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Author David Wiley

~ Author of science fiction and fantasy stories, choosing to write the stories that he would love to read.

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Tag Archives: poetry

Medieval Book Club: Judith, Dream of the Rood, & Juliana

16 Friday Jun 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Books and Reading, Medieval, Medieval Book Club, poetry

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Anglo-Saxon, Dream of the Rood, Judith, Juliana, Medieval Book Club, poetry

Welcome to my sixth Medieval Book Club entry. For this month we read through some Anglo-Saxon poetry (in translation, of course), found free online here and here and here. If you haven’t had a chance to read them yet, follow those links and give them a read. Let me tell you, I really enjoyed reading through those poems this month, which seems to be a repeating trend with Anglo-Saxon poetry. After May’s disappointment, it was nice to retreat to what is becoming my safe space for Anglo-Saxon literature.

For July we will be reading Viking Age Iceland by Jesse L. Byock. The preview post for this one can be found here, and I am looking forward to reading that book. If you are at all interested, I would love to have you read along and come back to discuss that book on July 20th!

My Thoughts on Judith:

This poem was an interesting one. I enjoyed it, and how Judith beheaded Holofernes in the beginning and it turned out to be a fairly significant event by the end of the poem. I can’t be the only one, though, who found it fairly humorous that the warriors were standing around, afraid to interrupt their lord because they imagined he was still laying with Judith:

So the retainers in the morning-time chased down the strangers,
for the whole time until the lead-warriors of that militant people,
who were hostile, perceived that the Hebrew men had shown
a severe sword-swinging to them. Wordfully they went
to reveal that fact to the most senior of the lordly-warriors,
awakening the pennanted soldiers, and fearfully announcing
the frightful news—the morning-raid, the terrible play of blades—
to the mead-wearied. Then I heard at once
that the warriors doomed to die shook off their slumber
and the fallen-spirited went thronging in a crowd
to the sheltering tent of the baleful one, Holofernes.
They intended at once to announce the battle to their lord
before the terrible power of the Hebrews.
They all thought that the lord of warriors
and the bright maiden lay together inside that lovely tent,
the noble Judith and the lecherous one, terrifying and fierce.

There was not one of the nobles though who dared
to wake up that warfaring man or to discover how
the warrior had done with that holy woman,
the maiden of the Measurer. The armed might of the Hebrew people
drew nearer, fighting fiercely with hardened battle-weapons,
requiting with blades their ancient quarrel,
with splattered swords, their elder grudges.
Assyrian glory was diminished by that day-work,
their pride humbled. The warriors stood around
the tent of their lord, quite troubled, with downcast spirits.
Then they all together began to cough, making loud noises
and gnashing their teeth, deprived of the good, enduring grief.
Then was the end of their glory, of their blessings,
and their brave deeds. Then the earls considered how to awaken
their friendly lord—it prospered them not a jot.

That is probably the best scene there, with them coughing and gnashing their teeth outside the tent. Trying to subtly get his attention without raising his ire. And then the dramatic reveal: he is dead, and so they are all now doomed to lose to the Hebrews descending upon them.

All in all, this was a fun little poem, and it might be my favorite of the three this month. Dream of the Rood is close enough in standing that it might be a tossup between those two. But I really did enjoy this one, especially because of the humor woven in these scenes.

 

My Thoughts on Dream of the Rood:

This is a poem I have read several times now, and I always find myself enjoying this one. I actually was able to engage in a good discussion with some close friends about this poem, and it was fun to break it down a little and to consider how this poem almost appears to elevate the Cross to a saintly, idolic status to rival Mary.

On me, the Child of God
suffered awhile. Therefore I, triumphant
now tower under the heavens, able to heal
any one of them, those who stand in terror of me.
Long ago I was made into the hardest of torments,
most hateful to men, until I made roomy
the righteous way of life for them,
for those bearing speech. Listen—
the Lord of Glory honored me then
over all forested trees, the Warden of Heaven’s Realm!
Likewise Almighty God exalted his own mother,
Mary herself, before all humanity,
over all the kindred of women.

