No restriction is here on which form we're to choose,
and no pref'rence, iambic, dactyllic the feet,
no insistence on whichever line-length to use
in fact nothing to set any style or conceit.
Nor insist on Petrarchan or English in sonnet
or that octet be followed by any sestet,
no rhymes preordained, in concrete preset
or according to pattern prescribed, instead let
all the verses to be where the meaning suggests,
to begin and to end where the lines ought to go.
And their form to be free of outsider requests
but filled to the brim with their language to show
the beauty of nature and its great effect
on the mood, that the Reader be happy to get.
Author notes
anapestic meter
A contest entry
- CONTEST FOR HUGH WYLES FAVORITE’S ONLY # 18 by huguenauties.
750 points, ended August 14, 2007, 9 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 15 of 15
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Excellent Writing
Goodness! What a unique, interesting poem.
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Unique, with thanks.
Well, I'm up and the coffee is good. For some reason the FTP refuses to work so I am here before uploading twelve items to my website. Too early to phone the server. Bah!
So, good morning!
And thank you so much! I had completely forgotten this piece! It may be unique to you but it is one of many that turn attitude and process of writing into a form that has a history of dabbling in dainty beauty. Not only that but there is not an iambic foot in there--it is all dadaTA dadaTA, anapestic meter--very much NOT acceptable in formal sonnets! No pentameters either, they are tetrameters! And yet they work. And not deliberately: Muse at work!
I often did conform to expectations...or failed when I tried. Not many golds either, obviously. It used to matter, but not anymore. I don't expect them.
Anyhow to my chagrin I find also that I did not know how many messages about this poem had no replies from me. I did not know. They don't report them or I would have answered quickly! Interesting comments.
So saying, I'm going there!
Thank you for finding this.
Terry
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Exactly ...
I love it. Is it published? I think Richard would like it, and I know I do. I'd like to send it to him if you have no objections.
This poem exactly states how I feel about writing sonnets. It's perfect.
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From October 14, Meta Sonnet
Do you remember this? Technical Requirements of a Meta Sonnet? I had not known! There was no note about any of the comments after I had moved on to the next-- and had not returned possibly because I did not expect any? I would not have known even now except that Ellis brought it to my attention.
Anyhow if you still would like permission to pass this poem on to Richard, possibly to publish it, of COURSE, and I am happy that you consider it to be good enough! If it is too late, I will understand.
I have others with offbeat content--not the pretty birds and flowers stuff--I think I can find them. "Advice to a young poet..." Two of those come to mind.
Hoping you are well today...
Terry
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Of course I remember.
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Of course I remember.
I will send it on to him when he's recovered. He's probably not in any shape to worry about anything right now. He was bitten by a cat, which shredded his finger, and got a bad infection. He was at the hospital for a whole day and is on antibiotics and morphine for pain.
I will copy this and send it in a few days. Hopefully he'll be better by then.
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Not too often I read this kind of meter, but I do like the flow of the lines using this -the rhythm is catching and very easy to follow. Liked the information you gave in these lines too - educational as well as entertaining. Enjoyed the read.
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I competed in a sonnet contest series for a host who said if it doesn't have a volta, it is not a sonnet - despite 14 lines, iambic pentameter and obedience to prescribed rhyme schemes. While such form exists and it is beautiful, I find that opinion rather extreme.
What counts is what you have done here - strong ideas with definite rhyme and meter, slipping the bonds of earth.
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The Huguenauties make contests easy, mainly for me since I'm about one brick short of a simpleton.
Ah, I do believe there is irony afoot here, satire even. A poem about writing a poem...about structure...too much so. It's why I like to write prose over poetry...I find even free verse to have too much structure for what I want to convey. It's not a rejection of one, but a preference for the other.
Very creative, and hits to the heart of writing, and it reminds (not in style but in memory) of a story I wrote which was an entire explanation of why I had begun the story...that is, it was all an explanation of itself with no actual tale...It sucked and no one read it, lol.
This however is witty and as I said, creative.
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For some reason I always do better writing a poem in a certain form when it's my choice, rather than being "told" what form to use. I think for me that's just part of my stubborn nature.
I enjoyed this so much, might have even learned something even though I'm totally inept when it comes to meter.
Great job, and good luck in the contest!
Best wishes,
~J.
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Dear Terry, it is hard when you're restricted to rules. That's why we like to keep it simple in our huguenauties contest, so that everyone can write in any style they please.Great poem.
Thank you for entering our group contest and good luck in the voting.
Jen
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Unusual but pleasurable meter in this ironic poem. I enjoyed the read!
Best of Luck in this contest!
Maureen
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Maureen, with thanks
Anapestic meter is unusual because so few know the fun in using it. It has become my natural expression, replacing fifty years of iambic!
Terry
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I found this poem quite unique
My impression is that it states the obvious about how quite a lot of us poets like to write. When there are rules we have to follow we can not be as creative as we would like to be. The only real rule that I feel should be followed is spelling. That is why you have spell check. Title,first and last lines go with this poem very well. I liked this poem very much.I do not find it awkward at all.
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Bang on! Thank you for sharp observation!
We prefer not to be contricted by rules and demands which, if all were followed, would swallow the poem before it got to have content at all. Here the lack of content IS the content until the very end. Irony, for those hated rules are all it has!
I should reassure that this tongue-in-cheek stuff pretty well wrote itself, and you need not worry about my heavy labour. My Muse was having a ball! I just did the typing.
Terry
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