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agony hits me, now, every time...
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agony hits me, now, every time... |
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VAS Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450Oregon |
Gossamer and Gossamer wings have been favorite words of mine. Yet they have been used so often, in various themes and textures of poems, that the words now bring me agony and tears to my heart. It's as if my soul is being wrung out by two uncaring hands. I don't know how else to explain it. Does anyone else feel such agony? How does one approach telling the author of a fantastic poem, save the wrenching of one's spirit by the over use of this lovely image? It's more than a pet peeve...it brings the salt of tears close to the brim, yet I cannot cry out their release, so they remain on the verge, all the more aching. Whether on the shoal or on the shore, |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Brad, the Mod in CA, cringes when someone uses the word 'soul' in poetry. Do you think we are not going to our Thesauras often enough? What is it about the word(s)that enamors you so? |
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VAS Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450Oregon |
it used to be a delicate touch, as of butterfly wings, or angel wings, almost too gentl to feel, yet there, nonetheless...and now,it only inspires a sense of tears, like it has been violated from overuse, or maybe it's a little like when someone is expecting the softest, gentlest kiss that barely touches the cheek or earlobe, and what they get is a violent, overly-passionate pressing of lips that are much like petting a cat the wrong direction Whether on the shoal or on the shore, |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
I think we have to remember somethings when we discuss "cliched" ... overused" etc. We, who post and read here in PIP and various other poetry sites read A LOT of poetry...some of us read hundreds a week...so we are going to see these metaphors, phrases and rhyme words used more often...we are over exposed to poetry overall. We have to remember that when anyone learning to write uses a "cliche" or a common poetic term it is often new to them...and also there are certain metaphors or symbols that a poet will use as a trademark, or its personal to the meaning of their poetry and must be used to make the poetry express what they need to say Like I used butterflies in my theme tribute poetry for Vante'when I first came here..it was a symbol that meant something special to him and in order to write about him, it became part of the poetry...I didnt care if it was "cliche" to some who read...the poetry was written for him and me. Sometimes thats the only reason poets write. I have several friends who dont write a word of poetry and dont read poetry on-line at all...but love and read poetry books and fiction, at their request--I send them my work and other fave poets from here and they always say that nothing is "cliche" to them. Even when someone uses a common symbol like "butterflies or angels." Because they are not exposed to so much poetry as we are..these terms are fresh. The "average" book buying public is not as innundated with poetry terms as we are. They just read and enjoy and dont look so hard at the structure and ect. And lets face it...there are only so many words, terms, phrases and etc that are going to not be overused...it's up to us as poets and lovers of reading poetry to challenge ourselves to find new ways of saying whats already been said...but we also have to be able to keep an open mind about the reasons someone choses a particular word or symbol. Try not to let it take away from your enjoyment of poetry Virginia...we all are learning as we go.  Unknown to us, there are moments when crevices open for time to come alive with begining. |
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VAS Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450Oregon |
Oh, I know you are right Janet...I use clichés too, and I see lots of other clichés that don't bother me. For some reason, this one does, and it scratches. It's good to talk about it though, rather than risk hurting someone by particularly remarking it to them about a specific poem. Whether on the shoal or on the shore, |
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S Arthur Grey Senior Member
since 2001-03-19
Posts 719woven by a poet's loom |
The curmudgeon critic finds poetic cliches everywhere (I don't mean to say you are of curmudgeon mind, VAS) while the novice poet has yet to spot them. I know I've used them, but for the sake of my writing development, I don't worry about it until they stand out in my own editing and rewriting. And my own repeated phrases are as likely to glare back at me. But just how "original" can we be? Try to write your next poem using nothing that is familiar to your ear from your previous poems and see how far you get. The more you write the harder it becomes. Some poets quit writing because of this. Poems, original from first line to last, are wonderful things, and rare. |
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brian madden Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 4374ireland |
Gossamer and Gossamer wings, to the reader these words would not be cliche but I know what you mean. I think it happens to every poet, you are writing a piece searching for a word and your mind immediately offers that one phrase. I guess the only thing to do is write a list of all these words you are guilty of over using and vow that you are not going to use them. It might be frustrating but it will be an interesting exercise, and will help you coin new phrases. Another thought a word or phrase is cliché only within a context, words like “heart, love or soul” are not cliché, it’s the way the context in which they are used. SO the phrase Gossamer wings will suit some poems perfectly and wouldn’t work in others. El riesgo vive siempre! |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Oh Virginia...I know this feeling. Perhaps it is up to you, as we all enjoy our own favorite words of fancy, to place these very words in lines that you have not yet seen before, to make them once again special not only to you, but to us, that read, as Janet Marie points out, so much...so that we can feel the special glint about them, once again... |
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VAS Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450Oregon |
I'm almost chuckling to myself, for as I came in to read your response, I saw the line up of topics...mine: "Agony hits me..." the one just below: "Get over it." LOL Thanks for your response. I guess it's a lot like a song that gets stuck in your mind in rewind and stays so long that you don't want to hear it again for a decade or more. Whether on the shoal or on the shore, |
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