Sometimes it is hard to read poetry from a time when the Christian thought was predominantly Catholic in slant, as is the case with most Anglo-Saxon literature, because there will be things that stand out as being theologically inaccurate. And that is something I could talk about with all three of these poems, but I won’t go into those details here.

In spite of the attempts to make the Cross (known in the poem as the Rood) a significant symbol (which you could argue it has become that in our modern society), the approach on this poem is so unique that I always enjoy reading it. The dream of this man, retold in poetry, gives life and personality to the cross:

The young warrior stripped himself then—that was God Almighty—
strong and resolute—he climbed up onto the high gallows,
mindful in the sight of many, when he wished to redeem mankind.
I quaked when the warrior embraced me—
yet I dared not bow down to the ground, fall down to earthly regions,
but I must stand there firm. The rood was reared. I heaved the mighty king,
the Lord of Heaven—I did not dare to lean.

This is a poem I will return to time and again, and hope to someday soon revisit it in the Anglo-Saxon language. It is short, yet expressive and imaginative. Which is something I really enjoy in poetry.

My Thoughts on Juliana:

For those who thought the Medieval Literature would be silent about women, this month should have proven that thought wrong. Of the three poems read, this is the second one starring a woman. And wow, Juliana had quite the story about her life in here. You might dislike the emphasis on Juliana’s value being placed on her virginity, saving herself for Christ, it would have been a common perspective in this period. Without doing any research at all, I do know that a fair number of female saints had virginity as a trait among them. Likely because Christ was born of a virgin mother, so that would be viewed as the highest state in which a woman can achieve – equaling Mary’s accomplishment (although I’m not convinced she remained as such after the birth of Christ, so that really brings about a flaw in virginity equaling holiness for women. But that would be another discussion for another day…)

The scene where Juliana is talking to the demon (disguised as an angel) was an interesting one. Instead of taking the angel at his word, she prays to God for guidance and is instructed to grab hold of the angel. After that, she is able to get a very full confession out of the demon, and I feel like we’re missing something critical in that whole process because of the missing part of the manuscript. The deeds that the demon confesses to are curious to read, and I almost am left wondering if this could have partially been an inspiration to C.S. Lewis for his creation of The Screwtape Letters. It is likely not, but I did get a feeling that this could have inspired it and Lewis almost certainly would have read this poem in his time as a Medievalist.

And, of course, we have another piece missing after this discussion and then we jump straight into Juliana being tortured. Or, at least, they are attempting to torture and kill her but God protects her from all sorts of cruel and hideous methods. This echoes what is seen in many of the saintly stories – supernatural protection for them in body for a length of time but eventually they will suffer a death. Yet through it all, the saint is praising God and His glory. And, as is also common, the death appears to lead some to conversion.

Overall the poem spends a ton of time with Juliana interrogating the chained demon. We’re missing much of what Juliana suffered through prior to her death, which some might prefer to have it absent. While I enjoyed the poem and plan to read it again in the future, it didn’t stand out to me as much as the other two poems. This one was longer than the other two combined, yet I preferred them more.

Which of the three poems did you enjoy reading the most? What about that poem made it stand out from the others?

 

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Book Review: Urban Mythology by Eric Keizer

09 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Review, Books and Reading, OWS Ink, LLC., poetry

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Tags

Book Review, Eric Keizer, OWS Ink, LLC., poetry, Urban Mythology

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Title: Urban Mythology

Author: Eric Keizer

Published by: OWS Ink, LLC (April 7, 2017)

Page Count: 72 Pages (Paperback)

Blurb: Eric Keizer, in his first poetry chapbook, documents the places in, and the people of, Chicago who have made lasting impressions in his life. He celebrates the commonalities all Chicagoans share, while typing the Classics to modern life in the urban landscape, as viewed through his unique perspective.

My Take: I have never been to Chicago, although it is a city within reasonable proximity from where I live. I am certain that those who have been to Chicago will gain deeper appreciation for the nuances of Keizer’s poetry, and moreso those who live there. Yet even if you have never been to Chicago, you can get a real sense of the urban life there by reading this collection of poetry.

