Poetry Exercise #1 (updated Jan 4), Join In! Options

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hi all!  

Let's start our first interactive class with an abbreviated definition of poetry characteristics:

Poetry communicates and conveys feelings in a concentrated form. It uses language to create sound effects and word pictures, to set up associations in the reader’s mind, and to make striking comparisons through figures of speech.

Jox's take: Poetry conveys emotions and ideas in a concentrated form. It employs language creatively, both as imagery and for its tonal qualities. It is the purest form of writing.


In our first class, we will read a few lines from a famous poem.

The exercise is twofold:

• First, write down your first image and emotional reaction.
• Second, write a few lines with your own feeling and figure of speech to match the lines of the famous poem.

From the works of Alice Meynell, "Builders of Ruins", first stanza:

We build with strength and deep tower wall
that shall be shattered thus and thus.
And fair and great are court and hall,
but how fair--this is not for us,
who know the lack that lurks in all.

To view entire poem, click here.

Things to keep in mind:

• Is there a set metered pattern (of stressed and unstressed syllables)?
• Is there a set rhyming pattern (repetition of similar sounds)?
• Is there a set rhythmic pattern (the sense of movement attributable to the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables)?

Let's start now. Please ADD REPLY to this tile.
GOOD LUCK!

~Cleo  

[Guest_Jox_*]

Alan,

My very dear fellow how absolutely spiffing to see you returned safely to the fold.

Secondly, my apologies for not being in this debate the last few days - as I have lots to respond to. My two excuses are (i) I've been busy; (ii) I've been busy on MM over at the short story educational bit - do have a go, all. (iii) MM has been "down" for much of the time I've been available. (iv) I can't count.

Fourthly, I hate you, AMD. You have really shown me up on here. Why did you have to return from living in an envelope? Look, why do you have to be so wonderfully accurate and forthright about that poem? Why can't you beat about the bush like any respectable Brit... like me, for goodness' sake! I spent ages carefully saying that it might be good and I just was not in-tune with Victoriana etc, when all the time I meant that I hated it!

I'm far too much of a coward - evidently! THANK YOU ALAN for showing that to everyone. But Alan says "The sort of poem that gave me the idea that poetry is a load of old rubbish, a complete turn-off !" and I think I'd just like to - sort of - agree(ish) with him; if that's ok? (If it's not this poem is probably the best ever written pre MM-members' attempts - that shouldn't offend too many people).

Actually, it is far from the worst I have read - I loathe Keats for example - though I suspect most would say he was a far better poet. Nevertheless, it's definitely one to be printed on those novelty boggy-rolls.

Alan, do you think I was too strident there?

James.

PS Welcome back Alan!