In the Trenches
Thoughts quickly scribbled
on the back of an envelope,
a barrage of tenets
attack the plain.
An attempt to capture
a simple construct,
a voice.
Words rethought
fall victim to the slashing pen,
silent chatter discarded,
bound characters boldly
replace the fallen symbols
to shape ideas into verse.
A battleground, blotched
and torn, valued
as much for what is lost,
as for what is gained. -----------Judi Van Gorder
As you can see in the
To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme
Many poets today believe rhyme is old fashioned, artificial or strained. Rhyme has a long history in verse which dates back to before the written word. Stories of love, war, gods and heroes were told through oral traditions and often rhyme was used to assist memory in order that the tale could be passed on. Since the written word language has evolved and rhyme has become more sophisticated than just a tool for communication, it has become an art form. Still in muc
Judging by the number of hits the articles in the "Sonnet" section receives, the Sonnet and it's many shapes and sizes wins hands down as the most popular verse form in the Reference Forum. Ranging from the purists to the new age anything goes poets and most of us in between, if I make one point about the Sonnet it is: the Sonnet is a lyrical meditation. It should sing to its reader. Meter, rhyme, pivot, even length, all are secondary to the fluid melody that should ring in your reader's ea
"There are two men inside the artist,
the poet and the craftsman.
One is born a poet.
One becomes a craftsman. . ." ~ ~ Emile Zola to Cézanne, 16 April, 1860 Poetry stirs the emotions as much by the manner of delivery as the message. The message comes from a poet's experiences, observations, imagination and most importantly, the poet's soul. The manner of delivery or craft comes from a poet's intellect and training. It is magic when soul and intellect work in harmony to touch the reader.
