Where do you sit?

Poetry writing styles can be a bit like sitting in a classroom. You generally know your place. You usually sit in that place, and only change when you are asked to do so, or circumstances demand a move. Sitting in the same place gives you a unique perspective on the view, but it is only one view. To gain alternative perspective in the room, a move is necessary. Where is this leading? The clue was in the first sentence. 

We become comfortable with our place in a classroom (or a lecture hall, or a social club, or a church service) and frequently sit there. We don't welcome change. And that's analogous to our poetry writing style. Some can be eclectic and move around and switch between styles and themes. Others are comfortable writing from the same perspective time and time again. Both are cool. Poets write what they care about and if they care, they will write with a passion. 

But... here's the twist. Sometimes you can lose your passion, motivation, muse ... whatever you care to call it. Then the blank page begins to taunt you, and no matter what you try to do, that page remains blank, or repeatedly ends up as a screwed up ball in the trash can. Frustration upon frustration. Then it's probably time to change your seat. Adopt another style, take on another theme - try something new. The image above is a timeline depicting the evolution of literature in the western world. It is quite useful because you can attach specific writing styles (and even authors and poets) to each period of time. 

But the best question is... where do you sit in this time line? Are your writing in a modernist style, or one of the other styles? Do you have your feet planted in the dark romantic era, or are you delving into the fallow depths of Renaissance poetry? And are you prepared to venture into unknown territory to try something new? For the sake of creativity.

Steve Wheeler 

Image from this source

Writing Sentimental Poetry

This writing gig is getting personal. But hey, when you’re a poet… what isn’t personal?!

Love assumes many forms. It can be hurtful to healing, vulnerable to impregnable, intimate to stone cold, longing to “get away from me!”… it is the most diverse dichotomy in our emotional repertoire. 

Love love love… it is both the answer to a question and a question to an answer. Like the old adage… can’t live with em, can’t live without em… it presents quite the confusing allure that haunts us all. 

We are not meant to be alone.

This theme provides the very fabric of a poets being… whether professed for nature, a person, a place, or even a thing… I’ve written love poems about ice cream for heavens sake! Yet is also has a dark side, that potent fault that pricks our very souls. Yes, the love to hate. 

Dark poets love Lord Byron… he is always one of my go to poets for dark inspirations with a glimmer of light. His poem “Darkness” illustrates this perversion of all that beautiful and true, yet remains a draw upon us all… take the ending of this magnificent blast…

“…the waves were dead; the tides were in their grave, 

The moon, their mistress, had expir'd before; 

The winds were wither'd in the stagnant air, 

And the clouds perish'd; Darkness had no need 

Of aid from them—She was the Universe. “

Byron takes cruel manifestations of the human condition … mankind’s passions, selfishness, death, evil intent, war… mixed with elements of nature, and formulated a hope for love defined as the infinite range of texture it weaves.

William Shakespeare was never one to miss a poignant dart no matter how sweet its intention… demonstrated within this excerpt form “Sonnet #40”…

“I do forgive thy robb’ry, gentle thief,

Although thou steal thee all my poverty;

And yet love knows it is a greater grief

To bear love’s wrong than hate’s known injury.

    Lascivious grace, in whom all ill well shows,

    Kill me with spites, yet we must not be foes.”

Master at turning a phrase, the immortal bard knows his damage control! He’s saying we have to talk it out before it destroys us! 

Intricate poet code… this is what we use, isn’t it? I often have to explain what I’m writing about when my writing may throw my woman into fits… saying one thing meaning another. 

Of course there is the drippy, sappy, overtly romantic poetry that is reminiscent of the sunsets, candle light dinners, and sweet professions our hearts desire. Love poems. So many of them. But they all go to the same place… the heart. Let’s look at “A Red Red Rose” by Robert Burns and prepare for the collective “Awwwwwe!!!!”…

O my Luve is like a red, red rose 

   That’s newly sprung in June; 

O my Luve is like the melody 

   That’s sweetly played in tune. 

So fair art thou, my bonnie lass, 

   So deep in luve am I; 

And I will luve thee still, my dear, 

   Till a’ the seas gang dry. 

Yep… works every time!! Who can resist?

Yet there are so many forms… so many loves. It can go so many places that as poets I am not sure we can ever find the shore of where it all ends as to what can be written of this feeling. “In My Heart Leaps Up”, William Wordsworth sets his adoration to existence itself within the ultimate cinemascope of life itself within his beautiful references to awe inspiring aspects of our natural world…

My heart leaps up when I behold 
   A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began; 
So is it now I am a man; 
So be it when I shall grow old, 
   Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man;
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.

