Episode 134: Poetry Overview
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Ep 134: Poetry Overview
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Today, Fable and the Verbivore are talking about Poetry - both what it is and how it can be used to help to find our voice.
We start by using a general definition of poetry and what characteristics it typically has. Poetry comes from a Greek word that means “to make, to create”. It often includes - but does not require - these three elements:
Emphasis on language's musical qualities
Condensed or boiled down language
Intense feelings or exploration of what it means to be human
The form of poetry is often important. There could be a rhyming structure, lyrical rhythm, or a visual structure. Using Billy Collins “Elk River Falls” and Barbara Kingsolver’s “How to Do Absolutely Nothing” as examples, we talk about how the shape of the poem can help add meaning.
Towards the second part of this conversation, we talk about using poetry to help connect with our voice and identify the words that feel authentically ours. One of the main points we touch on is how adding a constraint to a writing piece can help overcome “decision paralysis” and spark creativity through funneling down the options and narrowing the scope of the project.
As we end, we talk about listening to performance of poetry by the author. How connecting with a poets actual voice can help add layers of understanding to their words.
We hope you enjoy this episode! Keep reading, writing, and putting your voice out there!
Into the woods,
Fable & The Verbivore
Notes:
Definitions of poetry:
Webster - 1a : metrical writing : verse. b : the productions of a poet : poems. 2 : writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm.
Brittanica - Literature that evokes a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience or a specific emotional response through language chosen and arranged for its meaning, sound, and rhythm.
Poetry.WordPress.Com “What is Poetry?” - Poetry is a word of Greek origin. It comes from a verb with means “to make, to create”. A poem is “something made or created”. The poet is the creator and language is the material out of which s/he creates his/her work of art.
The Verbivore references a Ted Ed video titled “What makes a poem … a poem? - Melissa Kovacs” which she used to help define poetry. These aspects of poetry are included in the video:
Emphasize language's musical qualities
Use condensed language
Often features intense feelings
Fable references two Instagram weekly writing prompts she participates in. They are:
#posttopoet with @the.authoress.life - which is run by writer Ali Noël
#flashfictionmagic hosted by @embarnettauthor - which is run by writer Emily Barnett
The waterfall poem by Billy Collins is called “Elk River Falls” and can be read here.
The Verbivore references a Barbara Kingsolver poem about relaxing on vacation, that title is “How to Do Absolutely Nothing” and can be read here.
The Verbivore mentions the power and additional layers of meaning that came from hearing Dr. Maya Angelou perform/read her poems in her own voice. Here are the links to some of those videos:
‘Caged Bird’ - Audio by Dr. Maya Angelou
'A Brave and Starling Truth' - Recited by Dr. Maya before the UN
'Human Family' - Audio by Dr. Maya Angelou, Photographs by Lee Jeffries
‘And Still I Rise’ - Live Performance by Dr. Maya Angelou
'The Mask' - Live Performance by Dr. Maya Angelou
We referenced several of our previous episodes as part of our conversation. Here are those episodes:
Masterclasses Mentioned:
Books & Movies Mentioned:
How to Fly (In Ten Thousand Easy Lessons) by Barbara Kingsolver
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
And Still I Rise: A Book of Poems by Maya Angelou
Music from: https://filmmusic.io
’Friendly day’ by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
Licence: CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)