12-13-2011, 07:14 PM
"Wouldn't abab be more exacting than xaxa"
Yes, if I implied the opposite it was in error. xaxa is ballad, and abab is common.
Yoda-speak. Yes, I like that. It is when the noun-verb sequence is flipped, with all that entails. To me it is even more pronounced in iambic pentameter. It is nearly impossible to write a sonnet that holds to form, and still sound natural, that is be free of Yoda-speak. Although a language is neither either/or, to me English seems to lean more towards trochee than iambic when talking about two foot meter. I prefer the freedom of accentual verse to metered, although I am also quite fond of free iambic verse. Of course even in what is called free verse, we are mixing and matching different meters to use as a rhythmic backdrop for the content. How well one does so, speaks to the talent and skill of the poet. Unfortunately, there are few who seem aware of this, fewer still who show competence, and even fewer still able to judge that competence. Between the three major art forms, visual, musical, and poetic (excluding prose), I consider poetry the most difficult to gain competence in, and as I have made made money in all three areas, I consider myself at least somewhat competent to judge. In terms of time spent learning, I composed my first poem fifty years ago, and still feel as though I have just scratched the surface of what there is to be learned and mastered. I find it humorous that there are so many people at these larger web sites who seem to think that if they can rhyme and make it sing song they have mastered the art, and beyond that, if it comes from their heart it becomes unassailable to critique.
It speaks very well that you have Leanne here, as besides having little patience with me, she has even less with those other fools Plus she is one of the better and more knowledgeable poets I have run across. Also abu nuwas who told me about this site turns out some pretty decent stuff. Of course the main thing to me is that people actually want to improve and are willing to give and get real criticism, regardless of their knowledge or skill level. I get so tired of the empty platitudes that one tends to get from sites like AP.
Dale
Dale
Yes, if I implied the opposite it was in error. xaxa is ballad, and abab is common.
Yoda-speak. Yes, I like that. It is when the noun-verb sequence is flipped, with all that entails. To me it is even more pronounced in iambic pentameter. It is nearly impossible to write a sonnet that holds to form, and still sound natural, that is be free of Yoda-speak. Although a language is neither either/or, to me English seems to lean more towards trochee than iambic when talking about two foot meter. I prefer the freedom of accentual verse to metered, although I am also quite fond of free iambic verse. Of course even in what is called free verse, we are mixing and matching different meters to use as a rhythmic backdrop for the content. How well one does so, speaks to the talent and skill of the poet. Unfortunately, there are few who seem aware of this, fewer still who show competence, and even fewer still able to judge that competence. Between the three major art forms, visual, musical, and poetic (excluding prose), I consider poetry the most difficult to gain competence in, and as I have made made money in all three areas, I consider myself at least somewhat competent to judge. In terms of time spent learning, I composed my first poem fifty years ago, and still feel as though I have just scratched the surface of what there is to be learned and mastered. I find it humorous that there are so many people at these larger web sites who seem to think that if they can rhyme and make it sing song they have mastered the art, and beyond that, if it comes from their heart it becomes unassailable to critique.
It speaks very well that you have Leanne here, as besides having little patience with me, she has even less with those other fools Plus she is one of the better and more knowledgeable poets I have run across. Also abu nuwas who told me about this site turns out some pretty decent stuff. Of course the main thing to me is that people actually want to improve and are willing to give and get real criticism, regardless of their knowledge or skill level. I get so tired of the empty platitudes that one tends to get from sites like AP. Dale
Dale
How long after picking up the brush, the first masterpiece?
The goal is not to obfuscate that which is clear, but make clear that which isn't.
The goal is not to obfuscate that which is clear, but make clear that which isn't.