“Between The Lines – Poetry and Imagination” 

Thomas Cannon  Jeffrey McAndrew

]Writing Poetry

• Take away pain’s power because you have control of the story.
• Helps us savor the good times.
• Teaches you what kind of person you are.  You have to relate how something affects you emotionally.
• Connect with others.  Poetry is often done by yourself. That can also be a good thing.  Express yourself without risk and get it on paper, and then slowly get comfortable enough to share it with others.
• Benefits of Poetry-     Gratitude-  Most important.  Almost all articles on happiness begin with gratitude

Poetry is perfect for savoring our lives.

The difference between poetry and stock poetry is this, that in the latter the rhythm is given and the sense adapted to it; while in the former the sense dictates the rhythm. I might even say that the rhyme is there in the theme, thought and image themselves.    -Ralph Waldo Emerson  Essays Poetry and Imagination [1872]

Imagery- https://www.masterclass.com/articles/poetry-101-what-is-imagery-learn-about-the-7-types-of-imagery-in-poetry-with-examples

• Describing things in a vivid way.
• Allow the reader to clearly see, touch, taste, smell, and hear what is happening
• When possible, do this while also allowing the reader to empathize with you the poet.
  • Show the world through your unique lens-  what do you notice and focus on that someone would not
  • Strive to make a unique image or connection.

Anaphora

the repetition of words or phrases in a group of sentences, clauses, or poetic lines.

Think Martin Luther King’s Speech I have a dream speech

Makes your poem memorable

Tells the reader what is important and how important it is

Hit home the emotion-   when upset, don’t we repeat ourselves

Enjambment

when the end of a phrase extends past the end of a line.

Enjambment breaks with our expectations of where a line should end, creating a different feel to a poem.

Using the term more loosely, it is ending lines to make the most impact you can and add different meanings  (Officially called Lineation)

in adolescence we

wreak havoc

on the life

we love

The Form Informing word choice

• Assonance repeated vowel sounds in two or more words that are close to each other in the poem and have different consonants.
•  Alliteration  the use of two or more words that begin with the same sound.
• Rhyming- more memorable- like a jingle
• Cacophony is harsh, often discordant sounds.
• words with unmelodious sounds, particularly those with sharp, harsh, or hissing qualities. It is created primarily by using discordant consonants (such as p, b, d, g, k, ch-, sh-, etc.), particularly in combinations that require an explosive delivery.
• Euphony is the effect of sounds being perceived as pleasant, rhythmical, lyrical, or harmonious.
  • (L, m, n, r), and soft consonants (th, wh, soft f, soft v).

Revising

• With as few as words as you can be as specific as you can
  • Take out articles, adjectives while avoiding weird speech patterns.
  • Sharpen images, uses the senses
  • Find words you can take out- phrases you can say in one word.
  • Give it rhythm.
    • Space, length & white space impact on how it is read.
    • Find words you can take out- phrases you can say in one word.
    • Line breaks that are impactful tell the reader when to pause.
    • Is it going to rhyme?   Use a rhyming dictionary so you use the right words
  • How is it going to sound-  soothing words, harsh words. Which words will have similar sounds.

How Does Poetry make a better life

• Journaling- Writing- Poetrying – finds hidden thoughts- clarifies, cleanses
  • Finds new thoughts.
• Puts your worries in a form, so you can walk away and get a break
• Gives you voice- focus on creating and not just ruminating.

Final Thoughts

Sharpened Visions: A Poetry Workshop

https://www.coursera.org/lecture/poetry-workshop/final-thoughts-w8GJP

• Why just write a poem when you can write a better one?
• The most exciting writing begins after the first draft
• Poetry can change the way you and your readers think of the world
• it can turn a blank sheet of paper into a teeming concert of voices and music.

Jeffrey:  On Facebook: “North Fond du Lac Poet Laureate” site

                                      “Wordsmith Writers Club”

              On X(formerly Twitter): @numinous19

              On Instagram: Jeffrey.McAndrew

Tom Cannon: On Facebook-  https://www.facebook.com/ThomasCannonAuthor/

  On Instagram:  @Tcbcannon  @Oshkosh_poet