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The art of poetry can be thought of as the conveyance of an emotion, idea, or experience through the careful and creative use of words. The success or failure of the art is directly linked to the poet’s mastery of word craft, and their ability to get in touch with any number of anonymous readers. Masterful poets use a myriad of techniques to establish these connections and, therefore, create sustainable works. For instance, the skilled manipulation of word choice, rhythm, figurative language, including ambiguity, are all very important elements to creating beautiful, meaningful works that can intrigue and form a connection with the poets audience. However, the physical form of poetry is an additional method by which the poet can convey the experience or add emphasis to the point of the poem.
Poetry is a precise art. The challenge for poets is to choose the one specific, high quality word that not only conveys the most meaning, but also flows with the poems rhythm and form. One word chosen with too many or too few syllables, or with the wrong connotation, has the potential to reduce the entire poem to rubble.
The rhythm of poetry is the flow and beat of the words. It is composed mainly of stresses and pauses that dictate how the words are read and even the way certain words are emphasized throughout the piece. In “Sadie and Maud”, Gwendolyn Brooks creates a sing song rhythm that is easily discerned when read aloud: Maud went to college. Sadie stayed at home. Sadie scraped life With a fine-tooth comb.
She didn’t leave a tangle in.
Her comb found every strand.
Sadie was one of the livingest chits
In all the land. (1-8)
The rhythm in this poem reminds us of the songs we would sing while jumping rope on the playground at school. The rhythm here is so powerful and meaningful that it succeeds in briefly taking us back to our youth and a time when we had no worries and is, in itself, a beautiful way of connecting with
The art of poetry can be thought of as the conveyance of an emotion, idea, or experience through the careful and creative use of words. The success or failure of the art is directly linked to the poet’s mastery of word craft, and their ability to get in touch with any number of anonymous readers. Masterful poets use a myriad of techniques to establish these connections and, therefore, create sustainable works. For instance, the skilled manipulation of word choice, rhythm, figurative language, including ambiguity, are all very important elements to creating beautiful, meaningful works that can intrigue and form a connection with the poets audience. However, the physical form of poetry is an additional method by which the poet can convey the experience or add emphasis to the point of the poem.
Poetry is a precise art. The challenge for poets is to choose the one specific, high quality word that not only conveys the most meaning, but also flows with the poems rhythm and form. One word chosen with too many or too few syllables, or with the wrong connotation, has the potential to reduce the entire poem to rubble.
The rhythm of poetry is the flow and beat of the words. It is composed mainly of stresses and pauses that dictate how the words are read and even the way certain words are emphasized throughout the piece. In “Sadie and Maud”, Gwendolyn Brooks creates a sing song rhythm that is easily discerned when read aloud: Maud went to college. Sadie stayed at home. Sadie scraped life With a fine-tooth comb.
She didn’t leave a tangle in.
Her comb found every strand.
Sadie was one of the livingest chits
In all the land. (1-8)
The rhythm in this poem reminds us of the songs we would sing while jumping rope on the playground at school. The rhythm here is so powerful and meaningful that it succeeds in briefly taking us back to our youth and a time when we had no worries and is, in itself, a beautiful way of connecting with
Cited: Burke, Michelle. Writing from the Senses. n. pag., n.d. Poetry Foundation. Web. 28 Sept. 2013 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/learning/article/246406 Hirsch, Edward. Winged Type. n.pag. n.d. Poetry Foundation. Web. 28 Sept. 2013 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/learning/article/177216 Strachan, John and Terry Richard. “Chapter 2: The Shape of Poetry.” Poetry: An Introduction. New York: New York University Press, 2000. 25-48. Print. Rozakis, Laurie. “Chapter 3: Rhyme and Figurative Language.” How to Interpret Poetry. Macmillan. New York: Macmillan, 1995. 28-38. Print.