TIRED OF WRITING A POEM IN FREE VERSE????
A lot of students even adults usually write their poetic thoughts in free verse because it's easy to construct a poem using that form. They have the freedom to express and write what's on their mind without following any structure. But how about the other forms: forms that follow certain meter and rhyming schemes etc., forms that made made Sheakesphere, Edgar Allan Poe, Alfred Tennyson famous. Why don't we try some of them? Yes, it is hard to compose and observe certain rules and structure. But folks sometimes, discipline will do bigger and greater things. So what to do we get in observing discipline in writing a poem. Let's find out. Here are some examples of forms that might sound unfamiliar to us but could help you to be a better writer or poet.
Limerick
There was a young rustic named Mallory,
who drew but a very small salary.
When he went to the show,
his purse made him go
to a seat in the uppermost gallery.
(anonymous)
This form compose of five-line anapestic(consists of two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable) with a rhyme scheme of (AABBA) meaning the last words of first, second and fifth line are rhymed with each other and the third and fourth line rhyme together. This type of form is not for deep sense thoughts, it normally tends to give humor.
My own example:
She is brave yet easily tamed
Keeping us safe, her only aim.
She obeys when we ordain.
Protect us from a villain,
Hatchiko! Hatchiko! is her name
How do I made my limerick?
1. Think a specific thing( pet, person, place etc.) to be used as a subject of your limerick.
2. Express your thoughts(fun,humor,happy thoughts) about your chosen subject.
3. Observe meter, rhyming scheme and rhythm of the said form.
Tips:
1. I use Windows Word in constructing the poem so that I could also consult Windows Thesaurus in finding the exact rhyming of words that effectively lessen your hassle.
2. Always check the stresses of the words you are choosing by saying it out loud for many times and make the syllables bold if it is stressed and if it is unstressed, do nothing. And if you're using a paper a and pen, mark the stressed with check and mark the unstressed with check for indication
(WORD)
(Pen and Paper)
Another Form of Poem
Blank Verse
Furball Friend
by Anonymous
Sweet pet by day, hunter by night. She sleeps,
she eats, she plays. My feet, caught in white paws.
She’s up the fence, watching her prey - a bird.
Poor thing, better run quick, ’cause watch, she’ll pounce!
She’ll sweetly beg for fuss, but don’t be fooled.
’Cause one minute she’ll purr and smile, then snap!
She’ll spit and hiss - and oh - surprise! A mouse.
He’s dead. A gift. Retracts her claws. Miaow!
Figure of eight between my legs, looks up
at me and purrs. The sound pulls my heartstrings.
Her big blue eyes like dinner plates - so cute.
Cunning she is, she knows I can’t resist.
Curling up tight, we sleep entwined as one.
Despite her quirks, I would not change a claw
of her. Cheeky Sammy: my snow-white queen.
Blank Verse is composed of unrhymed iambic(consists of one unstressed syllable followed by stressed syllable) pentameter. For me it is more easier yet complicated than limerick because of having no rhyming scheme at the same time causes a lot of time to compose words to meet the certain meter and to meet the exact rhythm.
My example:
The night was filled with million drops of mist
The wind wrapped me with his frozen caress
My body froze while running towards end
On my way to keep myself dry and safe
Thought I could keep myself escape from this
So let myself get soaked under the rain
No matter what the cold and pang would bring
I let my fate control and drive me safe
The night grew dark and made my eyes go blind
My feet slipped off and fell on the ground
Thought I could never get up anymore
Stood up high and leave that night behind
How do I made this Blank Verse?
In doing this poem, I also considered the steps that I did in the limerick. But I have special tips in doing this form.
1. Focus on rhythm. It took a lot of time for me to finish one line because I spent time struggling in observing the rhythm.
2. You need to stock a lot of words in your mind to replace the words that is off-rhythm.
3. Recite at least 10 times each line to make sure you're in the right rhythm.
So these are just some of the forms in Poem that could help you to be a better poet or writer. How do you find those? How would you compare these forms to free verse? It's hard right? But looking on the bright side. It is more organised and also challenging that would stir up your creativity and make you go out of your comfort zone.
There you go guys! It would serve a one step towards your way to be a great poet.
Goodluck :)