I myself hit upon this vein as I realized it is my mothers birthday today, and in haste scribbled her out a poem addressed within a birthday card I had bought as a just in case affair. I placed it on her favorite chair to be found when she wakes up. Direct and simple, when she read my book, she said she liked the poems that meant what they said and said what they meant. Easy to understand. This was fine by me because I’m not Wordsworth! So I wrote this out before I hastily headed out the door to work this morning…

you are the music to my song

always here and never gone

for in my mind it’s you I see

and in my heart you’ll always be…

Simple, direct, and to the point. No poetic code there… just a simple statement of a tender hearted son to his sweet mother on her 83rd birthday. 

Sentimental poetry remains one of my favorite to write. Its surface simplicity hints at the complex currents that run so deep at the water’s edge. It is there always, as a constant muse in its many shapes… inviting poets of all ages, classes, and colors to dive into the universal beauty and even ugliness of its universal truths.

Matt Elmore

Pull up a Pantoum

I've shown you around the Villanelle and taught you how to use the Triolet, now let's have a look at how to pull up a Pantoum. What on earth is a Pantoum I hear you ask? It's a poem of any length that is comprised of four line stanzas (quatrains), but there is an interesting little feature in the format.  The second and last lines of each stanza become the first and third lines of the next stanza! More often than not, the poem is concluded by the last line being the same as the first - you go full circle. 

The name Pantoum, might make you think that this type of poem originated in an Arab country. That would be incorrect. Pantoums first emerged in Malaysia in the 15th Century, and a variety of well known writers such as Charles Baudelaire and Victor Hugo were proponents. 

I would like to offer you an example, so to avoid any copyright issues, here's one of my Pantoums:

Once Upon a Time

Could this be us in once upon a time?
Is this a nightmare or a wild dream?
I feel like I’m performing in a pantomime
Is this as crazy as I think it seems?

Is this a nightmare or a wild dream?
My heart is racing like an untamed horse
Is this as crazy as I think it seems?
I need to get back to the source

My heart is racing like an untamed horse
I feel like I’m performing in a pantomime
I need to get back to the source
Could this be us in once upon a time?

Steve Wheeler © 31 March, 2022

As ever, your comments are welcomed, and also any of your own work in Pantoum form - please share in the comments box below. I promise to comment.

Steve Wheeler

Image from Wallpaper Flare shared under a Creative Commons Licence

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 

Shocks and Stares

This is Steve Wheeler at his creative lunatic best. If the crazy cover doesn't convince you, then read on.... He claims that this collection of poetry has been twenty-five years in the making. Although all of the poems are new, the concept goes back to 1995. He began to conceive of the idea when he was playing with words (as he often does) and came up with the spoonerism Shocks and Stares (see what he did there?) It made a lot of sense to him, because it spoke of weird and wonderful things that compel people to stop, and stare transfixed at what is happening right in front of them. The poems in this collection are fast moving, hard hitting, hilarious, emotional, and at times quite visceral. They will make you stop and stare.... Containing 90 poems and an end-piece, Shocks and Stares covers a plethora of themes and is written in a variety styles, including freeform, standard metre and rhyme, villanelles and pantoums.

Some pieces are strangely epic, including 'Orchestral Stabs' about an orchestra that goes on a murderous spree, 'I ate a planet' (which rivals the bizarre Monsieur Creosote sketch from Monty Python) and 'Villain' which features an ex-East End villain who finally gets his comeuppance on the Costa Brava. There are strange visions and dreams presented - 'I ordered an Uber and a Hearse showed up instead' is an account directly lifted from a psychology study in which dreams and nightmares during the pandemic were analysed, while 'Vinyl Blare' contains the titles and lyrics of more than 40 popular songs, crafted together into a poetic narrative. See if you can spot them all! This poet does not pull his punches, taking pot-shots at everything from opulence and the causes of poverty, homelessness, addictive behaviour, through to the pomposity of organised religion and the stupid and thoughtless acts that have driven us the brink of global catastrophe and the destruction of our planet. If you like strange, imaginative and positively off-the-wall verse that is at once both entertaining and challenging, Shocks and Stares is the book of poetry for you. What they said:

Anyone who is familiar with Steve’s work will know that he’s a man who aspires to inspire, and for those new to his work, I assure you that you too will be inspired. “Shocks and Stares” is a very difficult read to put down, so full of very relatable poetry touching on life’s ups and downs (and everything in between). It’s an absolute winner!! - Jason Cunningham (Founder, Poet’s Corner).

I imagine a glint in the bard's eyes as I read the wonderful poetry. There’s something for everyone, a great sense of dark humour with an added pleasure of reading the world put to rights! You get to know the character writing with the wonderful words he’s written in each poem. A pleasurable experience from start to finish, once picked up, very hard to put down. A clever, well organised book. - Charlene Phare (Founder, Pure Poetry).

