Writing An Alouette

I’ve found it funny how songs about death can be sung within children’s songs… London Bridge Is Falling Down, Humpty Dumpty… what have our children been singing?!

Alouette is one of those songs. A popular children’s tune made popular in the late 1700s, it is a sweet song about a little skylark bird that sings the higher it goes. The lyrics also insinuate killing, cleaning and eating the bird as well. So much for happy little singing birds! 

Observe these lyrics!!

Alouette 

Little skylark, lovely little skylark, 

Little skylark, I'll pluck your feathers off.

I'll pluck the feathers off your back.

I'll pluck the feathers off your back.

Off your back!

Off your back! 

Off your tail!

Off your tail! 

Off your legs!

Off your legs!

Off your wings!

Off your wings!

Off your neck!

Off your neck!

Off your eyes!

Off your eyes!

Off your beak!

Off your beak! 

Off your head!

Off your head!

Little lark!

Little lark!

O-o-o-oh

Little skylark, lovely little skylark, 

Little skylark, I'll pluck your feathers off.

Wow! Talk about heavy!!  Opposites really do make the world go around. The singing.quality of this song allowed for a fine rhythm for French canoeists trapping beaver in the new world. Also, cleaning birds was no strange thing before processed meats of today. The song was also brought back from soldiers serving in France during World War I, and no doubt provided a fine cadence to march to.

An alouette is also considered a poem form made popular by a poet named Jan Turner. The form is simple… It consists of two or more stanzas, six lines each, with a syllable meter of 5-5-7-5-5-7  and a rhyme scheme of a-a-b-c-c-b. A rather simple form, it carries a succinct rhyme that can mellifluous in its flow as well as potent in its brevity.

Consider this poem in the alouette form:

mon petite alouette

skip with me daddy!

we play hopscotch see?

I want you to lift me up!

now you put me down!

I chase the dog round!

oww… I fell and hurt my foot!

is it okay? swing…!

let’s swing on the swing!

you promised you’d play with me…

the suns going down!

you’re never around…

you promised you’d sing daddy!

now put me to bed

worn out and well fed

now aren’t I the cutest sight…?

read me a story 

of bears and porridge

kiss me then whisper goodnight 

©️penned by: m.e.

all rights reserved

Note the proper syllable structure, as well as the simple yet catchy rhyme scheme. When properly applied, this form can be both profound and song like, especially when written with a good hook, like the parental angle I attempted above.

It’s always fun to learn different forms, and the quality potential of this music friendly form makes writing in the allotted style delightful… as long as you are not a skylark not wanting to get plucked!

I hope this article was helpful and thank you for reading!

Matt Elmore

Image from: Wikipedia 

References: 

https://americansongwriter.com/the-meaning-behind-the-murderous-french-lullaby-alouette/

http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/alouette.html

Tai Chi Poetry

As I was driving to work this morning, I heard a news story on National Public Radio about the benefits of using Tai Chi for those with dementia and minor memory loss. A study was taken where those using minor Tai Chi maneuvers while performing some small mental tasks improved their “cognitive score”.

This got me to thinking about what poetry can do to calm us. While I doubt anyone is going to be reading or writing poems while practicing some choice swanlike Tai Chi moves, I do know that poems do take me to a better place within my mind, leaving me feeling renewed. 

How is this possible, and by what poetic means could it do so?

A study incorporating poetry workshops in Cambridge and Las Vegas exhibited success in using poetry to deal with mental health issues, as well as loneliness. Sharing feelings developed a sense of community with those who participated. Some fear, anxiety, and stress was shown in the study to be lowered by the reading and writing of poems.

Other studies have also shown poetry to have alleviated pain intensity in cancer patients, improved memory, and helped children deal with emotions to cope with challenges.

Many use music for this purpose… playing classical music in nursing homes soothes troubled days. It has also been proven that music in the workplace increases productivity and morale. Poetry could be also be considered music without a voice or instruments, conveying feelings and emotions to cool one out on a bad day.

Poems about water, bird songs, sunsets, clouds, wooded areas, mountains, flowers, and various other aspects of nature seem to be effective in evoking peaceful imagery. Just as the sound of water is known to bring those anxiety levels down… words describing water can as well.

Fantasy poems can be relaxing. Just as the mind dreams in sleep of desires and comforts, so can words of poetry evoke similar calming illusions to bring satiation. Forests of fairy sprites, happenings in Celtic castles, a romantic rendezvous,… any of which can initiate some daydreaming to take it all down a notch. Is this not what some poetry does?

