MORE NEW POETRY BOOK

[Heather]

You can string a few lines together to tell a story, but that does not make it "poetic". It is as the judge said, the most effective words, the use of those words, of imagery, of rhythm that make something poetic. I've read poetry in a phrase, a poem, a sentence, or even just a line and I've heard poetry in lyrics. I've even read things that I didn't fully understand but the way it was written - the words, the rhythm, the essence that was pure magic and poetry to my ears.

There you go Nev, more blue papers.

Heather

[Stephen Whiteside]

The notion that there is a 'poetic' way of saying things which is always the best is quite wrong, I believe. For example, if you are having a rough, or vicious, character talking in your poem - which you may do from time to time - the language needs to reflect this. Some of the most powerful emotions can be expressed in the flattest language.

[william williams]

I agree Stephen words are words no mater how great they are written on a flat piece of paper. but good well controlled spoken words is what brings the poem or story alive.

bill the old battler

[Neville Briggs]

The notion that there is a 'poetic' way of saying things which is always the best

That's not Heather's proposition at all.


Heather is alluding to rhythm in poetry. Spot on, I reckon. Poetry can have metre but not have the rhythm to be really effective poetry ( I got that from Charles Hartman, Professor of English, Connecticut College ).

Charles Hartman says that metre, with it's stresses and "slacks' is NOT the same as rhythm. Once we get that, we are on the way to understanding how poetry works differently from non-poetry, as it were.

It's not that there is a poetic way that is always best. There is a poetic way that has the rhythm that makes poetry different from prose or plain narrative. So I agree with what you say. The most powerful emotions might well be expressed in "flat" language, if that is the rhythm that expresses that emotion.

Winston Churchill's famous speech " this was their finest hour " " Never in the field of human conflict has so many owed so much to so few " ( hope I quoted correctly )or Abraham Lincoln's " So that government of the people, for the people and by the people may not perish from the earth " These things aren't metred, but they are just ordinary words made into just the right rhythm, and have become unforgettable quotes.

And before I get beaten up. I have a loooong way to go to grasp what all of this means, and looooong way to go to be able, if ever, to put it into practice.

[Heather]

Stephen, I wasn't saying that to get a message across that it should always be written in a poetic way. I've written speeches and articles that I would in no way consider poetic, but they were hard hitting and made the audience cry or react - that is a very powerful use of words. It is the use of the best words, and how they are arranged that gives full impact. I've written poems, that, although they are considered poems, I would not consider "poetic". I do think there is a difference to the ear...


Puff away Neville!

[Zondrae]

IMHO,

If 'flat', or even vulgar, words are the best to convey the character in the poem then they are the best and most poetic words for that situation. Wouldn't 'foul and fetid air' sound far more poetic than 'stale air'.

[Stephen Whiteside]

Sorry if I misunderstood you, Heather. I wasn't just responding to you, though, also to Vic and Zondrae -and Neville - but I might have misunderstood them also.

[Glenny Palmer]

Hey Zondrae...valid observations indeed. On a slight tangent....You have given me a great opportunity to point out something that I do feel is important, & may be helpful to our poets. That is... avoiding the duplication of adjectives. When you say 'foul & foetid air'.....foetid air IS foul. Another example would be...''a tiny little flower'....'tiny' is already 'little'. I'm not being pedantic...this is something we often don't realise we are doing, & it can certainly go against us if we are submitting same to a comp.
I realise that you very likely were just using alliteration to demonstrate 'poetic' language, which you do so well, but in a completely different area in this case.....but I mean well in capitalising on the opportunity to get this little 'tip' out there.

As you were folks......just make excuses for me if you can...

[Neville Briggs]

That's right Glenny, I , me, myself personally, would agree with that. It's best not to repeat again.
( Football commentators have a special exemption )
Sorry Zondrae..It's that time of year. déjà vu, all over again.