Poetic devices 5: Assonance

"What does assonance mean?" asks Frank Bryant, a professor of literature. "It means getting the rhyme wrong," he declares, before falling drunkenly off the stage, and crashing into his audience. 

The professor, played by Sir Michael Caine in the movie Educating Rita, takes a very jaded view of poetry. He's more interested in booze, and escaping from reality. Not unlike several well known, real-life poets...

But in one sense he's correct. 

Assonance isn't about end rhymes or 'getting the rhyme right.' It's about powerfully expressing ideas and emotion through the similar sounds made by adjacent words. The resemblance of vowel sounds is where the assonance occurs. If you use assonance effectively, it can change the tempo of your poetry or even intensify the mood you are trying to convey.

Here's a great example of assonance in the poem by Edgar Allen Poe called Bells:

Hear the mellow wedding bells

Golden bells!

What a world of happiness their harmony foretells!

Yes, Poe uses end rhymes too, but it's the assonance of mellow, wedding, bells, foretells that really makes the poem resonate. 

Another excellent example of assonance can be found in The Cold Wind Blows by Kerry Roper. This is a rich examples of internal rhymes too.

Who knows why the cold wind blows

Or where it goes or what it knows

It only flows in passionate throes

Until it finally slows and settles in repose

Want to make your poem memorable? What to step away from predictable rhymes?

Steve Wheeler

Image from Your Dictionary

Writing Children’s Poetry

Do you remember those sweet fuzzy days when a parent would read you a bedtime story? Read it again read it again! Or even back to your earliest years of school… choosing a book from the shelf at quiet time, sitting down, and having a read? 

Who don’t remember “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats, or “Where The Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendack? Or how about Charlotte the spider’s encouraging words to the farmer to persuade him how wonderful of a pig Wilbur was in “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White? Precious stories!

The engagement of childrens’ minds is not such a hard one. IMAGINATION is at the heart of what kids think about. It’s a shame many lose that in adulthood. As a daycare teacher for 3-5 year olds and substitute for many many primary mornings… I witnessed this up close and personal at story time.

Often times I would read the same book in the early early grades… only I would change the stories just a little… oh the giggles concerning clumsy tigers, turtles in track and field, and ballerina hippopotamuses! I just made those up… but there is that wonderful imagination… we ALL have!!!

Children’s poems have one foot in imagination and the other in reality. Actively taking subjects from children’s imaginations, such as animals or inanimate objects and giving them human characteristics, is one common device. More common themes could involve sibling rivalries, daily activities, favorite things, and responsibilities.

Take this excerpt of a poem by Judith Viorst…”If I Were In Charge Of The World”… notice the chocolate sundaes, brushing teeth, and flushing the toilet…

If I were in charge of the world
A chocolate sundae with whipped cream and nuts would be a vegetable
All 007 movies would be G,
And a person who sometimes forgot to brush,
And sometimes forgot to flush,
Would still be allowed to be
In charge of the world.

                                       —

Many children’s poets also mix a few adult references in there as well to entertain those tired eyed mommies and daddies that have to read this poem over and over and over! The quick reference to OO7 being G rated I’m sure made many a parent smile. 

Shel Silverstein achieves this so well in many of his works, including this one from “Where The Sidewalk Ends” entitled The Worst Monsters I’ve Ever Met..

                                        —

I met a ghost, but he didn't want my head,

He only wanted to know the way to Denver.

I met a devil, but he didn't want my soul,

He only wanted to borrow my bike awhile.

I met a vampire, but he didn't want my blood,

He only wanted two nickels for a dime.

I keep meeting all the right people—

At all the wrong times.

                                       —

Notice how he takes childrens’ fears and knocks  them down to kiddie comfort levels of reassurance? This is so absolutely clever on Silverstein’s part. This comfort is what could bring a child back to this poem again and again…

Have you ever written a children’s poem? It’s not hard! Just go back to that innocent programming before the adult concerns and weave a fun narrative using that forever perennial blossom of the poet soul… IMAGINATION!!!!!!

Was this article helpful? Inspiring? Troublesome? Please feel free to leave your comments below… and thank you for reading!! 

Matt Elmore

Religion In Poetry

The Dali Lama once said. “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” 

What constitutes a “religious poem”? Does it have to spell it out… or can it simply be suggestive, as in identifying divine characteristics such as kindness without an identifiable agenda?

The subjectivity of spirituality in poetry, or even art in general, tends to be secularly disseminated. Religion is sold as this or sold as that, always tending to be branded AS SOON AS THE OBVIOUS KEYWORDS APPEAR… “faith”, “vibrations”, “karma”, “prayers”… etc.

