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February 2000 - Free/Blank Verse
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February 2000 - Free/Blank Verse |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA 
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Hi All....  Contemporary poetry seems to have adopted the Free Verse format, even more than Blank Verse. There is a difference, folks.. Stay tuned and ... Pay attention in the back row, you guys!! The mid 1800's actually saw some great poets, such as Walt Whitman, stepping outside the norm of structured poetry to venture into this area. You all know that I'm a die-hard structuralist... But I've written a bit of free verse on occasion. I think I've only posted one, The Day of the Chickadee, here at Passions. If you promise to behave, maybe I'll even post some more... So - What's the first rule of Free Verse? ...um.. The first rule in my book is that there are no rules!! Free Verse thereby becomes very personalized - totally expressing the inner feelings of the poet... thereby giving each and every poem its own format and ambience... That's a good thing.. Then - What do we consider as guidelines when we write in free or blank verse? What makes some better than the rest? There are some basic tenets of poetry that good free versers employ; so when we see them in print, we recognize them as talented work. Every poem, whether structured, free, or blank MUST impart a discernible message or have a theme. Otherwise, you've just a mumble-jumble of prattle.... So - Always think about just what you're trying to say - preferably before you start writing.. There is no distinguishable meter necessary in free verse. The poet has free reign to write as he/she so chooses. Blank verse, on the other hand, is different from free verse - It is written in iambic pentameter. That means every line must follow a metered format of five iambic feet (-/-/-/-/-/). Line breaks - Obviously blank verse has specific line breaks that are inherent in iambic pentameter. In Free Verse, line breaks are subject to the discretion of the poet.. A line can consist of any number of words from one to the width of your tablet. The important thing to remember is that your line breaks should occur at points in your poem where they can best accentuate the words or thoughts you are trying to convey. Rhyme is not relevant in either form. Neither free nor blank verse needs to rhyme. Some poets will include a smattering of rhyming lines for effect. Imagery is probably the most important poetic tool you can employ in this type of poetry. It's definitely the key to quality verse. Whether you use: metaphor - a comparison that doesn't use 'as or like' personification - giving human attributes to the inanimate alliteration - repeated consonant sounds assonance - repeated vowel sounds onomatopoeia - words that sound as they're spelled hyperbole - exaggeration for effect or any other form of figurative verse, it becomes the heart of your poem. Some of the best works are those which are in themselves an extended metaphor (the entire poem represents something other than the obvious). There's a start... Let's write! Maybe we can at least get Blank Verse from Kess - Expecting total free verse from her might be an overload.. [This message has been edited by Nan (edited 02-06-2000).] |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Not a question Nan, but something I'd like to add so that Philip and Jim both don't think I was lying to them in my overly long explanations of free verse and what makes it poetry as opposed to prose.... Free Verse, as any other form of poetry, should have some sort of flow to it...granted, the breaks in free verse are often put where they are to abruptly stop the reader so that he/she is drawn to a certain line or word, but without flow in addition to theme, it's nothing but a bunch of words on paper. I do hope you agree with this statement. |
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Poertree Senior Member
since 1999-11-05
Posts 1359UK |
Ruth I don't have to be told you were right about "flow" .. I see it demonstrated every day in your beautiful poems .... Philip |
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jbouder Member Elite
since 1999-09-18
Posts 2534Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash |
Philip, you're a shameless kiss-up. No doubt in my mind that it works, though.  Seriously, I would like more information on these amorphous concepts of flow and movement that are supposed to help distinguish free-verse from prose.Any thoughts O Great Teacher? Jim |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
LOL - Thanks, Ruth.... Now you all know I'm a stalwart structuralist....but.. I have it from great authority that it can be argued... The "more free a verse becomes, the closer it comes to being prose" - I think that's a pretty good line... Ergo - Free Verse, in order to be considered poetry, should certainly FLOW!!! You guys - stop your talking over in the corner when Ruth is trying to make a point... ...and don't forget - I still have my ringer here!!! Right, }X{??? |
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Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
*He stands outside the classroom beating frantically at the door* Just wanted to add some things here: What is free verse? --a question best left unanswered for the moment you try to define it you immediately limit what you're trying to do. 'flow'? --There is of course what some people have called anti-poetry poetry. goal of free verse? --Make it new, Ezra Pound If iambic pentameter is the classical music of poetry, then free verse is experimental jazz. What's the difference between prose and poetry? --Why is this such an interesting question for so many interesting people? Does it make a difference? Honestly, if you guys want a challenge, the challenge is to take the language to the limit of what can actually be done and be understood by someone else. Now, I don't do this (at least that's not my goal) but Jim thinks free verse is easy but it's only as easy as the writer decides to make it. It's completely up to you to decide what is wrong and right and why. Think of it this way: It's twilight. You are alone, naked, standing outside in a brisk, freezing wind, you have no past and no future and a pen in your hand. Your goal is to write something other people like AND will say that it's original but you have no standards to follow and nothing to fall back on. pretty scary, huh? *Nan runs Brad out of her classroom and is deeply worried that many of her students will now require counseling* the ogre, Brad PS Have fun! |