Do you think this is possible? Are there other forms of poetry that take you to that patient place of relaxation and escape? Perhaps even enhances your capacity to perform tasks better after having read them? 

I’d love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave any comments below and let’s talk about how poetry can bring you balance and clarity… without one Tai Chi lesson... or maybe having one would be a great idea after all….! Thank you for reading!

Matt Elmore

Image from: Unsplash 

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/11/06/1210507968/thai-chi-word-games-cognition-mentally-sharp-meditation-motion

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7447694/

https://medium.com/inspire-the-mind/the-therapeutic-power-of-poetry-whats-the-evidence-208fa59fe09b#:~:text=The%20study%20found%20reductions%20in,them%20reflect%20on%20their%20feelings.

Is Poetry Useful In Today's World?

 

How is poetry actually used today? Is it actually relevant, or has it gone the way of tap dancing or having the best yodel?

I believe there is a modern practicality to poetry that stands up to attention once given the proper salute. The poetic craft has become an often overlooked art in today’s society, not to mention entertainment. 

Let us consider the cream of the crop at the very top of acceptable integration of poetry within our modern days… greeting cards! Ah yes… to celebrate birthdays, personify graduations, elevate anniversaries, pay homage to holidays… open the card and therein lies the sentiment! Funny… serious… topical… cards run the gambit of tastes, as does the poetry within.

Tributes and eulogies often strike the same chords don’t they? Honoring one that has aspired to particularly exuberant greatness deserving of particular praise, or even just a loved one that has touched many before passing… poetry dresses the naked truth. Many truths are not hard to accept… yet beautiful words can soften the blow.

I’ve walked many a cemetery behind churches reading old epitaphs etched into broken tombstones. I did this not out of morbid curiosity, but out of an endearing respect for the dead and calm about the grounds. I still seek words that may provide some insight as to who those souls were besides the usual names and dates… though I’ve often found the same phrases on different stones, picked out of a marble chiselers book of hungry bards!

Political speeches have been known to wax poetic idealisms and poignant commonalities, garnering enough sentiment to stir the hearts of the people,… or to even consecrate an occasion. Lincoln’s Gettysburg address remains every bit as timeless and touching to me as the most profound verse.

Performance Poetry stands out as something that is not so well known, but equally as relevant. There are a number of bards that excel at explosive expositions that are not only noteworthy both comically and tragically, but also extremely entertaining as well. Music deserves a note here as well… many poetic songwriters out there today influencing how we think. Radio jingles  jangle advertising in our ear often with catchy phrases or rhymes that reflect creative flows. I’ve seen inner city murals with bits of thoughts that contain amazing poetry that inspire thought just passing by…

Finally… there’s the old books of literature grandpa and grandma hold dear… and some young folks too! Those masters whose words live on in poetry classes from sea to resilient sea… whose works shall never go quietly into the night. When we hear their words… we celebrate next level authors in our hearts… living or otherwise…

Yes… there is a NEED FOR POETRY today that deserves a salute! Have you ever written any of the above? Maybe you have another practical use I haven’t covered? I would love to hear from you. Feel free to share your comments below and thank you for reading! 

Matt Elmore 

Melody

Melody is an essential component of poetry. It is the musical element that gives a poem its rhythm, tone, and emotional impact. Melody can be created through a variety of poetic devices, such as rhyme, alliteration, and repetition. In this blog, we will explore the importance and effectiveness of melody as a writing option in poetry.

Firstly, melody can help to create a memorable and emotional experience for the reader. A poem with a strong melody can at times be more powerful and impactful than one without. This is because melody can create a mood or tone that resonates with the reader and stays with them long after they have finished reading the poem. For example, the poem "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe has a haunting melody that adds to the poem's eerie and melancholic tone. Sometimes just as we get musical notes in our head, the musical flowing of words can generate this as well. 

Secondly, melody can help to unify a poem and give it structure. A well crafted melody can tie together different parts of a poem and create a sense of coherence. This is particularly important for longer poems or poems with multiple stanzas. For example, in the poem "The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot, the repeated refrain "April is the cruellest month" helps to unify the different sections of the poem and create a sense of continuity.

Thirdly, melody can help to convey the meaning of a poem. By using poetic devices such as rhyme and repetition, a poet can emphasize certain words or ideas and create a deeper meaning. For example, in the poem "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas, has the repeated refrain "Rage, rage against the dying of the light," which emphasizes the poem's central theme of one fighting against death.

