Well, it's Poetry Friday and this week our host is Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite Of Indifference. Tabatha's post is about Scheherazade, a character from The Thousand and One Nights (also known as The Arabian Nights).
I freely admit I love variety in my poetry- a variety of forms, indeed, but also a variety of line lengths. I find it stimulating to mix up my approach to poetry on a regular basis. It helps to keep my attention sparked. This time I'm sharing a bit of short stuff.
When writing short verse there is an everpresent need for pithiness. I immediately think of poets such as Edward Lear, Ogden Nash, Spike Milligan, Shel Silverstein who were great exponents of short verse.
When writing short verse each word seems to carry an increased load. You do not have the luxury of time and words when making your pitch. Those limitations become an engaging challenge.
I have noticed within myself a tendency to wander in the direction of humour and wordplay when making short offerings. I love how these short poems keep popping up to support my poet's progress. I am more than happy to go where they wish to take me.
My advice? -play around with short verse. It's quite a lot fun to indulge in the short stuff.
Aim Straight
I miss my sister
I miss her all the time
She never misses me though…
She is so much better than me
At throwing snowballs.
Alan j Wright
Lost
I took the road less travelled
And became completely lost
I blame the lack of signage
And that poet fellow-Frost!
Alan j Wright
Jumping To Conclusions
I need to say this
It isn’t too soon
I don’t think the cow jumped over the moon.
I truly believe this,
I honestly do
-The jump was performed
By a large kangaroo!
Alan j Wright
Chopped And Diced
Alexander
preferred his food
Finely chopped and diced
Into tiny portions
So easy for him to swallow.
Far and wide
He became known as
-Alexander the grate!
Alan j Wright
It's nice to end my day with a big laugh, Alan. Each one's a gem! I rather like that kangaroo, seems quite apt for a guy from down under to write about 'jumping over'! !
ReplyDeleteHappy to deliver a laugh anytime, Linda. My kangaroo bias is quite obvious, isn't it?
DeleteThese are absolutley delightful, Alan! I love how so many of them set up the reader for a surprise. It's hard to pick a favorite, though it might be "Lost". Each of them is so well crafted. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Molly. Your kind response is appreciated. May you find inspiration in short verse too.
DeleteThis is Patricia: Alan I love hope you skip a twist in at the end on these! Delight in so few words and a smile to end.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Patricia. I'm so glad you enjoyed the endings of my chosen verse.
DeleteHoohoo, too much paperwork! Lack of signage! I enjoy your wacky humor, Alan. I can just barely read the Alexander poem at the bottom, but it's grate!
ReplyDeleteWacky humour can be a salve in this sometimes prickly world, Tabatha, so I'm pleased you enjoy it. Like your end remark too.
DeleteAs always, Alan, your poems make me smile and chuckle! I was in a short, pithy mood this week too :-). Thanks for sharing your poems with us today!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Elisabeth. Smiles and chuckles are a most pleasing response. I shall check out your pithy poems.
DeleteThese are good fun, Alan! I can't decide my favorite, I like them all! Thanksl
ReplyDeleteGood fun is a pleasing outcome for me. Liking them all is also a good outcome.
DeleteThis is Janice. I love these short poem with the humorous twist at the end. The origami poem made me laugh and the puzzlement about who or what jumped over the moon. So fun, Alan!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot, Janice. So glad you found the humour to your liking.
DeleteFabulous! I like that you can see that with a shorter poem you write toward pithiness and word play. That's very evident in these fun poems. I like how a short poem can express so much. Oh, that Kenji...so fun. The kangaroo jumped over the moon. LOL. Makes perfect sense! Fun post. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. Glad these short offerings of mine resonated with you.
DeleteThese are hilarious! I especially loved the "too much paperwork" and no signs on the road less traveled. Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI like hilarious, Marcie. It inspires me to keep striving. Thank you for your most generous response.
DeleteHahahaha--the origami. And the siblings! Just had a great-niece and great-nephew visiting, and we had snow (yay!), so we saw this in action. Light verse isn't my absolute favorite kind of poetry, but there are times I need a large dose of it. J. Patrick Lewis, a master of all kinds and moods of poetry, is one of my favorites of fab light verse.
ReplyDeleteYou have previously alerted me to J Patrick Lewis, Laura and I am grateful for the alert. Indeed, he is a light verse master. Glad you had a laugh.
DeleteYou rank right up there with Ogden Nash! Your punchlines are spot-on!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Mary Lee, you are most generous in your response. I am inspired to keep striving in this short from of poetry.
DeleteLove these, Alan! I LOL'd alone in my office. (seal of approval!) A newish (to me) short, light verse poet I recently came across is Brian Bilston. Perhaps his poetry would appeal to you too?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Michelle. Your comments warm my heart. I know Brian Bilston well. I have a number of his books. In many ways he is a muse for me. I have previously posted here about his poetic contributions.
DeleteHi Alan, it's me, Bridget. I'm the one who mentioned Brian Bilston...not Michelle. I love that you know Bilston's poetry. I can see how it is a great source of inspiration. :)
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