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Untitled poems
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Untitled poems |
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Wind
since 2002-10-12
Posts 2981
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I am sure we have all come accross about a dozen poems that have the title "Untitled". I know the saying goes "don't judge a book by its cover," but I have trouble clicking on them. They just don't attract my attention. Its sort of the other way around for other people. they like untitled poems because it is like a suprise, a mystery for them to discover, but I am picky and prefer titles. Who agrees with me and who doesn't? "Sticks and stones will break my bones, |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
It is my opinion for my own writing that if I cannot think of a title to give a poem, I should wait on posting it, because if there is no title, then the poem is only half written, and I do enjoy being pulled in by a good title. [This message has been edited by Sunshine (11-10-2002 09:12 PM).] |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
"Untitled" suggests to me that the author is not fully attaining the meaning of her/his own making, that he is not confident or a bit confused about something or would know what to title it to encompass that meaning altogether. Just like a country creates a flag to represent its saliant most recognized attributes, so do artists in a way append a flag in their title to proclaim their artwork and their pride waving at the readersby. But this business of "untitled" this is a blank flag that suggests an area of blankness within...maybe the poem is complete on the inside but this "untitled" does not import of that. |
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hush Senior Member
since 2001-05-27
Posts 1653Ohio, USA |
I post untitled poems sometimes. I prefer to leave something untitled rather than giving it a substandard title, or something that doesn't fit. Emily DIckinson's poems are all untitled. I think E.E. Cummings' are too. |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
"Emily DIckinson's poems are all untitled. I think E.E. Cummings' are too." They aren't titled "untitled" though are they?? |
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Wind
since 2002-10-12
Posts 2981 |
You could put a completely irrenlevant title in, I've done it, and it somehow adds something to the poem, adds a chain of thought. if you write a poem about bubbles, and name it "spirits", it makes people think of the bubbles as spirits. If you left it as "untitled", the people who click on it will only see bubbles, unless they think long and hard about it. I see less in an untitled poem. as example Untitled Birds call softly through the night, Wings of black in golden flight Now with a title Night birds Birds call softly through the night, Wings of black in golden flight doesn't it sound better like that? I think it sounded a little more interesting that way. "Sticks and stones will break my bones, |
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cherish Senior Member
since 2001-03-25
Posts 1639swimming in fairy floss........... |
I think I've only posted one poem without a title, but that was mainly cuz it was a vent and not, in my opinion a "poem". I do write things which I dont nessesarily put a title to because sometimes when you put a title to something, it pushes the focus on the title. *shrugs* sometimes takes away from the poem instead of giving to it... Are you scared? |
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majnu
since 2002-10-13
Posts 1088SF Bay Area |
unless I have something very specific i want to write about i never start with a title because if i did i would feel the poem would have to be somehow of the title and that would hinder my creativity. once I am done though I put actuall effort into a title. i rarely come up with one that I like. for me the title is a part of the poem, thus, I refuse to give it a title simply for the sake of giving it a title. If I feel it is complete with out a title then I leave it. i do write series of poems though, and there I give the collection a title and number the peices. -majnu |
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hush Senior Member
since 2001-05-27
Posts 1653Ohio, USA |
'They aren't titled "untitled" though are they??' No, but I don't believe either of them posted their work online where a title field was required to be filled. |
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Wind
since 2002-10-12
Posts 2981 |
see, I underatand that, but people could at least make an efort to give ther poems a title. Many people would still read a poorly titled peice, but some poeple won't read an untitled peice at all. "Sticks and stones will break my bones, |
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hush Senior Member
since 2001-05-27
Posts 1653Ohio, USA |
So don't read it. I mean, I can understand where you're coming from, but sometimes you just can't think of a title that works. And in that case, I'd much rather leave my opem untitled than give it something lame and inept. |
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Wind
since 2002-10-12
Posts 2981 |
oh, I uderstand, I just wanted some other poeple's opinyons on this  "Sticks and stones will break my bones, |
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