»
Main Forums
»
Poetry Workshop
»
A Clearer-view of Clerihew
| Poetry Workshop |
|
A Clearer-view of Clerihew |
|
|
Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA 
|
The time was approximately 1890, and the place was St. Paul's School in London. Edmund Clerihew Bentley and his friend G.K. Chesterton were doing what teenagers have always tended to do. Rather than paying attention in chemistry class as they should have, they were distracted and began to entertain themselves by writing humorous quips. Little did they know that they were formulating a brand new poetic genre that would entertain poetry lovers from that day forth. His first known clerihew was: Sir Humphrey Davy Abominated gravy. He lived in the odium Of having discovered sodium That day, the 'clerihew' was born. Bentley's personal collections were subsequently published in 1905, 1929, and 1939. Although the term 'clerihew' may not be commonplace, most readers are indeed familiar with this poetic form when they see it. A clerihew is a relatively simple humorous, biographical quatrain - four lines that are comprised of two rhyming (a-a-b-b) couplets. The meter and length of each line can be varied, even to the point of taking on a prosaic ambience. The name of the subject is normally incorporated into the first line (usually at the end), with a whimsical flavor dominating the remaining lines. Finnegans Wake. E. C. Bentley Mused while he ought to have studied intently; It was this muse That inspired clerihews. One interesting aspect of the clerihewic evolution was their reference to mystery - conveniently dubbed 'mystery clerihew.' Bentley was later to become the author of 'Trent' mysteries, and wrote many clerihews about the mystery writers of his time Edgar Allan Poe Was passionately fond of roe. He always liked to chew some When writing anything gruesome. It's important to understand that a clerihew is intended to be more entertaining than accurately biographical. It's also not intended to be award-winning poetry. It's not meant to be a poet's best work. When we think 'clerihew,' we think of simple silly fun. It seems only sensible that the natural successor to the 'mystery clerihew' should be the 'passionate clerihew.' That means that any member of the Passions in Poetry forums is fair game. Consider this: Passionate Poet deVine Well known for penning hot rhyme When asked about her steamy fun She swore it was just the Arizona sun We love our Passions Balladeer His songs echo far and near Despite the blasphemy of LngJhnAg And the infamous Toerag Everyone knows and loves our Admin Kit At the helm of teenage poets she sits Good thing she's really very wise She chooses who to deputize Let 'em roll, folks... |
||
| © Copyright 2001 Nancy Ness - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
Dr.Moose1 Member Elite
since 1999-09-05
Posts 3448Bewilderment , USA |
Nan , O.K. , I think I got it now .( all accept for that part about the " prozac audience ". Doc |
||
|
vlraynes Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-25
Posts 8229Somewhere... out there... |
Nan- If I'm not too late for class, I think I'll go grab some paper and give this a shot.  Looks like fun to me!  ~vicky "...until you have read the verse on his |
||
Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Bumping this Clerihew definition So it will get some kind attention Just in case there are a few Who want to write, say ... one or two ? ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ |
||
|
cpalmer Senior Member
since 2001-06-26
Posts 977Phoenix, Az |
Okay, I am new to this part of passions but I think Im going to take this and give it a try...it may take a little bit for me to figure out! Thanks marge...If I hadnt seen your poem in open #15 I wouldnt have ever thought to look at the definition! Cindi |
||
|
Titia Geertman Member Ascendant
since 2001-05-07
Posts 5182Netherlands |
Same for me too. Am I allowed to join this class? Titia A rose is a rose is a rose...I guess... |
||
|
Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Oh .... we LOVE it when there are new students knocking at the door. Nan will get your messages and will give you the 'keys' to get in ! Meantime ... post in Open #15 ! ! OR ... post on one of the threads already here ! WELCOME !  You do have to help clean erasers once in a while !  ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ |
||
|
Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
All righty then - Both of you are approved - and it's almost recess time...  |
||
|
kaile
since 2000-02-06
Posts 5146singapore |
oh, i am glad i peeked in here...this sounds like fun!!  im not too good with rhyming, i am afraid so be patient with me |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
