 Poetry: September 10, 2014 Issue [#6543] |
  Poetry
This week: Poetically Speaking Edited by: Fyn  
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Poetry is what in a poem makes you laugh, cry, prickle, be silent, makes your toe nails twinkle, makes you want to do this or that or nothing, makes you know that you are alone in the unknown world, that your bliss and suffering is forever shared and forever all your own. ~~Dylan Thomas
If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry. ~~Emily Dickinson
Poetry is the journal of a sea animal living on land, wanting to fly in the air. ~~Carl Sandburg
Poetry is ordinary language raised to the Nth power. Poetry is boned with ideas, nerved and blooded with emotions, all held together by the delicate, tough skin of words.~~ Paul Engle |
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One of the reasons I carry a notebook with me wherever I go, or more these days, take advantage of the 'note' part of my phone, is that I am freed to scribble down/talk to Siri and capture that phrase that, else-wise, might be lost forever. I can overhear someone speaking and they might string together three or four words that spark a poem. Often, I've found, that the resulting poem had a mind of its own and ended up having nothing to do with the original conversation. Pulled from its original context, it often proves far more powerful. Sometimes, I'll think, There's a poem in that. or What a great title for a poem. I grab it, get it down and then let it simmer until it erupts into a full-boil poem.
There is a style of poetry called "Found Poetry." It is literally taking a line or three from an article or paragraph and reworking the 'lines' such that it becomes a poem. This is similar except that I will take a spoken phrase and go from there. My friends are used to my saying to them that, "I'm going to steal that line." They grin, (usually) shake their heads or roll their eyes and say "Go for it." or some such. It all circles back to my mantra of being observant about what goes on around us. This isn't simply observing 'things' but about behaviors, conversations, reactions, odd moments and being able to selectively hear and extract the unusual grouping of a few words or movements, about viewing the juxtaposition of a phrase with surroundings and isolating that moment and then playing with it later.
Other peoples conversations can be mined for information and utter truths. For example, it is almost deer season here in Michigan. My husband is a deer hunter. A die-hard deer hunter and his hunting feeds us year round. Now, regardless of your personal feelings about hunting, please bear with me. For years I have heard him and his buddies talk deer hunting. This time of year (well, actually starting in the spring) they live and breathe hunting. Hours spent practicing, honing skills, readying equipment, practicing, walking the woods, following deer trails, practicing, discussing deer movement, watching moon phases, practicing and getting everything together means I hear a lot (!) about deer hunting. Sure, my eyes could glaze over, but they don't.
A few years back I wrote a poem about what is involved in the art from start until a successful hunt. I never asked my husband a thing, I just poetically regurgitated what I'd heard over the years and played with it. The result has been featured on hunting sites, passed from hunter to hunter. My husband was recently shown a tattered slip of paper a hunter he met carries with him. Now, this guy was a total stranger. They'd met at a gas station and started talking about hunting. The guy told my hubby he had one of the best bits about hunting he'd ever read and carries it to remind himself about what hunting is all about. He then pulls it out of his wallet, unfolds it carefully and shows it to my husband ... who freaks out and says, "My wife wrote that!"
"She's a hunter, too?" asks the guy.
"Never been out in the woods," says my hubby. "She just listens."
"She listens really good then, 'cause she nailed it!"
It's one of those things that, usually, unless you are really involved in it, you don't/can't 'get.' I mostly get it, but because I listen, as far as any hunter who has read it is concerned, I really get it! I hit home with the feelings, emotions, and hard work involved in more than just being successful in a hunt, but in all the work involved, the being out in the woods, the control one exercises and the feelings they feel. I was, as my hubby says, 'right on target!'
Have you written a poem about something that was purely fictional, but had readers respond as if it were true and you are writing about something you've experienced first hand? Usually that means you've done your research (and oh, yes, one can do research for a poem!) and listened to others well enough that you've conveyed true feelings and emotions that speak to one who has been there/done that! That is excellent writing and a well honed craft coming to the fore.
It all comes down to the fact that practicing our craft is far more than writing words on a page. It is having the knowledge (of course) about the varying forms, about knowing how to use assonance, description, metaphor, alliteration, etc., but it is also about practicing the arts of listening and observation.
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Elfin Dragon-finally published  writes:I'm with you on "Dead Poet's Society". It's one of my all time favorite movies as well. And when I found Robin Williams had died I felt the world will be all the poorer and lacking of humor. I grew up watching him in TV series and movies and he never ceased to amaze. But on the verse from Keating from the movie..."and that you may contribute a verse". I'm always reminded of the TV Commercial now where you hear Robin's voice and throughout it are various people doing things and to me there are so many prompts for writing it always brings a tear to my eye. 
Steve adding writing to ntbk.  says:Thanks for the newsletter that pays tribute to Robin Williams. As a writer, I have not written about his passing. I did respect his craft and learned that he did accept Jesus as His Savior. I will always have his memories with me and on the day it is inscribed on paper, I'm sure your newsletter will come to mind anew.
Copenator out! BA, MDiv
Founder of Copenator's Crew
Ren the Klutz! comments:He will be missed. His body of work will move us for lifetimes to come. Nice tribute, Robin. ~Ren
Ẃeβ࿚ẂỉԎḈĥ 2025  adds: Beautiful tribute to Robin Williams memory, Fyn. It's also a salute to all poets, everywhere. There is yet another verse to write, which can be viewed from a different angle. Never give up!
Thank you for highlighting my humble verses, "To Robin Williams."
~WW
You're quite welcome!
Jack-check out 7YS says: I watched DPS again last night and it still made my eyes water. What a movie! I haven't read the book yet but I will surely do that now. Thanks a lot for this special newsletter. One of my all time favorites. I also gave out a prompt for my contest inspired by Mr Keating. Rest in peace, great man!
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