PoetryPoetry

A Poem by Billy CollinsA Poem by Billy CollinsIntroduction to PoetryIntroduction to Poetry

I ask them to take a poemI ask them to take a poemand hold it up to the lightand hold it up to the light

like a color slidelike a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem I say drop a mouse into a poem and watch him probe his way out,and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem’s roomor walk inside the poem’s roomand feel the walls for a light switch.and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterskiI want them to waterskiacross the surface of a poemacross the surface of a poem

waving at the author’s name on the shore.waving at the author’s name on the shore.

But all they want to do But all they want to do is tie the poem to a chair with ropeis tie the poem to a chair with ropeand torture a confession out of it.and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it was a hoseThey begin beating it was a hoseto find out what it really means.to find out what it really means.

The BasicsThe Basics

““As a poet, exercise the courage to As a poet, exercise the courage to explore your unconventional feelings,” (pg explore your unconventional feelings,” (pg 229). It takes courage to write and share 229). It takes courage to write and share poetry so it is important to keep an open poetry so it is important to keep an open mind during the process.mind during the process.

Poems have as much to do with sound, Poems have as much to do with sound, rhythm and overtones as they do with rhythm and overtones as they do with making statementsmaking statements

Sophisticated vs. Simple poetrySophisticated vs. Simple poetry

Do your best to express true feelings, Do your best to express true feelings, reflections and emotions. reflections and emotions. Be honest with yourself and don’t be afraid Be honest with yourself and don’t be afraid to go to a place you have not gone before, to go to a place you have not gone before, or haven’t allowed yourself to go. or haven’t allowed yourself to go. We’ve all written the “roses are red, violets We’ve all written the “roses are red, violets are blue…” poem—let’s try on something are blue…” poem—let’s try on something different here and stay away from greeting different here and stay away from greeting card poetry.card poetry.

Differences between prose and Differences between prose and poetrypoetry

Poetry uses the poetic line rather than the Poetry uses the poetic line rather than the sentence as the primary unitsentence as the primary unit

Poetry relies more on images than on Poetry relies more on images than on abstractionsabstractions

Poetry cultivates the sound of wordsPoetry cultivates the sound of words

Poetry develops rhythms of languagePoetry develops rhythms of language

Poetry creates density by implying more Poetry creates density by implying more than is statedthan is stated

Seven Deadly Sins of PoetrySeven Deadly Sins of Poetry

The impenetrable-haze Poem—Yes, you have liberty The impenetrable-haze Poem—Yes, you have liberty to be playful with poetry but you still need to have an to be playful with poetry but you still need to have an air of cohesiveness. Random images that do not air of cohesiveness. Random images that do not connect will confuse the reader.connect will confuse the reader.Truth-in-a-nutshell poem—A lot of poems attempt to Truth-in-a-nutshell poem—A lot of poems attempt to define truth, beauty, love or evil. Though these define truth, beauty, love or evil. Though these abstractions may be interesting places to start, they abstractions may be interesting places to start, they are often cliché. If you want to write about such are often cliché. If you want to write about such abstractions, you must ground it in a specific truth or abstractions, you must ground it in a specific truth or image (see Stephen Dunn’s poem on page 217 for an image (see Stephen Dunn’s poem on page 217 for an example of what I mean).example of what I mean).

Seven Deadly Sins of PoetrySeven Deadly Sins of Poetry

Oh-Poor-Miserable-Me poem—This is often common Oh-Poor-Miserable-Me poem—This is often common with new poetry writers and it’s easy to gravitate toward with new poetry writers and it’s easy to gravitate toward because we may have a lot to vent about. While at because we may have a lot to vent about. While at times self pity can be genuine, avoid using it repeatedly times self pity can be genuine, avoid using it repeatedly in your poetry. in your poetry. The Marching-band poem—Rhyme is important to poetry The Marching-band poem—Rhyme is important to poetry and the sound of your words has a great impact on your and the sound of your words has a great impact on your audience, but predicable rhyming is better suited to audience, but predicable rhyming is better suited to greeting cards, nursery rhymes, song lyrics, etc. We greeting cards, nursery rhymes, song lyrics, etc. We want to create something new herewant to create something new hereHark, the antique language poem—This is essentially a Hark, the antique language poem—This is essentially a poem that draws primarily on “old” language (twixt, oft, poem that draws primarily on “old” language (twixt, oft, etc.). Write in the context of NOW not THEN.etc.). Write in the context of NOW not THEN.

