I often mention "The Muse" in my posts. That's because "she/he/it" is integral to my method of writing poetry ... and, this is where a large portion of the mystery of writing rhyming verse comes into play.
However you define it, (inspiration, intuition, the voice in your head), it is important to listen to your muse: to allow words and images to find their way to you. In other words, you must tune in.
4. Immerse yourself in your poem = muse = atmosphere.
As I begin to write a poem, I strive to focus on it from within the poem itself. For instance: What is the temperature in there? How bright/dim is the lighting? Is there a storm brewing, and etc.?
I need to know far more about the atmosphere of the piece than I will ever deal with in detail. This gives the piece a rather retentive power. In that vein, let's look again at the line I gave you last time.
"Come and let us sit awhile ..."
As you focus on this line, does a scene come to mind? Perhaps you see a cafe, a patio, or a bench in a park? Are you alone, talking to an ethereal "everybody," or are you with someone in particular?
If there is someone there, with you in your poem, what do they look like? Can you pick up a scent on the air from flowers and/or trees nearby? Does an image develop and expand in your mind as I ask these questions?
If so, you are now at the gateway to Immersive Writing, where the muse begins to fill you in on even more details than you might have otherwise found in that simple line. You are starting to "see" your poem.
This is akin to the images you yourself invent as you read someone else's novel, where your eyes scan the words but see scenes, you read dialogue but hear voices and other sounds. The imagination is a wonderful, powerful tool.
As you delve deeper into this line, begin to jot down everything that you see, hear, notice, as well as any ideas that come to mind. At this point, begin, also, to listen for a natural, recurring rhythm as you consider your word choices.
As a brilliant young woman, named Barbara, once noted regarding the rhythm of my poems, "It's like a heartbeat." Keep this in mind as you write down your insights, images, sounds, and so on, and allow for a "regular beat."
In the meantime, I am here should you wish to leave a comment, ask a question, or merely dialogue with me about any of this. If so, please avail yourself of the comment button on this page.
However you define it, (inspiration, intuition, the voice in your head), it is important to listen to your muse: to allow words and images to find their way to you. In other words, you must tune in.
4. Immerse yourself in your poem = muse = atmosphere.
As I begin to write a poem, I strive to focus on it from within the poem itself. For instance: What is the temperature in there? How bright/dim is the lighting? Is there a storm brewing, and etc.?
I need to know far more about the atmosphere of the piece than I will ever deal with in detail. This gives the piece a rather retentive power. In that vein, let's look again at the line I gave you last time.
"Come and let us sit awhile ..."
As you focus on this line, does a scene come to mind? Perhaps you see a cafe, a patio, or a bench in a park? Are you alone, talking to an ethereal "everybody," or are you with someone in particular?
If there is someone there, with you in your poem, what do they look like? Can you pick up a scent on the air from flowers and/or trees nearby? Does an image develop and expand in your mind as I ask these questions?
If so, you are now at the gateway to Immersive Writing, where the muse begins to fill you in on even more details than you might have otherwise found in that simple line. You are starting to "see" your poem.
This is akin to the images you yourself invent as you read someone else's novel, where your eyes scan the words but see scenes, you read dialogue but hear voices and other sounds. The imagination is a wonderful, powerful tool.
As you delve deeper into this line, begin to jot down everything that you see, hear, notice, as well as any ideas that come to mind. At this point, begin, also, to listen for a natural, recurring rhythm as you consider your word choices.
As a brilliant young woman, named Barbara, once noted regarding the rhythm of my poems, "It's like a heartbeat." Keep this in mind as you write down your insights, images, sounds, and so on, and allow for a "regular beat."
In the meantime, I am here should you wish to leave a comment, ask a question, or merely dialogue with me about any of this. If so, please avail yourself of the comment button on this page.
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