On Writing Poetry Article

On Writing Poetry

..............Years ago, say 13 or so by now, I decided that I wanted to be a writer. I still think my highest and best use is as a poet. My dad was manic depressive (now known as bipolar) and there is an established correlation between those with that affliction and the ability to write poetry. I've always thought that perhaps there's a special set of inherited synapse formations in my brain, enabling a facility of that art, although I've never had any known manifestations of the disease.

So, even though I've been told over and over again that "the money is in writing novels, if you're going to write fiction," I've begun reading and writing poetry again, irrespective of any anticipated monetary returns.

The starting place for writing poetry, just like any other genre is reading quality work by other authors, generally in the same style as the one you’re most comfortable with and aspire to write. I’ve often heard that the strongest correlation with writing is music. If you think of music, you’d want to listen to lots of rock and roll, if you want to write rock and roll, or jazz to write jazz, or African sounds, if your name is Paul Simon and you want to do something completely different.

An exception to this for me is Lord Byron. My wife once bought me a set of Dickens short stories and novels and I probably have opened a few pages only once or twice, near the original purchase. But, wherever she got them, the seller threw in a copy of The Poems of Lord Byron, leather bound, which appears to have been published in the late 19^th, or early 20^th, century.

I love reading these poems! Not because of the messages they contain, but because of Byron’s eloquent use of the English language. Somehow “eloquent” doesn’t seem a powerful enough word to capture their essence.

As I read these poems, I marvel at how his words, some of which are now gone from everyday parlance can evoke such feelings of richness and beauty.

And, what are words anyway? I view them as a writer’s color palette. I promised myself years ago that I’d only need to learn the ones in Webster’s New World Dictionary and leave the other shades, hues and gradients to chance. You can make a pretty beautiful tapestry with only Hemmingway’s famous 1,000 words in common usage, if you can pick the right ones and put them in optimum order.

But, back to poetry. When I’m at my best, my subconscious mind knows what it’s writing about long before my conscious mind gets the drift. For example, I wrote a poem today that is titled, “A Father’s Prayer.” The title came to me pretty quickly, but, as the words poured from my head onto the page, I had no idea what, if anything, the poem had to do with prayer. I didn’t find out until I got near the end and, sure enough, I had been right in the first place—after changing the title two or three times, then back again, along the way.

In art, as in golf, I believe there is a constant struggle and negotiation between the right and left sides of our brain, creativity vs. logic.

The hallmark of good poetry is that it always contains a message, no matter how small. And, it’s complete. Stories, we are told, as writers, must have a beginning, a middle and an end. Poetry is no different in that it’s often likened to a novel. “Poetry and novels are alike. Short stories are something different.”

One of the best explanations I ever heard of a poem is that it’s like taking a telescope and turning it around, so that you are looking into the big end and pointing the small one at your subject. It should contain at least one great truth about something. That truth needn’t be profound, except to you. It can be as simple and delightful as a strand of your fair maiden’s hair.

I also notice that I’m feeling most poetic, when there’s a song in my heart, a moment of great emotional revelation, elation, trauma, or grief. I said that poetry is much like music, but I’ve not said the tune is always happy.

So, if you enjoy writing poetry, or would like to get better at it, you have to do it to be successful. And, it’s often in the doing that most is gained. You don’t have to publish your work, but you can, if you like. Your audience will, one way or another, let you know whether or not you’re able to connect with them. A connection with your reader or listener is essential, but that is the subject of another commentary.

And, to get into the hang of doing it, the best thing is to read the verse of others whom you enjoy and admire. That in turn will trigger the portions of your brain that love poetry and cause you to become antsy until you get your words down on paper. I find that once I’m inspired, I have to set everything else aside until the inkwell runs dry. Those are precious times and you often don’t get a second chance at the same inspiration. Inspirations are like rainbows. Every one is just a little different than the last, but all are majestic, even the fragmented ones.

...If you'd like to read more of my poetry and some short stories, as well. Check out my newly released second edition of Mostly Hawaiian Short Stories & Poems. Click here to see the cover and read about it.

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