A schism rent the quiet past and left behind confusion,
And egocentric demagogues stepped in to fill the void,
Which brought about the gushing flood of poets in profusion.
Imposters seized the Poet’s name with rough and savage noise,
Demoting prosody to verse with ignorant assumption,
And egocentric demagogues stepped in to fill the void.
A few sang random songs of self with hearts full of presumption,
While others clipped and nipped at prose, indignant and inept,
Demoting prosody to verse with ignorant assumption.
The ones who wrote evolving verse, now looked on with contempt,
Were robbed of all integrity and broadly disregarded,
While others clipped and nipped at prose, indignant and inept.
An art emergent and alive had simply been discarded,
For poets wont to learn that art and dream in measured strains
Were robbed of all integrity and broadly disregarded.
So it became unpopular to work in magic frames,
Thus stunting art’s development through future generations
For poets wont to learn that art and dream in measured strains.
The masses heard the demagogues and heeded their frustrations,
And poetry itself became subjected to reform,
Thus stunting art’s development through future generations.
The name of Poet once was rare, not for the average born—-
A schism rent the quiet past and left behind confusion,
And poetry itself became subjected to reform,
Which brought about the gushing flood of poets in profusion.
Author notes
to learn more about the terzanelle: allpoetry.com/Column/784852/all=1
background art by Erin Thomas.
Written May 6th, 2004
In a list
A contest entry
- Contemporary Thought by Muted Delirium.
300 points, ended October 21, 2004, 21 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
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Well, I would never go so far as to call myself a poet. In all honesty, I'm not. I put emotions to paper, and sometimes it makes me feel better about myself. But, I do have a deep respect for poets. I will also say that I'm not the one who will ever start distinguishing who is a poet, and who is not. I'll just say that I am not.
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Well, you sited it as an example of the situation, and personally I'd say you couldn't have said it any better than you did- with a poem.
I'm guilty of what you've gone on about here. I think just about everyone on this website is. Today, more than ever, people are reaching out to writing "poetry" with no real sense of the concepts of meter, rhyme, rhythm, or even the actual definition of poetry- nonetheless, knowledge of the great poets of the past who have paved the way for their blasphemizing of the art form. Then again, the same applies true in the world of music, and the visual arts as well. -
Ah, glad you enjoyed. I've upset as many people as I've impressed with this poem. Really funny that.
I'll look forward to your thoughts as you puruse my work. FYI, I'm in the middle of a four years long self education and training project. I'm using the villanelle and terzanelle forms for this purpose, plus an invented form or two (see part Three of "The Phantom of Wheeler Camp" for one such invented form).
Hope you'll enjoy my work. -
DAMN GOOD!!!!!!!!
Oh it is good to read this! For a long time I have felt I was the only one whom held such views of poetry! This reminds me so much of my own work that it is almost creepy. I must say that I loved this poem so & will be back to read many more of your works because i rather intoxicated at the moment & fear I would not do them justice at the time!
Raped of Faith
Christopher Lee Kline
AbsintheMinded
"Be sure to laugh at life for it surely laughs at you!" -
`
"The name of Poet once was rare, not for the average born—-
A schism rent the quiet past and left behind confusion,
And poetry itself became subjected to reform,
Which brought about the gushing flood of poets in profusion."
^ I think those are your best lines. Very well written! *claps* -
you are an amazing poet, as seen by this and all your other works ,i mean, the forms in which you write are so original and far out that it is almost as if you have created your own unique style branched around out forms of writing, odd they may be but awesome they are, 'A schism rent the quiet past " is quite simply awesome, this poem is deifinately worthy of all the acoldaes it can muster. The meter is perfect, partly due to the form i predict, the structure is spot on and completely accentuates the message of the poem , and the actual message itself is extremely thought provokingg and like your villenila i enjoyed this piece immensly, thanyou for sharing, with faith daniel
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i wasnt completely sure wat this poem was about but i liked it though keep up the good work, just make it more easy to understand,
regards
Haylzz -
Interesting poem. Even if it is reactionary.
Let me state that many of my favourite poets worked within the phrames of rhyme. G.K. Chesterton, for instance, was very good at it. And so was John Donne. My biggest frustration with people who try to rhyme is that they are simply not good at it. A piece of poetry that is merely awful becomes horrendously and criminally awful when people try to rhyme it. Rhyme, if you will. Just do a good job.
