Japanese Forms: Haiku/Tanka

Haiku

http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Haiku-Poem

Tanka

http://www.tankaonline.com/ 

Frog Pond journal

http://www.hsa-haiku.org/frogpond/ 

About our own former teacher, Tom Painting:

http://www.robynhoodblack.com/blog.htm?post=936478 

Here are some examples of his work:



crickets
the pulse in a hollow
of her neck

Acorn #10, 2004



spring plowing
a flock of blackbirds
turns inside out

Frogpond XXV:2



detour
she returns my hand
to the wheel

Frogpond XXVI:3



year's end
the weight of pennies
in the mason jar

Modern Haiku 39:2



Indian summer
bison graze the shadow
of the Bitterroots

Modern Haiku 43:1



summer stars
my children ask me
to name a favorite

The Heron’s Nest, June 2011


All poems ©Tom Painting. All rights reserved.
 

Tips for Writing Odes

An ode poem is a poem that is about only one specific thing that you think is truly amazing and praiseworthy. This type of poem can be centered upon an object, an idea, or even a person. The trick to writing an ode poem is to write using the same structure throughout, while using different words to communicate the one thing you are writing about. Here are some tips to help you out if you’re interested in writing an ode poem:

1. What really makes you emotional, either in a positive or negative way? Think of an object, person, or idea that you are deeply connected to, and this will be the topic of your ode poem. Remember, an ode poem can only be focused on one thing, so make sure that whatever you pick is something that you feel strongly about, so you have enough to write.
2. When someone brings the “something” you have chosen to write about up in a conversation, how do you react? Write down what you would say in such a situation, and next, think of specific adjectives to describe how you feel about the topic of your ode. Throughout the poem, you will have to use many words that have the same definition or meaning, so you might want to check out a thesaurus if you get stuck with this part.
3. How long do you want your poem to be? Odes are traditionally long poems, because chances are, if you’ve picked a topic you really feel passionately about, you will have a lot to write. Start by splitting up your poem into groups, or stanzas, of ten lines. Most odes have three of these stanzas, but if you want to write more, by all means do!
4. How do you want your poem to rhyme? It’s up to you how you want to format the rhyme scheme of this poem. You can make every two lines rhyme, every other line rhyme (most odes do this), or make up your own pattern- just make sure that whatever pattern you choose, you use the same one for the whole poem.
5. If you have written this ode about someone you know, make sure to read it to them or even give them a copy as a present so they know just how amazing you think they are. Then, post this ode poem to PowerPoetry.org so your fellow poets can learn what you feel passionately about!

ODE TO THE PRESENT
by Pablo Neruda
This
present moment,
smooth
as a wooden slab,
this
immaculate hour,
this day
pure
as a new cup
from the past–
no spider web
exists–
with our fingers,
we caress
the present;we cut it
according to our magnitude
we guide
the unfolding of its blossoms.
It is living,
alive–
it contains
nothing
from the unrepairable past,
from the lost past,
it is our
infant,
growing at
this very moment, adorned with
sand, eating from
our hands.
Grab it.
Don’t let it slip away.
Don’t lose it in dreams
or words.
Clutch it.
Tie it,
and order it
to obey you.
Make it a road,
a bell,
a machine,
a kiss, a book,
a caress.
Take a saw to its delicious
wooden
perfume.
And make a chair;
braid its
back;
test it.
Or then, build
a staircase! Yes, a
staircase.
Climb
into
the present,
step
by step,
press your feet
onto the resinous wood
of this moment,
going up,
going up,
not very high,
just so
you repair
the leaky roof.
Don’t go all the way to heaven.
Reach
for apples,
not the clouds.
Let them
fluff through the sky,
skimming passage,
into the past.You
are
your present,
your own apple.
Pick it from
your tree.
Raise it
in your hand.
It’s gleaming,
rich with stars.
Claim it.
Take a luxurious bite
out of the present,
and whistle along the road
of your destiny.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) was the pen name of the Chilean poet, diplomat and politician Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto. He chose his pseudonym after Czech poet Jan Neruda. In 1971, Pablo Neruda won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Neruda often wrote in green ink because it was his personal symbol of desire and hope. Colombian novelist Gabriel García Márquez called him “the greatest poet of the 20th century in any language.” (Source: Wikipedia)

