Neo-Victorian Poetry
  • Steampunk Poems
  • Romantic Poems
  • Christian Poems
  • Other Poems
  • Blog
  • Home

A key to writing in rhyme ... Part 3

3/18/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture
I am an ardent fan of Vicarious Learning, which "is learning that occurs as a function of observing, retaining and replicating behavior observed in others."  Wikipedia.  Oh, the mistakes I have avoided by using this cheat.  

Those paternal poets, who navigated the paean waters ahead of us, left some wonderful soundings in their rhyming, metered verse, and have saved us a great deal of time and trouble.  And now it's time to try a rhyme.

3. Begin with a line and see where it takes you.
Hmm...  How does one begin this step?  Ah!  Worry not.  I will employ a method that has opened the door for many a novice poet ... that is, I'll give you a line to start with:

"Come and let us sit awhile..."
(Dum ta dum ta dum ta dum...)

So, now you have the beginning of a poem.  Let's explore some of the elements of rhyming verse: rhyme, idea, and meter.

Rhyme: think of a word that rhymes with "awhile."  How about something like "smile,' or "compile," or "mercantile?"  As you ponder a possible rhyme for the end of your next line, does an image or an idea come to mind?

Idea: why would we "sit awhile?"  For instance, are you inviting a friend, who you've met by chance in the marketplace, to hang out with you?  Or, have you and someone else
 been walking together for some time, and you would like to rest your feet?  Where would you like to take this theme?

Meter: will the next line contain as many syllables as your first line, or will you vary it?  Your choice in meter will establish the timing of your poem, but do not let it force you into a corner.  I other words, never ever force a rhyme in order to make it fit your meter.

Now, it's your turn.  Write down, (or type out), the line I've given to you.   Observe it.  Let it guide your thoughts and see what comes of adding more words.  Think of it as a sort of puzzle.  As always, I invite you to leave your comments or questions below, and I will respond ASAP.  Have fun!


1 Comment
Sushi Accessories link
6/16/2023 01:38:04 am

Interesting post, I enjoyed read this.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    About the author:

    I've written many poems over the years.  This blog is a preview of my books: Echoes, Neo-Victorian Poetry (April 2013), Echoes ll, More Neo-Victorian Poetry (May 2014), Echoes lll, Even More Neo-Victorian Poetry, (August 2016), A Compilation of Echoes. (September 2016), and When None Command (April 13, 2019)

    Archives

    December 2021
    January 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    May 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly