Scratching My Verses

[Koba]

I have recently posted a few poems here after a long hiatus from writing. Last summer I took up photography which seemed to absorb my creative urges. I was lucky enough to have a job which sent me all over Alaska. I was able to get some rather good pictures, especially wildlife shots. But this winter I have been rather stagnant so I have taken up the pen again.

Some observations I have made:

The break did me good! My writing is refreshed and definitely improved!

I have come to understand that there are certain types of poetry I cannot write. Whenever I try to rhyme the results are either laughable and/or nauseating. I have stopped trying. But I remain jealous of those who can! I also have no sense of rhythm. I don't understand meter or accenting words. I remember in school in spelling class they tried to teach us about accents in words. I never grasped it and failed that test miserably. Also, in basic training I was the one in the group (there is always one!) who was always marching out of step. I just couldn't figure it out even though the drill sergeant tried to give me sufficient incentive. So again, in my poetry I have just given up on trying to write like that. I have no clue what iambic pentameter is and I probably never will.

I think my best writing comes when I relax and become rather dreamlike. It seems like I get much better imagery that way which seems to be my best poetic asset.

I am a person who guards his feelings very closely yet when I write my deepest feelings come out strongly. Poetry seems to open my soul. I put a lot into it. I try to write the very best I can. Then when I put it out there for others to see, I become anxious. Because it is so personal to me, I am afraid of not being liked. Thus when a poem meets with approval, I feel like a little boy who has just been rewarded with an ice cream cone for performing a good deed. But when I meet with criticism my immediate response is to feel a defeat or to wish to respond angrily. But thankfully (!) these feelings are fleeting. I am learning to take what I need and leave the rest.

This is a good site! I am rather surprised to find such good poetry here. From the name of the site I would surmise that it is mostly erotica, if not outright smut, but I see that most of the poetry posted here is of the "non erotic" variety and that the erotic ones are mostly quite tasteful. I think I'll hang around!

 

[twelveoone]

I have recently posted a few poems here after a long hiatus from writing. Last summer I took up photography which seemed to absorb my creative urges. I was lucky enough to have a job which sent me all over Alaska. I was able to get some rather good pictures, especially wildlife shots. But this winter I have been rather stagnant so I have taken up the pen again.

Some observations I have made:

The break did me good! My writing is refreshed and definitely improved!

I have come to understand that there are certain types of poetry I cannot write. Whenever I try to rhyme the results are either laughable and/or nauseating. I have stopped trying. But I remain jealous of those who can! I also have no sense of rhythm. I don't understand meter or accenting words. I remember in school in spelling class they tried to teach us about accents in words. I never grasped it and failed that test miserably. Also, in basic training I was the one in the group (there is always one!) who was always marching out of step. I just couldn't figure it out even though the drill sergeant tried to give me sufficient incentive. So again, in my poetry I have just given up on trying to write like that. I have no clue what iambic pentameter is and I probably never will.

I think my best writing comes when I relax and become rather dreamlike. It seems like I get much better imagery that way which seems to be my best poetic asset.

I am a person who guards his feelings very closely yet when I write my deepest feelings come out strongly. Poetry seems to open my soul. I put a lot into it. I try to write the very best I can. Then when I put it out there for others to see, I become anxious. Because it is so personal to me, I am afraid of not being liked. Thus when a poem meets with approval, I feel like a little boy who has just been rewarded with an ice cream cone for performing a good deed. But when I meet with criticism my immediate response is to feel a defeat or to wish to respond angrily. But thankfully (!) these feelings are fleeting. I am learning to take what I need and leave the rest.

This is a good site! I am rather surprised to find such good poetry here. From the name of the site I would surmise that it is mostly erotica, if not outright smut, but I see that most of the poetry posted here is of the "non erotic" variety and that the erotic ones are mostly quite tasteful. I think I'll hang around!

Koba,
Everybody, has certain types they can't write, for one reason or another. Don't worry about.
Current state of poetry regarding rhyme, it is not liked, don;t worry about., may change but by then you'll be better.
Meter doesn't exist. That is one radical view, it is not there, unless someone after the fact want's to do scansion. Best thing I ever heard came from Angeline, if it sounds right, it probably is. The neo formalists are getting more and more excited, because less and less is being published that is strict metered verse. For now you can do any of three things, find a poet you like read it, he already supplied the rhytm, don't worry about it, it if sounds right, fine, or you can go out and grab a book, the one I like is Stephen Fry *don't worry, if you saw another thread, I'm not him* the Ode Less Traveled, he;s british, so they sre bigger on meter over there. 4things, really you can read Hardy, Swineboure, both very good with various meters, forms. My advice short line free verse, the meterists will keep off your ass.
Personal writing - don't, at this point it will handicap you. Write what you can walk away from, who are you trying to impress? Most people here don't know much, some know something, nobody, even the greats knows, everything.
You want to write, write, read about it, analyze your feelings about the poetry around you, listen to what people say, if it makes sense, use it. It is fucking work, and you get kicked in the teeth alot, but that's only figuratively. I don't know of anybody physically getting hurt writing poetry, maybe reciting it.
Only two types of people you have to be wary of, those who can't find anything bad (effusive fans are the worst, even worse if their not yous but that's a different matter), and those who can't find anything good.
You'll be alright, just not too good for awhile.

