Mechanical Poetry - Part Three

Have you ever read the lyrics of a Simon and Garfunkle song? Pure poetry. Want to write poems like that? Start copying them. Let me explain.

The Myth Of Creativity

Creativity is somewhat of a myth. It isn't that it doesn't exist, but people's ideas about it are mis-informed. Many believe that to be creative is to come up with something completely new. There isn't an artist or inventor out there who has done this.

Somebody had to write the first four-line verse or haiku poem, right? Now is everyone that uses these forms an uncreative copy-cat? No, of course not. We must copy forms, general ideas and techniques, so why not do it more systematically?

Poem Writing Tricks

Copy a poem you like, and then play with the elements. Part of the beauty of a poem is in the structure and the rhythm. Why not insert your own words into that, to see what happens?

Here is the last part of a poem titled "Gratitude." It started by painting a picture of the mountains,and then;

Words fail, as they should...

So there is nothing to say
There is nothing to say
There is nothing
Is nothing
Nothing...

But gratitude

Now, if you take the general "gimmick" of the diminishing lines, you could insert all sorts of thoughts. An example:

Pain returns, as it must...

And to where can I turn for relief?
To where can I turn?
Where can I?
Where?

But to life

Shameless? No more so than the second time somebody wrote a four-line verse. New words have created a new poem. In the context of a longer poem, this copying of form in one verse might not even be noticed.

What is creativity if you don't create something? Use whatever tricks and techniques you need to start creating poetry.

Steve Gillman has been playing with poetry for thirty years. He and his wife Ana created the game "Deal-A-Poem," which can be accessed for free at: http://www.dealapoem.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Two Poems and an Analysis [?Witness,? & ?An Old Love?]

Two Poems and an Analysis ['Witness,' & 'An Old Love']WitnessMy... Read More

Key Largo - Frater Albertus

Key Largo:The fans turn lazily in front of the doorThey... Read More

The Valley Of Pain

We were exiled from the Garden of Eden. Its... Read More

The Crusader: A Search for the Virtue Inside (an excerpt of an Epic Poem)

On through the darkness she searches the bones Seeking the... Read More

Three Poems and Paradise Lost [One for Hell, One for Heaven one for an Inca King]

The Torrents of HellHell's furnace- Likened to a chimney Vomits... Read More

Our Home

Our home was warm in the shade of the trees... Read More

A Case of The Fears

Chicken Soup is good for a coldSleep is good for... Read More

It Was Not Me

It was not me as I am now. It was... Read More

Colorful Talk

"I heard what you said, Red. Yet, I have to... Read More

The Goat and the Rope [a Poem: in Spanish and English]

The Goat and the Ropewhere there were devils I saw... Read More

Since Youve Been Gone...

My life has changedin so so many waysIt seems to... Read More

The Plane from Iquitos [1959-Part One]

Iquitos & the Amazon Part OneIt was December 2, l959,... Read More

The Spirits de Copan

Part oneI see them in the skies I hear them... Read More

Motiff

Have you ever experienced infatuation with someone you know is... Read More

Black Blood, in Jeremiahs Vines - A Poem and an Article

Black Blood, in Jeremiah's Vines [A Dream Poem]And I heard... Read More

Way of Life: Rhymes of the Inca [four poems: see in Spanish and English NOW!]

Way of Life: Rhymes of the IncaPizarro (Spanish conquistador ((1525))The... Read More

The Lull of Twilight [Over Mantaro Valley] In English and Spanish

Twilight, was now beginning. As forthe sun, it was down-down... Read More

Recollections

I AM SO GRATEFUL for simpler times. Stores were closed... Read More

Three Poems: Liberty, Death, and a Frog [with Commentary on Liberty]

Frog SummerSummer grows hot, for the New-blooded frogs; The bugs... Read More

Preserving Dignity

No one should have to beg or crawl before humanity.... Read More

Burning Autumn Leaves [a poem in Spanish and English]

Burning Autumn Leaves [1950s in St. Paul, Minnesota]My long steel... Read More

Ode To Quetzalcoatal [Now in Spanish and English]

Ode to QuetzalcóatlQuetzalcóatl the GreatNo one knew his true name,... Read More

The King and Delka & Moiromma: the Cold Planet [Parts 25 and 26]

#25The King and Delka [Split Mawkishness-on Moiromma /Part V]Sickly SentimentalityI... Read More

Kens Poem

How wonderfully sweet to be a dweller dwelling... Read More

Contract of Death [Now: in SPANISH and English]

Contract of DeathI heard today, the preacher say: "Daniel has... Read More

Cruel World

Azra, Azra, Wake up Azra. Wake up Azra, It is... Read More

Mechanical Poetry - Part Three

Have you ever read the lyrics of a Simon and... Read More

Satirical Poetry About Tony Blair

All Hail.Is your hospital full of aliens, despite new cleaning... Read More

Shakespeares Sonnet XVIII, Shall I Compare Thee to a Summers Day?

Shakespeare's sonnets require time and effort to appreciate. Understanding the... Read More

Find the Magic

FIND the MAGICFind the Magic As you release old bondage... Read More

Eight Poems

Out of the eight poems provided here [all previously unpublished],... Read More

Im Sorry Mom! A Mothers Day Poem

Mother's Day Poetry,I'm Sorry Mom!I'm sorry for the troubles ... Read More

In the Mountans of Haiti [A Poem: in English and Spanish]

In the Mountains of Haiti(In the City)-July is a hot... Read More