I think every poet, if he is good, will approach his work as a craft. What makes prose what it is is sheer obviousness -- being as direct as possible. The poet, however, will say something with perfect clarity, but not necessarily use the most obvious words.
Plus, I know from reading in other languages, that what is regarded as a craft in English is not valued in other cultures. Jews, for instance, value a good parallel verse. Far be it from me to state what is the superior form. -
wow, this was really deep. I love the style and the poem altogether.
Oh yeah, great background too!
I envy it.
~aRia -
i was just thinking. you might look at "Culture", a villanelle i wrote that also happens to be submitted to this same contest. this poem expresses some feelings and points of view about what's become of poetry, albeit by proxy of what's become of our culture in general. "Culture", however, looks at what's become of the american culture, specifically, but using pure allegory. i chose to use strict allegory in "Culture" for deniability, in case local people (i'm involved in some local writing circles, such as they are) became too incensed at my particular view of things.
i grew up in poverty. i was denied an education (starting at elementary--i'm completely self educated). i was forced to find my own way (once i ran away, which was my only means of surviving at the time) in a culture that seems to prize ignorance and crudity, openly disdainful of education and refinement. i was force-fed ideologies that make rich people richer and keep the poverty-stricken underfoot. i see on television debates between two rich people who have thousands of rich people surrounding them and waving banners. these are not my people, and they never will be my people. this is not my culture. "Culture" is about that. if there was ever truly an american dream, i think it died ere i was born.
Edited on Oct 17, 3:51 because ''. -
Moto Bene!!!
Dear A S,
This to me is proof that English is not a dead language.
But I think that your plaint is predicated on a fault within our own society.
Many people feel that to write out some psychiatric manuscripts and in lieu of passing them on to the proper authorities, post them for poetry, it would serve them better.
Again, this is societal, and not the fault of the writer.
Example, I do not care for Dark poems, pretty much at all!
But I know that a month of talking to that person on the benefit of writing something lyrical and blythe would avail me not a hill of beans! And perhaps even reinforce this person's convictions.
Therefore, I guess we will just have to tolerate and understand each other, after all, it just takes A New Pair of Glasses!
Erin. Your name is Erin? This is a most beautiful, and most beautifully put together poem!Nice to return to my English home-room!
John-Las Vegas
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Well, I have to applaud your use of this form. I have never tried to write terzanelle, but it looks difficult. The whole poem was constructed brilliantly.
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Ok, I had no idea what you are talking about. NO Idea whatsoever!
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This is, I'm afraid, another of those forms that doesn't work for me. YOur words are magnificent, but the repition is more of a pain than a pleasure for me. Nevertheless, your will to explore and experiment with so many different things is a plus in its own right. I hope you shall continue on that path, and be inspired with endless ideas.
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OH, and the rhyming scheme and the flow of the poem was great. I had to say that. It has an interesting name as well. Well worth the read.
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this is really great... it sort of fits in with today's lack of culture in areas which used to be considered art, such as the movies, and music (or at least the kind you see in the popular media)... this was very good and i love the rhyming scheme...
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A
Interesting write, uniquely written, foreign style. But it was well worth reading as this was a really good poem. -
This is quite an interesting poem--it was a bit long for me, but the content made up for that very well. Of course, I'll be going back over all the poems when judging time comes, so I'll definately look at this more deeply a bit later. Good luck
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Very well written! I do like this form, though it seems a bit foreign to me.
This is great. It made me feel guilty...hehe
I agree. Oftentimes I feel that I was born to write; other times I feel that I do not do the name justice.
Having read alot of 'poems' on this site, your 'rant' is quite true, and agreeable. I know what you mean.
It makes me want to apply myself in the art.
Most well done.
I applaud. -
Totally amazing and well named. I would like to call myself poet; but I have a lot left to learn. It's a slow process with me. Some of the ramblers come just to get me writing. I think it's important to spend at least an hour a day with a pen and paper.
I've gone off on a tangent again. Your terzanelle sir is fabulous.