Seven Deadly Sins of PoetrySeven Deadly Sins of Poetry

The Wailing Violin poem—This one is a fine line The Wailing Violin poem—This one is a fine line because it tends to go overboard on emotions because it tends to go overboard on emotions yet we want emotion in our poetry. Too much yet we want emotion in our poetry. Too much sentimentality can irritate a reader, but just the sentimentality can irritate a reader, but just the right about of GENUINE emotion will entice the right about of GENUINE emotion will entice the reader.reader.

The “All Them” poem—This poem incorporates The “All Them” poem—This poem incorporates sweeping generalizations about “all women,” “all sweeping generalizations about “all women,” “all men,” etc. Be careful not to lump ALL men,” etc. Be careful not to lump ALL individuals into one category.individuals into one category.

How do I begin Writing Poetry?How do I begin Writing Poetry?

Visual impressions—A majority of poetry of all Visual impressions—A majority of poetry of all types focuses on an image or images. Don’t types focuses on an image or images. Don’t limit yourself to visual impressions though, all of limit yourself to visual impressions though, all of your senses can provide critical ideas for poetry.your senses can provide critical ideas for poetry.People in your life—looking at those around you People in your life—looking at those around you and the important people in your life is a great and the important people in your life is a great place to start when beginning poetry. Look at place to start when beginning poetry. Look at the relationships you have with your friends, the relationships you have with your friends, parents, siblings, grandparents, etc. parents, siblings, grandparents, etc. Relationships are never easy and almost always Relationships are never easy and almost always a complex dynamic of human interaction—so a complex dynamic of human interaction—so trust me, there is plenty to write about!trust me, there is plenty to write about!

How do I begin Writing Poetry?How do I begin Writing Poetry?

Freewrite on a topic, image, or idea you have to generate new Freewrite on a topic, image, or idea you have to generate new ideas. Expose all of your thoughts on paper in sentence form then ideas. Expose all of your thoughts on paper in sentence form then go back and pluck out ideas or words that move you. This could be go back and pluck out ideas or words that move you. This could be the start of a poem.the start of a poem.Explore your journal—this one is my favorite and has really helped Explore your journal—this one is my favorite and has really helped me to discover interesting topics that have long ago been brewing in me to discover interesting topics that have long ago been brewing in my subconscious. Go back and reread all of your journal entries—my subconscious. Go back and reread all of your journal entries—are there any fires burning?are there any fires burning?If you keep a private journal, consider making a list of things you If you keep a private journal, consider making a list of things you honestly feel but don’t tell anyone. IF you do so, as Dunn honestly feel but don’t tell anyone. IF you do so, as Dunn recommends, “late at night,” you may understand how such secrets recommends, “late at night,” you may understand how such secrets are “like a small fire.” They burn “if you get too close,” but they may are “like a small fire.” They burn “if you get too close,” but they may also serve as the genesis of new poems,” (pg 229).also serve as the genesis of new poems,” (pg 229).Page 234 provides six ways to jump-start a new poem, some of Page 234 provides six ways to jump-start a new poem, some of which have been included here. Use this as you begin exploring which have been included here. Use this as you begin exploring poetry. poetry.

Types of Poems we will writeTypes of Poems we will write

HaikusHaikus

3 Stanza object poem3 Stanza object poem

Free Verse (image poem)Free Verse (image poem)

Poem of your choice: if you want a Poem of your choice: if you want a challenge, try some of the Stanza poems challenge, try some of the Stanza poems in Chapter 31 (rhyming couplets, triplets, in Chapter 31 (rhyming couplets, triplets, quatrains, rhyme royal, sonnet, rondeau, quatrains, rhyme royal, sonnet, rondeau, pantoom, villanelle)pantoom, villanelle)

HaikuHaiku

A form of Japanese poetry—in English it is A form of Japanese poetry—in English it is typically broken down into three linestypically broken down into three linesFirst line has five syllablesFirst line has five syllablesSecond line has seven syllablesSecond line has seven syllablesThird line has five syllablesThird line has five syllablesThus forming a 5,7,5 stanzaThus forming a 5,7,5 stanzaTraditionally the haiku draws on some Traditionally the haiku draws on some aspect of nature and either states or aspect of nature and either states or implies a particular season. implies a particular season.