Finally, melody can make a poem more enjoyable to read and listen to. Just as a good melody can make a song more enjoyable to listen to, a well-crafted melody in a poem can make it more enjoyable to read. This is particularly important for spoken-word poetry or poetry that is meant to be performed. A strong melody can capture the attention of the audience and make the poem more engaging.

In conclusion, melody is an important and effective writing option in poetry. It can create a memorable and emotional experience for the reader, unify a poem and give it structure, convey the meaning of a poem, and at times make it more enjoyable to read and listen to. Poets should consider experimenting with different melodies as a tool to enhance their poetry and create a deeper connection with their readers.

Brandon Adam Haven 

Image by: Brandon Adam Haven 

Using Images to Complement Your Poetry

As poets, many elements inspire us. However, did you know that pictures are subject to copyright for the life of the picture? Using pictures from the internet can be an infringement, especially if you are using them for commercial use, such as attempting to create book covers. You will not only find the picture will be distorted, but you could find yourself with legal problems. I stay safe by using the links provided below, or I take my own pictures.  

I am inspired by the world around us. I listen to conversations whilst out and about. Also, have you ever tried listening to music as an inspiration? Just writing the first thing that enters your mind. It’s amazing how a piece of music can sound so different from all the other times you have heard it.

I hear you asking: What’s the difference between taking pictures from my phone or a camera? 

A camera gives you more definition. It will provide you with a higher resolution of at least 300 dpi. A mobile phone (even with super duper lenses and all whistles with bells) gives you just 72 dpi. That’s great for the internet, but when it comes to printing a large format image such as a book cover, you’ll want it to look the best.  

We all know how much effort we put into our writing process. It’s the same for photographers. They share their work that they have worked hard to create. I don’t mind anyone using my pictures, but if they are specifically copyrighted then it’s polite to ask for permission to use.

I also use official copyrights for my poetry, such as: ©️2023 Charlene Phare

This provides a way for you to track back to your original work, should you find yourself a victim of plagiarism.

Personally I use free resources to find images, Pixabay is a great place, I use the Copyright sign for my own photography.

I have used a little trick in the picture that accompanies this blog, see if you can spot what I did.

Free resources for inspiration: 

https://pixabay.com/

https://unsplash.com/

Image ©️ 2023 Charlene Phare photography

Read Me A Song!

 Read me a song and I’ll sing you a poem! 

Some folks tend to get confused when I refer to my poems as my songs. What’s the big diff? A bigger nose… smaller toes? All upon the same beautiful body…?

The lines between poetry, literature, and music tend to share the same fabric, only to create different colored clothing for what seems to be the same purpose… expression and entertainment.

Ray Charles was once asked what he liked about country music. He said, “The stories man, the stories!” Isn’t that what poets do? Don’t we write stories as well? Our poems are not linear in terms of chronology, plot, and character development…. yet they do share story characteristics. 

Stories, song lyrics, poems… there’s some bouncy correlations there, are there not?

Then there’s the music itself… expressions of light and shade… crescendos and quiet movements…. communicating emotions with notes that move our spirit and fire our imaginations. Piano concertos, blazing guitar solos, roaring horn sections, ukuleles (yes… ukuleles!!!) … they ALL evoke emotions of some sort! They soothe, excite, dance, reflect cultures… Is that not what poems do?

So why are poems not as popular as pop music or the latest on big time best seller lists? Why are there not coffee houses and auditoriums bursting at the seams with poets singing their songs? Websites and merchandise going into orbit with success and renown poets of golden recognition being knighted and decorated by governments around the world? Is poetry really that underground?

Yes it is.

Then why are you reading this?! 

I have a feeling it’s because you care. You care about words like expression, perspective, and emotion. You long to fire your imagination and stimulate senses beyond the physicality world. You want to be a part of something bigger than most of the drivel you hear on popular radio or read in magazines rife with nonsense about this and nonsense about that. 

You want focus. You want quality. You want diversity. You want POETRY!!!!

Now there is quality music and books out there... There are beautiful manifestations of art in so many forms… sculpture, architecture, even murals extemporaneously spray painted on box cars or on the walls of inner city building…  even to the commissioned immaculate variety. But is poetry? No! 

Poetry represents a valued medium that has every right to be right up there with the popular celebrations of the works of Michelangelo, Mozart, or the Beatles. Bob Dylan’s songs were poetry in themselves, which brings us right back to where we started… what’s the big diff?

For me… there is none.

Please feel free to share your ideas in the comments below. I would LOVE to hear some of your thoughts on this subject! 

More to come…

Matthew Elmore