The freedom of art is that there are no rules. The same applies to philosophy. The ancient Greek philosophers  and Roman philosophers  sat and calmly discussed the possibilities of our roles in this natural world AND the heavenly realms.  Debates were civilized and conducted within the framework of reason, with a somewhat scientific and civilized approach. Understanding ideas was encouraged!

Poetry affords a similar platform. It levels the playing field, neutralizing boundaries into infinite expressions, as well as expounding upon questions (and answers) of the sublime. Imagination has always been one of mankind’s most peculiar attributes…

The formation of perspective usually lies within both heart and mind, what we feel and what we know. A disconnect between the seen and unseen seems to lie at the heart of every conflict with religion… a mystery of faith if you will.

There are common threads within most religions and even with atheists. Humility, mercy, charity, kindness, love,… all demonstrate attributes that have a place in our lives, whether we are spiritual or not. These threads are what keep our planet from being frayed apart by absolute dissension. Even if we do not agree to disagree, the fact that every perspective exists is in itself a conundrum that will never go away.

So where does that leave poets? Exactly where poets start, where their heart takes them… to expound upon what they believe with all the extent of their craft. It is up to the reader to decide what is wrong or what is right…

What do you think reader? I would really like to know! Please leave your comments at the bottom of the article, and as always, thanks for reading. See you next time!

Matt Elmore

Poetic devices 4: Alliteration

Hedgehogs hogging hedges! Martians munching marshmallows! Zombie zebras in the zoo! Fair is foul and foul is fair (from Macbeth by Shakespeare, of course).... What's it all about .... beyond the crazy wordplay?

The poem Astrophobos by Howard Phillips Lovecraft contains the following stanza:

Mystic waves of beauty blended
With the gorgeous golden rays;
Phantasies of bliss descended
In a myrrh’d Elysian haze;
And in lyre-born chords extended
Harmonies of Lydian lays.

What is so special about this passage of poetry? Well, there are plenty of features including allusion, and the lyrical tempo, both of which I will deal with in future posts. But you may notice that there are two instances of words with the same initial consonant sounds in close proximity - beauty blended and gorgeous golden - that add a mystical and magical quality to the work. This is known as alliteration, and is an often ignored poetic device that should attract more attention. 

There are numerous examples of alliteration in poetry, both throughout the ages. One of the most impressive recent pieces I've seen is by illustrious English spoken word artist Harry Baker (whom I saw perform live earlier this year). It's a piece that travels through the entire alphabet of alliteration, to bring a truly delightful confection of wonderful, stellar images. The poem, called The A-Z of Time and Space is performed below by Harry with copious use of his hands (some serious semaphore) and facial expressions (grimacing, grinning and gurning). See what I did there?

What does alliteration do for poetry? Well, it's a phonic technique to emphasise an idea. It relies on similar consonant sounds to help the poem flow and make sense (or not in the case of some nonsense poetry).  Used effectively, alliteration can add that extra something special to make your poetry stand out from the crowd. 

Try some alliteration in your own poetry. How could you use it to emphasise your themes, or bring additional dimension or meaning to your writing? Please post potential poems in the comments section below!

Previous posts in this series

1: Similes
2: Metaphors
3. Repetition and refrains

Steve Wheeler

Image by Emile Education 

Saying So Much With So Little

Is a meme poetry? What about a quote? How short must a poem be to be considered poetry?

I’ve noticed that many longer works tend not to get as much attention as shorter poems as a moderator of Invisible Poets  and  Wheelsong Poetry on Facebook. 

Writing memes seems to be prevalent as a sort of attention deficit alternative to constructive wisdom. Although short, many do constitute snippets of practical knowledge, which bounce into the realms of poetry. The same thing with quotes

Considered the shortest poem ever written, I’d like for you to consider both the content and the clever application of this timeless poem from 1927…

                                         —

Fleas

by  Strickland Gillian

Adam Had’em 

 

                                        —

With such ripe content applied in such a brilliant and originally whimsical manner, Gillian sought to address a most poignant question… how long have fleas been around?! Also known as  Lines On The Antiquity Of Microbes“, I am guessing Strickland was trying to make up for the brevity of his work with a big fancy title!

Talk about short and spontaneous! Mary Frye wrote this on a brown paper grocery bag in a flurry of merciful pity for a grieving friend…

                                        —

Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep

by Mary Elizabeth Frye

Do not stand at my grave and weep:
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starshine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry:
I am not there; I did not die.

