Short poems: examples + discussion

[Senna Jawa]

I say:

do not apply poetic license to poetry​

in general, and to short poems in particular.

Short poems can be defined roughly as poems shorter than what you expect from haiku. Very few people are able to write short poems. Still fewer can write more than five per year, etc. However short poems provide a convenient lab for poets, they provide learning material.

Thus let's do it, let's provide examples (which rise to the dignity of poetry) and discussion.

A DIGRESSION: there are some very short poems which are actually not quite poems but a combination of text (in extremal cases just 1 word or a fraction of it) and of graphics. It's fine to include the best of them.

 

[Senna Jawa]

A 1-word poem

Here is a 1-word poem and it's full quotation:

grrrError​

Wlodzimierz Holsztynski
© 2003-07-17

_________________________________

The general frustration grrr... is combined with the frustration of encountering or most likely committing an Error.

This by itself perhaps is not enough for a full piece. There is however a combination of the negative meaning with pleasing graphics regularity:

..rrr...rr...r​

And there is a pleasing mirror symmetry around the upper case letter E. One may feel that my item is or isn't a full poem but I believe that it is an item of art.

 

[Angeline]

Here is a very short poem I produced years ago. You may recall it. I'd call it a one-letter poem, but one needs the title for it to make sense.

Zen Poem

B

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

My short poem.....

....entitled One Word.

Word.

​

 

[Senna Jawa]

A Zen poem

[...] but one needs the title for it to make sense.

Zen Poem

B​

Nice, even if it is a joke - still nice. As you said, it's based on its title, which is a bit of cheating--but that's the point. If there is more to it, let me know. I am for sure ignorant but is there a special sense (rather than meaning?) to "B"?

 

[butters]

Here is a 1-word poem and it's full quotation:

grrrError​

Wlodzimierz Holsztynski
© 2003-07-17

_________________________________

The general frustration grrr... is combined with the frustration of encountering or most likely committing an Error.

This by itself perhaps is not enough for a full piece. There is however a combination of the negative meaning with pleasing graphics regularity:

..rrr...rr...r​

And there is a pleasing mirror symmetry around the upper case letter E. One may feel that my item is or isn't a full poem but I believe that it is an item of art.

beyond the visual aspect (which is, of course, integral), this example holds sound and invites empathy through recognition of experience; it would be rare for a reader to fail to connect with the emotional aspect involved here. it is self-contained, and yet the lower-case opening/ending on either side of the upper-case E make it feel bigger, further reaching than its physical text-space.

altogether it encapsulates an entirety within its limited number of letters. it is - a thing of art. poetry? i really don't know; part of my mind rejects that concept, the other embraces it. it is, and perhaps that is enough.

 

[Senna Jawa]

....entitled One Word.

Word.

​

Hi Tristesse, it's nice to get together in a thread again. You still need to educate me why your example is a POEM? Or others can help me.

In the case of Angeline the word Zen brings an image of monks, and the mystery ("word" may have its symbolism but mainly it's still paperish). Thus in the case of zen--yes, I got a poem.

Now it's your turn, Tristeese, and of volunteers

Best regards,

 

[Angeline]

Nice, even if it is a joke - still nice. As you said, it's based on its title, which is a bit of cheating--but that's the point. If there is more to it, let me know. I am for sure ignorant but is there a special sense (rather than meaning?) to "B"?

Not really. I could have done "Be" but I wanted to keep to a single letter, probably because of some dumb challenge we were doing here at the time.

After I wrote it the thought occurred to me that there are a bunch of English letters that could be construed as words and that I could write a series of them. But since it is based on a cheat with the title it seemed like the kind of thing where the joke only works when you do it once.

 

[Senna Jawa]

Not really. I could have done "Be" [...]

Oh, no, you'd kill everything

 

[Angeline]

Oh, no, you'd kill everything

You're right! It would have been the difference between showing and telling. In one letter!

