say what?

I've observed something about poetry over the years I've been reading.

Some poets focus on the images, and don't much attention to meter, rhyme, rythem..etc

some worry a deal about meter, rhyme, rythem and other mechanical aspects. Either side is great by me, a master banjo player is just as pleasant to listen to as is a master concert pianist.

What intruiges me is that there is a meduim, where poets can tweak the mechnaics and still use the freewheelin images and what not. This being the middle, there are two extremes: one listed above where mechanics play second fiddle to images and ideas...

I wonder about the other extreme: can there be poetry where the ONLY focus and intent is mechanics of rhyme, alliteration, meter, rhythem, to the point of being "nonsense" sylables that exemplify the character of the native tounge.

Would it be "poetry"? Could emotion and idea be conveyed, as with a song with no words?

fire at will, and fire away!

Re: say what?

I know it's possible to throw metered syllables together, without sacrificing rhyme, and leaving comprehension out on the patio, because I do it all the time. always looking for the perfect word or phrase to jump off the page, but it needs to have somewhere to go: and sometimes for mechanics, it's just hanging out there, functional but not maximized.

Re: say what?

I believe in the middle ground personally.
I think that there has to be some kind of structure or flow, but there also has to be freedom of expression. I think that poetry is mostly emotion, so if the focus is just on a syllable count or rule, or mechanics, then it won't make any sense and it won't reach out and grab you.
But this is just my opinion.
Great topic by the way.

Re: say what?

what I was getting at is not "which is better" or "which do you prefer", but would it still be poetry if there were no "words" per se, just nonsense sylables. could it still convey something without annotatic meaning?

Re: say what?

Oh ok.
have you read 'The Jabberwocky' by Louis Carroll?
It's all nonsense, but it still tells a story. And it's pretty structured.

Last edited by KtIrish 11-16-2009 at 12:08:22 AM

Re: say what?

i perfer poetry that makes sense but i also think if the writer feels it and knows what the jibberish is then it it poetry becouse poetry is emotion and came from somewhere even if we cant understand it..

Last edited by katrinaLeAnn 11-15-2009 at 11:55:30 PM

Re: say what?

Great subject! Here's my thoughts:

I'm thinking nonsense syllables or sounds put together with perfect meter, count etc could still be poetry. The right sounds, especially verbalized, could still be very stirring emotionally.

I come to this opinion by thinking of songs. Music can be very structured, metered, etc, but still convey an enormous amount of feeling without words!

Our language allows for grunts, sighs, laughs, snorts, etc. So why not a mechanically perfect poem of random sounds and syllables?

So, in short answer form, Yes to you thought provoking question!

Last edited by kah 11-25-2009 at 06:19:56 AM