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Poertree Senior Member
since 1999-11-05
Posts 1359UK |
Nope no counselling .. just wishing that i read this BEFORE posting my poem .... lol .. very well put Brad, but why twilight?  P |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
YIPPEE....... A visit from Brad.... LOL - rescuing me... from the depths of despair - 'cuz he knew I'd need it on this subject.... Free verse is certainly FUN.... It's just that it's so darned....FREE!!!  |
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warmhrt Senior Member
since 1999-12-18
Posts 1563 |
Please Nan, Allow me to walk through these hallowed doors, and show you the respect you so deserve (unlike those two hooligans). I attempted to post a poem last evening, but was told I could not...that I was not a member of this particular forum. Can that be changed...I beg of you? I am but a pawn in their evil mischief (no extrapolation needed, I'm sure). The sting from that slap with the word "miscreant" has taught me a valuable lesson. Thank you, Nan. (P & J...I've got straws, did you bring rubber bands?)< !signature--> If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain,... I shall not live in vain - Emily Dickinson [This message has been edited by warmhrt (edited 02-11-2000).] |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Hi! I know I'm not in this forum, but lovebug and I are starting out our teen/mentor program with free verse, because that's what she is experimenting with right now. And you know me, I'm right behind Nan with rhyme and meter, so this is new to me. Your explaination of free verse is wonderful as are the responses. We will be following this post. I've only written 3 free form poems, only one of which I think is kind of good. Lovebug and I have a poetry challenge to write a free verse about the VW Beetle, which we are both passionate about. Perhaps when we,re done I could get someone to read them for us. But first we're reading this post and several free verse poems in forum #5 to get some orientation. This should be a lot of fun! Liz |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Lovebug and I just posted our free verse (Challenge was the VW Beetle) poems in the teen/mentor forum. If anybody is interested, I wouldn't mind if someone would offer suggestions. My poem, for instance, could almost have been written in a paragraph. I was interested in Brad's comment that "the challenge is to take the language to the limit of what can actually be done and be understood..." I don't feel my poem is very creative. How can I spice it up? I tried to use some of the elements in Nan's explaination, oh, this is so hard! Anybody interested in reading our attempts? |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
LOL - Elizabeth, you're as bad as I am... |
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Corazon Senior Member
since 2000-02-02
Posts 1209 |
this is interesting reading, and so different to me for a poet to NOT write freestyle...and funny as *I* am awed by the structured writers ...I have written only a couple of structured poems ever, all of my writing are in freestyle....it is how my poems come out...the direction it takes, the form, they just flow out....it would take me a long time to explain why the line breaks are where they are, its just in the writing, that's where they feel like they should be....I guess to me....that's what freestyle is about....feelings....*from a reader of the workshops, but doesn't have the guts to participate...sending big smiles* however, would be happy to discuss or help with freestyle writing with anyone who has questions, that they think I might help with oh and Nan, am interested in an example of blank verse, I don't have an ear for meter, I can't even hear it when you guys point it out stress for stress...but would like to see an example of blank verse...have never heard of it before... this is one I wrote today....just wanted to post it here even if I am not a memeber of the group where do I find the wind? I have dreamed of flight for as long as I can remember... the days would grow cloudy and dark but I I was up above soon to put wind to this dream of mine, so I was ok for now for tomorrow I had my dream it was mine, no one could take it away. but my feathers have grown weary of waiting, and my wings wonder now if they have waited ready all this time for nothing. will this trepidation get the very best of me I wish, oh how I wish, for a shoulder but I can't be off balance if I am to find the wind face the wind it will be it must be with lifted chin and open eyes and not out of anger, and not because of hate and the need to run and hide, but because I want to fly... [This message has been edited by Corazon (edited 02-14-2000).] |
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Munda Member Elite
since 1999-10-08
Posts 3544The Hague, The Netherlands |
I am lost for words here.........do you have any idea how hard it is to make a Dutchie speechless ? Awesome ! |
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J.L. Humphres Member
since 2000-01-03
Posts 201Alabama |
Nan, I have been posting in CA, and have heard about your workshop there. Would love to join, and there's no time like the present. In short...PLEASE!!!!!! J.L.H. Jason I...I have seen the best minds of my generation... --Allen Ginsberg |
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Poertree Senior Member
since 1999-11-05
Posts 1359UK |
Corazon, Trevor from CA doesn't lurk in here, so I can get away with saying I thought that your poem was beautiful Philip |
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