05-08-2014, 12:04 PM
It rather seems as though there is a hazy consensus that inversion is always bad, wrong, and with no place in poetry. Except maybe sometimes, if it can be justified, and comes with a certificate from the Muses' Guild.
The discussion precisely mirrors those about rhyme: expression is forced, because of the need to find a rhyme. What justification can rhyme have? How, in exact terms, does it improve understanding or meaning? We do not speak that way; it is ridiculous to hope someone will read rhymed poetry without finding it awkward; they will be forever conscious of it, and looking for it. Away with rhyme. While we are at it, is not metre a bit soppy? How does that help with meaning and understanding. Give me just one single example of how metre improved meaning over the last 2000 years. Just one.
And for God's sake, make no effort to write in a poetic way. Just because it poetry, does not give you free rein to depart from the rules of sound, solid, prose. Even that is often too loose: I recommend reading Capablanca v Alekhine in the famous 1927 tournament. There you will find sensible, plain language. That is the way to go: chess notation.
Some of the simpler souls may be wondering just where inversion begins and ends. When withdrawing the poetic licence, it seems only fair to state, in good plain terms, just what is involved. No-one wants to be sneered at, and, it now seems, if they post here, knowing the views of the Pigists, they will either not post, or post so as to demonstrate that they have learnt. How about this little snippet from John Hegley's 'Glad to wear Glasses' book?:
'you're even thicker than your glasses
less of that Rowena I commanded
don't you ever talk about my glasses like that again
ALRIGHT I said
but she'd already gone
I never saw her go though
(I never had my glasses on)'
Do 'I commanded' and 'I said' count? or somewhere he has 'said Rowena? Legal or no?
How about 'In No Strange Land'?
http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/fra...ange-land/
I mean, we must forgive him his silly 'thou's -- but that first verse? Why not just 'We view thee (o) world invisible? WTF is gained by reversing it? Anyone know? It is bang out of order, of course --isn't it?
Bed calls. Happy days and nights all. Even Mr Erthona-Hyde
The discussion precisely mirrors those about rhyme: expression is forced, because of the need to find a rhyme. What justification can rhyme have? How, in exact terms, does it improve understanding or meaning? We do not speak that way; it is ridiculous to hope someone will read rhymed poetry without finding it awkward; they will be forever conscious of it, and looking for it. Away with rhyme. While we are at it, is not metre a bit soppy? How does that help with meaning and understanding. Give me just one single example of how metre improved meaning over the last 2000 years. Just one.
And for God's sake, make no effort to write in a poetic way. Just because it poetry, does not give you free rein to depart from the rules of sound, solid, prose. Even that is often too loose: I recommend reading Capablanca v Alekhine in the famous 1927 tournament. There you will find sensible, plain language. That is the way to go: chess notation.
Some of the simpler souls may be wondering just where inversion begins and ends. When withdrawing the poetic licence, it seems only fair to state, in good plain terms, just what is involved. No-one wants to be sneered at, and, it now seems, if they post here, knowing the views of the Pigists, they will either not post, or post so as to demonstrate that they have learnt. How about this little snippet from John Hegley's 'Glad to wear Glasses' book?:
'you're even thicker than your glasses
less of that Rowena I commanded
don't you ever talk about my glasses like that again
ALRIGHT I said
but she'd already gone
I never saw her go though
(I never had my glasses on)'
Do 'I commanded' and 'I said' count? or somewhere he has 'said Rowena? Legal or no?
How about 'In No Strange Land'?
http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/fra...ange-land/
I mean, we must forgive him his silly 'thou's -- but that first verse? Why not just 'We view thee (o) world invisible? WTF is gained by reversing it? Anyone know? It is bang out of order, of course --isn't it?
Bed calls. Happy days and nights all. Even Mr Erthona-Hyde