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Wednesday, July 09, 2008
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One List Poetry Challenge
Category: Writing and Poetry
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One List Poetry Challenge
Write and post one or more poems of any length, size, or style using any form of every word in the following list in each poem written:
dig
remains
perplexed
citadel
incomplete
sift
gentle
discover
Push yourself to come up with something totally unique and different from your normal style.
It will be interesting to see how VARIED the poems will be using the same list.
Go all out and put everything you can into it.
Remember to leave at least two responses to other posted work. Thanks.
07:12
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64 Comments - 20 Kudos
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Monday, July 07, 2008
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When Words Won’t Wait - Enjamb
Category: Writing and Poetry
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Enjambment - Open Forum
Enjambment can add unique angles and double meanings to poetry that adds power to the content.
Simply defined:
enjambment is a technique in poetry where a sentence or complete thought is carried over to the next line without pause.
Another way of explaining it that will add insight:
enjambment is a technique in poetry where a complete thought is physically interrupted by a line break, but the thought itself continues in the next line without pause.
There's nothing better than an example to illustrate a definition.
Perched on the tender
branch waving in the wind a
bird eats lice off itself waiting
for the morning worms.
Notice how the thoughts are enjambed or carried on in the next line without a pause. Each thought in the poem flows right into the next line and this also crams the independent thoughts together because it eliminates the natural pauses.
Let's take this same little poem and break it up differently to eliminate the enjambment and return it to its natural pauses.
Perched on the tender branch
waving in the wind
a bird eats lice off itself
waiting for the morning worms.
Can you see the difference? Immediately we find natural rests at the end of each line once we remove the enjambment. This also separated the individual thoughts and slightly changed the flavor of their meanings.
Enjambment can actually feel uncomfortable. It rushes us along through the poem, and it forces us to cram meanings together that do not usually go together.
But that is the beauty of it.
Enjambment can be used for more than just moving us along. It can actually infuse the poem with more meaning and deeper meaning, it can be used to send mixed messages, it can allow us to play on words in unique ways.
Here's an example of how the double meanings actually add more to the poetic language because of enjambment:
Crunching through fresh snow
out in the frigid icy air
numb and frozen fingers snapping
pictures extraordinaire
Aha! Did you catch the double meaning?
Is it that his frozen fingers are snapping from being so cold or that he is snapping pictures?
The actual complete thought is that he is taking pictures out in the cold. But the implication that his fingers are snapping added an element of how painfully cold this day is before we got to the continuation of the thought and found out he was merely snapping pictures.
Here is an example from one of my previously published poems called, They Were Me:
Where bottles shattered dreams
In the playground there,
Where asphalt meets chainlink fenced in
Sanity, in vanity, they were me.
The enjambment here actually occurs right in the middle of a word. The double meaning is left open ended.
Is it saying that the asphalt lot was fenced in by a chainlink fence? Is it saying that the playground being fenced is insanity?
Is it saying that the sanity is fenced in?
It is actually saying all of these and more. Enjambment has instantly made the poetic language richer and added more meaning and mixed meanings.
Suppose we remove the enjambment, how would that change the meaning?
Where bottles shattered dreams
In the playground there,
Where asphalt meets chainlink fenced insanity
In vanity, they were me.
A whole different flavor. We lose the mixed meanings, we lose fenced in, we lose some of the speed of the pace, it just makes it different.
So, enjambment does not have to be used throughout an entire poem. It can be used in just a few select places for the right effect.
But I also enjoy a style of poetry that I have been exploring and developing that I call the run-on poem or floetry (flowing poetry).
Floetry relies on enjambment to keep a poem moving as one massive continuous flow of logic in a run-on sentence (thought) right through to the end of the poem. I'll post some examples of that in the forum below.
THE CHALLENGE
Write and post poems of any style and length and use the technique of enjambment at least once.
If possible, try to use it several times in each poem.
Or, just go for broke and write some floetry-- a long run-on poem that moves rapidly through a continuous flow of logic without pause right through to the end.
You can do it!
