Creative Bloomings

2 July, 2020

POEMOLOGY – THE STUDY OR SCIENCE OF POETICS

There’s more to poetry than pretty,  frilly words, repetitive rhyme and a sole devotion to emotion! Through our studies we are finding that poetry makes use of mathematics (Fibonacci, Sestina, Haiku, Tanka, Senryu.. ) where we count syllables, lines and stanzas to write our poems.

History is built into the study of poetry in that many poets over generations have inspired us to take up the gauntlet and write in homage to their style, rhythm or attitude. Repeating the past is an education in itself. 

Of course, the written word is based on the concepts of language, grammar and literature. These are the studies which give our poems their structure and foundation.

There is music in worded verse, a lyrical expression that lives within the poems we offer.

Art can be expressed through words. I hear there is a poet who makes visual poems, “painting” pictures with his words in a very concrete way. 

But there is also a science to poetry. This pursuit we’re on is a scientific exploration, in a way, as we delve into the workings of this process which consumes us. During the Poetic Asides Poem-A-Day Challenge this past April, Robert Lee Brewer asked us to pen a science based or scientific poem, One concept that came to mind is presented below:

PTOPE

CLICK ON TABLE TO ENLARGE

  

I present the PERIODIC TABLE OF POETIC ELEMENTS! The table consists of 118 poetic forms and techniques based closely on the Periodic Table of Elements with which we are most familiar. Each symbol represents one of the functions we will use in our writing. During the course of the next few months you are asked to write as many of these forms as you can to the prompts that will be offered. Also, poems written for other prompts across the webiverse can be included if you so desire in order to utilize as many modalities as you are able.  Keep a tally (the provided table can be printed and used as a checklist) of the poems written. You need not write them in order of appearance, use them as you are comfortable in using them. You may want to write your favorite forms early and “challenge” (that word again) yourself with the more complex forms as your confidence builds. You decide how you use the forms featured!  You can repeat forms; they will all earn points. All I ask is that you include your name and indicate the form you used and the prompt by which it was inspired . Yes, even free verse is included… sort of a wild card  thrown into the mix.

As an added incentive, each form has been assigned a point value (aided by a draw of Scrabble tiles) These points are purely random, meaning a sestina could only be 1 point and a Haiku could gather a ten (both hypothetical values). I will publish this chart at the end of the September (tentative deadline is Sept. 30, 2015); you’ll have to trust your instincts. The most points will earn three of my chapbooks (WOOD, YOLO and either “Life is a Beach (and then you die!)”, “Intensities in Tent Cities” or “Rhyme of the Poet Laureate” (Your choice). Big whoop, I know! This isn’t a “challenge” per se. Think of these “points” as green stamps earn writing your poems! 😉

 

So join us in the process of poetics as seen through a “scientific eye”. Continue to RISE UP through poetry!

***

A short while back I had compiled a “book” on poetic forms that were featured here, at POETIC/ CREATIVE BLOOMINGS, POETIC ASIDES by Robert Lee Brewer and various other sources (or created by other talented poets).

All forms in the PTOPE above are included among the 300+ pages in this file, along with most examples. Each element lists the page number on which it appears. Each page references the element symbol and its location on the table. Find a link to this file below:

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4 October, 2015

FALLING AGAIN

FALL

We continue our journey through the Fall Season. So you are asked to write a “fall” poem.. You may be asking, “Walt, haven’t we done this prompt?” But, I want you to think of things that fall or have fallen. Prices fall (maybe not lately), leaves fall, arches fall, and both Saigon and the Third Reich have had their falls. Even things that drop or are dropped end up taking a fall. Drop a few words on falling. Don’t let me down!

1 August, 2015

WE’VE BEEN EVERYWHERE, MAN!

AND SO OUR WORLDWIDE JUNKET HAS COME TO AN END. IT IS GREAT TO SEE THE WORLD, BUT EVEN MORESO TO COME HOME AGAIN!

 

But it appears “HOME” has taken on a different look with fewer faces around the neighborhood. We’ve completed our third PAD during July, but I wonder if there will be a fourth.

So I ask, “Where do we go from here?” Do we continue with our pursuit to rise to heights with our poetry? Or should we cut our losses and say we gave it a shot?

I will post prompts and such for a few more weeks and see if it was just a “summer” thing, or if our poets have gone to greener pastures. If so, good luck to them and I wish them all a fruitful muse!

