Topogram Poems, also referred to as Topography poems, are characterized by their description of a particular landscape. Elsewhere, they have been described loco-descriptive poems.
The form, established way back in 1642 by John Denham saw the publication of his poem, 'Cooper's Hill.' These poems describe and frequently praise a landscape or location.
I would encourage poets of all ages (and experience) to spend time in natural locations in order to feel that essential spirit of place. Bring all your senses, a camera and a notebook with you and sit still for a while. Breathe in all the magic residing in that location.
I am aware of this theme of place exerting a strong influence on my poetry. I am frequently drawn to such writing; this poetry of place. Furthermore, I hear the words rising up to greet me whenever I sit still and look more closely at the wonder before my eyes. As writers, we strive to evoke the sense of joy derived from these natural settings.
I now share a couple of my own Topogram poems. Hope you enjoy these places...
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Watching The Flow of the Creek
Sky blue curves
Ripple on the surface
Of the gently burbling stream.
It slides over stones
The water slightly silvered.
The thin shadows of winter trees
Gently fall across
The moving water’s surface
Undulating like plucked strings.
The melody of the moving
stream
Sounding sweeter,
So suitably swelled.
© Alan j Wright
Exploring The Old
Quarry
I stand among towering ferns
Looking up at the exposed rock walls
Moist, mouldy, dank
This gouged, scarred interface.
Rock and greenery prevail
In this foreboding, shadowy amphitheatre
Where a colossal presence presses in
On curious young intruders.
I tread carefully over rotting logs
So alive with small organisms
Thriving on the abundant feast of rot and decay
Fungi erupt in hard to ignore colours.
I speak to my friend Jake with a voice echoing
Within the fortress walls, imagining a time
When men mined the rock from this long, forgotten quarry
Here, where the forest has now assumed control.
I'm a sucker for water poems, and this one has such delicious "s" sounds. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWater poems are enticing, Irene. Thank you for your remarks. Glad you enjoyed my alliterative slices.
Delete"Exploring the Old Quarry" describes my visit a few weeks ago to the Cuyahoga National Park "Where a colossal presence presses in/On curious young intruders." Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteIt is often the case, when we read the words of others, we find ourselves prompted to recall a personal experience. Thanks for your comments, Patricia. Much appreciated.
Delete"Exploring the Old Quarry" was something we used to do growing up, though the quarry behind my grandparents' house wasn't as lush as the one you describe. "Shadowy amphitheater" is such an evocative phrase!
ReplyDeleteThe explorative curiosity of youth is such a precious thing. It was such a joy to revisit that far off time. I'm glad you enjoyed the poem, and I'm also pleased that it evoked memories.
DeleteThanks for encouraging topogram poems, Alan. I am now thinking of several places I would like to put into words. Your poems are evocative!
ReplyDeleteIf my efforts have inspired action then I am well pleased. Thank you for these kind remarks.
Deleteoooooooh! I want to play with this form. I think I have but not knowingly. I have some places that I love dearly. I love them SO dearly that it's difficult to take a step back to write about them. But, if I have a form to tie the place to, it might make a good way "in." Thank you! BTW, school is just starting for us. I have a LOT of new teachers to get to know. I will look around for a good class to communicate with. Stay tuned!
ReplyDeleteLinda, we frequently receive reminders, alerting us to the fact we are unconsciously skilled in a particular area. I suspect Topogram poems are bound up in this area. I look forward to your consciously informed discoveries. Attachment to a place is certainly a good way in. I am about to go travelling abroad for the first time since you know what took over the world, so I will be curious to see what words rise up to meet me in this place to which I am keen to return. I am 'tuned.' and curious...
DeleteI think you might call my poem for this week a topogram, written in appreciation for the Olentangy River. Thank you for the challenge to go out and sit/observe/photograph/write. I'll take you up on that this week!
ReplyDeleteMary Lee, that river has such a memorable name. I can understand its attraction as a provocation for writing. I look forward to your further responses to the challenge.
DeleteAlan, I love these topogram poems, especially the first one. Like you, I'm often inspired by certain places in nature. I love this sentence from your introduction: "Furthermore, I hear the words rising up to greet me whenever I sit still and look more closely at the wonder before my eyes." Yes!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Molly. Glad you to find yourself inspired by nature's wonder. You have revealed it many times through your writing across the years.
DeleteI enjoyed both of these, and appreciate the encouragement to spend some time letting the natural world inspire us.
ReplyDeleteI especially liked the image you created with, "The moving water’s surface/Undulating like plucked strings." I could both feel and hear it.
Thanks for sharing the topogram poem form Alan. I like both your poems and how you chose to space them, the more open spaced poem works well with the airy sky environment. I especially like all the descriptive grit-filled words in your quarry poem.
ReplyDelete