06:41
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150 Comments - 38 Kudos
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Persistent Prompt Challenge
Category: Writing and Poetry
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Persistent Prompt Challenge
Read the prompt list below, absorb it, think on it, get inspired by it, then write a poem utilizing one or more of the prompts.
You do not have to use the prompt lines verbatim. If you just get an idea from them, go ahead and write a poem. Try to use as many lines or concepts as possible.
Feel free to change tense, person, number, or use any form of a word in the prompt and even delete the "small" words if needed-- just bend them, break them, anyway you need them, as long as you love them, it's okay.
Here are the prompts:
fly with words
commonality's complacency
give your soul wings
you are the epitome of . . .
resonant these solaces sing
new stars forged in time
theatrical thriller
world submerged in wonder
I deplore your inadequacy
sculpting four dimensional realities
lifting the inner ban
this poet's dampened dream
words on a page
where paths lead
sojourning large
this then is the thing
bugles howl for it
the woodwork waits
seasonal enchantments
live life out there, not here
the stolen glances of yesteryear
they say what they say
from somewhere deep inside
delusion of moments missed
self portrait of a kind
sparkling specks
frozen words on fire
bleeding pens and retractable hearts
words left to play alone
I found myself right now
this vacant stare I see
I hear the colors of your breath
to feel the salty salutation
berating bylines of
Use twenty prompts and produce a "genius" or "smarty-pants" poem.
If you use all the prompts, that is called a "supergenius" or "triple-smarty-pants" poem.
HAVE FUN WITH IT ALL
16:08
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333 Comments - 62 Kudos
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Sunday, July 06, 2008
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Open Forum and Incredible Meditations
Category: Writing and Poetry
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Meditations
Day 2 - please keep posting and try some NEW meditations.
There are two options, either post anything you are inspired to post or take on the challenge.
Challenge ~ Meditations: Finish the prompt line below and use it as a title-- then write away.
Prompt Line = . . . Meditations of . . .[you supply the beginning and/or ending]
This is similar to a focused topic-- but instead it is a focused prompt. Take this prompt and supply the beginning or ending and then use it as your title and write a poem from it.
General examples of ways to begin or end your prompt:
Meditations of a Soldier
Meditations of Deceit
Meditations of a Horse Buggy
You could even reverse it and put something before it:
Baneful Meditations
Zen Meditations of the Masters
You could be hilarious/ridiculous:
Meditations of Fart Inducing Foods
Medications and Meditations
Or serious:
Deep Meditations of Universal Consciousness
You could even be specific:
Meditations of John Hart Smith, Corporal, 1924 - 1943
Or personal:
My Meditations
Meditations of a Modern Poet
Meditations of DE
Musings and Meditations
Dream it up and make it live. Once you have an idea, write a poem of any length and style to fit with the chosen title.
Post as many as you like.
Have fun sharing your meditations or just posting any ol' poem you like.
06:55
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255 Comments - 58 Kudos
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Friday, July 04, 2008
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Let Freedom Ring
Category: Writing and Poetry
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Let Freedom Ring
Open Forum
Americans don't have to agree with how the US government is currently run to still be patriotic and thankful for independence and freedom and all that went into forging the great nation they enjoy today and how it has helped many other nations of the world.
As much as we may hate to admit, the only way to defeat terror is to defeat terror.
Thank you to all of America's friends and allies who have stuck with us and recognized that even with the flaws we are still a good people and a good nation.
Challenge: Please post anything patriotic or uplifting in honor of the sacrifices of all our friends and allies and all their soldiers, sailors and airmen who have paid the price in defending and promoting freedom worldwide.
This is a day for uplifting poetry and hopeful poetry, not a time to rant and rave about our weaknesses and failures. You can find political blogs in the appropriate categories and exercise your political activism there.
We need some positive and healing words to bring us all together to stand against our real enemy-- not each other, but those who hate us for being who we are because we stand for freedom, independence, and democracy worldwide.
Sometimes it is good to just be thankful and positive and show great honor for the sacrifices of others. Today is such a day.
Please also be safe with the fireworks and barbecues.
Love to all.
