April PAD

And here we are April and National Poetry Month just about over for 2009. So here for your review and my recap some information about poetry and writing

Can we have a little Class

To write what? Huh?

Prose or is that poetry

Poetry is something but what

Who is the Poet

and more recently this year there was

How do you read

How--What do you write

How to build and end

New places or at least new to me places

How a Poem Happens

Poems Out LOUD

Thanks for being a part of my poetry world and for staying while I babbled on and on about it.

How do You Build and End

And this is the next installment of Questions by Pegs of Pegspot and the remaining questions of “How to you build a poem and How do you know when to stop.” As was originally asked in the Writers Digest forum.

I have said before you need to open yourself. And you need to be willing to let the writing go in the direction it wants. Don’t over think it. Name what you feel, see, taste, smell, touch it, put it in a category. Examine it with that sixth sense you have. We all have it we just need to be okay with using it. Don’t worry, you don’t have to actually tell anyone you caught the 6th sense. And try not to be afraid if you see dead people, chances are most won’t hurt you.

I typically write free verse and I highly suggest that you check out the many, many types of poetic forms that are out there. There are several fun forms and some that really can piss you off, but you should at least try them 2 or 3 times before deciding that you hate a certain form.

Is your subject something you have directly experienced before, have heard about 2nd hand, or are curious about? It is not uncommon to do some research and reading on a subject before you write about it. Sometimes that is what led you to your subject to begin with. So you have picked your subject or it chose you. It has rolled around in your thoughts; showed you how it feels, what it tastes like, sounds like, smells like, what its texture and purpose is.

If you are having a hard time getting started try some free word association; write your subject down then branch out around it with descriptive words or just start writing those words out in sentences or short phases. Arrange them so that you have a beginning, middle and an end. Ok for the most part you want a conclusion to be reached. This does not mean that a poem can’t be open ended-meaning there could be more, but there’s not, sort of like a good book it can leave you wanting more yet you are still fulfilled/satisfied.

I know I have mentioned the same sensations over and over but I think you need to let these seep into your senses. I’m also pretty sure that there are a lot of poets out there that will disagree with me and that is fine and dandy. What works, or what I think works for me may not work for you.

Once you have a rough draft, you need to reconsider each and every word. Do they convey the best possible meaning for the work? Is this a soft floatly sort of poem or a hard sharp piece? Be sure your words match with the sensation. Words do have a sensation about them, ones that we don’t readily recognize at first because we are desensitized to that part of them. I mean come on we have been using the same words since we learned our ABCs. You need to consider the number of syllables and the stresses on those. Most poetry has a lyrical flavor to it, that happens with the way the sounds roll off your tongue and curve into the next one. Read them outloud.

I know this is not a direct answer as to how to write a poem but maybe it is enough of an explanation to help get you started on how to build a poem. There are plenty of books out there for you to enjoy and learn a way that will suite you.

You can become anyone or anything your brain thinks up. If you don’t like what you have written you can destroy it. There is a lot of freedom in poetry and writing in general as you can be free to say what you want and or desire whether it is nice or not.

And now… How do you know when a poem is finished?~~ when it is published, because after that if you change anything it becomes a new poem.

Let the poem sit and mature, age for a bit (a bit can be from a few hours to a few years) come back to it with an open mind and fresh clear attitude. Be ready to revise it or leave it as is.

For me it is when the poem feels finished, when there is no more to say, when I don’t make any more changes or if I keep making the same minor change(s) and flip-flop back and forth, Then I just have to make the decision that it is done. Some of my works may never be done some are so awful they should be burned.

And there y’all have it my confusing convoluted take on the How To of my poetry world.

I strongly recommend reading poetry (read a lot of it), writing it and critique the works of others it will improve your work.

You never know experience until after you experience.

Out loud? Can it be?

Poems Out Loud is a fairly new site that launched on April 1 to coincide with National Poetry Month this year. I encourage you to visit and listen, yes listen to poems being read. A whole new experience for those that are just beginning to dabble and enjoy the beauty that is poetry and to renew the familiarity of those that may feel the poetic art form is old hat.

The song

Song of the words are A melody
Hard and soft, low and sweet
Meter with feet to stand on
Rhythm and rhyme reach
Into naked air of innocence
Slow for a soul to drift on
Or fast quick words of action
Syllables, constants, vowels
Let them all marry happily
To create style, verse and
Poetic songs of dipody


I hope you enjoy the readings, I know I have

How -- What do You Write...

This time Pegs of Pegspot asked “How do you write your poems? What do you write about? What gets you started? How do you build the poem? How do you know when to stop” In the Writers Digest forum.

