Poetry to Me

Horseback riding, in America, developed into two major disciplines, English and Western. Within each of these categories lays numerous, more specific categories. English, to name a few, hosts: hunter/jumper, dressage, park, saddle seat, etc. The same concept applies to Western which hosts: roping, reining, pleasure, trail, stock seat, barrel racing, pole bending, etc. I find this concept applies to poetry. To accomplish a certain effect, one uses a couplet, tercet, or even a combination of stanzas. Even within the Sonnet, there are two main types. A solid foundation remains the leading cause of success. As aspiring writers, it is essential that we learn and practice the rules before trying to manipulate or disregard them. No one gets on a horse for the first time and jumps six feet in good form just like no one writes a perfect pantoum their first time. On that same note, once the rules and foundations are established, a certain amount of liberty may be extracted. I've run barrels in a hunt seat saddle, and I've jumped in a trail saddle. I recommend neither. In both arts, a very select few people are blessed with a shred of natural talent. It happens, it's rare, it's nothing to fret over. People who spend thirty years in the saddle have accidents the same way authors who write their whole lives still find themselves overwhelmed with writers' block. At the end of the day we're looking at two beautiful, remarkable arts. This is how I make poetry make sense to me.

Were the Poems Lost?

It seems very nearly inappropriate to label found poems as "found." Since poetry revolves around the proper placement of words, I find this a legitimate concern. Do these poems know that they were lost in the first place? Maybe they are not "found" poems, but "hiding" poems. How do we know we're not upsetting these poems by finding them? Actually, it seems that naming this style hiding poetry is more appropriate and particularly to the serious observer and/or writer of the poetry. I am convinced of this fact because when we look seriously, when we want to see nuggets of inspiration, we see it hiding among the ordinary. It's hiding in the clouds, in the rhythm of a knife on a cutting board, in a recipe, and sometimes in a magazine article. The fun fact is that they are there all the time! It is not as if these poems slink around the house, avoiding our minds and pens, trying to keep us from "finding" them. All the same, it remains quite a wonder to me how someone can see anything, and use it to create another piece of something, very nearly on command. I get a bigger "kick" out of watching someone writing than I do out of watching a series of magic tricks. This probably stems from me knowing that anyone can hide a deck of cards in their blouse. Not everyone can learn how to raise awareness with a few well placed phrases.

Listing Poem

This poem is inspired by an article published in the magazine Family Circle. The intent of the article is to relay twelve ways to be happier every day. Two of the twelve are left out. I whipped out my creative license, and...

Domestic Bliss

Being positive takes effort.
1. Count your blessings-make a list
2. Look again-you needed stitches, but at least the doctor was attractive!
3. Don't stew-you're perfect the way you are! No need to compare!
4. Tell someone they look great-lying makes everyone feel better.
5. Nurture Relationships-anything can be salvaged with enough paste.
6. Get lost-until it's time to pick up the kids, clean the house, make dinner, do laundry, and feed the pets!
7. Remember when...-nothing takes you back like thinking about life before marriage.
8. Pursue a long neglected goal-how about hunting down a reliable sitter so you can get your hair trimmed?
9. Cope calmly-it's in bad form to upset your family with talk about bankruptcy, bills, and Daddy's affair!
10. Forgive-if you want to be happy, you must let go of your anger. Even towards the college roommate who slept with your fiance.