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

Hi Tristesse, it's nice to get together in a thread again. You still need to educate me why your example is a POEM? Or others can help me.

In the case of Angeline the word Zen brings an image of monks, and the mystery ("word" may have its symbolism but mainly it's still paperish). Thus in the case of zen--yes, I got a poem.

Now it's your turn, Tristeese, and of volunteers

Best regards,

Hello SJ, nice to see you.

The word "word" is sometimes used to respond to and emphasize a statement one agrees with ...... eg. statement - "Canada'a PM is toast" - response - "Word." Ergo, one word poem - word.

My head hurts now.....

 

[Angeline]

Hi Tristesse, it's nice to get together in a thread again. You still need to educate me why your example is a POEM? Or others can help me.

In the case of Angeline the word Zen brings an image of monks, and the mystery ("word" may have its symbolism but mainly it's still paperish). Thus in the case of zen--yes, I got a poem.

Now it's your turn, Tristeese, and of volunteers

Best regards,

I'll volunteer!

The use of "word" is not only paperish as you said, but also plays off the English colloquialism "word," which means "I agree." So I am voting for poem!

 

[Angeline]

Hello SJ, nice to see you.

The word "word" is sometimes used to respond to and emphasize a statement one agrees with ...... eg. statement - "Canada'a PM is toast" - response - "Word." Ergo, one word poem - word.

My head hurts now.....

snap.

 

[Senna Jawa]

beyond the visual aspect (which is, of course, integral), this example holds sound and invites empathy through recognition of experience; it would be rare for a reader to fail to connect with the emotional aspect involved here. it is self-contained, and yet the lower-case opening/ending on either side of the upper-case E make it feel bigger, further reaching than its physical text-space.

altogether it encapsulates an entirety within its limited number of letters. it is - a thing of art. poetry? i really don't know; part of my mind rejects that concept, the other embraces it. it is, and perhaps that is enough.

What a nice comment! - thank you. Of course emotions are the most important, just as you have stressed it. And you pointed out to the effect of the two wings surrounding E, which gives the feel of how extensive an error can be.

I forgot to mention something obvious. Such forgetfulness is common when one writes about their own poem. There is a contrast between the notion of chaos in the poem, and the regularity of the presentation. (The author is the worst enemy of their poem--my oooold saying; hey, everything about me is old ).

 

[twelveoone]

Not really. I could have done "Be" but I wanted to keep to a single letter, probably because of some dumb challenge we were doing here at the time.

After I wrote it the thought occurred to me that there are a bunch of English letters that could be construed as words and that I could write a series of them. But since it is based on a cheat with the title it seemed like the kind of thing where the joke only works when you do it once.

O

with the title at the bottom

Why Am I not Surprised

 

[butters]

Here is a very short poem I produced years ago. You may recall it. I'd call it a one-letter poem, but one needs the title for it to make sense.

Zen Poem

B

works for me. utter simplicity, a broad conceit . . . the only thing that could have made it work any better for me would be if the B (whilst retaining its meaning in our eyes and minds) looked like the greek infinity symbol. it also feels like a very zen-like drawn out exhalation.

 

[Angeline]

works for me. utter simplicity, a broad conceit . . . the only thing that could have made it work any better for me would be if the B (whilst retaining its meaning in our eyes and minds) looked like the greek infinity symbol. it also feels like a very zen-like drawn out exhalation.

Thanks though I believe it was born less of poetic inspiration and more of cheesy humor.

 

[butters]

Thanks though I believe it was born less of poetic inspiration and more of cheesy humor.

attempting to stay relevant to the topic, i'd have to say we find our muses in strange places, and the elements the reader brings to the write helps create the poem's layerings.

 

[Senna Jawa]

the only thing that could have made it work any better for me would be if the B (whilst retaining its meaning in our eyes and minds) looked like the greek infinity symbol. it also feels like a very zen-like drawn out exhalation.

These would be two different poems. Both would be good. Such a tiny difference, and so big!