Sestinas

Sestinas

Sestinas

/www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5792

Elizabeth Bishop's Sestina
www.poemhunter.com/poem/sestina/  

KNOW THE PATTERN. A sestina consists of six sestets (6-line stanzas) and one tercet (3-line stanzas). Each sestet contains the same 6 end-words, but in different a order for each stanza. The final stanza, the tercet, contains 2 "end-words" per line. Following is the pattern for the sestina ==> stanza 1: 1,2,3,4,5,6; stanza 2: 6,1,5,2,4,3; stanza 3: 3,6,4,1,2,5; stanza 4: 5,3,2,6,1,4; stanza 5: 4,5,1,3,6,2; stanza 6: 2,4,6,5,3,1; final stanza: 1&2,3&4,5&6.

2

CHOOSE YOUR 6 WORDS. When deciding on your 6 words, focus on versatility in terms of parts of speech, meaning, and usage. For example, the word "hand" can be a verb or a noun (as in the sentences "Hand me the towel" and "We shook hands," respectively.) "Hand" can be used in idioms (e.g. give me a hand, on the other hand). And finally, "hand" just has a plethora of definitions (e.g. a poker player's cards, a worker).

3

REVIEW & REVISE YOUR 6 WORDS. Are all of your words nouns? Are they all verbs? Do they seem to point to one specific subject matter you're planning to write about? If so, I'd suggest diversifying. Throw some adjectives in there; open a magazine or book, put your finger on the page, and write whatever word it lands on; or add a word that seems completely unrelated to the others.

4

ORGANIZE. Although it might seem tedious to organize ahead of time, it will save you from the grief that comes when realizing you've finally perfected your sestina, but you accidentally messed up the pattern in the third stanza, making the patterns in stanzas 4, 5, 6, and 7, also incorrect. So, on a piece of paper, make 3 columns. The first column is for the number pattern, the second is for the end-words, and the third is for your lines of poetry. If you are staring at a blank computer screen, make a table with 3 columns and 7 rows. Go to your TABLE panel or dropdown, click "Insert Table," and enter the number or columns and rows. (READ STEP 5 before writing the end-words down.)

5

WRITE. There are many ways to start a sestina, so experiment and find what is right for you. As for me, I like starting the first stanza without a particular order in mind for my 6 words. I just make sure one of the 6 words is at the end of each line. Only after writing that first stanza do I fill in my end-word column.

6

USE OTHER DEVICES. Don't let the end-words fool you; they are not necessarily the most important part of the sestina. Don't be afraid to repeat other words, too. This can actually draw some attention away from the end-words, adding a different type of rhythm and also warding off the dreaded monotony that can result from a sestina gone wrong. Enjambment can also create this effect.

7

BE FLEXIBLE. If you are accustomed to writing free verse, the sestina's constraints may seem to take away from what you want to say or what you're trying to do in your poem. However, I suggest that instead of not quite writing the poem you wanted to write, allow yourself to write a different poem than what you'd imagined when you began. There are many surprises to be found when writing in forms.

More Poetry

Poems for Women's History Month

The Academy of American Poets was founded eighty years ago by a visionary woman, twenty-three year old Marie Bullock. In honor of her and all women, here's a roundup of poems to celebrate Women's History Month.

  

"Duality" by Tina Chang

"won't you celebrate with me" by Lucille Clifton

"I May After Leaving You Walk Quickly or Even Run" by Matthea Harvey

"Scenes From the Battle of Us" by Cate Marvin

"Fifty-Three" by Eileen Myles 

"Diving into the Wreck" by Adrienne Rich

"Duende" by Tracy K. Smith

"Stanzas in Meditation" by Gertrude Stein 

"Lady Tactics" by Anne Waldman 

"On Being Brought from Africa to America" by Phillis Wheatley
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/exercises/3/5/15