Well I have to say this has been my favourite up to now, from all of the other books that I have in my possession from the amazing Mr Steve Wheeler. His poetry provokes a lot of emotions from laughing out loud to reflecting on the inequalities of the world. This is different from his other books, which are also of a very high standard. I look forward to reading more of his work. Definitely buy a copy. You will not be disappointed. - Pureheart Wolf, Poet and writer.

Steve Wheeler is an artist who paints with words leading to the introspection of imaginations. His poetry can surely cause shocks and stares. His reaching of definitions bring vocabulary to life and his words leave shadow to paper. Of more than good humor, his integrity shows through, as the greatest material expressed is the truth of one's life. Steve's exposé of literary gems exposes inner questions of life, similes of simplicities and metaphors of magnificence marinated with love lifted with laughter. As his mechanism is of pen, his writes are more than entertaining; his flights of lyrical fancy leave you wanting for more and lead you to an anticipation of his next conception. - Eric Aguilar, Poet

You can purchase your copy of Shocks and Stares in paperback, Kindle or hardcover editions by following the link to the Wheelsong Books Website.

Image copyright Wheelsong Books 2023

Using the Triolet

What on earth is a triolet? Sounds a bit French yeah? Well, it is.... a bit French. But it's also a bit of other countries too, because although the poetry form originated in France, it has evolved and has been adapted so many times it's now positively cosmopolitan. 

A triolet is almost always a poem of eight lines - an octave if you will - but it can be seven or nine lines too. Take your pick. The distinctive feature of the triolet though, is its repetition of lines. Three in fact, hence the moniker.  I won't go into all the crappy details and boring technicalities of the triolet. Instead, I will give you an example from my own portfolio of poetry: Here's one of my triolets called Angels without Wings:

There in the depths of the eternal soul
There is a wondering beyond finite things
We ponder in our hearts a God-shaped hole
There in the depths of the eternal soul
We deeply yearn for something to console
And thus we fall as angels without wings
There in the depths of the eternal soul
There is a wondering beyond finite things

Steve Wheeler © 25 June, 2022

You can see that the first and second line are repeated in lines seven and eight. But the first line is also repeated before that, in line four. Lines 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 have end rhymes, while 2, 6 and 8 also rhyme. And that's about it, apart from the rhythm of the lines, which can be in iambic pentameter (10 syllables) or just about any other iamb combination. 

So go forth and multiply - write your own triolet and share it here. I will be sure to comment on it.

Steve Wheeler

Image from Pixabay via a Creative Commons Licence

Atmosphere in Poetry

 

Poetry has the ability to create a specific atmosphere or mood that can evoke strong emotions and engage the reader's imagination. This can be achieved through a variety of poetic techniques, such as the use of imagery, tone, and rhythm. In this blog, we will explore the importance of creating atmospherics in poetry and how it can strengthen the reader's response, using William Blake's poem "The Echoing Green" as an example.

Atmosphere refers to the emotional or sensory environment created by a work of art. In poetry, the atmosphere is created through the use of many different language and poetic techniques. A skilled poet can use imagery, tone, and rhythm to evoke specific emotions and create a particular atmosphere as well as a correlation within that particular poem.

Creating an atmosphere in poetry is important because it can help the reader connect with the poem on a much deeper level. By immersing the reader in the atmosphere created within the poem, the reader can experience the emotions and ideas being conveyed in a more visceral way, leading to a stronger response.

William Blake's "The Echoing Green"

William Blake was a poet and artist who is known for his existentialism and his focus on nature, spirituality, and the imagination. In his poem "The Echoing Green", Blake creates a joyous and carefree atmosphere that celebrates the innocence and playfulness of childhood.

The poem begins with a description of a green field on a sunny day where the children play and the old men watch. The use of vivid imagery, such as "the sun does arise" and "the merry bells ring", creates a sense of joy and energy. The repetition of the word "echoing" in the title and throughout the poem creates a sense of continuity and harmony, as if the sounds of the children's play are echoing through time.

The tone of the poem is celebratory and nostalgic, as the speaker looks back on a time of innocence and happiness. The use of simple language and a regular rhyme scheme creates a sense of familiarity and ease, as if the reader is being invited into the world of the poem. This can create also a strong sense of captivation. 

The atmosphere created by "The Echoing Green" is one of joy and celebration, which strengthens the reader's response to the content. By immersing the reader in the atmosphere of childhood play and innocence, the poem invites the reader to connect with the emotions and ideas being conveyed. The reader may be reminded of their own childhood or feel a sense of longing for a time when life was simpler and more carefree.

In conclusion, creating an atmosphere in poetry whether it be of light or dark is an important technique that can strengthen the reader's response to the content. By using imagery, tone, and rhythm, a skilled poet can create a specific emotional or sensory environment that immerses the reader in the world of the poem. William Blake's "The Echoing Green" is a beautiful example of how the creation of an atmosphere can evoke strong emotions and engage the reader's imagination. Creating atmospherics I know has been a huge influence and is one of the aspects of poetry I find most captivating and  important with my own work.