I gave a lame excuse as to why I didn’t have time to post a reply. Well it was a true reason but I also wanted to think on it a bit, try to arrange my thoughts in some kind of cohesive order. And now I’m just typing this hype as a stall tactic. (Which is weird because I want to write this.)

I’m going to start with: ‘What gets you started and What do you write about’ as they are sorta the same for me.

No one can tell you how to get an idea, inspiration if you will, or what to write about. I can only tell you what works most of the time for me, but know that these “most of the times” can change. To want- need to write poetry is the first step. You need to open your heart, thought processes and all your 6 senses, because it does take all these to work together.

My topics come from everywhere, everything, everyone and any other “every”, you can think of. I become ‘that thing’ of the poem I’m writing whether it is a person, place, thing, or other. I have even written of phrases that I mis-heard or mis-read. For instance one of my favorite pieces of my own work is Ghetto Lullaby. That came about because one day when I was driving home I tried to read what was on a back window of someone’s pickup. I still don’t know what it really said, but it made me think ghetto lullaby: just what does that sound like, why would someone put that on a window and then the pictures and sounds came to mind

I have been motivated to write about something because I read someone else’s poem that triggered something in me. (Oh, when I say something like that I mean the “me” that is the togetherness of all 6 senses.) Not that I think I can say it better than they did but because it evokes a response from me. And don’t forget there is the “answer”, a reply, to someone’s work of poetry, song or art.

Examples of things that are fair game and may become poems for me are…

Whacked out dreams, mine or someone else’s

Current news events, deaths, illness, weather

Religion, the earth, outer space, color, lack of color

Sex, love, untouchable concepts, nature

Food, buildings, shoes, sounds,

Life, don’t forget this is the starting point for everything

I use prompts at times. Prompt: to move or induce to action; to occasion or incite, inspire; to assist by suggestion. In fact I have an actual container that I keep them in and when I feel like it I take one out and think about what is on the little slip of paper mull it over and around, from the outside in and then write my poem. This month I am using the prompts that are being provided by Robert over at Poetic Asides. A long time ago I learned that I cannot read any one’s work until after I write mine own or it may influence me into feeling so inadequate I give up before the first stroke of ink is laid on paper.

Poetry is not an exact science, some of the forms may be, but not how you get your motivation / inspiration / reason for writing. You do need to want to write it and you should enjoy reading or at least hearing other people’s work or mine (I’m an other people). I hope this long a$$ post answered part your questions Pegs because in the end I suppose I write and read with all my 6 senses regardless of what kind of ghost I may see.

Show me what you see, feel, taste;

Show me what you want me to experience;

You know pretend I'm from Missouri

At times like these I wish I were eloquent, but alas I am how I am

This Just In...

UPDATED 4-13-09 ... Brian of The New Author has stopped, suspended, halted all voting in the First Annual Poetry / Short Story Contest. It seems that the poll may have been tampered with and he has therefore acquired anonymous judges to take over in lieu of pier voting for the best Short Story and Poem. The decision is still expected to come in sometime on Friday.

It is sad that even suspecting unscrupulous behavior has marred his first contest. I hope the alleged possibility of tampering turns out to be a mistake. I also hope this will not affect his decision to hold further contests, in what has become a large writing community surrounding The New Author blog that itself has managed to be so helpful to.



My poem ‘If I Were’ has been selected as a finalist in the New Author Blog’s contest. If you can find a minute PLEASE pop over there and check out the offerings and vote* for your choice. I hope I’m your choice. My piece can be found shown in the April 8 post; and look for the title “If I Were”

{jumping up & down—hands waving in air---pick me pick me}

After reading all the poems and short stories you will be able to cast your vote* by way of a “Poll” Voting begins today April 10 at 3:00 pm. Good luck to all the finalist.


*Voting will last for about a week, so don’t feel like you have to hurry; just make sure you don’t forget about little ol’ me {yes a play on your sympathies}

Thank you Brian and you Dear Internet

Oh one more time cause I like things in sets of three; that is at New Author and the title is If I Were

How do You Read...

Pegs of Pegspot asked a question on the Writers Digest Forum in Critique Central under Poetry… “How do you approach a poem you are reading? One line at a time? A snapshot speed-read? A squinty-eyed look at the shape of the thing first? Several different ways? How many times do you read a poem? Do you look up words you don't know the first time through? Do you read it out loud? Backwards and upside down? I myself am not a very experienced poem-reader, being a fairly recent aficionado, so I don't have a "usual way." How about you”
She didn't ask me personally but as a general question to the poets there. Now what was at first a simple short reply turned into this long drawn out explanation, so… Attention Please. Students settle down and take your seats…

First, I usually read with my eyes, the whole piece--unless something is amiss then I stop ‘cause my eyes won't let my brain process.

Ok here’s how I go about it.

