Eratosphere Forums - Metrical Poetry, Free Verse, Fiction, Art, Critique, Discussions Able Muse - a review of poetry, prose and art

Forum Left Top

Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #11  
Unread 12-09-2001, 09:49 PM
Robert J. Clawson Robert J. Clawson is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 3,401
Post

Although half my work is free verse, I find making it more difficult than making formal verse. I find myself being hyper-keen to cadence and turns, and the eventual shape of the poem. If publication were to be the best marker of my success at free verse, I have a poem, "Grappling," in The Southern Review that rests on many formal, rhythmic elements. Yet, because of its rather complex narrative and graphic stucture, it looks unlike a received form
and, I would guess, qualifies in the editor's ear as free verse.

As far as the triggers of free verse poetry, I find them in things people say, in things I discover in dictionaries, in articles I read in, say, Scientific American. I generally hear, or intuit a lovely contradiction, an irony, or just something bull goose looney. And from that, I take off and let my imagination and the poems sounds lead me.

I'd say that half of my published poems are what critics would call free verse, but each rides on my ear, which hears iambs everywhere, even in road signs.

Bob
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Unread 12-16-2001, 12:04 PM
Susan McLean Susan McLean is online now
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Iowa City, IA, USA
Posts: 10,449
Post

Because there are so many kinds of poetry, I would guess that there are many ways of starting a poem. I am in love with closure (which many people would consider a fault). It means that I often start with the end of a poem. I also love paradox and pun, so I have a long list of titles that I would like to use someday if I can find my way into the idea they embody. Often I will get an opening line, too, and work from that. But I don't tend to find that I start with something that winds up in the middle of the poem.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



Forum Right Top
Forum Left Bottom Forum Right Bottom
 
Right Left
Member Login
Forgot password?
Forum LeftForum Right


Forum Statistics:
Forum Members: 8,527
Total Threads: 22,752
Total Posts: 280,220
There are 4719 users
currently browsing forums.
Forum LeftForum Right


Forum Sponsor:
Donate & Support Able Muse / Eratosphere
Forum LeftForum Right
Right Right
Right Bottom Left Right Bottom Right

Hosted by ApplauZ Online