| Author | Message | ||
| Kathy Paupore
Moderator Username: kathy Post Number: 10199 Registered: 12-2003 |
Since there has been much discussion here lately on Sonnets, Classic vs. Contemporary, and the various techniques used to achieve a Sonnet, I thought our members might be interested in this article I found on-line. Sonnet Manifesto It's a bit long, but it's an interesting discussion on the Contemporary Sonnet and how we arrived there starting with the Classic Sonnet. I found it to be a good learning experience. Kathy You're invited to: Wild Flowers Poems don't have to rhyme.--Ted Kooser Rhyme is a technique that works best when it doesn't call attention to itself.--Addonizio and Laux | ||
| Will Eastland
Intermediate Member Username: dwillo Post Number: 791 Registered: 07-2006 |
And one by Anna Evans called The Future of the Fourteen-liner. I want either less corruption, or more chance to participate in it. ~Ashleigh Brilliant | ||
| Gary Blankenship
Moderator Username: garydawg Post Number: 26212 Registered: 07-2001 |
Barnstone's is brilliant. And might answer the other thread about what is a poem. Smiles. Gary Celebrate Walt with Gary: http://www.poetrykit.org/pkl/tw10/tw4conte.htm | ||
| Kathy Paupore
Moderator Username: kathy Post Number: 10202 Registered: 12-2003 |
Will, thanks for adding a link to the discussion.  Gary, I knew you'd like this article.!! Kathy You're invited to: Wild Flowers Poems don't have to rhyme.--Ted Kooser Rhyme is a technique that works best when it doesn't call attention to itself.--Addonizio and Laux | ||
| Will Eastland
Intermediate Member Username: dwillo Post Number: 800 Registered: 07-2006 |
Wanna have a blast?!? The manifesto by Barnstone (Kathy's link above) has some great ideas to help make the sonnet form a part of the way you think. These include translating sonnets from other languages into English, translating archaic English sonnets into modern English, and translating non-poetic source material into sonnet form. The idea of translating the archaic English (Barnstone calls this intra-lingual translation) really struck me, so I gave it a shot. First I selected a Shakespeare sonnet. In order to make a "neutral" choice I decided to use my birth date (10/3) to pick. Sonnet 103 it was. Alack what poverty my muse brings forth, That having such a scope to show her pride, The argument all bare is of more worth Than when it hath my added praise beside. O blame me not if I no more can write! Look in your glass and there appears a face, That over-goes my blunt invention quite, Dulling my lines, and doing me disgrace. Were it not sinful then striving to mend, To mar the subject that before was well? For to no other pass my verses tend, Than of your graces and your gifts to tell. And more, much more than in my verse can sit, Your own glass shows you, when you look in it. First thing I did was to make a non-poetic, but still line by line, literalization of the text just to make sure I had a handle on the meaning of the original. The idea was to give myself a firm launch pad for the modern version. I did try to stick to 10ish syllables per line, just to maintain the brevity I would have to utilize in the final piece. Oh my! What little my mind produces, That having so much beauty to describe The naked subject is more worthy than any pale adornment I might add. Who could blame me for setting down my pen? Look in the mirror; you will see a face that overwhelms frail creativity, straining my verse and putting me to shame. So wouldn’t it be sin to even try, when perfection the effort will distort? For no other subject will stir my muse beside your unmatched beauty or your charm. And how much more than will fit in a poem Is found in that reflection called your own. Finally I started in on the first draft of the modern piece. It was rough going, and I did often feel that I was choosing words to fit the form rather than the content, so I kept trying to go back to meaning and delight as primary guides and then worrying about fitting the form. Art vs. Nature I am a failure. Skill is poverty when, with such faultless beauty to expound, the naked subject is much more worthy than any drab apparel I might add. My keyboard’s still, dark my computer screen. Look in the mirror! There you’ll see a face that overwhelms my creativity, that strains mere words, makes every trope seem crass. So wouldn’t it be wicked just to try if my best lines will, finally, do harm? There is no other matter stirs my mind beside your natural beauty, grace of form. And how much more than will fit in a poem is found in that reflection called your own. I am aware this has flaws (line five doesn't feel real natural, and the last six lines hold no syntax varition at all), and a couple of crits in biofeedback has pointed out some more. But this exercise has helped me produce my first sonnet, even if it is merely a translation. Maybe I'm a geek, but let me tell you, the process was thrilling. I encourage anyone with the slightest interest in forms, especially one that has held such a place of prominence for so long, to give this a try. Will I want either less corruption, or more chance to participate in it. ~Ashleigh Brilliant | ||
| Kathy Paupore
Moderator Username: kathy Post Number: 10214 Registered: 12-2003 |
Will, any learning process is thrilling! your line 5 could be: my keyboard still, my dark computer screen a bit more natural I was inspired by the slant rhyme and bout's rime and I posted my sonnet in CV. You could post yours there too. Kathy You're invited to: Wild Flowers Free verse in not, of course, free.--Mary Oliver | ||
| Kathy Paupore
Moderator Username: kathy Post Number: 10298 Registered: 12-2003 |
Just bringing this back to the top, I think it is valid information in light of all the recent discussion on what a sonnet is. There is room in poetry for both the classic and contemporary sonnet. To each his own taste. We should all know by now that each poet has their own tastes, and we should respect that and eachother. Kathy You're invited to: Wild Flowers Free verse in not, of course, free.--Mary Oliver |
