Poetry Information

Mechanical Poetry - Part Three


Have you ever read the lyrics of a Simon and Garfunkle song? Pure poetry. Want to write poems like that? Start copying them. Let me explain.

The Myth Of Creativity

Creativity is somewhat of a myth. It isn't that it doesn't exist, but people's ideas about it are mis-informed. Many believe that to be creative is to come up with something completely new. There isn't an artist or inventor out there who has done this.

Somebody had to write the first four-line verse or haiku poem, right? Now is everyone that uses these forms an uncreative copy-cat? No, of course not. We must copy forms, general ideas and techniques, so why not do it more systematically?

Poem Writing Tricks

Copy a poem you like, and then play with the elements. Part of the beauty of a poem is in the structure and the rhythm. Why not insert your own words into that, to see what happens?

Here is the last part of a poem titled "Gratitude." It started by painting a picture of the mountains,and then;

Words fail, as they should...

So there is nothing to say
There is nothing to say
There is nothing
Is nothing
Nothing...

But gratitude

Now, if you take the general "gimmick" of the diminishing lines, you could insert all sorts of thoughts. An example:

Pain returns, as it must...

And to where can I turn for relief?
To where can I turn?
Where can I?
Where?

But to life

Shameless? No more so than the second time somebody wrote a four-line verse. New words have created a new poem. In the context of a longer poem, this copying of form in one verse might not even be noticed.

What is creativity if you don't create something? Use whatever tricks and techniques you need to start creating poetry.

Steve Gillman has been playing with poetry for thirty years. He and his wife Ana created the game "Deal-A-Poem," which can be accessed for free at: http://www.dealapoem.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Feel the Emotions and Inspiration of These Poems -- New Poetry ...
MarketWatch - 16 hours ago
He studied poetry at California State University, Northridge with Robert Deutsch, who was a close friend of Delmore Schwartz and John Berryman, ...


Spoken word poet Jon Goode: A man of his word
CNN - 5 hours ago
But it was after an appearance on HBO's "Def Jam Poetry" that Goode really started to get noticed. Goode says the trek to renown was not easy. ...
Commentary: Me and my brother and CNN
all 4 news articles


Teacher uses poetry to connect with students, give them a voice
Avon Post, CT - 6 hours ago
As Billy Collins signed books after his reading at the Hill-Stead Museum's Sunken Garden Poetry Festival, he suddenly found himself on the receiving end of ...


Chalk one up for national poetry week
Auckland stuff.co.nz, New Zealand - 5 hours ago
By NEIL DUDDY - Eastern Courier | Friday, 25 July 2008 Local poets and residents joined in with the spirit of National Poetry Week last Friday. ...


Local poety releases first CD of recordings, 'There's Poetry in ...
Johnston Sun Rise, RI - 5 hours ago
Famiglietti has also been making her name known in the poetry world for several years. Inspired to write by events on a local, national or even ...


Words of Meaning May Change Our Lives -- New Book Brings to Life ...
MarketWatch - 21 hours ago
In 'De Colored Section, Ray expressed that his poetry will bring meaning to readers and establish a common bond of discussion between men and women. ...
Learn All About Body Language With This Compelling Book -- New ... MarketWatch
all 6 news articles


digitalBURG.com

Poetry festival at Montserrat 'hot' success; next session may be ...
digitalBURG.com, MO - 5 hours ago
Despite heat advisories and 95-degree temperatures, more than a hundred people turned out for the poetry Festival at Montserrat Vineyards this past weekend. ...


Nigeria: Osundare Wins Poetry Prize
AllAfrica.com, Washington - 10 hours ago
Professor Niyi Osundare has won this year's Tchcaya U Tamsi Award for African Poetry. The prize, debuted in 1989, is named after Tchicaya U Tam'si, ...


Pub poetry night
Blackpool Gazette, UK - 9 hours ago
By Emma Harris There will be performance poetry, plus an open mic. The free event will be held at the Victoria Hotel, Victoria Road West, Cleveleys, ...


Times Online

Karadzic Was Once Considered A Moderate By Many
NPR - 2 hours ago
If anything, he was seen as a bit of an oddball, having dabbled in everything from chicken farming to poetry in a fruitless quest for wealth and glory. ...
Video: Karadzic plans to defend himself in The Hague RussiaToday
Kindly old poet or evil warlord? Sunshine Coast Daily
The Rise and Fall of the “Butcher of Bosnia” Transitions Online
Telegraph.co.uk - Huffington Post
all 6,483 news articles

Poetry - Google News

home | site map
© 2006