                                       —

Although not a short short poem, this sweet work in twelve lines wonderfully sums up where the spirit may be when one stands at the foot of the grace and wept for a lost loved one.

I’ve had my nose in a dogeared old paperback of the collective works of Robert Frost, of which this one caught my attention…

                                        —

Fire And Ice

By Robert Frost

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

                                        —

The struggle of contrasts between the metaphors in this seemingly simple yet ambiguous poem creates a tension that begs a reader to read it again for different meanings.

Reading multiple times to discern hidden messages is the ultimate comment one could give a poet, much as a burp in some cultures would be a compliment to the chef! 

Wringing truth out of short fabrics of tiny poems to wet the whistle of a reader is not as easy as it seems! Only the most multidimensional messages seem to stick, so it is best to find as many hidden meanings as possible to sandwich in there, as the above examples illustrate.

Do you have any suggestions for this article? I’d love to hear them! Please feel free to comment below, and as always, thank you for reading.

Matt Elmore

Poetic devices 3: Repetition and refrains

They say that history repeats itself. It has to. Because no-one ever listens. 

That was, of course, a clever line from a poem by Steve Turner from his Nice and Nasty collection. But repetition is also a poetic device. In songs it's known as a refrain. A line or a whole chorus is repeated throughout the song, mainly to carry the hook line, but also to emphasise a phrase or a key point. In poetry the latter is always a good reason to repeat a line. 

There are a variety of fixed form poems that build a repetition of selected lines into their structure. The Villanelle is one example; another is the Pantoum. In both, the refrain shapes the rhythm and tempo of the poem, but can also emphasise and drive home the message the poet wishes to convey. In rhetorical poetry and prose this is known as anaphora. 

Dog by Lawrence Ferlinghetti is a poem written from the perspective of the poet's dog. The poem appears simplistic at first but as you read it you quickly realise it is deeply philosophical, and the repeated lines begin to hammer home the message that the poem is really about us and our own inner dialogues.

The dog trots freely in the street
and sees reality
and the things he sees
are bigger than himself
...
The dog trots freely thru the street
and the things he sees
are smaller than himself
...
The dog trots freely in the street
and has his own dog’s life to live ...

The entire poem can be read at this link.

Another type of repetition is known as epistrophe, where the same line is repeated at the end of an entire stanza or multiple lines. Again, this can be used effectively for emphasis, but can also be used to maintain the tempo of the poem. For a great example of this, watch the Bard of Salford, John Cooper Clarke performing his excellent poem Beasley Street (this version has a music backing). 

Building repetition and refrains into your poetry takes a little effort, especially if you want it to make sense. But with a little effort and some practice it can become second nature. Quite a few of my own poemw draw to some extent on repetitive lines and rhythmic use of words. Try it. It's a lot of fun. (I said try it. It's a lot of fun).  

Previous posts in the poetic devices series:

1: Similes
2: Metaphors

Steve Wheeler

Image by Maurits Escher on Wikimedia Commons

Poetic devices 2: Metaphors

Last week I introduced my new series on poetic writing devices and posted a piece on the use of similes in poetry. In this second post in the series we're going to explore the use of metaphor. 

Now perhaps you're thinking what is the difference between a simile and a metaphor? Well I can best illustrate the difference by employing both devices directly. I might say for example 'He has a brain like a computer!' - and that's a simile. Or, I may instead say 'His brain is a computer!' - which is a metaphor. The first device compares his brain to a computer. The second suggests it is a computer. This is the power of the metaphor. A metaphor states that one thing is another thing. Although the reader knows it isn't true, it nevertheless offers a powerful figure of speech to enrich a comparison. Metaphor goes one step beyond simile. It transforms comparison into symbolism. It is a rhetorical device. And there are metaphors everywhere just waiting for you to use them... (What could the image above denote?)

There are numerous examples of metaphor in poetry. In fact they are everywhere.

In Emily Dickinson's poem Hope we see her speaking of hope as a bird:

Hope is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all

Hope doesn't really assume the form or characteristics of a bird of course. She doesn't even use the word 'bird' - but simply alludes to it as 'the thing with feathers'. The power of the metaphor is there for the writer to wield - and Dickinson uses the device very powerfully here to imply that hope lives like a perched bird inside her, and it sings an endless song. 

The arch proponent of the metaphor in poetry of course, has to be Dylan Thomas. In perhaps his most celebrated poem, Do not go gentle into that good night, Thomas uses night as a metaphor for dying. He's not talking about the setting of the sun here, nor is he wishing his father a good night. He's literally pleading with his to fight against death.  

