Thoughts on Poetry

 

 

 

I have been writing poetry almost all my life for as long as I can remember, though many of my earlier attempts thankfully did not survive, leaving only a few remaining to be included in this collection. For some pieces, where I wrote them is more important than when, and in these instances there is a note recording the where together with a picture link. Along the way I have occasionally experimented with poetic forms, though mostly I prefer free verse.

Limerick, I suppose everyone tries this because they are ideal for lampooning sillyness

Villanelle, because I love how repetition gives emphasis to the central thought, but mine are not absolutely true to the form -- that would be just too compliant to rules.

Sonnet  because I love the way the meter can reflect cadence from the reader's voice....but if you are a purist you will notice mine are more akin to blank verse.

Haiku because I enjoy the challenge of completing a thought in just 17 syllables.

Saga...yes I even tried a couple in Skaldic, more a style than a form, but as I do not read (or write) ancient Icelandic they are more my impression gained via translator

Sestina...perhaps, one day, when I am feeling masochistic or super-obedient...but until then, no thank you M' Arnout. Read Wikipedia on the sestina sometime when you need a quick headache.

As for the rest, I prefer alliteration to rhyme, also that meter and cadence do not fight each other, and I find I have a tendency towards ellipsis, but take them as you find them, and I hope you discover something to like somewhere amongst the dross