I will then choose to rethink how to continue in this poetic life. Thank you all for all you’ve done here at Poetic Blooming/Creative Bloomings/Phoenix Rising!

 

6 July, 2015

POETIC/CREATIVE BLOOMINGS HAS RETURNED AS PHOENIX RISING POETRY GUILD

CreativeBloomingsBox

TO ALL CONTRIBUTORS AND FORMER CONTRIBUTORS TO THE CREATIVE BLOOMINGS (POETIC BLOOMINGS) POETRY SITES:

After a brief absence and reorganization, these sites have been transformed into the PHOENIX RISING POETRY GUILD. We continue to offer weekly prompts and exercises meant to instruct and hone our poetic skills. Currently we are in the midst of our annual JULY P.A.D.

The theme for 2015 is DestinationPoetry – TRAVELOG. 

Our worldwide junket has visited the Tower of London and Stonehenge in the UK, Washington D.C. and Times Square in the U.S. so far. Today, we visit the Calgary Stampede in Canada. If you’ve been away, please join us again.

It’s not too late!

15 March, 2015

THE REASON FOR RHYME – RHYMING POETIC FORMS

These pages are “learn as you go”. It is not to say these are new “lessons”. They are more of a refresher course. And of course, those who make a habit of being “free-spirited” and steer away from rhyme, have challenged themselves in these exercises and of that I am most grateful of the efforts being made. You ladies and gentlemen are awesome/awe inspiring!

This week, we will concentrate on specific poetic forms that rely heavily on rhyme or have it woven into certain rhyme patterns with great effect. These will include: Alouette, Constanza, Dizain, Rondeau and Triolet. More examples and more concise reviews of these forms can be found at the Poetic/Creative Bloomings link here: 

http://poeticbloomings.com/poetic-bloomings/in-form-poet/

ALOUETTE: 

The Alouette was created by Jan Turner.

It consists of two or more stanzas of 6 lines each, with the following set rules:

Meter: 5, 5, 7, 5, 5, 7
Rhyme Scheme: a, a, b, c, c, b

“Alouette” is a French word, which means ‘skylark’, and this form is reminiscent of the lark’s song-like expression as presented here. The word ‘alouette’ can also mean “a children’s song” (usually sung in a group). This poetry form is not necessarily for children’s poetry (although can be applied that way), as it works through that style with short lines.

CONSTANZA:

The Constanza, created by Connie Marcum Wong, consists of five or more 3-line stanzas. Each line has a set meter of eight syllables. The first lines of all the stanzas can be read successively as an independent poem, with the rest of the poem weaved in to express a deeper meaning. The first lines convey a theme written in monorhyme, while the second and third lines of each stanza rhyme together.

Rhyme scheme: a/b/b, a/c/c, a/d/d, a/e/e, a/f/f………etc.

DIZAIN:

Ten lines rhymed; usually (though not by definition) iambic pentameter. This is originally a French form and initially would have been made up of eight syllable lines, but later ten syllable lines were also used. The few examples of this form in England did prefer Iambic Pentameter, but that’s purely up to the poet.

The rhyme scheme is: a-b-a-b-b-c-c-d-c-d.

RONDEAU:

A rondeau (plural rondeaux) is a form of French poetry with 15 lines written on two rhymes.  It makes use of refrains, repeated according to a certain stylized pattern. It was customarily regarded as a challenge to arrange for these refrains to contribute to the meaning of the poem in as succinct and poignant a manner as possible. The rondeau consists of thirteen lines of eight syllables, plus two refrains (which are half lines,  four syllables each).

The traditional rondeau looks like this:

A-A-B-B-A

A-A-B-A(R)

A-A-B-B-A-A(R)

TRIOLET:

The triolet is a very brief, tightly rhymed poem that, like the pantoum, takes part of its structure from the repetition of entire lines. A triolet is eight lines, as follows:

1st line A
2nd line B
3rd line a (rhymes with A)
4th line A (entire 1st line repeated)
5th line a (rhymes with A)
6th line b (rhymes with B)B)
7th line A (entire 1st line repeated)
8th line B (entire 2nd line repeated)

 

Using one of these forms (or as many as you feel fit to write), allow the rhyme to drive your poems. Although we are working with rhyme this month, the form becomes important this week. And in seeing that we welcome Spring by the end of the week and say goodbye (somewhat) to Winter, we will be writing to one of these topics: A Farewell Poem, A Birth or Rebirth Poem, or a Poem about returning to something. All in good form! 