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Another classic example of metaphor use in poetry is our very own Tunisian bard Rafik Romdhani. He is so prolific in the use of metaphors, that he has published an entire book of poetry called Dance of the Metaphors. Most recently, in a new collection called Vapour of the Mind, Rafik writes: 

Hours are flat tyres

on potholed asphalt roads

Dreams were first moans

before their explosions

We are figments of fiction

caught up within our own minds

This short poem is absolutely laced with metaphor. Hours become flat tyres. Dreams emerge as moans. Then explosions. He paints a dramatic and highly evocative picture of mundane every day life, with very few words. This is the power of the metaphor. Try it in your own poetry and see how far you can push it.

Steve Wheeler

Image from HippoPX used under a Creative Commons Licence

Exercising The Poetic Mind

 

Just as our bodies benefit from regular exercise to stay fit and healthy, our brains and poetic skills also thrive when subjected to exercise. Poetry exercises provide a creative workout for our minds, helping us explore new realms of expression, expand our literary horizons, and refine our poetic abilities. In this blog, we will delve into the importance of poetry exercises and discuss various exercises that can help strengthen our poetic minds and keep them sharp. 

1. The Art of Wordplay

Wordplay exercises stimulate our minds to think beyond just conventional language usage, encouraging us to explore the vast potential of words. Engage in activities such as anagrams, palindromes, or creating puns to enhance your wordplay skills. These exercises not only improve your vocabulary but also encourage you to think critically and creatively. Sometimes, I found in my own work even discovering one newly found word can create a poem at times in itself by creating a guideline or foundation. 

2. Embrace Metaphorical Thinking

Metaphors add such a depth and richness to poetry, allowing us to express complex emotions and ideas through vivid comparison. Engaging in exercises that involve creating metaphors can be immensely beneficial. Take an ordinary object or concept and brainstorm various metaphors that could be associated with it. This exercise trains your mind to think metaphorically and enhances your ability to imbue your writing with powerful imagery.

3. Poetic Forms and Structures

Familiarize yourself with different poetic forms and structures such as sonnets, haikus, villanelles, or pantoums. These forms provide a framework within which creativity can flourish. Challenge yourself to write within specific constraints, such as adhering to a particular rhyme scheme or syllable count. This exercise hones your ability to work within defined parameters while fostering innovative thinking.

4. Painting with Words

Ekphrasis is the art of vividly describing a work of art, usually a painting or sculpture, through poetry. Engage in ekphrasis exercises by selecting a visual artwork and allowing it to inspire your poetic interpretation. Describe the colors, textures, and emotions evoked by the artwork, transforming it into a vibrant tapestry of words. This exercise not only enhances your observational skills but also encourages you to find new ways to convey sensory experiences.

5. Collaborative Poetry

Collaborative poetry exercises involve working with others to create a collective piece of writing. This exercise promotes cooperation, stimulates your imagination, and exposes you to different writing styles and perspectives. Participating in writing circles, poetry workshops, or online forums can provide opportunities for collaborative poetry exercises. I know Matt Elmore has made a few different posts on collaborations and the benefits of that particular experience. Each post and collaboration I read has been very well done which proves the efficacy of this technique. 

6. Stream of Consciousness Writing

Let your thoughts flow freely onto the page in a stream of consciousness exercise. Write without pausing or censoring yourself, allowing your mind to wander and explore new ideas. This exercise can help you to tap into your subconscious mind, unraveling hidden thoughts and emotions. It encourages you to embrace spontaneity and can lead to surprising poetic discoveries.

7. Rewrite and Revise

Revision is an essential part of the writing process, and poetry is no exception. Select a poem you have written and challenge yourself to rewrite it from a different perspective or in a different poetic form. I myself will sometimes write a poem and before posting it, I will check it the next day or two and see if it still has the same impact of when I initially created it. This exercise encourages you to critically evaluate your work and explore alternative possibilities. It also helps you refine your poetic voice and improve your overall writing skills.

Just as physical exercise strengthens our bodies, poetry exercises invigorate our minds and helps sharpen our poetic skills. By engaging in wordplay, exploring metaphors, experimenting with poetic forms, and practicing collaborative writing, we expand our creative boundaries and unlock new realms of expression. So, let us embrace the power of poetry exercises and embark on a journey of continuous growth and poetic discovery. Exercise your poetic mind and watch as your words dance with newfound grace and beauty.

Brandon Adam Haven 

Picture by: Brandon Adam Haven