| Author | Message | ||
| Kathy Paupore
Moderator Username: kathy Post Number: 4293 Registered: 12-2003 |
Borrowed from Sol Magazine "ing" Endings in Poetry an editorial by Mary Margaret Carlisle, Managing Editor Many teachers train beginning poets to use gerunds as an easy way to achieve a simple internal or external rhyme. Although fine for light or romantic poetry, problems abound when gerunds are used more than a few times in any poem. An "ing" ending adds no real meaning; "ing" is a weak modifier, an addendum that turns an active verb into a passive gerund. An adjective that was once a verb is not as vital or strong as the verb itself. Too much modification does not help writing of any kind, and in poetry may encourage a drift into flowery language. In addition, a heavy reliance on gerunds turns attention away from meaning and inadvertently puts more emphasis on how the words sound. This dependence can dilute a voice so much that it becomes like a gentle wind in the trees--soft and lovely as it passes, but the meaning can quickly fade away. An active voice that is crisp, vivid and unique becomes passive with an overuse of gerunds. And just as using a "southern drawl" in dialogue slows action to a crawl, remember that gerunds don't dance, they walk. Clip most "ing" endings from your work. Instead, choose words imbued with power and strength that stand on their own without modification, and your work will move in a more memorable and meaningful way.  KYou're invited to: Wild Flowers "A poem is made up of words and the spaces between them." WCWilliams | ||
| Fred Longworth
Intermediate Member Username: sandiegopoet Post Number: 846 Registered: 05-2006 |
Dear Kathing Pauporing, -ing words? I never use them. Freding | ||
| "A-Bear"
Senior Member Username: dane Post Number: 1952 Registered: 11-1998 |
Ouch! That stings. And she went on to say, "Hurt me, baby, hurt me," as we danced the night away. BTW, I was learning to Tango, and it was Paris. Just wondering if the word sting is considered a gerund. If so, they dance wildly when used properly, and I speak from experience. Just kidding, Kathy. Your post is well taken. It's a peeve of many who frequent here, especially our Nehi friend, and fellow poet, Mr. Gardawg. I try to minimize the ings when I write (could have written, "when writing) but it's very difficult, as you know. Thanks for the informative reminder. Something worth remembering as we approach a New Year. Much love, D | ||
| penny
Advanced Member Username: funnyoldlady Post Number: 2157 Registered: 06-2006 |
Thanks for the reminder, Kathy. Happy New Yearing to you and all Wilders! penny (-:=  Let us so live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry. - Mark Twain. | ||
| Fred Longworth
Intermediate Member Username: sandiegopoet Post Number: 854 Registered: 05-2006 |
Poetry that uses too many -ing forms is natually written in -- . . . . . -inglish | ||
| Jeffrey S. Lange
Intermediate Member Username: runatyr Post Number: 473 Registered: 10-2005 |
The first line surprised me the most. "Many teachers train beginning poets to use gerunds"... do they really? I was under the impression that most teachers of poetry steered young poets away from the excessive use of gerunds. "I had a lover's quarrel with the world." ~Robert Frost | ||
| Kathy Paupore
Moderator Username: kathy Post Number: 4300 Registered: 12-2003 |
LOL everyoneing! I am guilty, I overused ings when I was first began poeming. I think perhaps it's teachers at the highschool level who use the "ing" when teaching poetry, just like they teach the form of haiku is 17 syllables, 5-7-5. Happy New Year! KYou're invited to: Wild Flowers "A poem is made up of words and the spaces between them." WCWilliams | ||
| KA
Advanced Member Username: kerryann Post Number: 176 Registered: 10-2002 |
Actually it's true. My poetry teachers from University tirelessly taught us to use gerunds in our first year, only to say in our second year that now we have the unpleasant task of unlearning them. They said they did this to make us more prepared, and more aware of the nasty diseases they call gerunds. Go figure. And here I thought it was because I had lived in Quebec and we're all about bastardizing languages. :o) | ||
| 4rum
Valued Member Username: 4rum Post Number: 105 Registered: 12-2006 |
Boy... glad I never had a poetry teacher. | ||
| Gary Blankenship
Senior Member Username: garyb Post Number: 10074 Registered: 07-2001 |
I dislike them, I think they are a sign of laziness generally used for the passive voice when the active is better - but as I do more slyllabics (the suns, limericks, et al) find I do them more often... I do complain less about them than I used to... Smiles. Gary A River Transformed The Dawg House July FireWeed more War/Peace |
