During the month of May, I set myself a personal writing challenge of writing a poem each day based on historical events that took place on a particular May date.
The project delivered a number of documentary style poems (docupoetry). My previous docupoetry poems have been somewhat lengthy. These latest poems are shorter. I think time constraints may have contributed to this outcome.
Writing projects /challenges are fun. They invigorate the mind. They reveal a lot. Here are two docu-poems focusing on events in the lives of two disparate historical figures.
The Last Word
A
decade of faithfully recorded thoughts
A life
captured in diaries
Rich
in detail and scope
Reached
a premature ending
When
the writings of Samuel Pepys
Hit a
wall of darkness.
The
final entry
The
last word
Inked
for posterity.
With
eyesight failing
And
shadows advancing across the page
His
pen, he reluctantly laid to rest.
The
writer found himself
Out of
sight
Not
out of mind.
Alan j Wright
William Kidd
William Kidd was a privateer,
A buccaneer
A man with piratical urges.
He plundered ships
Stole their treasure
Then hid it away for personal pleasure.
Captain Kidd
Captain Kidd
Paid a price
For what he did
A public hanging
An infamous end
A pirate’s life
Such a dangerous blend.
Alan j Wright
It is once more, Poetry Friday and this week out host is Tabatha Yeatts. Tabatha this week presents a poem with a humourous ending and the message -expect the unexpected.
It is once more Poetry Friday
Alan, nice post and poems. I especially like the rhyme scheme in the second poem. I heard docu-poetry twice this week. Here, and in a book I read where the author described her poems as docu-poems. It was Martin Rising: Requiem for a King by Andrea Davis Pinkney. It was a fascinating book that documented in verse the last three months of MLK Jr.'s life.
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise. The second poem has a suitable cadence, I agree. Docupoetry is looming large in your week, it seems. I shall have to investigate the reference you have provided. Thanks for that.
DeleteWhat an interesting challenge! I love how you paired these poems and captured the starkly contrasting ends of life for these two men.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tracey. I admit, I do embrace the challenge of new poetry projects whether they are simple or more complex and protracted. I take note of your observation concerning the contrasting lives of these two historic figures. I did not delibberately choose them for this reason, but the contrast is most evident.
DeleteDocupoetry would be a wonderful focus for grade school history units! Love "piratical urges"!
ReplyDeleteI could not but agree, Patricia. I have also used poetry in a Year 8 Science Class. Love mixing it up and challenging pre-conceived notions about what's possible. I too have piratical urges!
DeleteI read an interview with someone who was now blind but in this day with technology, his voice took over when writing, unlike your poem about Pepys, though ending with some solace with 'not out of mind'. And I love the 'dangerous blend' for William Kidd. This sounds like a wonderful book coming, Alan. History fascinates!
ReplyDeletePoor Samuel Pepys would have benefitted greatly from this modern day technology no doubt that, Linda. Once again you have stirred my thinking regarding these docupoems. Getting Australian publishers to invest in such projects is unfortunately a rather large impediment to poetic possibilities. I will keep trying...
DeleteI love that you gave yourself a personal poetry challenge (and followed through with it). How rewarding! Captain Kidd does look like a scoundrel, doesn't he? I felt a pang for Mr. Pepys.
ReplyDeleteAs you know Tabatha, we must persist to experience the joy of successful completion of a project. It is such a compelling driver. My historic characters were quite diverse...
DeleteOh, Alan! More, more, I say. There is a whole collection here, for sure. Lovely rhythm for two so very different profiles. The pirate poem especially catchy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kat. As I said to Linda I have the material, I just need to sell the idea to a publisher...
Deleteoooh! This style really appeals to me. I'm a history nut and have written lots of poems about people's lives but the whole term docupoetry hits me in a new way. Thank you for this!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you like it, Linda. I've been sold on docupoetry ever since I read, Patricia Smith's 'Blood Dazzler.' The poems documented the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Hope you are able to explore further...
DeleteSuch an interesting and challenging challenge, Alan! I don't think I've heard the term docupoetry before.
ReplyDeleteI came across the term, docupoetry a few years back, Karen and have written a few isolated poems that focus on historical and topical matters. More recently I wrote a collection of them in a poetry project I set myself back in May. As you state, it is both interesting and challenging.
DeleteAN interesting form, Alan, with well done examples. Thanks for introducing it to me.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Rose. Always fun to push new possibilities.
DeleteI, too, love the word "piratical" and think my grandson would too. He loves dressing up as a pirate. Does that make him a piratical 4 year old?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margaret. I too love 'piratical.' I can idnetify with your grandson. As a child I was fascinated by pirate stories and films. All that derring-do! I recall Errol Flynn as a swashbuckling Captain Kidd.
DeleteThe ending of your Pepys poem is quite clever! Love the rhymes in Captain Kidd. All in all, well played!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary Lee. It was a most rewarding poetic exxploration.
DeleteI love your docupoems and especially appreciate how you invigorated your creative life with this challenge. As many have already noted, the ending to the Pepys poem is great and so is the rhythm and rhyme in Captain Kidd. I agree with Patricia's idea that this form would be a great match for history units. I hope you share more of these!
ReplyDeleteIt pleases me to hear this response, Molly. I am inspired to reveal some more in the coming weeks.
DeleteOh! I love the idea of docu-poetry. I'll have to try some! Thanks for these wonderful examples.
ReplyDeleteGo Marcie! So glad the spark has been lit. I look forward to your discoveries.
DeleteThanks for shining light on Samuel Pepys whom I'd like to hunt out now, his Diary sounds intriguing. And I love the liveliness and rhyme in Willian Kidd!
ReplyDeleteDocupoetry! Two different styles and both great examples of bringing history to life in a new way. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDelete