Poetry Writing

“A poem begins with a lump in the throat.”— Robert Frost

Poetry is …

… “a form of art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its ostensible meaning.” — Wikipedia.org

Now what the heck does that mean?

Aesthetic (adj) — Pertaining to, involving, or concerned with pure emotion and sensation as opposed to pure intellectuality.

Evocative (adj) — Calling forth; serving to evoke; developing

Ostensible (adj) — appearing as such but not necessarily so

– Poetry is …

… “a form of art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its ostensible meaning.” — Wikipedia.org

Try it again ….

Here are some other definitions …

“Poetry is man's rebellion against being what he is.”  James Branch Cabell

“Poetry is the language in which man explores his own amazement. 

Christopher Fry

“Poetry is the revelation of a feeling that the poet believes to be interior and personal which the reader

recognizes as his own.”  Salvatore Quasimodo

“Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.”  Carl Sandburg

Poetry has many forms …

SonnetsHaiku

VillanellesCoupletsLimericksBalladsCinquainsClerihewsDosimbrasLentosRap

TrioletsSerstets

There are dozens more and others are being created every day. We’ll study some of these forms, if not all.

We’ll even learn to “Slam.”

The Red WheelbarrowBy William Carlos Williams

so much dependsupona red wheelbarrow

glazed with rainwater

beside the whitechickens.

Questions?