National Poetry Month: Types of Poetry (part 3)

Have you written a poem recently?

by Ruth Storkel."Writing good poetry can be incredibly challenging, and sometimes just trying to understand it can be tiresome. But if you think writing poetry requires a minor in rocket science, think again." (TCK Publishing: Kaeylyn Barron)Poetry comes in many "forms, shapes, and flavors," so you can choose a style that appeals to you and let your creativity flow. This is a time of year when the world is throbbing with new life and beautiful weather (perhaps a time of inspiration that will bring forth a new poem or song? )We have seen the rise of many poets in American culture. It is fascinating to consider various ones and their contrasting lifestyles. The most famous American poets of the 1800s had vastly different backgrounds, and their poetry spoke about their everyday personal lives, which provides us as readers with a large variety of poems to enjoy today.

Take a look at some of the poetry of these outstanding poets:

• Walt Whitman: "I Hear America Singing" and "Passage to India"
• Emily Dickinson: "Hope is the Thing with Feathers" "Dear March, Come In"
• Henry W. Longfellow: "The Light of Stars" "A Psalm of Life"
• William Cullen Bryant: "The Evening Wind" and "Thanatopsis"
• Paul Laurence Dunbar: "We Wear the Mask" and "By the Stream"
• Louisa May Alcott: "My Kingdom" and "A Song from the Suds"

Poets may use a variety of poem "styles," but some specialize in a particular form or technique that becomes their "signature" voice or tone.(Over the years, poetic forms in poetry have grown to 168 types!)

TYPES OF POEMS

Here are a few types of poems to consider (this is not the complete list):Sonnet-usually dealing with love.Haiku-short poems with three lines, often about nature.Limericks-humorous poems with a distinct rhythm.Ballad-a narrative poem that tells a story (these are often sung).Free verse-has no rules, does not have to rhyme or have rhythm.Elegy-poems usually written upon the death or loss of someone or thing.Religious-poems expressing spiritual ideas, prayers, doctrines, etc.

POEM SAMPLES

A beloved poet who produced many children's poems was Robert Louis Stevenson. His poems often described the adventures of children as in:"Where Go the Boats?"Dark brown is the river,Golden is the sand.It flows along forever,With trees on either hand.Green leaves a-floating,Castles of foam,Boats of mine a-boating---Where will all come home?On goes the riverAnd out past the mill,Away down the valley,Away down the hill.Away down the river,A hundred miles or more,Other little childrenShall bring my boats ashore.

Limericks bring laughter......

Here's a humorous one from an "anonymous" author:There once was an old man of NantucketWho kept all his cash in a bucket.His daughter, called Nan,Ran away with a man,And as for the bucket, Nantucket.

Haiku

Short poems with 3 lines, following specific rules(Line 1: 5 syllables, Line 2: 7 syllables, Line 3: 5 syllables)Here are two Haikus by my favorite Haiku writer, my granddaughter Chloe:"Fall"Leaves fall flowers bloomSunny day fresh air blows byDays become shorter"Soccer"Soccer is so funIt is my favorite sportMy mom coaches meWe are definitely interested in hearing from you, our readers, and would like to post poetry you have written!

TWO ORIGINAL POEMS

Today, we offer two original "free-verse" poems sent to us recently. Susan Nystrom recently sent us her poem titled: "February Rothko Yellow". Thank you, Susan!Interrupted by Rothko on my kitchen wall.February.Making lemon relish for salmon on Sunday.Gloomy deep purple-black shadow rectangles,hold a smaller, yellow on brightening the canvas upper half.Like a lemon-a winter citrus.(Adam told me citrus is a winter bearing,looking for grapefruit in summer, I could not find.)Lemon yellow.Rothko looking for and finding a winter citrus-in hisdarkening world.His canvas capture of simple rectangles of color illuminate and hide, his and our complexity,natural seasons of living, hope, suffering, hope.Rothko's light-winter's citrus.(Susan comments: Rothko is one of my favorite artists.)This month's second poem comes from Cheryl Lilly, a former citizen of Burien from 1979-1991. The family 'round the dinner table, is, for me, a very Norman Rockwell moment. Daily dinnertime was my favorite, where in reporting on our day, we shared in each other's trials and triumphs."Table Times"Daddy went to work one way and Mama another.We children were in different grades and schools,But dinner around the table drew us back together from our separate ways,Giving us a sense of unity and solidarity.Laughter, on-going sagas, problems-solving, soul-searching, questions, answers, corrections, instruction in righteousness, burden-bearing, and lots of loving went on nightly.In a word, it was communion.It was so much better than television or cellphones.This was real life that was hashed out and treasured up, and was always, always interesting!We all looked forward to it. It was our safe haven.The dinner table was where we were knit together and knew we were not alone in the big, wild world.Much more than physical nourishment happened there.Our hearts, minds and spirits were nurtured, feelingshealed, anxieties laid to rest, situations understood,prayer strategies determined, relationshipspatched and attitudes adjusted.It was a place of restoration from the wear 'n' tear ofthe day.Gathering around the dinner table provided a rich training ground in which to grow. It was a soulical/spiritual footwashing from the soil of the world we'd traveled. What a lovely gift that was! Of the multitude ofgrowing-up memories, table fellowship is among mymost treasured!Thank you, Susan, Cheryl, and Chloe, for sharing your poems with us!