~Bezoar -
i have a poet friend here where i live who would love your rubuttle to this poem's main idea. lol
when he got a copy of this poem in email, he left me a message on my phone saying, "erin, i want to talk with you about your poem. when can you stop by my house?". here i thought he was going to tell me what a great piece of writing it was.
but, when i got to his house he made me some tea and we sat down in his writing room to seriously discuss the poem and he tells me, "i think this poem of yours is very childish and shows a distinct lack of maturity and sensitivity."
"but... but... but...", i stammer.
"one day when you and your writing mature more you're going to look back regretfully on having written this," he contiues.
"but... but... but...", i stammer.
lol ... i still don't regret it.
must have a ways to go before finally maturing. hope it takes me a looooong time.
i loved your thoughts here, though. very well articulated and pretty convincing. -
Like Nashville, where the busboys can play guitar as well as any band gone gold. Like Hollywood, where the waitresses could all give Aaron Spelling a run for his money if someone would only let them get their feet in the door. Everyone here has loved, lost, hated, and dreamed; therefore, they all must be poets, because how else can they validate themselves as deep and sensitive and worthwhile? Anyone can write words on paper, even those who can't play or sing or act or even sit and look pretty.
But who gets to decide what is or is not art? And therefore, who can decide what makes a writer a poet? It is, in fact, a self-proclaimed profession. On the bright side, history remembers the greats by vote of majority. Mozart, Shakespeare, Da Vinci - we know their names because most of the world agreed they were ingenius creators. So fear not, time will filter out the pennies.
Much respect,
Sarah
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Since we've established the fact that all we can do is throw our oppinions around while enjoying a very enjoyable im chat with you, I'll just say that I am of the oppinion that the extent of the problem is not over stated, but the root of the problem has yet to be adequately explored.
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I understand what you're saying, but I question the extent to which you've stated the problem. The collective existence of pennies does nothing to the value of a hundred dollar bill.
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i find this all very interesting. people's different points of view. i didn't study poetry forms yet i would class myself as a poet. it's all well and good doing forms but there are also people who like to experiment. i don't know much on form poetry but i have a go here and there, but isn't poetry also down to personal preference too? anyway, just thought i'd throw in a smile
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oh! i forgot to mention the caesura! there's another challenge for you with regard to this poem, and this is very much a part of the meter of each line. hint, the caesura is in a fixed location in each line, where's it at? is it splitting a foot down the middle or is it between two feet?
note: i've developed my own evolution of concepts beyond those of the classical prosodist. i use the hard caesura and the soft caesura in my writing. while the caesura is in a fixed location throughout this poem, there are both hard and soft caesuras for the sake of granting the appearance of metrical variation. -
point out the places in question?
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Ahh, yes, the one rhyme scheme is using a feminine rhyme, but the other end-line scheme is not using rhyme at all. what's it using?
you're dead-on about the iambic heptameter, but the way to talk about this meter itself, independent of the type of rhyme, for the first set of lines (starting at line 1) is to call it hypercatalectic iambic heptameter. now, you know what "iambic" and "heptameter" mean, but you might not have encountered "catalectic" before, which has three distinct flavors:
1) hypercatalectic
one or more extra unaccented syllables at the end of a line
beyond the meter
2) catalectic / catalexis
the lack of one or more unaccented syllables at the end of
the line within the meter
3) acatalectic
not wanting or having too many unaccented syllables within or
beyond the meter (this is a word you'd only use for
clarification - an acatalectic iambic heptameter is really
just an iambic heptameter, but if you want to make clear that
there are no extra syllables and no syllables wanting, then
you tack 'acatalectic' to the fore of the metric name)
you could have femine end-rhymes in a acatalectic trochaic meter which would fit the meter naturally. male end-rhymes in an trochaic meter would turn the meter into a catalectic trochaic meter.
if you enjoyed this little lesson, then i can challenge you to name a more complex meter from another poem if you like.
Edited on Jul 20, 9:17 p.m. because ''. -
poetry is free, poetry is poetry,
whether form or free verse
or even if it is just a few casual scribbles,
if it comes from deep inside
then it is poetry if you think poetry.
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Your words will hopefully trigger new ideas and thoughts that will benefit poets, old & new alike, for a long time to come.
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