Poetic License
I have a confession to make. Not only have I never written poetry, but I’ve also never enjoyed reading it either, except, of course, for limericks beginning, “There once was a lady from Nantucket.” I’m stating this neither as a boast nor as a poetry put-down. Quite the contrary, I’m a bit embarrassed about my inability to appreciate poetry. I worry that it’s a serious intellectual flaw. And I have more than enough of those.
Consequently, I think it’s time for me to broaden my cultural horizons. I’ve decided to try my hand at penning poetry. I have just a few questions that I hope someone can answer before I start: Which government office issues poetic licenses? How much does it cost? I don’t want to spend a lot of money on a license until I’m sure I to want to stick with this poetry thing. What’s the penalty for writing poetry without a license? And, assuming that I do take to poetry, once I get my poetic license, how long is it valid? Will I have to renew it annually?
Categorised as: culture
Poetry can be many things.
Rhymes – words that flow – haiku – prose.
Think of poetry as you would music. When you read it, hear the beat behind it.
For example
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet
and so are you
Is “read” heard in a singsongy fashion because we’ve become used to it.
But if you really break it down it is done is syllables. I believe that has 4 syllables in each line – and the ending of every second line rhymes.
In English we base our words on syllables and stress points.
Poetry often uses those stress points and syllables to provide a ‘meter’ or tap-tap-tap-tap of words to connect them together in some fashion.
So let’s say you wanted to avoid syllable or timed rhyming – well then you might put a few sentences together to display a mood – or evoke a feeling. Almost like writing -but with a direct expression:
I gave.
Today – a piece of myself.
I watched it drip lazily
Into a bag
laying on the floor
only to find that once gone
I would have time to rebuild
for a glass of juice
and a moment to breath.
Note (original – sorry – but had to show it) that you could at interpret that anyway you wanted to. But you kinda know what I’m talking about. But I stressed each line differently to show that it was free flowing – and each line meant something by itself – but made complete sense once read together.
And of course you have your typical pendantic poems that read like:
I sat down – after standing in line
A nurse came up and said you’ll be fine
I looked her up as she stuck it in
I felt it – the needle’s head pin
I wished she’d hurry so I breathed in deep
I waited a while – and wanted to weep
But the bag filled fast – oh wonderfully
and finally that nurse – well – she set me free
With a glass of juice in one hand and a moment of peace
She said – Good Girl – Now who’s next please?
Simple concept – a blood donation on both… (Had to make it odd and original)
But showed 2 different types of poems.
You can do either – since you seem very capable of writing.
And as far as not enjoying them – if you were to read a good one – that struck you – you’d like it.
It all depends on what it is about – and if you can relate to it. (Think love, depression, work problems, music issues, etc. ad infinitum)
and you don’t need a license – ya just do it. LOL!
The license thing is not a bad idea. And damn, it took me forever to get the actual joke.