3 Stanza object poem3 Stanza object poem

Consists of three stanzas or sectionsConsists of three stanzas or sections

Each section includes a reference to a Each section includes a reference to a specific object the author has chosenspecific object the author has chosen

The sections stand alone in story but The sections stand alone in story but correlate in themecorrelate in theme

Image poem/free verseImage poem/free verse

One or multiple images are the focus of One or multiple images are the focus of the poemthe poem

Often written without meterOften written without meter

There is no regular rhyme scheme in free There is no regular rhyme scheme in free verseverse

The author is at liberty to play within The author is at liberty to play within poetry with free verse—not tied to a poetry with free verse—not tied to a specific set of stanzas.specific set of stanzas.

Stanza poems Stanza poems You could try one of these for your poem of choiceYou could try one of these for your poem of choice

Rhyming Couplets: two lines that rhyme—this could turn in to a Rhyming Couplets: two lines that rhyme—this could turn in to a deadly sin if not careful. It can become boring after awhile.deadly sin if not careful. It can become boring after awhile.Triplets: A poetic stanza with three lines, often rhymingTriplets: A poetic stanza with three lines, often rhymingQuatrains: A poetic stanza with four linesQuatrains: A poetic stanza with four linesRhyme royal: A seven line stanza in iambic pentameterRhyme royal: A seven line stanza in iambic pentameterSonnet: A metered and rhymed poem of 14 lines usually in iambic Sonnet: A metered and rhymed poem of 14 lines usually in iambic pentameter.pentameter.Rondeau: Consists of three stanzas—first has five lines, second Rondeau: Consists of three stanzas—first has five lines, second four lines and last has six lines. four lines and last has six lines. Pantoum: A verse formed in quatrains (stanzas of four lines). Lines Pantoum: A verse formed in quatrains (stanzas of four lines). Lines 2 and 4 in each stanza repeat as lines 1 and 3 in the next stanza.2 and 4 in each stanza repeat as lines 1 and 3 in the next stanza.Villanelle: A French verse form of 19 lines in iambic pentameter Villanelle: A French verse form of 19 lines in iambic pentameter divided into five tercets (same as a triplet, stanza with three lines) divided into five tercets (same as a triplet, stanza with three lines) and a final four-line stanza. and a final four-line stanza.

Poetry buzz wordsPoetry buzz words

Stanza: In metered poetry a regularly recurring group of lines Stanza: In metered poetry a regularly recurring group of lines usually separated by spaces and unified by line length, metrical usually separated by spaces and unified by line length, metrical system, and often by a rhyme scheme. system, and often by a rhyme scheme. Iambic pentameter: Iambic pentameter: is a type of is a type of metermeter that is used in that is used in poetrypoetry and and dramadrama. It describes a particular rhythm that the words establish in . It describes a particular rhythm that the words establish in each line. That rhythm is measured in small groups of syllables; each line. That rhythm is measured in small groups of syllables; these small groups of syllables are called 'these small groups of syllables are called 'feetfeet'. The word ''. The word 'iambiciambic' ' describes the type of foot that is used. The word 'pentameter' describes the type of foot that is used. The word 'pentameter' indicates that a line has indicates that a line has fivefive of these 'feet'. of these 'feet'.Image: An item that can be perceived by one of the five senses. Image: An item that can be perceived by one of the five senses. The most common are visual details.The most common are visual details.Meter: A system of stressed and unstressed syllables that creates Meter: A system of stressed and unstressed syllables that creates rhythm in certain types of verse.rhythm in certain types of verse.Rhyme scheme: A recurring pattern of rhymed endings repeated Rhyme scheme: A recurring pattern of rhymed endings repeated regularly in each stanza of a poem.regularly in each stanza of a poem.

Now let’s look at some examplesNow let’s look at some examples

Hakiu—pg 204Hakiu—pg 204

3 Stanza poem—handout3 Stanza poem—handout

Image poem—pg 207Image poem—pg 207

Stanza Choice—pg 205Stanza Choice—pg 205

Reading PoetryReading Poetry

In small groups, read at least six poems from Chapter 26In small groups, read at least six poems from Chapter 26—you can choose which ones interest you.—you can choose which ones interest you.Read following the guidelines on page 199 of Three Read following the guidelines on page 199 of Three Genres: Slow down, give it multiple readings, return to Genres: Slow down, give it multiple readings, return to puzzling lines or phrases, use a pencil and mark it up!puzzling lines or phrases, use a pencil and mark it up!Next, answer the questions following each poem and the Next, answer the questions following each poem and the following questions: following questions: What moved you about the What moved you about the poem? What images stand out to you and why?poem? What images stand out to you and why? Please write you answers down and be ready to share Please write you answers down and be ready to share with the class your discoverieswith the class your discoveries