| Author | Message | ||
| Kathy Paupore
Senior Member Username: kathy Post Number: 3456 Registered: 12-2003 |
I have written several poems inspired by the words and forms of other poets. I have posted several here and on my blog. A few of these have received HM's here, but have not been submitted elsewhere. With direct quotes I include the author's name. How do I credit the poet who inspired me? Is it as simple as including a nod to the poet, such as "form inpired by whomever." Is there a "Dummy" book on this? Maybe others have questions on this too?  K Wild Flowers | ||
| LJ Cohen
Moderator Username: ljc Post Number: 5016 Registered: 07-2002 |
Kathy, If you write a poem in the style of another poet, or in homage to another poem, it is usually standard to use "after ------" For example, if I were to use a poem of yours as a starting place of a poem, I might say: "This New Poem" by ljcohen (After Kathy Paupore) I'm not sure there is any list of rules. best, ljc Once in a Blue Muse Blog | ||
| Fred Longworth
Member Username: sandiegopoet Post Number: 77 Registered: 05-2006 |
Sometimes as well, a poet will include the passage from which a line or phrase was "lifted" in an epigraph. This Petty Pace by Kathy Paupore "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day" Macbeth (Act V, Scene V) William Shakespeare | ||
| Gary Blankenship
Senior Member Username: garyb Post Number: 8538 Registered: 07-2001 |
"with apologies to ..." also works or a footnote... Smiles. Gary A River Transformed The Dawg House July FireWeed more War/Peace | ||
| Jeffrey S. Lange
Valued Member Username: runatyr Post Number: 262 Registered: 10-2005 |
Hi Kathy, Thought I'd throw my $.02 in. The way to give credit depends, in part, upon how obvious the inspiration is and how literal the quote. T.S. Eliot's renowned work The Waste Land is a good example. Eliot draws in quotes and references from all over... in some cases, with longer, direct quotes opening a section of the poem, he clearly quotes and gives credit. In other cases within the poem, he just uses the lines he wants to use and doesn't interrupt the poem with interjected credits or apologies... but he does have extensive notes that were published with the work, and the work is quietly annotated. You can cross-reference to his notes at the end of the work and find the inspirational sources for many lines in the work, sometimes with considerable comment from Eliot. In general, if you feel you need to leave a note of some kind, you're probably right. If you are quoting directly more than three words, it should probably be seen as a quote, or set off in italics, set off from the text, whatever you like... and given credit either immediately or by way of an endnote, whatever suits you and the style of the piece. I realize you are speaking more directly, or so I gather, of whole poems inspired by other poems. In this case, some sort of nod is needed, but not necessarily as a separate note. It can be within the poem itself. If you poem imitates a piece by Whitman but does so with obvious references to Whitman himself in the context of the poem, you've turned the poem into something of an homage and it really doesn't need additional explantion or interruption... it speaks for itself and gives credit all on its own. If it's a poem written as a reply to another poet's work, you will probably just want to note that as a subtitle, or alternately, to give credit in a separate note to the poem that inspired the response. As long as credit is given, I'd choose working the credit into the art, but that's personal style. Hope the additional thoughts are useful! Good question! ~Jeff "I had a lover's quarrel with the world." ~Robert Frost | ||
| Christopher T George
Senior Member Username: chrisgeorge Post Number: 5415 Registered: 12-2004 |
Hi Kathy Modeling a poem after another poet's work is a time honored tradition. As you have been counseled you can be safe if you put "After Gary Blankenship" or whatever. Some works though are written without an overt nod to the other poet. I certainly get a lot of inspiration from reading other poets' works. I will usually only mention the other poet if my poem closely follows theirs to the extent that a reference seems necessary. In another sphere of literature, I understand that Dylan Thomas's "Under Milkwood" was modeled after James Joyce's Ulysses although I am not sure that Thomas expressly acknowledged the influence. In truth, the only real similarity is that Ulysses gave Dylan the idea to have a play that took place over a 24-hour period in a fictionalized Welsh village just as the action in Joyce's epic novel takes place over 24 hours in Dublin. Kathy, I agree with Jeff that your question is a good one and one that needs to be discussed. It is one of those gray areas with which we artists have to wrestle from time to time. All my best Chris (Message edited by Chrisgeorge on July 10, 2006) Editor, Desert Moon Review http://www.desertmoonreview.com/ Co-Editor, Loch Raven Review http://www.lochravenreview.net/ http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/ | ||
| Benjamin L Crowell
Member Username: ben589 Post Number: 58 Registered: 07-2006 |
