How to Keep Writing Activity 2: Poetry Writing

Writing a poem freestyle can seem like an easy job. I'm sure you're already groaning from memories of angsty high school teenage peer editing groups. But even a freestyle poem has to sound exactly the way the writer and voice want it to sound.

This takes editing.

Because poems are so particular, the editing is tedious, detailed, and can very well take all day to complete 73 words. My favorite poem of all time is 8 lines of 16 words. Crazy, right?

It's called The Red Wheelbarrow (as seen above), and was written by William Carlos Williams back in the 1960's. It's part of a movement of poetry called Imagism, which (of course) focuses on imagery. You can read the poem above or view it online here.

And trust me, the tedious work of editing a poem is a good thing. And this makes poems the best way to hone your editing skills.

Pick a super difficult poetry form; we are going to hone your editing skills. You could start with a sonnet, if you like. I'm sure that's what you were most used to having teachers throw at you in high school.

Since we want to focus on how well you edit, I dare you to try something more difficult, like a sestina.

The sestina is a poem made up of seven stanzas. Each of the first six stanzas have six lines, and the last word of each of those lines repeat as the end word of a line in each of the follow stanzas, though they do not have to follow that same order. The seventh stanza has only three lines, but it must contain all six of those repeated words in those three lines.

Sound difficult? It is. See below for a diagram of how it is supposed to work.

The specific word order for a sestina is hard to remember. Above is a diagram.

But! If you can't remember the pattern, here is the long-hand of the pattern:

Stanza 1: A, B, C, D, E, F

• Stanza 2: F, A, E, B, D, C
• Stanza 3: C, F, D, A, B, E
• Stanza 4: E, C, B, F, A, D
• Stanza 5: D, E, A, C, F, B
• Stanza 6: B, D, F, E, C, A
• Tercet: AB CD EF

Source: How to Write a Sestina

It's especially difficult if you want the poem to actually make sense rather than just throwing words in. This is where your editing skills come in!

Do you keep diagrams to make sure you're following directions correctly? Do you like lists more? Once you have the pattern down for the sestina (or another poem you're working on), take a pee break, and then come back and brainstorm.

Get out as many ideas and lines as you can (and as fast as you can!). Don't pay attention to whether it's in order yet. Remember that we're going to focus on the editing that comes in later. For right now, just get it out!

The good news about the sestina is that the words do not have to be exact repeats. you may use homonyms, which are words that sound the same but are spelled differently and also have different meanings. Keep that loophole in mind! Need an example or two of these sestinas before you begin your own?

Have at these:

Now that you (maybe!) have the pattern down, write your sestina! I think it would be easier to write a silly sestina. That way if there is something that doesn't quite make sense, the line could reflect that. A serious poem would of course be more hands on, but it is possible.

Now that you have scribbles (or whatever you call your first drafts), take a break for an hour, or a day (or a week).

Come back with a clear head. Keep these in mind while trying to move things around:

Sounds

How does a line sound? Does it roll off the tongue or does it make you trip over your words? Which do you want it to do, and which serves the purpose of the poem better?

Rhymes

The sestina does pay attention to this, though I do know many people who prefer free style poetry. Keep in mind whether you do or do not want to follow a rhyming pattern (no matter which type of poetry you're attempting) and stick to it!

Pauses

Do you tend to use commas or hyphens to indicate a pause? Or do you prefer just starting a new line? Either way works, but feel free to experiment with which to use when. Mix it up! Try all three! See what works perfectly.

How's the editing going? Are you seeing progress when moving things around, when being picky about which word to use where and how to put in a pause? Have you tried to say the poem aloud to see if it sounds right coming off your tongue?

And what about the sestina's particular pattern; how close are you to sticking to it?

I'd love to see any and all efforts! Send me a link even! =) I'd love to read them all.

Was the exercise gruesome? How about worth it? I've always found poetry to be calming as well as a creative juicer.

Whether I'm trying to stick to a super scary form like the sestina or just trying to get my feelings out before they overflow, writing poetry helps center me. And then I am able to write even more. =)

I hope writing poetry does the same for you! Remember, keep writing, no matter what your day job.

To see my own sestina, check below!

Please feel free to critique my work. =) I know I did not put it in iambic pentameter, but any other suggestions and critiques are welcome!

The Song I Wrote For You

By Jennifer Kessner (Meisjunk)

I've written this for you,
so read it slow and clear,
and then when questions form
in your nimble head so dear,
I'll sing It soft, aloud
so all around can hear.

I sat alone in here
waiting a year for you
to say the words aloud,
"I love you!" loud and clear.
But you apologized, "My dear,
my love's in no true form."

Then, in my bitter, sad form,
I pouted for all to hear,
"Then I shall toss this dear
and true devotion to you.
And let me make it very clear;
I'll still do what I'm allowed."

And I left and muttered aloud,
"These songs that I form
are only for me, it's clear.
I'll keep them hidden safe in here."
I pulled out the song I wrote for you
and held it to me, close and dear.

For as close as I hold it, and as dear,
and for all that I am able and allowed,
even though I wrote the song for you,
I own it, and it's mine in any form.
I'll keep the words close, a song when sung you'll hear
my love for anyone, for whom it will be un-clear.

And when my heart's opaque and no longer clear,
I'll sing the song for myself, my dear,
and you'll be prohibited to hear
the words that I speak aloud,
those words in their purest form,
that which you denied me of you.

I'll sing it true, clear, and aloud.
My dear, I'll show everyone my form,
perfect for all to hear, but you.