Last week attention returned to docupoetry in some of my discussion with fellow poets. That prompted me to return to the poetry vault and unearth this docupoem paying tribute to the brave and fearless, Amelia Earhart.
Docupoetry puts a bit of twist on information text. It contains a dose of fact and wraps it in a protective layer of supportive words.
I read recently that marine explorers may have located the crash site of Amelia fatal flight. It currently remains as an enduring mystery.
Let's take flight with the brave and daring Amelia as she ventures out to cross the Atlantic ocean, solo.
Amelia’s Aeronautical Achievement
In a flight filled with danger
wild, icy weather
And a broken altimeter
Amelia took off early one morning
From Newfoundland
In her Lockheed Vega
-a frantic Atlantic flight unfolded.
A copy of a local newspaper tucked under her arm
Confirming her departure date
And sharing local news
far and wide.
-No fake news for Amelia.
Along the perilous flight path
Flames shot out of the exhaust manifold
fuel leaked into the cockpit.
She pulled out of an unscheduled tailspin
Before a startling landing in a field in Culmore
North of Derry, Northern Ireland.
A quizzical farm hand enquired
Have you flown far?
‘From America’
An undaunted Amelia answered.
The first woman
Flying solo across the wide Atlantic Ocean
On a wing and a prayer, perhaps.
Amelia set her own course in aviation
And duly received a standing ovation
From-a proud nation.
Alan j Wright
Yes, it's Poetry Friday again. This week our host is Linda Mitchell who returns with her highly engaging 'Clunker Line Exchange Challenge. Check it out...
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Alan, this is possibly my favorite poetry. The blend of poetry and history is so rich. Thank you for sharing one of our heroes this morning (well, my morning). All the drama of take off and spinning and ice and to be asked, "have you flown far?" It just sets up the poem for a lovely and understated turn at the end. Fabulous docupoem. I would love to see more of these, books of these!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you have joined me in appreciating this most interesting poetic form, Linda. I have amassed about 34 of these poems in a potential anthology, but Australian publishers are very risk averse around poetry, so who knows what might become of them. I clearly need more, so I will certainly persist- and hope and dream.
DeleteAmerlia's journeys, even the mysterious end, have kept us captivated for so many years. It's great to see your docupoem for her, Alan. It would be a treasure for schoolchildren to know that instead of a long, often dry, report, they could write a poem, at least a part of it! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Linda. It gives the young learner an alternative way to receive information and share it as well. Choice is paramount if we wish to maintain engagement/interest.
DeleteAlan, thank you for the lesson in docupoetry! This feels like it could be turned into a picture book as well. I love the fun bits of rhyme you included at the end!
ReplyDeleteHmmm. you've sparked my interest in a potential writing project, Tracey. So glad you like the accoutrements of rhyme and alliteration. Too much to resist.
DeleteAlan, Your docu-poem would make a wonderful picture book (and I'm just noticing I'm not the first to see this).
ReplyDeleteThank you, Patricia. Between tracey and yourself, I have something to ponder.
DeleteI'm with Tracey and Patricia on the picture book idea - a fresh way to engage kids in learning facts.
ReplyDeleteWell, Rose, I shall seriously consider this as a possible extension, I promise.
DeleteI'm impressed that you've written 34 docu-poems, Alan...who are your other subjects? I was just reading this morning about Jerrie Mock-- the first woman to fly solo around the world, 27 years after Amelia.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised too, Tabatha. They are varied subjects such as Samuel Pepys, the famous diarist, to Roger Bannister whoran the first sub four minute mile. There are events like the re-ntorudction of beavers to the UK and the launch of the Sputnik satelite. I shall research Jerry Mock. Thanks for the alert.
DeleteSo many fabulous details here! The flame shooting out of the manifold, the farmhand's question, the newspaper tucked under one hand... And I love the idea that it's fax wrapped in a supportive layer...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laura. Glad the details of the poem grabbed your attention as a reader.
DeleteI really love docupoetry and your definition is so helpful. I loved that quizzical farmhand. :)
ReplyDeleteSo pleased the definition helped, Marcie. The farmhand would have been totally amazed, I suspect.
DeleteI am saving the definition of docupoetry. Amelia Earhart is such a fascinating person. This line: Amelia set her own course in aviation
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jone. Glad my docupoem hit the mark.
DeleteLove this, Alan. A tribute to an amazing woman.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt about, Karen, Amelia was one brave and fearless aviator.
DeleteAlan, hooray for your docupoetry collection. I do hope it becomes an anthology someday. I love the aviation / ovation / nation rhymes at the end.
ReplyDeleteThank you Denise. Glad you like the deliberate use of rhyme to conlcude the poem. I shall continue to add to the collection with a possible anthology in mind.
DeleteYou did this poetry form pride, such an inviting and suspense filled poem. I like the contemporary bit of “ no fake news”, and also your flowing rhymes! I hope your other docupoems gow into an anthology too, thanks Alan! From Michelle Kogan
ReplyDeleteThank you, Michelle. I had fun weaving fact and poetic playfulness into the mix. I promise to keep growing that anthology.
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