For critique I will read a poem full through to get my initial feel for it. Then I’ll peruse* it to look for the usual; spelling, pace, consistent use of tense and feel (words/images that intertwine). Like a story I expect some sort of beginning, middle and end-conclusion. I am an artist of sorts therefore design and balance influence me, so I look at how the poem appears in its written form. I will also read it out loud to hear the way it sounds to my ears (my mind interprets written words more as pictures and read words as lyrical sounds-songs almost).

When critiquing, unlike some other people, the subject of a poem has seldom put me off if it is view or opinion that I do not agree with personally. I also believe that darkness and sadness can be conveyed in beauty and even hatred, evil poems have a place. I fall short of a good review when I have found the poem to be fun for my mind and ears and usually can only muster little more than “how fun”. Poetic works can be a chore, torture to read at times and more especially when performing a critique of one that was not very well written. And I confess if my time is tight, it too will determine the extent of my exanimation of a poem. Sometime it is just read and go, because I don’t have the time to rip it a new one.

I feel bad that I lack the ability to fully analyze a poem for someone that has asked for an honest opinion on it. And for me that’s because the piece did not strike me one way or another. More often than not I do not want to stifle anyone’s creativeness so at times when something is really not good, really bad should I say, I tend to say nothing. Because my dear internet, poetry is a little bit more than just slopping words down that pop into your head “cause that’s how you feel”, but be fair warned that that is the beginning of being hooked on writing.

Also there are some folks that only want a pat on the back for writing a poem. This is true, sad, but still so true and after a while of doing critique I’m fairly good at being able to tell who is serious about improving their craft and those who are not. One way to tell is when, someone comes back to explain why it is a certain way, why they said it like that or what they meant was… Well that says, to me, ‘I don’t’ want your opinion cause you obviously can’t read, comprehend or understand something as clear as the nose on my face.’ Duh? I can’t see your nose from this side of my monitor. And double Duh?? You are the one that asked for a critique. If you want to be a better poet (better anything really) you will listen to what others say, look at it from their point, then accept it or discard it as you feel. But you have to be willing to “LISTEN” even to those whose don’t get your work, whether they are too dense or whatever. This is something that occurred to me after this one time at band camp, no that is someone else’s story, after I explained what I was getting at. I thought ‘why am I explaining’ the poem either conveys what it needs to or it needs fixing. I listen to what others say about my work, cause I want to know.

I will use a dictionary once or maybe twice (if it is already interesting) for a single poem but more then that I consider it over my head and find no joy or very little in it. Rhyming is ok but truthfully it gets tedious for me if it’s a long poem or if there are more than 2 rhymer poems in a row. That’s what I call ‘em “rhymers.” I’m also not typically fond of epic poems and tend not to write them, although I have read a few. But it better be really, really good if it is to keep my attention like a short story or a novella good. Concrete poems are not bad, although for me they can be a bit hard to read due to the specific format used to make the picture.

Pegs thanks for asking this question, as it made me stop and actually consider how I go about reading poetic works in general for critiquing, in reading for entertainment, and writing my own poetic nonsense.

And thank you my dear internet especially if you read this whole convoluted thang.

* peruse: a fancy word for in-depth examination of what is being read; to scrutinize

Happy April Fool’s Day*

Today is the first day of the rest of April and National Poetry Month; wherein all persons, both living and dead I suppose, are invited to write a poem a day (PAD) or to read a poem every day. But you all know me too well, I think, to believe that I would post one every day. And as you know I have committed myself to write a poem a day this entire year of 2009 and thus far am pretty much on schedule, with the help of some of the~~sick~~ prompts provided by you for my jar. I have missed a few days but on others I have written more than one, so for me it still figures out the same on paper.

I plan to use the Prompts (some if not all) provided by Robert Lee Brewer on Poetic Asides and I hereby invite y’all to join in. It won’t hurt, much, it can be fun and you can read in the comments the works of many fine poets from all over the US and the world. I don’t think there are any from outer space but who knows.

Here is a photo of the motivational poster the Academy of American Poets sent to moi; it inspired the poem below.

NOW DON’T YOU BE A FOOL … GET OUT THERE, PBIC (put butt in chair) AND WRITE SOME POEMS … I double dog dare you!

DO I DARE

Disturb the universe
What has it to do with me?
It knows not time, place
Nor me

I cannot, will not
Alter its existence
Yet it will affect mine
Sunrise to sunrise

As Hamlet spoke…
“To be or not to be”
Ha, that is not a concern
For the universe

It will simply be
Without self knowledge
Yet it is time, place
And me

Waves and undulations
Ripple thru this
Universe and out
Thru me

* BTW I believe this is a day started by the devil to insinuate that Christians are fools for believing Jesus rose from the dead. It is with faith, not sight nor proof that I believe.