Brandon Adam Haven 

Image from Freepix 

Line evolution

Often I'm asked how I write my poetry. The source of my inspiration is an easy one to answer. How I construct my lines and infuse my poetry with tempo is a harder question to answer. I sometimes have to stop and think about that one, because writing poetry is like riding a bicycle or swimming. Once you've developed your skills, you don't really have to think about them too much - they become competencies that are fairly unconscious. 

But, just for the sake of analysis, here is a response about how I develop a line (or in most cases a phrase or an idea) into a stanza with a pleasing tempo. NB: Because I edit a lot, I use either a laptop, or more likely my smartphone to compose my poetry. It provides the provisionality that I need to do this.

Let's start with a simple line...

A river flows toward the sea

It's fairly bland, yeah? It's something you might say in a conversation. Let's add some adjectives to it. And let's change the definite article from 'A' to 'The'.

The silver river flows toward the stormy sea

Now it's a little more poetic. Let's evolve it further by enriching the adjectives and adding some personification...

The argent river flows toward
the mouth of a contentious sea

OK. Now it's transformed into two lines.  Argent means silver. 'Contentious' is not something people would normally use as an adjective to describe the sea, but it conjures up some imagery for me, so I will use it! I can add more description, further adjectives, maybe enrich the nouns.... and also include a metaphor!

The argent river dances its relentless flow
to kiss the angry maw of a contentious sea

Now it's a little close to becoming a little pretentious, but let's pursue this for the sake of poetry! At this point I can decide whether I want to add some more lines with or without a rhyme scheme... I'm changing the tense from present to past at this point too for effect. 

The argent river danced its cold relentless flow

to kiss the angry maw of a contentious sea

I sat on the river bank and watched...

I need to complete this poem now, splitting up the lines to improve the flow to 6 syllables for each line. The technical term for this is 'accentual syllabic iambic trimeter'. Fancy name,  but it doesn't matter what it's called as long as the poem sounds good and flows well. I'll add another metaphor, enrich it with an adjective and extend the clause with a simile to finish.

The argent river danced 
its cold relentless flow 
to kiss the angry maw
of a contentious sea 
I sat alone upon 
the jealous verdant banks
and watched the silent flow
mute as the fallow swan 

And there it is. A few minutes of writing and thinking and I have an Octave which has some narrative, some assonance and casual rhyming, and plenty of flow (pun intended). I hope that helps, but I write in a different style to you and it may not resonate with you. This post is just to offer some insight into my own writing process.  Each of us can develop their own process for writing poetry.

Steve Wheeler

Image from Wikimedia Commons

Poetry In The News Today!

The news today reflected a sweet high note for poets in the United States!

According to the Associated Press, the Academy Of American Poets announced contributions of $50000 each to 23 state and local poets all around the country from New Hampshire to Washington. This has been supported by various poetry initiatives from “poetry slam” workshops in South Carolina to Creative Writing programs in New Mexico. 

“The Academy of American Poets celebrates the unique position poets laureate occupy at state and local levels, elevating the possibilities poetry can bring to community conversations and reminding us that our national spirit can be nourished by the power of the written and spoken word,” Ricardo Maldonado, president and executive director of the poetry academy, said in a statement.

It seems dreams are not that far away for poets. Poetry foundations of many kinds offer brilliant wordsmiths an opportunity to take their voices to the next level with organizations such as the Poetry Foundation, Academy Of American Poets, Poetry Society Of America, Cave Canem Foundation, Montreal Canadian Poetry Prize,  Beyond Barouqe, and America Poetry Review. These are amongst the most popular in North America. There is also a Pulitzer Prize for poetry in the US as well.

In the UK, the Kings Gold Metal For Poetry shines as the gold standard for the best of the best. Finding an organization closest to you that you are comfortable with is as easy as typing in “poetry organizations” into your favorite search engines like Google , Bing, etc…

These are incredible awards to strive for, yet where does that leave poets that are on a steep ladder of most slippery steps?

Although the prospect of awards, cash prizes, and recognition is rather appealing to any artist, a humbling truth is that poetry is a slow going process… often taking a long time to even be noticed. 

That being said, social media and the internet have become game changers for many in poetry. Just being able to get your work out there makes all the difference in the world. 

Name recognition associated with posting on and commenting on poems associated with poetry groups also helps poets to get to know each other and encourage each other in many ways more valuable than money.

With the ability to reach so many people at once, and with the right amount of patience, fortitude, and talent, who knows what dreams may be able to be attained! 

Matt Elmore

https://apnews.com/article/poetry-academy-laureates-fellows-awards-118878bacdd75ee6c89ccf23aecb2a9f