DE Navarro
The Air Force dude on the far right is me. I served for 10 years, 1982 - 1992, including the First Gulf War. This is a Vetrans Day photo and celebration. All those in the picture are veterans. We put this honor guard together for our community 10 years or more after we all separated-- we still fit into our dress uniforms and we did a right proper job that any active unit would have been proud of.
Everyone-- please post poetry. Your poetry doesn't have to be patriotic-- just something refreshing, empowering, uplifting, or positive in some way.
Thanks and enjoy.
07:30
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90 Comments - 44 Kudos
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Thursday, July 03, 2008
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Moving On and Open Forum
Category: Writing and Poetry
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Moving On
(and Thursday Open Forum)
Yesterday's little imposter attack gave me an excellent idea for a topic challenge today.
Challenge: Write poetry that deals with moving on from a challenging or negative situation. It can be about moving on from terrible experiences, a bad time frame, abuse, bad job, unbearable life situation, family feud, or anything like that.
AND NOW
The Incredible Ineffable
Thursday Open Forum
THIS IS YOUR DAY
Display your work ~~ post responses.
Post as many times as you want, but if you post an item,
you have to post at least two RESPONSES to other people's work.
This forum works with your participation and feedback to other poets and writers, so pour it on.
Post whatever poetry you want to showcase here.
Front yourself, put your blog links here.
Talk about anything related to poetry.
07:25
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445 Comments - 92 Kudos
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Tuesday, July 01, 2008
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Internal Repetition
Category: Writing and Poetry
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Internal Repetition
Poetry relies on a fine balance between repetition and variation.
Poets can repeat key words, or phrases, or whole lines in a poem (called refrains) or even repeat certain sounds throughout. They can also repeat images that may be used in different ways to give a more rounded and varied picture, or to echo elements of the poem with added meanings.
Repetition must be used in a way that is impacting and does not lull the reader into a trance or to sleep. Too much repetition becomes redundant and/or monotonous and too much variation destroys a poem's intrigue and ability to capture and hold a reader.
When repetition is used in a poem, the goal is to find the balance between repetition and variation that holds the reader in a state of wakeful rest or relaxation. We want the reader to be alert and focused, but relaxed enough to allow the poem's suggestions to reach him or her.
Today, we are going to explore this use of internal repetition to emphasize and astound, but do it sparingly enough to avoid becoming redundant and monotonous.
Do one or more of the following challenges. You can post old poems that meet the criteria too.
CHALLENGE 1: Write and post poems of any style or length that repeat words, phrases, lines, images, or concepts in an effectual manner at various places in the poem to bring us back to a "base" to add meaning and emphasis. Do not repeat everything, just key elements.
CHALLENGE 2: Write and post poems of any style or length in which each line repeats one word from the previous line throughout the whole poem.
CHALLENGE 3: Write and post poems of any style and length in which the last line or the first line of every stanza is repeated.
07:51
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182 Comments - 38 Kudos
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Prompt List (from Miniver Cheevy and Recuerdo)
Category: Writing and Poetry
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Prompt List from Recuerdo/Miniver Cheevy
Challenge: Write and post poetry inspired by the prompts. All prompts are taken from the two poems posted yesterday, Recuerdo and Miniver Cheevy.
Any style, any length, just post some stuff for us to read.
You can change word conjugation, tense, etc.
very tired, very merry
back and forth
night on the ferry
it smelled like a stable
we looked into a fire
across a table
on a hill-top
underneath the moon
whistles kept blowing
dawn came soon
you ate an apple, I ate a pear
a dozen of each
somewhere
the sky went wan
the sun rose dripping
a bucketful of gold
good-morrow, mother
shawl-covered head
neither of us read
we gave her all
our subway fares
child of scorn
assailed the seasons
that he was ever born,
love the days of old
when swords were bright
a bold warrior
for what was not
dreamed of Thebes
dreamed of Camelot
mourned the ripe renown
made a name fragrant
romance on the town,
art, a vagrant
never seen one
curse the commonplace
loathed a khaki suit
medieval grace
iron clothing
scorned gold
sore annoyed
without it
born too late
scratched his head
keep thinking
Please stick around and comment on others' posts and also come back later to see who responded to you and your comments and post again.
Thanks for participating.
