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