Punctuation marks in poetry.

[Uncle Pervey]

Hi Folks,
I've been getting a little static about my preferences for punctuation marks, and I'm wondering how everyone else feels about them.

I've been informed that I should use semi-colons instead of commas in some places, and as
one of my idiosyncrasies is my detestation of semi-colons,
with anything short of legal or business documents, I tend to avoid them, especially when in a
poetic frame of mind!

The other complaint I've had has had to do with exclamation points. As I use these to express a
strong emotion or intense excitement, I do sometimes get carried away. I've made an effort to cut back on these particular punctuation marks, but I don't see any reason to not use an exclamation point at the end of the titles I give my poems. I'd like to know what all of you think. Thanks! Uncle Pervey, (DOME!)

 

[Liar]

you know
some people
write poetry
that looks ----- like this
and       gets       away


with

it




So no, I don't really think you need to follow correct punctuation all the time. On the other hand, the kind of poems you make, often rhyming verses with quite regular grammar structure looks IMO better with proper punctuation added. I agree with you though, a semicolon doth not in poem belong. I've written novels, short stories and non prose articles for ten years, and I've never to my knowledge used one.

As for exclamation marks, I don't like them. But I guess it's personal. My opinion is that if you have a good line, it will speak for itself.

cheers!
#L

 

[The Mutt]

Puctuation has always vexxed me. I'm clueless about the rules, so I just fall back on the idea that poems are meant to be read aloud, and put in pauses for the orator.
I don't think I've ever use a ! in a poem, tho.
I use ! very rarely in my stories. Sometimes I feel it is needed or the monolog sounds like Joe Friday.

I opened the door. It was her.
I opened the door. It was her!

Hard to know.

 

[WickedEve]

The other complaint I've had has had to do with exclamation points. As I use these to express a
strong emotion or intense excitement, I do sometimes get carried away.

That's fine, but try to express those strong emotions and intense excitement with your words only.

For example:
She smacked him for using all those exclamation points!

or

She could feel the frustration building,
board by board,
erecting a tower of fury
that would soon topple
and crush him.

 

[Tathagata]

That's fine, but try to express those strong emotions and intense excitement with your words only.

For example:
She smacked him for using all those exclamation points!

or

She could feel the frustration building,
board by board,
erecting a tower of fury
that would soon topple
and crush him.

~pant pant pant~
go on.........

 

[WickedEve]

~pant pant pant~
go on.........

Umm... I don't think you're suppose to be getting excited over this. I'm threatening to crush a man.

 

[Tathagata]

Umm... I don't think you're suppose to be getting excited over this. I'm threatening to crush a man.

you don't know me very well do you.......

 

[WickedEve]

you don't know me very well do you.......

Oh...
Yes, I will crush him! (exclamation mark added for uncle pervey)
I will grind my toes into his tummy until he coughs. (surely, this can't be exciting for you) I will slap his face with my boobies! (could you feel the slap?)

 

[Angeline]

Someone I once worked with asked me how many commas, on average, should appear in a computer screens worth of text. Can you imagine? How the hell would I know?

I explained, (pleasantly I thought considering the stupidity of the question--also, I didn't like the person who asked me lol) that you either need punctuation or you don't--depends on the words damnit. And what's wrong with semicolons? Sometimes they're the right thing to use. Sometimes not.

So use it or not. Doesn't really matter in a poem unless the reader can't understand you without it. In my opinion.

 

[Uncle Pervey]

A request WickedEve?

Lovely Lady, if you are going to crush me, may I ask you to smother me instead? With that big, plump, beautifully succulent, tasty and deliciously scrumptious...? Grin! I'd love it love it love it, truly I would. Your ardent admirer Uncle Pervey.

 

[Reltne]

Someone I once worked with asked me how many commas, on average, should appear in a computer screens worth of text. Can you imagine? How the hell would I know?
. . .

Here is a poem I wrote somewhat germane to the subject: (It should be centered)

Etaoin Shrdlu


AAAAAAAA
BB
CCCC
DDDD
EEEEEEEEEEEE
F
GGG
HH
IIIIIIIII
K
LLLLL
MMM
NNNNNNNN
OOOOOO
PPP
RRRRRRR
SSSSSSSS
TTTTTTT
UUU
V
W
YY
!!!
""""
*
,,,,,,,,
............
?????


Roll Your Own

____________________________________
The letters and marks appear as frequently as they are used in common English. - I never showed it to anyone because probably no one would get it (my usual problem). The title (for Perks) is the 12 most commonly used letters in descending order.

I guess you could figure the number of commas if you knew how many characters fit on the average screen. (No offense meant to anyone)

 

[Liar]

Me like, Reltne. But you're right, I might pass over the heads of many a reader. maybe if yiu changed the title to something more hinting at the message?

#L

 

[The Mutt]

Here is a poem I wrote somewhat germane to the subject: (It should be centered)

Etaoin Shrdlu


AAAAAAAA
BB
CCCC
DDDD
EEEEEEEEEEEE
F
GGG
HH
IIIIIIIII
K
LLLLL
MMM
NNNNNNNN
OOOOOO
PPP
RRRRRRR
SSSSSSSS
TTTTTTT
UUU
V
W
YY
!!!
""""
*
,,,,,,,,
............
?????


Roll Your Own





____________________________________
The letters and marks appear as frequently as they are used in common English. - I never showed it to anyone because probably no one would get it (my usual problem). The title (for Perks) is the 12 most commonly used letters in descending order.

