Thursday, June 4, 2009

Poets and Poems

By: Jena Isle

I once read a post stating that writers - specifically poets - do not really know the syntax and correct form of what they compose. The post also mentioned that poets should conform to these “rules”.

Well, I beg to disagree. To me, poetry is a creative form of writing. The “breadth” of ingenuity should only be limited by the poet’s imagination based on his own experiences and exposure in life. He is entitled to express himself the way he wants to, and in any form he desires. He has the freedom to create his magnum opus – that’ s why it is called a creative venture in the first place.

The written word should not however, encroach on anybody’s freedom and must not inflict harm to anyone. “There are three things you can never get back: lost opportunities, lost time and spoken words.”

Emotional wounds are more difficult to cure than physical wounds. This should be a vital consideration in the quest for that sublime work of art.

On a different note, the bond of trust should be kept and respected, no matter what the circumstances are. Now I'm starting to digress...

Back to poems! Allow me to mention two traditional types of poetry with an example for each.

The Tanka

Like the Haiku, this originated from Japan. It is composed of five lines. Lines 2, 4 & 5 are made up of seven (7) syllables, while lines 1 and 3 have five (5) syllables each. Here is my example:

Lost

Like a star, you shine,
Amidst the poets of time.
Deliriously you‘re
Lost in fame among new friends;
the old, forgotten and gone.


The ZaniLa Rhyme

This type of poetry has no required length as long as it is composed of 4 lines for every stanza. Lines 1, 3 & 4 are composed of nine (9) syllables each, while line 2 – of seven (7).

The second and fourth lines, rhyme with each other, while lines 1 and 2 don’t; however, there’s a re-arrangement of words in each of the 3rd lines. There is also an internal rhyming in this 3rd line. Here is my example:

The Cloud of Success

There you are, within my sight – afloat,

a mist, a soft miasma.
Glinting in a golden hue – rising,
a glorious vestige of a blue aura.


The mist grew tangible and formed,
a self-confident man.
Rising in a golden hue-glinting;
Fulfilled, successful in such short span.

Go forth, and search for your Holy Grail
a fervent wish I offer;
a golden hue, glinting and rising;
The challenges, for sure you’ll conquer!


Diverse styles were created by different poets and were then adapted formally. During the recent years; however, poets had dared to venture outside the confines of these structured poems and the free verse was born.

This goes without saying that, even if I don’t consider myself a genuine, gifted poet; no one can stop me from creating my own style!

I will name this type of poem as – ‘The Jenanian Verse”. Any violent reaction?


The Jenanian Verse


Basically, it would consist of 15 lines of free verse .

There would be 5 lines for each stanza.

Each line would be composed of 10 syllables.

The last line of each stanza would be a one - line summary of the first four lines.

All the 5th lines would be rhyming.

So here goes…


From a Mother to a Son

You tethered badly unsure of yourself ,
grasping for balance, on your baby toes.
It was a joy to grab your hand and hold
You upright, towards your goal and bright dreams
The murky, swirling waves of self-doubt gone.

You crave for my presence in all you did.
You asked, “Mother , is this okay with you?”
The treasured words, “I love you” ever there .
a day had never passed without your hi’s.
Your world, I was a part , just like a fawn.

But now you’ve sprouted wings and can stand straight.
You no longer need a firm, guiding hand.
But how delightful it would be for me,
If you just ask sincerely, “How are you?”
I miss you son, I hope you’ll visit anon.


Now, shoot me or sue me!

Kudos to all our gifted poets, Zorlone, Roy, Luke, Jim, Francis, Ken, Fiendish, Justin, and Joanne.

And yes, poems are universal! Wanna try your hand?


26 comments:

  1. I like the poem 'Lost'. Short but very meaningful.

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  2. wow! my name is included! lol

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  3. Thanks Snow, can I officially call myself a poet now? lol... Happy blog hopping.

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  4. Hi Roy,

    He he he, Of course your name would be there, what did you expect?

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  5. Hi Jena,

    I felt dizzy after reading the post, not sure if it was the sugar buzz or the elation I got from seeing my name included in the list. It must be the latter.

    Thank you so much for not only educating us about poetry, but, for sharing your beautiful creations here. I have always considered my poems as my children, they may be of different shapes and sizes, still, they are my own and would cherish them equally.

    I'm going to use this as a reference on my blog.

    Z

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  6. Hi Z,

    Thanks for the link. We started with the cinquain and the iambic pentameter, rememeber? Now add this two. Good luck with future endeavours.

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  7. “There are three things you can never get back: lost opportunities, lost time and spoken words.” - I like this! So true and makes so much sense. A good thing for us to remember.

    Yes, I agree. Poetry should have no bounds. It's art, after all. Monet wouldn't have been able to come up with his brilliant pieces and get applauded for it if he were constricted by the precedents before him. The fundamentals are simply there for us to transcend. :)

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  8. First of all, thanks for the mention and the link, Jen. Like Z, I felt a bit dizzy after I saw it. Thanks.

