow not the power of pounding wind.
No, my chapel fights to withstand the snarling gales,
Baking heat, and freezing chill, unshielded from attack.

Yet, as I gaze around me, eyes wide in wonder
At the panorama spread where e‘er I survey,
The view is worth the struggle, strife, and pain.
Where else can I see what beauty can be found?
Unless I live above the clutter, near the clouds,
Despite the storms that shake life’s walls,
I would miss the majesty that can abound.

The path to my mountain top may be steep
Over the jagged teeth of angry rocks.
Yet the trip merits the difficulty, the distress
Even if a towering tempest hides the sun,
For a rainbow will follow the rain someday,
Even if the storm wipes the chapel away.

copyright 2005 by Vivian Gilbert Zabel


         In the preceeding poem we find a fighting chapel and angry rocks, both images providing a battle-type emotion.


Editor's Picks

Highlighted Items


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#911457 by Not Available.

         We find Moonlight offering company and Morning Sun beating away Night in this poem.

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#822707 by Not Available.

         In this poem sand, sea, and sky rejoice.

 Lonely Little Meatball Open in new Window. (E)
A children's poem about a meatball..
#933833 by Lynn Author IconMail Icon

         In a children's poem, a meatball stares from the plate.

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This item number is not valid.
#319199 by Not Available.

         The sunlight bathing a cat leaves a touch of personification.

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#964652 by Not Available.

         A heart has no ability to grow weary or to talk, yet it does in this poem.

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This item number is not valid.
#939895 by Not Available.

         Here a steele blade smiles, how chilling.

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#961907 by Not Available.

         Petals lift praise.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
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#836437 by Not Available.

         Where but in poetry can dew drops kiss?

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#940395 by Not Available.

         And no where else can Death dance.

 
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Ask & Answer

Answers and Comments


         Last newsletter I asked how many lines does a poem in the Rictameter form require and how much rhyme. The first group of comments include answers to the question. Each person with the correct answer will receive 1,000 gift points. Thank you for entering, and also thanks for the kind comments given.

mousybrown
         The ricameter has nine lines and no rhyme is required.
                   Janne

♫ Princess Robyn ♫ Author IconMail Icon
         The rictameter has nine lines, and no rhyming is required. (Which is great for non-rhyming writers, but a headache for someone like me. )
         As always, thanks for the info and enlightenment,
                   Robyn


monty
         Nine lines,
         No rhyme..
         Great Newsletter


♥Flower♥ Author IconMail Icon
         Rictameter is a scheme similar to Cinquain. Starting your first line with a two syllable word, you then consecutively increase the number of syllables per line by two. i.e. 2,4,6,8,10 Then down again,
8,6,4,2 Making the final line the same two syllable word you began with.
         No ryhme required. (cannot wait to try it)


InkyShadows Author IconMail Icon
         For Rictameter poems, no rhyme is required at all. There are nine lines. The first has two syllables, and the syllable count increases by two each line until the fifth line when there are ten syllables, then the process reverses by decreasing the number of syllables by two until the ninth line contains just two syllables, like the first line.
         Rictameter is a fun form to work in. Everyone should give it a try from time to time.


Mothermouse--come visit me Author IconMail Icon
  Dear Viv
         I do love your poems although I don't care for the rictameter form all that much. I prefer a freer form with a rhyme.
         Answer to the question--9 lines and no rhyme necessary.


Mariposa Author IconMail Icon
         9 lines, and no rhyme required!
         Thanks for a great newsletter, as always.

Fyn Author IconMail Icon
         9 and none...

         The following comments include some goofs and some praise. I appreciate both.

Margaret Author IconMail Icon
         Hi! I really like the article on the Rictameter. I like having the challenge of a new (to me) form of poetry as it gets me thinking 'outside the box'. Thank you and I look forward to the next newsletter!

Kamie Author IconMail Icon
         Hi, I have a suggestion. Sometimes I don't always have time to re-read the previous issue of the newsletter before the current issue, and comments in the current newsletter aren't always clear as to what they are refering to. In any case, it would be nice to see the "week's question" referenced in the current newsletter before the comments are listed.
         BTW, great newsletter.
                   Thanks. R, Kamie


hdelphyne
         To this week's editor (couldn't find a reference to your name. Where should I be looking?) I'm new to the site and just getting my feet wet with all the offerings. Poetry is something I have been dabbling in without even knowing what forms there are. I enjoyed your article on rictameter and the sample poems. Looking forward to introductions to other forms of poetic writing. Thea

         I always put my name toward the end of the first section and then again at the end of the newsletter. My name is Vivian Zabel, but most everyone calls me Viv. Other editors put their names in various places, and occasionally, some forget to identify themselves at all.

Brians Next Novel Almost Done! Author IconMail Icon
         Rictameter, eh? Seems like new forms of poetry are popping up all the time these days...will wonders never cease? Great NL!


hdelphyne
         Just a question before I clean out my email box. Are these newsletters archived? Can I return to them somehow? Just want to know if I need to print 'keepers' like the info. on the Rictameter or if it is still accessible somehow after it leaves my mailbox. Thea

         I have the original static item of each of my newsletters in my port. Also all newsletters are archived, but I'm not sure how often SMs updates them. The link for the archived newsletters is
 Writing.Com Newsletter Archives Open in new Window. (18+)
Want to see a back issue? Check here! Every Writing.Com newsletter inside...
#579787 by The StoryWitchress Author IconMail Icon



John~Ashen Author IconMail Icon
         Nice form featured this month, though you should give your copy a good scan to get rid of the typos.

         Ooops, John, you discovered my secret - I'm human with failings. I'm sorry, but I was very much in a hurry to get my newsletter submitted before I left town. I noticed that The Writer's Cramp became The Writer's Crampa. Ish!

Dr M C Gupta Author IconMail Icon
         As suggested, I have written three rictameters.
         ISLAM, US & UN: 3 rectameters-- Entry #352749 in "MISCELLANEA"

                   M C Gupta

         I wish you had given us the bitem link to your Rictameter poetry. Hopefully some readers will take the time to visit your port and find them.

billwilcox
         Great Rictameter newsletter, Viv. You really did a fabulous job on the poems you wrote in that style. Of course my fairy poem wasn't completely politically correct, but it was done with tongue-in-cheek and I hope I didn't offend any daiseys or momma's boys...lol

         One thing about you, Bill, you never allow anyone to have a dull moment. You do enliven the place.


The contest for this issue is to write a short poem with personification enhancing the emotion of the writing.


         If the poem is no more than four lines, you may include it in the feedback text box below.

Until next time, keep reading and writing beautiful poetry

Vivian Author Icon

 
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