read write prompt #29 : mix and match
by Ren Powell
I’ve been working in Classical Arab forms. When I told a friend of mine, an Algerian poet, he looked at me as if I’d said I was planning build a Frankenstein from body parts stashed in my basement. When I told him I’d written a ghazal (books say it’s pronounced to rhyme with puzzle) he laughed out loud. He thought just the westernization of the pronunciation was absurd.
In poetry we discuss the relationship between form and content, knowing that neither exists independent of the other. The shape of a free-verse poem is determined by the content. The restrictions of formal verse shape the content (for example, a sonnet requires a volta; supplying a rhyme will create the direction of the narrative). Obviously, when adapting the requirements of a foreign poetry form, things get lost.
How much can we lose and still recognize the form of the poem. How much did the haiku change when westerners decided to quantify sounds (as the 5-7-5 syllable structure) in a way that doesn’t exist in Japanese? If I grew up in the city and read the seasons by how high shirts are buttoned up and don’t know a tadpole from a Christmas ornament, should I even try to write haiku? What do I learn about another culture’s art/aesthetic view of the world when I try it on for size?
My prompt this time around is to write a formal poem in another form. Take a haiku and write it in free verse, or fill it with heavy metal sounds.
Take a sonnet and write it as a haiku. What do you sacrifice, what to you adapt and what do manage to keep?
A great list of formal poetry definitions can be found here: The Wordshop
Pick and choose: the poetry world is your oyster. If you aren’t fond of oysters, stick some M&Ms in the shell. Mix your metaphors well.
I can’t wait to see these! It’s nice to think someone will be playing with this along with me this week.
Come back after the early morning hours next Monday and post a link to your ensemble at the Get Your Poem On post that will be waiting for you.
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Wear it loud, wear it proud! Display the Read Write Poem badge on your site. Just click here or on the image above to get the code! read write poem news- yes, yes, here’s another virtual book tour stop for ‘a walk through the memory palace’
February 6, 2010 | 11:37 amFind the latest tour stop for Pamela Johnson Parker’s debut collection, A Walk Through the Memory Palace at Jillypoet, Jill Crammond Wickham’s blog, where you can find an interview with Pamela that discusses how she creates manuscripts.
Previous stops include Daniel Romo at his blog, Peyote Soliloquies and James Brush at his blog, Coyote Mercury.
You can find all our plans for the tour here.
- the best of the web is in our ranks
February 6, 2010 | 11:35 amSarah J. Sloat’s poem,”Attending the Tasting” (published in The Literary Bohemian) has been selected for Best of the Web 2010. Congratulations, Sarah!
- another (w00t!) read write poem member on the joe milford poetry show
February 6, 2010 | 11:34 amOn the Joe Milford Poetry Show tomorrow (Feb. 6): W.F. Roby at 9 AM (PST). Find the show here!
Joe describes Will as a “great language poet and bad-ass.”
- ‘literary podcasting made simple with wordpress.com’
February 6, 2010 | 11:33 amDave Bonta has published a how-to article that might be of interest to WordPress users: “Literary Podcasting Made Simple with WordPress.com,” based on his and Beth Adams’ experience at Qarrtsiluni.
Thanks, Dave, for continuing to help make the community aware of technological resources that can expand our art.
- the latest (virtual) book tour stop for ‘a walk through the memory palace’
February 3, 2010 | 3:53 pmThe latest tour stop has been posted for Pamela Johnson Parker’s debut collection, A Walk Through the Memory Palace. Find out how Daniel Romo responded to the work at his blog, Peyote Soliloquies.
James Brush provided our first tour stop at his blog, Coyote Mercury.
You can find all our plans for the tour here.
- planning for napowrimo in april, and you are invited!
February 2, 2010 | 6:12 pmHello, hello dear Read Write Poem community members! We are in the planning stages for NaPoWriMo. (What? Is that a groan I hear, or an excited exclamation?)
We are planning another prompt-every-day for those folks who love to write a daily poem in April (which is, as most of you know, National Poetry Month in the United States — although there is an international following of writing poetry every day in April, too, so it is not just about the States).
Anyway! This is a call for prompts because we want to run your ideas, one every day, in April. So here’s what to do:
- Prompts must be no more than 250 words, and we will take the first 30 that we receive.
- Include “NaPoWriMo Prompt” in the subject line of your email as well as your username (e.g., the name you use when you log in) so we can match you up with your prompt and give you the link love.
- Email your submission (in the body of the email — no attachments please) to prompts (at) readwritepoem (dot) org!
We’ll let you know when we’ve got the 30, but don’t delay because it takes a lot of time to format the posts and we want to be ready come April Fools’ Day. Woohoo!
- new senior contributors at read write poem
February 2, 2010 | 11:51 amWe are thrilled to announce that Ren Powell and Dave Jarecki are moving into the senior contributor role at Read Write Poem. Both have been writing feverishly for the site, as well as providing ideas for content and for the community as a whole. In short, they make this site a more lively, and better, place.
Ren and Dave will fill the roles vacated by Carolee Sherwood and Jill Crammond Wickham, who have moved into the manager role.
Everyone please thank Ren and Dave for their hard work and commitment to Read Write Poem.
- rounding out the virtual book tour of sarah j. sloat’s ‘in the voice of a minor saint’
January 31, 2010 | 1:53 pmOur last stop on the Virtual Book Tour of Sarah J. Sloat’s In the Voice of a Minor Saint is with Ren Powell. Find Ren’s review at More Babel.
Joseph Harker provided our first stop in December, and you can find David Moolten’s review at Edible Detritus. David’s was followed by Dave Jarecki’s. Dave’s review is at his blog. Find Jill Crammond Wickham’s at Jillypoet: Mom Trying to Write.
In case you missed the introduction, we are (virtually) hosting Sarah J. Sloat’s In the Voice of a Minor Saint. For complete tour information, such as how you can get your own copy of the collection or how you can get involved in future tours, read this post.
- make your own book: get off the computer and onto the paper
January 30, 2010 | 4:19 pmBeth Adams has posted her latest project at The Cassandra Pages. “A Handmade Book” may not explicate all the details of bookbinding, but Beth shows readers the “Secret Belgian Binding.” It’s a beautiful as well as inspiring post.
If you would like more detailed instructions, Google “secret Belgian bookbinding” and find sites such as this one. Or look for a local book arts class for hands-on instruction.
As Beth says, ” … it did me good to get away from the computer and feel my hands at work!”
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Funny, I had just written a ghazal when I read this. Thought I’d leave a link to it, and some of my thoughts on ghazals: Burn
These are renku-like stanzas made out of a villanelle that was giving me problems. The sense of it totally changed. It’s called The Dance at http://disorder1313.wordpress.com.
Nathan,
Glad the prompt helped. But come back next Monday when get your poem on #29 is posted. That’s where you leave your link.
Tiel is expanding the conversation. Giving folks more background on ghazals. She might (probably will?) be back Monday with a new poem in response to this prompt.
Whoops. Guess I got a little excited. Sorry.
Never apologize for being excited about poetry! Especially here.
Just come back
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Well, lookee here. Ghazals! I’ve just tried my first one, came over to read January’s article, and saw Ren’s prompt. Well, Monday I’ll have to remember to put up my link for this one.
I decided to try my hand at it after reading an interesting one by Crafty Green Poet.