    Poetry is indeed a creative endeavor and rigid rules would do nothing bu hinder creativity. Poetry is art and art knows no bounds.

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  9. Well, I'm just here to enjoy myself, Mam Jena.

    And who was it who uttered syntax and poetry in the same breath? Must be a frustrated poet, that one. lols.

    All I can say is that I love that Jenanian Verse. Should I now be flogged with syntax? Come on, now.

    As chairman of the jury, I find for the defendant Mam Jena. Case dismissed.

    Any violent reaction and this courtroom will be immediately cleared. Moving on....

    ",)

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  10. Hi Jan,

    At last someone mentioned MY Jenanian verse...lol...I'm honored by the visit of the Master Jedi- the chairman of the Jury.

    Should I refuse to speak on the grounds that it may incriminate me?

    Thanks for acquitting me of the crime - "despoiling the art of poetry"....

    And you may call me Jen- your h
    honor.

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  11. Hi,

    I am dropping by via entrecard to check out what is new with you and at the same time to wish yah a great weekend ahead :) xoxo

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  12. Hi Empty streets,

    Thanks, have a great weekend too. happy blog hopping.

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  13. I'm no poet or what but I believe poem is an individuals conveyance of his or her feelings. It is supposed to be free flowing and not constricted with some sort of rules. Plus it's your poetry at first but it's up to the reader to adaprt this poem as if from his/her point of view or not.

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  14. Hi I love,

    I like what you said about the reader

    "...the reader to adapt this poem as if from his/her point of view or not."

    The reader interprets the poem in relation to his/her experiences/ How true - I always love that hermeneutic approach; a different meaning for each reader.

    If I could achieve that in a poem , then I'm a genuine poet.

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  15. I could not agree with you more. I write poetry, and I think the best pieces are the ones that don't follow form.

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  16. Hi Dr. Lauren,

    How true, I should include you in my list. Happy blog hopping!

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  17. Says Dee: "Monet wouldn't have been able to come up with his brilliant pieces and get applauded for it if he were constricted by the precedents before him. The fundamentals are simply there for us to transcend. :)"

    O, look at that, I've even included the smiley in my quote.

    I could have said it better, Dee. Lovely, lovely thought. Thanks!

    Something is different with this blog. Can't quite put a finger on it. Did you have your hair done, Jena? ",)

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  18. Hi Jan,

    That phrase struck a nerve(chord?) in my mind; there is a continuation to it:

    "Something is different with this blog. Can't quite put a finger on it. Jena is a fool but a brave one!" (Merlin series)

    he he he. I gathered enough courage to switch templates, went through the instructions painstakingly and was done after several trials, and I'm still not satisfied with it. (frowns)

    Any suggestions, Master Jedi?

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  19. Well, it looks good to me, Jena. Modern look and feel to it - and yet stately as befitting the consummate Empress of Creative Writing. The palace court jesters, royalty from strange lands, indigenous creative talents, common men - the butcher, the tailor and the candle stick maker will all be pleased.

    Please tell your IT guys to promote the Subscribe to Your Blog via Feeds and Email a little higher on the sidebar. Some readers might miss it. ",)

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  20. Thanks Jan, I have two domain names still unused. I'll have to learn again about this.

    I'm honored with the title but "bebay odothay arisan quikum", I need magic words to actually achieve that distinction.

    Perhaps, in this particular neck of the woods. I can only stop dreaming when I have finally published a book.

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  21. Not the didactic ones, but an anthology.

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  22. here's an effort for a "Jenanian verse"

    http://reflectionsbyroy.blogspot.com/2009/06/she-wants-to-be-free.html

    hope it's good enough

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  23. Hello Roy,

    You did a splendid job with the verse. Very well done indeed, Jedi! Bravo!

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  24. While writing with the dictionary in hand, it's hard to think about the writing of the Tanka... That's the obvious like the fact that the apologies don't fit any poetry. Thus let me end with the introduction here. Time came to say the main:
    wow! came out of itself while reading your post. It became clear: It would be fine to dream over a cup of coffee together with you - to dream and to rejoice over the sacred mystery of the high sky above us and that silence will be the greatest poetry because it is the light that puts us under a charm if we dare to listen to her.

    My response may look as stepping aside from your theme, yet you mentioned it so rightly "“There are three things you can never get back: lost opportunities, lost time and spoken words.” So to speak, I don't want to miss my opportunity to say you thank you for the post, Thank you for the reading my response and welcome to my blog...

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  25. Hi Jena,
    Congratulations to winning at PlotDog's.

    Now that I've learned that poems don't have to conform to a certain one model, perhaps I'll start writing some in free verse. But then, even the free verse has some sort of a uniformity to it.

    Anyway, I enjoyed reading your poems. Make sure you patent your "Jenanian Verse." LOL.

    Tasha

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  26. Hi Tasha,

    Thanks. Yes you can, join us now in our next contest. Anyway, it is every week. I will be eagerly waiting for your entry.

    Cheers!

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