Charm and Incantation

[Tinker]

Explore the Craft of Writing Poetry
Latin Verse

A Charm - from Old French charme derived from Latin carmen "song or verse", also called Incantation from Latin - incantare meaning "to chant (a magical spell) upon", is a genre of verse chanted to create a magical outcome. (Isn’t that what all poetry is supposed to do?) It seems to be a hangover from more pagan times, the belief in the magical power of words to invoke a positive outcome, to dispel misfortune, illness or harm. Originally it was designed to be chanted within a ritual as a magical formula and is the opposite of curse. It is distinguished by patterns of irregular repetition and the belief that power resides in sound, using thick sound patterns of alliteration, assonance and internal rhyme. Archaic or obscure language is often used. The frame is at the discretion of the poet.

               Poet's Quill

             Wonder of words ignite this quest
             from time forgot to time unguessed.
             Charmed be the quill of light,
             Charmed be the poet's plight.

             Plots placed in words for all to read
             of creeds and deeds with bardic seeds.
             Charmed be the quill of light,
             Charmed be the poet's plight.

             From the god within chants emerge,
             a cry, a sigh, a soulful purge.
             Charmed be the poet's plight
             Charmed be the quill of light.
                                             ~~Judi Van Gorder