07:45
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239 Comments - 52 Kudos
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Monday, June 30, 2008
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Recuerdo / Miniver Cheevy (prompt challenge)
Category: Writing and Poetry
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Recuerdo/Miniver Cheevy
(prompt challenge)
Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892 - 1950)
Recuerdo
We were very tired, we were very merry—
We had gone back and forth all night on the ferry.
It was bare and bright, and smelled like a stable—
But we looked into a fire, we leaned across a table,
We lay on a hill-top underneath the moon;
And the whistles kept blowing, and the dawn came soon.
We were very tired, we were very merry—
We had gone back and forth all night on the ferry;
And you ate an apple, and I ate a pear,
From a dozen of each we had bought somewhere;
And the sky went wan, and the wind came cold,
And the sun rose dripping, a bucketful of gold.
We were very tired, we were very merry—
We had gone back and forth all night on the ferry.
We hailed, "Good-morrow, mother!" to a shawl-covered head,
And bought a morning paper, which neither of us read;
And she wept, "God bless you!" for the apples and the pears,
And we gave her all our money but our subway fares.
Edwin Arlington Robinson (1869-1935)
Miniver Cheevy
Miniver Cheevy, child of scorn
Grew lean while he assailed the seasons;
He wept that he was ever born,
And he had reasons.
Miniver loved the days of old
When swords were bright and steeds were prancing;
The vision of a warrior bold
Would set him dancing.
Miniver sighed for what was not,
And dreamed, and rested from his labors;
He dreamed of Thebes and Camelot,
And Priam's neighbors.
Miniver mourned the ripe renown
That made so many a name fragrant;
He mourned Romance, now on the town,
And Art, a vagrant.
Miniver loved the Medici,
Albeit he had never seen one;
He would have sinned incessantly
Could he have been one.
Miniver cursed the commonplace
And eyed a khaki suit with loathing;
He missed the medieval grace
Of iron clothing.
Miniver scorned the gold he sought,
But sore annoyed was he without it;
Miniver thought, and thought, and thought,
And thought about it.
Miniver Cheevy, born too late,
Scratched his head and kept on thinking;
Miniver coughed, and called it fate,
And kept on drinking.
CHALLENGE 1: Read the above two poems several times and let them sink in. Find something inspiring in one or both-- a line, a phrase, or an idea, and use it as a prompt to write your own poem. Post it.
Challenge 2: Read the above two poems several times. Merge ideas and concepts from both poems and write a unique and individual new poem from the merged ideas, concepts, or lines. Post it.
Reading other poetry often inspires ideas. Even if the inspired thought is not directly in the poem, it still acted as a catalyst to bring forth the ideas.
Today is all about appreciating these poems of the past and letting them inspire you.
Please stick around and comment on others' posts and also come back later to see who responded to you and your comments and post again.
Thanks for participating.
07:30
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191 Comments - 58 Kudos
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Sunday, June 29, 2008
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How Short Can You Get?
Category: Writing and Poetry
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How Short Can You Go
Since we explored cinquains yesterday and looked at the synergies of language-- let's do a bit more exploration of power and impact in a short.
Today's challenge is an exercise in writing VERY SHORT SHORTS.
It is amazing what can be said in few words when compacted in just the right way.
Write new poems or post old poems that are 30 words or less not including the title (reasonable titles please).
That's right, you have 30 words. Less is better.
Then try 20, 15 words, and even 10 words.
Post as many poems as you like and remember to leave at least two comments on other work if you post something of your own.
Thanks and have fun.
07:50
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147 Comments - 55 Kudos
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Saturday, June 28, 2008
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Make It Live ~ Personification
Category: Writing and Poetry
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Make It Live
Personification
A very quick and simple challenge today-- but last time we tried this it engendered lively play and lots of thought provoking writes.
Challenge: We're going to practice with a form of personification. Become any common (or uncommon) inanimate object and write a poem from its perspective, how it might think and feel and act.
These can range from very serious to totally frivolous-- depending on how you frame them.
Poems can be any length and style and you may post as many as you like.
Get those fingers flying across the keyboard or that pen cruising across that paper.
Enjoy.
08:30
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163 Comments - 52 Kudos
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