waxwings Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Many are puzzled as why the designation and what makes a prose poem. In the course of last several years I have decided that, for me, a prose poem is: outwardly, one written in paragraph(s) with lines extending from marging to margin but, inwardly, lacks a definite metrical pattern, shows little other than incidental rhyme as may happen accidentally in connected speech but, otherwise employs all the remaining acoustic features of a poem and is loade with tropes, allusions, hyperboles etc. It seems certain a prose poem could be converted into one of regular appearance if each stanza-equivalent could have nothing but run-on lines. I may not have more to say, except as others here may raise new thoughts and/or attitudes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyv Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 I tend to agree with you on what constitutes a prose poem. My favorite poet, James Wright, wrote quite a few of them, however, I remember reading in one of my books (forget exactly where) that he preferred to call them "prose pieces." We have some fine examples of prose poems and haibun in the site's Prose forum. Been meaning for the longest time to try to compose one of my own ... Tony [i moved your other prose topic re prose poems in the prose forum to the Prose forum and made it a sticky.] Quote Here is a link to an index of my works on this site: tonyv's Member Archive topic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waxwings Posted May 8, 2009 Author Share Posted May 8, 2009 I tend to agree with you on what constitutes a prose poem. My favorite poet, James Wright, wrote quite a few of them, however, I remember reading in one of my books (forget exactly where) that he preferred to call them "prose pieces." We have some fine examples of prose poems and haibun in the site's Prose forum. Been meaning for the longest time to try to compose one of my own ... Tony [i moved your other prose topic re prose poems in the prose forum to the Prose forum and made it a sticky.] Great. Explain "Sticky", please, for I have not dared to see if I should make one or what it would do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyv Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Great. Explain "Sticky", please, for I have not dared to see if I should make one or what it would do. "Sticky" is a function we use to pin topics of sufficient usefulness to the top of a particular forum. Quote Here is a link to an index of my works on this site: tonyv's Member Archive topic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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