Poetry and rules

Affable

Are there rules for creating acclaimed poetry?
Can it take pretty much any form you like? Have to rhyme? Does it have to contain logic or can it just be beautiful without trying to make a conclusive point? Is there poetry that is just sensual, setting scenes and describing senses, or is that regarded as naff?

I have a need for self expression but no patience or time to structure a novel. So I'm thinking poetry might be the right option for me.

lmtduffy

All that matters is that you like it,

however.

If you wan to share it to others,
its important to ensure that the message or story or feeling behind it is clear and under stable for others.
and relevant and interesting if you want people to care for it.

brianthebard

Poetry takes so many forms and its up to the writer what form they use,but also what the point of the poem is can influence the form.Beauty is a deserving theme of poetry,don't think of it as pointless!Same goes for describing scenes,events,etc.However you will find most poems of this type have a purpose beyond just description.Good poetry imo goes beyond just the sensual or emotional and creates questions in the readers mind.Don't mean to be rude but it sounds like you don't have much experience of poetry:if this the case,check out poets like donne,shelley,william carlos williams,yeats and...Well anyone really.Get a sense of what their purpose is and also what impact the forms they use has on your reading.

Affable

Hi

Am currently writing a poem and would love more advice--cheers many.

busted flush

Affable wrote: »

Are there rules for creating acclaimed poetry?

no, imo.

Affable

busted flush wrote: »

no, imo.

how about gramatically?

And if you dont' mind me asking, how do you come to your conclusion?

Insect Overlord

Affable wrote: »

Are there rules for creating acclaimed poetry?

No, there are no objective rules for perfect poetry.

Affable wrote: »

Can it take pretty much any form you like? Have to rhyme?

Yes, it can take on any form you like, and there are very many to choose from!
No, poetry does not have to rhyme.

Affable wrote: »

Does it have to contain logic or can it just be beautiful without trying to make a conclusive point? Is there poetry that is just sensual, setting scenes and describing senses, or is that regarded as naff?

I've written 100 poems in the last 4 years. Have any been published, you ask? Yes, two have been published, and both are among the most sensual poems I've created. There's a huge market for descriptive stuff (see Yeats' Lake Isle of Inisfree) and deep, meaningful insights are often lost on casual readers.

But none of that matters if you just want to write for yourself. A lot of what gets posted here is torn apart by critics, but if you are genuinely happy with something you've written then other people's criticism should not hurt you.

busted flush

Affable wrote: »

And if you dont' mind me asking, how do you come to your conclusion?

What An File said . Read above!

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

af_thefragile

There are people who like design. There are people who embrace the random.

I think the only rule poetry should have is that is should come from the heart and have some sort of meaning or a purpose. The purpose could be as simple as evoking a certain emotion in the reader or just getting rid of something. The meaning could be as complex as trying to figure out the nature of time!

Thats all i say you should worry about. The rest all will fall in place.


For me I like both styles of poetry that i mentioned. The rigid designed one and the loose and random one. The style i use mostly depends on the nature of the poem. If its unlocking the nature of mathematical or physical entities bound by complex designs, i'll tend to use a very rigid structure for the poem. It could be a very elaborate structure but I always feel the structure needs to reflect the mood and nature of the poem. With good use of rhymes and rhythm (meter).

Same on the other side if the poem is the spill of a broken heart, i'ld try to use a very loose structure not worrying much about rhymes and focusing more about just "getting it out". No worries of logic or rhythm. Its just an outburst of bottled up emotions!

But then this is just what i do and i've always had a very axe and hammer approach towards the generic! I like to not follow the rules and work on what feels right to me.
Oh and don't fall into believing i always get things right or get it the way i intend them to be cuz most of the times it doesn't turn out anywhere close to what was planned!


And you mentioned patience there which i shall, by learning it the hard way tell you that its the most important thing you'ld need to produce something that won't end up in the bin. Lately i've been inclined to throw all of my previous works in the bin and start fresh. You need patience to produce that very extraordinary piece of art. It cant be achieved in haste. You'll need to wait for the right moment, for the right frame of mind, for the right emotion to string it all together into words. This takes time. And practice!
And sometimes, a lot of times you do have to go over them over and over again to make editions and corrections.

I say it takes more time and patience to write that extraordinary poem than the amazing novel. Who said "I don't have much time so I'm writing you a long letter". Thats quite very true. Its takes a lot more time and effort to express your idea in a few verses than in the 30 odd chapters making up the novel. The novel gives you the freedom to stretch out and explore your ideas over its length. The poem makes you work to concise your thoughts and emotions to a few verses and leave it for the readers to do the exploration and elaboration. Both are different forms of expressions. Both take time and effort. Both can be equally powerful... If done right!

Affable

Thanks all, for your time

magicass

your welcome.