It's crucial that the butters' infinity would be vertical. Delicate. On the other hand, an in your face attempt, when one is projecting themselves (their intellect) onto the poem would fail drastically.

 

[Senna Jawa]

The word "word" is sometimes used to respond to and emphasize a statement one agrees with ...... eg. statement - "Canada'a PM is toast" - response - "Word."

I didn't know it.

Ergo, one word poem - word.

I am still not sure that it is a poem and not a clever construction (thank you Tristesse for putting up with me ).

My head hurts now.....

Let's devolope Tristesse's proposition into one or more themes, let's have some related short poems (or links to longer pieces).

Bible​

holy shit!​

wh,
2013-11-22​

No offense, please! This is a story of a folk (a character) who suddenly got impressed by religion (and by Bible). This is risky but I would be brave to claim that it is something somewhat poetic.

 

[Angeline]

I didn't know it.


I am still not sure that it is a poem and not a clever construction (thank you Tristesse for putting up with me ).


Let's devolope Tristesse's proposition into one or more themes, let's have some related short poems (or links to longer pieces).

Bible​

holy shit!​

wh,
2013-11-22​

No offense, please! This is a story of a folk (a character) who suddenly got impressed by religion (and by Bible). This is risky but I would be brave to claim that it is something somewhat poetic.

Ok, but what do you think are the characteristics that make any of these poetry and not just clever word play? I have this same problem when I try to think about whether koans are poems and not just aphorisms, albeit sometimes profound aphorisms.

I wish I could find that poem by onieria but maybe it left to be published elsewhere. He has another short poem, called Poemis Interruptus that I find very interesting because of the ending. It is in the middle of a large group of poems here (they are in alphabetical order so not hard to find). The ending opens it up and makes it poetry to me.

 

[Senna Jawa]

a 3-word poem

--

perspective--prison corridor​

wh,
looong ago​

This time perhaps someone else may like to comment first.
PS. I searched but didn't see this one in my Lit archive.

 

[twelveoone]

I didn't know it.


I am still not sure that it is a poem and not a clever construction (thank you Tristesse for putting up with me ).


Let's devolope Tristesse's proposition into one or more themes, let's have some related short poems (or links to longer pieces).

Bible​

holy shit!​

wh,
2013-11-22​

No offense, please! This is a story of a folk (a character) who suddenly got impressed by religion (and by Bible). This is risky but I would be brave to claim that it is something somewhat poetic.

this is an interesting train, is it not, herr jawa
tess says one word
word
you say
the bible
holy shit

I can assume you read neither the link provided earlier, nor what I said about you in the level three thread, i.e. Poetry induces. Tess lead you to that. Good job, Tess, you have lead me also to the trashmen's greatest hit. You can google.

 

[bronzeage]

--

perspective--prison corridor​

wh,
looong ago​

This time perhaps someone else may like to comment first.
PS. I searched but didn't see this one in my Lit archive.

This is like trying to outhaiku a haiku. This piece certainly plants an image in my mind and that is the first requirement(maybe the only requirement} of a poem. I'm looking through a narrow window, maybe a prison window, but I have no idea if I am looking in or out.

There is a type of poetry known as Verbal Rorschach, which is classified not by content or structure, but by the effect on the reader. What the reader takes from the poem is entirely dependent on their life up to that point. The shorter a piece, the more Rorschach it is, where the reader must see everything, or see nothing, with no ground between.

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

Ok, but what do you think are the characteristics that make any of these poetry and not just clever word play? I have this same problem when I try to think about whether koans are poems and not just aphorisms, albeit sometimes profound aphorisms.

I wish I could find that poem by onieria but maybe it left to be published elsewhere. He has another short poem, called Poemis Interruptus that I find very interesting because of the ending. It is in the middle of a large group of poems here (they are in alphabetical order so not hard to find). The ending opens it up and makes it poetry to me.

I also love the first one in that collection, Another Homily.