 

[twelveoone]

I don't understand meter or accenting words. I remember in school in spelling class they tried to teach us about accents in words. I never grasped it and failed that test miserably.

Poetic Meter and Poetic Form
here's a freebie from Wikipedia, I pledged a dollar in your name. Just click on the links
...

* "She Walks in Beauty", an 1814 poem by Lord Byron, is written in strict iambic tetrameter: (???)
I really don't know about line 1, lines 2 and 3 are pretty safe, the bold is accented.

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

This is the two step BTW, I think it being upgraded to four.
Where ya' from Koba?

 

[Koba]

Wow, that Walks in Beauty is quite a poem! Still don't get the accenting thing but that is ok.

I'm reading a bunch of poets right now but I am concentrating on Rimbaud. There is something magical about his stuff.

I live in Alaska, a great place to live and think, except for one very stupid politician who is an embarrassment to the rest of us.

 

[butters]

I have recently posted a few poems here after a long hiatus from writing. Last summer I took up photography which seemed to absorb my creative urges. I was lucky enough to have a job which sent me all over Alaska. I was able to get some rather good pictures, especially wildlife shots. But this winter I have been rather stagnant so I have taken up the pen again.

have you considered posting any of your pictures over in the artists' quarters here? they're to be found above the authors' hangout forum.

Some observations I have made:

The break did me good! My writing is refreshed and definitely improved!

It's so often the way

I have come to understand that there are certain types of poetry I cannot write. Whenever I try to rhyme the results are either laughable and/or nauseating. I have stopped trying. But I remain jealous of those who can! I also have no sense of rhythm. I don't understand meter or accenting words. I remember in school in spelling class they tried to teach us about accents in words. I never grasped it and failed that test miserably. Also, in basic training I was the one in the group (there is always one!) who was always marching out of step. I just couldn't figure it out even though the drill sergeant tried to give me sufficient incentive. So again, in my poetry I have just given up on trying to write like that. I have no clue what iambic pentameter is and I probably never will.

some people just 'get' musicality, rhythm, some don't - or at least in the whole poetic field. i think some of this may be down to varying local accents, but a lot is a simple case of blinkers (think horses and racing) that anyone can wear with any subject - mine are, to a large extent, linear thinking/mathematical/spatial. so i go with what i have and work it. there was, however, one piece of advice i've seen given to those having trouble with getting the whole 'which bits of words count as stressed?' it was this: place your elbow on the pc table and prop your chin in the cup of your hand. now, without rushing, speak the lines

Mary had a little lamb
It's fleece was white as snow

where you feel your jaw push down into your hand, that's where the accent lies. it seemed to help a lot of people grasp it, but don't worry if it doesn't help you.

what you should feel is

Mary had a little lamb
It's fleece was white as snow

but - i tried this method using various accents and some didn't pick up on this at all. trial and error, i guess. if you're happiest where you are for now - go for it.

I think my best writing comes when I relax and become rather dreamlike. It seems like I get much better imagery that way which seems to be my best poetic asset.

i think you are probably right - that state of inbetween worlds... it's a place some of the best writing comes from imo. almost as if another part of us is composing it, or has it already there waiting for us to discover it and get it onto paper.


I am a person who guards his feelings very closely yet when I write my deepest feelings come out strongly. Poetry seems to open my soul. I put a lot into it. I try to write the very best I can. Then when I put it out there for others to see, I become anxious. Because it is so personal to me, I am afraid of not being liked. Thus when a poem meets with approval, I feel like a little boy who has just been rewarded with an ice cream cone for performing a good deed. But when I meet with criticism my immediate response is to feel a defeat or to wish to respond angrily. But thankfully (!) these feelings are fleeting. I am learning to take what I need and leave the rest.

the anxiety, the delight and distress are probably something we've all experienced - moreso as new writers; sounds to me as if you have the right approach when it comes to dealing with them, though. it's the only way.

This is a good site! I am rather surprised to find such good poetry here. From the name of the site I would surmise that it is mostly erotica, if not outright smut, but I see that most of the poetry posted here is of the "non erotic" variety and that the erotic ones are mostly quite tasteful. I think I'll hang around!

it is, and so was i!

please do! welcome to the forums