Rule No. 1: In a simple series, use a comma to separate the elements, but don’t put a comma before the conjunction.	Rule No. 2: Use a comma to separate two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction.
Rule No. 3: Use a comma following an introductory clause or prepositional phrase of four words or more.	Rule No. 4: Use commas to set off modifiers that are not essential to the reader's ability to identify a particular person, place or thing.
Rule No. 5: Use commas to separate adjectives of equal rank.	Rule No. 6: Use commas to set off words that add emphasis, shift attention or provide a fuller explanation (parentheticals, "yes," "no," names in direct address).
Rule No. 7: Use commas to set off participial modifiers that come at the beginning of a sentence or after the verb.	Rule No. 8: Use a comma, carefully, to set off quotes or paraphrases.
Rule No. 9: Use a comma with hometowns, ages, years with months and days, names of states and nations with cities, affiliations and most large numbers.	Rule No. 10: Use a comma to separate duplicate words to eliminate confusion.

Survey/Continue Reading poems

Please take the survey:

www.studentvp.com/rcsd

Continue to read poems by:

Louise Erdrich
Sherman Alexie
Michael S. Weaver 
Patricia Smith
Marge Piercy
Yusef Kumunyakaa
Lucille Clifton
June Jordan
Sonia Sanchez
Naomi Shihab Nye 

Pick one poem and poet that you like. Look up the biography of the poet.  Are there other poems in the anthology by that poet?

Post a comment about your poem and poet on the blog.

1. Five Ways to Begin Writing a New Poem

1. Actively seek inspiration by looking in your journal for ideas or reading other people's poems; don't analyze, just seek stimulation.
2. Use your five senses – don't rely solely on visual images; remember your senses of touch and smell. Pay attention to music, and not just the music we hear on radio and TV: listen to the natural and man made rhythms around you, including the sounds of mechanical objects and engines. Remember to always strive for "fresh language" and avoid clichés.
3. Make a list of your most memorable experiences from the past year. Are there details you remember that no one else did? Do the same for your early childhood. The chances are, if you have siblings, that you remember things differently than they do. Focus on the images that are unique to your memory.
4. Consider your friends, relatives, worst enemies: have you had experiences with any of them that seem contradictory? For instances, is there something about someone whom you actually dislike that you nevertheless find admirable? Have you ever been in a position in which you found your roles reversed? Have you, for instance, ever found yourself "parenting a parent?" or experienced a situation in which you found yourself filled with two strong but contradictory emotions like anger and respect?
5. Once you select a subject, start putting lines down quickly. Don't worry about ordering them or otherwise editing them, including whether you are writing in complete sentences.

Keep in mind that these are just ways to BEGIN writing a new poem. You are not like to end up with a poem at this point. Most writers have to WORK towards that most of the time.

Unsettling America

We're going to be looking at Poetry and Poets using Unsettling America as our text.

Go down to the library to return Into the Beautiful North and pick up Unsettling America.

In reading groups, read aloud and share the following poems:
"Immigrants in Our Own Land" by Jimmy Santiago Baca pg. 9
"Indian Boarding School: The Runaways" by Louise Erdrich  pg. 27
"The Woman Hanging from the Thirteenth Floor" by Joy Harjo  pg. 29
"When My Grandmother Said Pussy" by Carol Bernstein  pg. 41
"The survivor" by Philip Levine pg. 48
"Sam" by Lucille Clifton  pg.  50

Choose one of these poems (or another) in the first section and analyze it using TPCASTT

The marking period ends on March 21!  Please get all work in!

Work on QUEST Stories/Poet-to-poet project

Work on your Quest stories....

Check out the book reviews of Into the Beautiful North by readers just like you---

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5970496-into-the-beautiful-north

and post your own short book review here on the blog!

New contest:
The Academy of American Poets, Poet-to-Poet Project

http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/639?utm_source=March+4&utm_campaign=March4_update&utm_medium=email

Into the Beautiful North

AGENDA:

 Multiculturalism and Diversity

Luis Urrea link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1wxniBewBI


Discuss with your group some of the themes in Into the Beautiful North as listed on The handout.

What themes do you think are important for you as a writer?

WORK ON YOUR QUEST STORIES:  DUE FRIDAY!