Poetry is an art form and as such is subject to many interpretations.
This column is about the basics of poetry.
This column is about the basics of poetry.
Poetry Theories
Poetry has about 360 different forms plus what variations writers may add at their discretion. That's a lot. My favorite type is the old fashioned rhyming type. But I'm told all forms have similarities. Here are some points for writers of whatever type of poetry, to ponder.
1. Music of poetry.
Remember Mum or Dad or someone reading Nursery Rhymes aloud when you were a wee infant. Poetry. For many years I read aloud to my children, my grandchildren and to the residents of an Old Peoples Home. I learned to read well. Poetry has music and reading aloud will help you to hear the music of your work.
2. Rhythm
The rythm is really only the beat of the music. Reading aloud will show that too, and any flaws there may be. try it! I did and found myself not up to scratch.
3. Picture
Paint a picture with words. Take the reader with you, to see what you see,feel what you feel, share with you your pain or your joy. It is not easy at first but will come with practice.
4. Flow.
This is where I have troubles at times. Water flows, slowly in the lowlands but fast and furious down the mountains. Set the pace of your writing to suit the subject matter. Long words may slow things down, short ones to speed things up a bit.
5. Feelings
If you have a sad subject, then make the reader cry. Put your emotions at the time of writing, into the poem. Your reader will thank you.
6.Rhyme
In many forms of poetry rhyme adds another dimension to the writing. It enhances the music and the rythm. If you choose to use rhyme then make it seem natural, not forced or fake. Some forms of poetry do not use rhyme at all.
7. Meter
This is an area where I do have difficulty. Specific types of meter are a requirement in some types of poetry. I won't go into those. Traditional Poetry:- Poetry that rhymes, is usually better with a regular repeating syllable count.
Do not slavishly follow the syllable count if it interupts the music and flow of the poem.
8.Free Verse
Remember you, the writer make the rules for Free Verse, but you also ahve to follow them. That's the hard part.
To learn more about writing, read. Read whatever you can find of the type of writing you want to do. Then imitate it.
Reading aloud is wonderful, but, do your aloud reading as a reader not a writer. The writer owns the copyright - the reader owns the written work.
In my research I read in 'The Little Red Writing Book' by Mark Tredinnick
, the following :- A good writer is a careful and a critical listener. You are your own work's first and most important reader. If you don't listen to it carefully, it's probable that no one else will.
Hope this helps someone. If not, then maybe someone can help me with their comments.
Thank You
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Poetry
well said, my friend! -
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Thank you. It's really only the very basics I have put here. There so many rules and forms around and yet the author still has the freedom to make his/her own.
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Poetry
I am so glad I have been able to read this i agree with what Condor has said , you are so generous in heart/spirit
regards Kath -
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Hello Kath, and thank you for you kind words. On my page, in a list is a series on Poetry, called Poetry ?What's That. It is a series of five with some of the points of poetry explained in more detail. It may help. I appreciate your visit, thanks again.
Cheers
Bob
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Dear, Bob. I have read this a few times now and am ever so grateful for your words of encouragement to all the poets out there. This is a very poingnant piece that helps me to understand a lot of the poems variations which at times i have a lot of trouble with when i see it here. I especially do not get meter writing. Is that not the same as rhyming? I'm not sure i understand the repeating sylable bit. Perhaps you could explain that to me. I'm pretty dumb in that respect. I have this bookmarked so i can come back and refer to it when i need to. Thank you so much for taking the time to sit down and write this for all. Your are a true Gentleman.
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Sir,
I have found your words to be of great benefit. I wish i could say I was aware of these many points in their entirity, alas I was not.
I pray that newer work will reflect this knowledge you have shared.
Silent Hawk -
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In my endeavour to be a better writer I spent a lot of time looking around for basic information, the column is the basic content of what I found. There are many places to further studies should anyone wish to advance. For me personally the basics are enough at present; when I get this information suitably entrenched in my brain, then I can move on.
I appreciate your comments and hope that the column helps in some way.
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Well penned Bob.
Hear the rythm as you read.
I have a reasonable program on board that will read text to you (in a kinda fashion) and it does help me to find the hiccups when I use it
Fine effort here mate
Linda
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Hi Linda, I spent a number of years reading aloud to children and also to oldies in an old peoples home. I have always known the value of reading aloud. And I have learned the basics of poetry from school days onwards. Knowing it and writing it are quite different but knowing is a start in the right direction. I can read aloud in my head now and pick up the hiccups quite easily. Then I just edit again. I do go 'Burr-Blind' now and then. I am really appreciative of your comments.
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