19 January, 2015

INTRODUCING THE PHOENIX RISING POETRY GUILD

PhoenixPGLogo1Welcome to the PHOENIX RISING POETRY GUILD. The name of this poetry group is derived from the creature of Greek mythology. As you know, a phoenix is a long-lived bird that is cyclically regenerated or reborn. Associated with the sun, a phoenix obtains new life by arising from the ashes of its predecessor.

And as well, the dictionary describes a guild as an organization of persons with related interests and goals, especially one formed for mutual aid or protection. The combination of these two concepts is the basis for the change in name, design, thinking and presentation.

“Arising from the ashes” of the CREATIVE BLOOMINGS poetry blog, “The Guild” will feature the works written and assembled by the poets of the former site as well as new voices who wish to join in poetic pursuits, all nurtured in the creative process and dedicated to the words and rhymes that themselves arise from the subjects and prompts featured here. It will try to stay less ambitious than its former site and hopefully without a “competitive” nature.

I’ll try to answer some of the concerns presented on the Poetic Bloomings Facebook page (which will remain online as is and will be the “meeting place” for such discussions and encouragements):

Many of our poets admit to being “out of the loop”. No two people know that feeling as much as Marie and I do. The idea of going back to “our roots” (to coin one of the last gardening phrases here) appeals to my sense of what was right and good about what we intended and what we’ve accomplished at the Creative Bloomings blog. Even our first associations with each other at Poetic Asides with Robert Lee Brewer, were founded on the desire to express in a poetic fashion in a sense of community and encouragement, the thoughts and feeling we had fostered. This current re-organization wishes to re-affirm that origin, and hopes to draw our “prodigal” poets back to the fold.

The thoughts of the site being more of a writing group rather than a competitive endeavor had been a constant wish since we first began. We had failed in that, through the introduction of the Bloom awards. One of my peeves of late was the feeling of our poetic circles becoming “Full-contact Competitive Poetry” suppositories. That’s the reason I personally steer away from poetry challenges that draw poets out of the woodwork with the enticement of being published somewhere. Don’t misunderstand, I like seeing my words in print. But I have found that I love to write poetry for the love of writing poetry. I want this last configuration of our site to bring us back to that thought. We’re writing first drafts of future more polished and complete poems here.

The return strictly to poetry will keep things from getting too convoluted here (and make it much easier to maintain.) The above links to the CREATIVE BLOOMINGS page and the FLASHY FICTION FRIDAY page (which will remain online as the archival units for our previous work) will always be active. The access to the form descriptions and examples will serve as a tool for future use. Also the RECOLLECTIONS pages will still function as originally proposed. You will still be able to add to your collections at that site. The “Creative” function of the former site will also still be available for your non-poetic works (Artwork, photographs, crafts…) and links to those additions will be posted here.

We are going to be moving away from the “garden” analogy to give our space new “legs”. Hopefully, we can rejuvenate our rolls and become a strong voice in poetic circles once more.

Hannah Gosselin has offered an idea to have an opportunity to help out with prompts, or provide discussion topics via an e-mail thread. Your contributions are always welcomed here. The current e-mail ( poeticbloomings@yahoo.com ) remains as our contact link. If you wish to be a regular contributor in this cause, I will try to accommodate those wishes.

Thanks to all for your continued contributions and support. As long as you are willing to further  our process and the propagation of poetry, I’ll try to provide an avenue for us to do so. The new tag line for this PHOENIX RISING POETRY GUILD is: “Poets Reborn; Rising From the Ashes”. We are in this to rise together.

Again, the Guild will be opened to poets of all ages and skill levels. 

BE SURE TO BOOKMARK THIS SITE OR ADD THE BADGE LINK TO THE GROUP!

Watch for the site to go live starting February 1st!

 

ANYONE WISHING TO BE INCLUDED IN THE BLOG ROLL, PLEASE SEND YOUR NAME (FOR CORRECT SPELLING) AND THE CURRENT LINK YOU ARE USING AT THIS RELEASE, I WILL BE MORE THAN PLEASED TO ADD YOU SO WE CAN FIND AND PROMOTE YOUR BODY OF WORK EASIER!