I personally use "with apologies to ... " nearly always. ;) ---------------------------- Cleachdadh mi fo m' féileadh dé tha an m' osan. | ||
| Kathy Paupore
Senior Member Username: kathy Post Number: 3457 Registered: 12-2003 |
Thank you all. When in doubt give credit in some way, shape, or form. KWild Flowers | ||
| Karen L Monahan
Advanced Member Username: klhmonahan Post Number: 1197 Registered: 08-2004 |
Hey Kathy, Thanks for giving me an area to put this "thing" that's been on my mind. A week or so ago I posted a thought about "the stealing of someones work" that just wasn't fair judgement on my part-- It never fails when I say that I don't believe something, or will never "anything," within days I am educated. The recent subjects on plagiarism have just swarmed my view like the red car I bought that all of a sudden everyone has. I should never say never... (sigh) I apologize to anyone my (idiotic) opinion on another post may have offended, anyone victimized by a thief and liar of words has my utmost respect for the pain that that assault must cause. I hope I didn't add hurt to anyone who has had this horrible experience. I swear I will study this issue more and more. Here's a pretty cool place: http://poetsagainstplagiarism.blogspot.com/ Again, I'm sorry. Karen Ihave a Blob-- will I keep it? i don't know. http://klmonahan.blogspot.com/ | ||
| Emusing
Moderator Username: emusing Post Number: 3706 Registered: 08-2003 |
Here is an article on copyright from poets.org that I thought on point with this subject.... "10. Should I copyright my poems? You own the copyright of anything you write, regardless of whether you register it with the U.S. Copyright Office in Washington, D.C. However, you cannot win a copyright infringement case unless your work is registered. Many publishers will copyright in your name when they accept your book for publication, but you may prefer to fill out the form and send it in before submitting your work. You can download forms from the Library of Congress at www.copyright.gov. For more information, see Brad Templeton's A Brief Intro to Copyright." I guess that's the ultimate solution to protecting one's work E | ||
| GA Sunshine
Member Username: ga_sunshine Post Number: 90 Registered: 06-2006 |
So, with my poem "The Storm Cloud" which was inspired by and patterned (sort of) after "The Fog" by Carl Sandburg, I should either state or apologize for using the his idea? Just wanting to do what is right. *Hugs* GA | ||
| Jeffrey S. Lange
Valued Member Username: runatyr Post Number: 271 Registered: 10-2005 |
Hi GA, Ah, I found it... I would say yes, in that case. Sandburg's piece was an obvious model for yours, but is not given obvious credit. A subtitle of "after Carl Sandburg's The Fog would work, or you could do the endnote thing, or you could get crafty and say something like "gallops toward Chicago." at the end of the poem, since Sandburg's piece was part of his "Chicago Poems". (I like your poem, btw!) ~Jeff "I had a lover's quarrel with the world." ~Robert Frost | ||
| GA Sunshine
Member Username: ga_sunshine Post Number: 91 Registered: 06-2006 |
Thanks Jeff! I will go and take care of it. *Hugs* GA | ||
| Karen L Monahan
Advanced Member Username: klhmonahan Post Number: 1204 Registered: 08-2004 |
On E's #10 above-- yes, this is a good idea for a book of poems or work, it seems a pain for individual poems. Another way would be to send one or a batch a poems Certified Mail to yourself and not open the Certified Mail. (((smile))) Karen | ||
| Gary Blankenship
Senior Member Username: garyb Post Number: 8622 Registered: 07-2001 |
Who sues for poetry? Esp for an individual poem? Smiles. Gary A River Transformed The Dawg House July FireWeed more War/Peace | ||
| Karen L Monahan
Advanced Member Username: klhmonahan Post Number: 1205 Registered: 08-2004 |
Here's something Mr. B http://www.footprints-inthe-sand.com/ There is SOOO much online about stealing poetry that I'm a little scared of the whole business now. Well, maybe not. (((smile))) Karen | ||
| Christopher T George
Senior Member Username: chrisgeorge Post Number: 5450 Registered: 12-2004 |
Hi E Thanks for posting the copyright blurb from poets.org, E. Yes it is my understanding that copyright is not as necessary as it used to be and that if you can in some way prove that you wrote something first that is sufficient. The legal view of copyright seems to have changed. I have been copyrighting my musical at each stage it has been written. Early on I also did use Karen's option of "send one or a batch a poems Certified Mail to yourself and not open the Certified Mail." Thanks for that, Karen. Chris Editor, Desert Moon Review http://www.desertmoonreview.com/ Co-Editor, Loch Raven Review http://www.lochravenreview.net/ http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/ | ||
| Laurie Byro
Advanced Member Username: lauriette Post Number: 1895 Registered: 11-2003 |
hi and to add as a someone came into this late with something he felt "paraphrased" of my work, a simple "after laurie byro or for laurie byro" would be great. Otherwise, which came first the take off or the original? peace laurie | ||
| Morgan Lafay
Advanced Member Username: morganlafay Post Number: 2244 Registered: 08-2005 |
write-on, Laurie! |