I guess you could figure the number of commas if you knew how many characters fit on the average screen. (No offense meant to anyone)

I almost did a spit-take when I read the last line. Great poem!!!

 

[perks]

Hi Folks,
I've been getting a little static about my preferences for punctuation marks, and I'm wondering how everyone else feels about them.

I've been informed that I should use semi-colons instead of commas in some places, and as
one of my idiosyncrasies is my detestation of semi-colons,
with anything short of legal or business documents, I tend to avoid them, especially when in a
poetic frame of mind!

The other complaint I've had has had to do with exclamation points. As I use these to express a
strong emotion or intense excitement, I do sometimes get carried away. I've made an effort to cut back on these particular punctuation marks, but I don't see any reason to not use an exclamation point at the end of the titles I give my poems. I'd like to know what all of you think. Thanks! Uncle Pervey, (DOME!)

As for your received "static" and "complaints", I'd say the only thing I really gave you shit about was your rhyming, which is pretty much just a pet peeve of mine, the other stuff was pretty constructive. Either way, it's all my opinion and doesn't really mean diddly squat in the whole force of the universe. So, don't use semicolons if you don't want too, and be as excited as you like.

 

[Uncle Pervey]

Your comments appreciated.

Hi perks. I appreciate your comments and took them for the critique they were intended. I was referring to some anonymous remarks made by someone who couldn't even use good English to complain, grin, but you know how that goes. As for rhyming, I grew up with Burma Shave and Ogden Nash's influences about me, so, I guess you can guess, about me and the rest, chuckle chuckle. Have a great day! Uncle Pervey, "DOME!"

 

[perks]

Re: Your comments appreciated.

Hi perks. I appreciate your comments and took them for the critique they were intended. I was referring to some anonymous remarks made by someone who couldn't even use good English to complain, grin, but you know how that goes. As for rhyming, I grew up with Burma Shave and Ogden Nash's influences about me, so, I guess you can guess, about me and the rest, chuckle chuckle. Have a great day! Uncle Pervey, "DOME!"

Burma shave made me laugh. I think Ogden Nash is of course a great influence. He had a style that crossed all sorts of boundaries and bridged the generational gap. Yes he rhymes, at times<heh>, even to the point of creating words to go with the rhymes. The reason was so successful with that, is because there was subtext behind his lines. There was almost always a social commentary, or at least something that anyone could relate to. I think there was a certain magic in his poetry, part of it being that he never let his rhyme scheme get bigger than the context or point of his poetry. That is often a hard thing to do. He forced the rhyme to his point, not the point to his rhyme. Do you see what I mean?

and as for anonymous posters. They don't matter, sugah. If they don't have the balls to say it to your face, then they don't even deserve your thought. It gives credence to their cowardice.

 

[The Mutt]

Re: Re: Your comments appreciated.

Burma shave made me laugh. I think Ogden Nash is of course a great influence. He had a style that crossed all sorts of boundaries and bridged the generational gap. Yes he rhymes, at times<heh>, even to the point of creating words to go with the rhymes. The reason was so successful with that, is because there was subtext behind his lines. There was almost always a social commentary, or at least something that anyone could relate to. I think there was a certain magic in his poetry, part of it being that he never let his rhyme scheme get bigger than the context or point of his poetry. That is often a hard thing to do. He forced the rhyme to his point, not the point to his rhyme. Do you see what I mean?

Rhyming was fine
for Shakespeare and Poe,
now it's passe...
Did I miss a memo?

 

[perks]

Re: Re: Re: Your comments appreciated.

Rhyming was fine
for Shakespeare and Poe,
now it's passe...
Did I miss a memo?

no, you missed the point that I was making
about rhyme and meter, and when it's breaking
I suggested that he mirror those masters
instead of writing complete disasters
just use the rhyme to match his subject
we know that works, last time I checked
and you don't need a note for that
so get to writing, you insolent brat.

 

[Uncle Pervey]

Meter's there, grin.

The meter's there grin,
Just not as you thought friend,
If you look at it again?
Instead of matching,
Just do some cross-hatching,
Although it might be taxing!
Do you now see it?
Each meter's repeated,
I think I have succeeded.
Joy and best wishes to you forever. Uncle Pervey

 

[perks]

mr. pervey you wound me
with your cross hatching rhyme scheme
you sing the same tune, see
it's like a damn crime scene

I sling rhymes like Ms. Hill
quick, raw and full
like steak for the grill
and no, not the bull

So come visit my playground
jump rope with your rhymes
I won't make a sound
well, at least, sometimes.

I hate you for making me rhyme. *laughing* just not so much.

 

[Angeline]

Here is a poem I wrote somewhat germane to the subject: (It should be centered)

Etaoin Shrdlu


AAAAAAAA
BB
CCCC
DDDD
EEEEEEEEEEEE
F
GGG
HH
IIIIIIIII
K
LLLLL
MMM
NNNNNNNN
OOOOOO
PPP
RRRRRRR
SSSSSSSS
TTTTTTT
UUU
V
W
YY
!!!
""""
*
,,,,,,,,
............
?????


Roll Your Own

____________________________________
The letters and marks appear as frequently as they are used in common English. - I never showed it to anyone because probably no one would get it (my usual problem). The title (for Perks) is the 12 most commonly used letters in descending order.

I guess you could figure the number of commas if you knew how many characters fit on the average screen. (No offense meant to anyone)

Well yes--but that poem is a once in a lifetime thing. Pretty damn clever, too.