Poetics

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Poetics

Tom Spencer

The Power of Poetry

Through the centuries poetry has been used as a vehicle for learning, entertaining, relating history, remembering, enticing or professing the love of another and making social statements. William Blake used poetry to expose the indigent world of the chimney sweep, the African inequality, and other social inequities. Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" exposed the human foibles germane to class and social position of his time.

In recent years the poets have concentrated on the vague ethereal relations of the family and the repercussions of childhood environment on adult life and actions. The poetry in the songs of the fifties and sixties, of the twentieth century, focuses on both the concepts of teenage love and the ideologies of war.

Recently the White House was to have a literary symposium on the accomplishments and directions of literature in this new century. With the world situation of pending war with Iraq, someone in power decided that he would cancel the symposium. The concern was that the poets might make statements detrimental to the diplomatic position of the United States. Is this a way to tell the poets that they have a strong voice and should exercise that voice?

Whether you are for or against a social or political stand, you as a poet should be writing poetry that brings these issues to the forefront of your reader's thoughts.

To reflect on the great literature that has survived the centuries is to reflect on, mostly, poetic compositions.

Shakespeare rewrote many stories in the manner of poetic prose interspersing sonnets and poetic verse. Is this the reason that his works are considered great worth in the art of writing? Excellence in literature along with longevity of literary interest is most always poetic in its composition.

The "free form" that is the most common poetry of today is not truly free form when it is good poetry. It takes on a rhythm through the development of repetition of syllable count, sound fluctuation mixed with consistency of thought (theme).

The Torah, the New Testament, and the Quran are all written by the poets of their time. The verse they contain has both rhythms and memorable form, oftentimes echoing their substance to have impact of meaning. They survive as foundations of major world religions due partly to their poetic form.

The month of April is National Poetry Month. I urge you to have a poetry party. It would be much more interactive than a super bowl party. It would have the added bonus of everyone being a winner. Have your guests read existing poetry or their own creations. Pass a pad around and have each guest add a line of profound thought, a statement of love or an observation of life. The previous lines should be covered to induce fresh objective thoughts. When everyone has had a chance to compose their one line, impose on your best reader to read the composition in its entirety. You will be amazed at how the world of thoughts seem to come together. My wife and I have used this method of composition at many parties with great success since it was introduced to us by a writer friend by the name of Josh Perz.

If you have read this column to this point I assume that you have an interest in poetry and its composition. The following are starter thoughts that can be used to start a poem to be carried on with your insight and input. Feel free to use these and develop them into your own verse. Make a social statement or propose a forum of thought. I have gathered each from the works of past and present poets.

Lend you an ear to words,
Words in rhythmic meter,
Internal rhyme of pleasant cords,
On the stage of life, the world's theater,
Twisted talismans, tales of tribulations,
Lovers lost in lonely lust,
Children playing placidly,
Soldiers charge to meet their death,
Two little eyes and one little head,
Had gone to sleep in a bowl,
While bovine serenaded the night,
Flocks of ravens shaded the moon,
The earth is ending soon,
Soon will come the morrow,
Gone will be the sorrow,
As the silence of the peace unfolds,
Once again a poet -- sets their pen to parchment,
To tell of coming wonderment,
The sun will rise with great surprise,
Another day is born.

Poetry is the beating heart of literature
Keep it healthy and write.