I have never been a big reader of modern poetry. I prefer to dive into Medieval and Renaissance poetry. Keizer’s poetry is both modern and classical, a perfect pairing of today’s world with elements of myth and legend that the older poets built their foundation upon. Keizer is the most pre-modern modern poet I have ever read, and that makes me excited to dive into more of his poetry. It is the sort of poetry that most readers can enjoy, with allusions to today’s world and elements woven in with subtle hints of myths. Thus why the name, Urban Mythology, is perfectly appropriate for such a collection.

There is little risk to be run in reading this collection. The chapbook of poems is the perfect length to whet your appetite and familiarize you with Keizer’s poetic style. I look forward to the next chapbook that Keizer releases, and would invite you to give this one a try. You may find, like me, that Keizer is a modern poet worth keeping an eye on.

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Book Review: Bright Needles by Anais Chartschenko

19 Wednesday Apr 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Review, Books and Reading, Indie Author Spotlight, poetry

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Tags

Anais Chartschenko, Bright Needles, Emotion, Indie Author, poet, poetry

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Title: Bright Needles

Author: Anais Chartschenko

Published by: Self-Published on March 19, 2014

Pages: 58

Blurb: Bright Needles is uncompromising poetry. Myth is mixed in equal measure with gritty realism.

My Take: Uncompromising is right. The poetry in much of this collection is raw, unyielding, and is enough to break even the hardest of hearts for the young girl who experienced so much pain and hurt to the point where numbness set in.

My own expertise in poetry is not among modern poets, but this small collection is packed with what I found to be quality poetry. It evoked emotion, whether pain or rage or straight numbness. Raw talent drips through verse after verse, line after line. The reader also hopes, after reading this somber collection, that pouring these words out helped to provide a sense of healing and closure to the situations described.

It is clear, by the end, that Ms. Chartschenko is a poet to watch and her newest release, The Weightless One, should prove to be an excellent and unique read because it is a novel told in verse. Her talent in verse is apparent in this collection, and I fully expect the same talent shining through in that versified novel.

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Book Release: The Weightless One by Anais Chartschenko

31 Friday Mar 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Release, Books and Reading, Indie Author Spotlight

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Anais Chartschenko, Book Release, Indie Author, poetry, The Weightless One

The Weightless One by Anaïs Chartschenko is now available on Amazon!

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After a party changed everything, Miranda loses her appetite. She is placed in an eating disorder treatment program, where she must be brave enough to face the truth she was trying to bury.

anaishood


Anaïs Chartschenko is a poet, singer, and artist I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for some time now. The Weightless One is her third book of dark, gritty, and honest poetry.


Anaïs Chartschenko hails from the Canadian wilderness. She has come to enjoy such modern things as electric tea kettles. Her published works include two collections of poetry, Bright Needles and The Whisper Collector as well as a novel in verse, The Weightless One.

You can find her on several social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and YouTube— and none of them are boring.

Additional places to wander:

Website: http://anaischartschenko.weebly.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15387157.Anais_Chartschenko

BEWARE: Anaïs is suspected of actually being a fairy-in-disguise.

Other Books By Anaïs:

The Whisper Collector

Buy Bright Needles

Interested in Anaïs music?

Buy Howling at the Moon: Live from my Living Room

Buy Immigration

Excerpt from The Weightless One

 Reasons I Have To Stay

I was signed in,

I have no choice.

They tell me

My heart is failing.

They tell me

When you starve

Long enough, your body

Starts to eat your muscles.

Your heart is a muscle. It becomes

Your unwilling dinner.

They show me charts with

Low iron, low this and low that.

They tell me I need to take this

Serious.

But it doesn’t seem real.

All that is real is my sudden

Total lack of control, total

Forced surrender, it feels

So broken it can never be

Fixed-

I can’t agree to any of these

Things. Not even when I

Feel my heart forget a beat.

Not even when I’m hooked

To machines.

Reasons I Should Get To Leave

I don’t count calories.

I don’t weigh myself.

I don’t obsess over models.

I don’t exercise.

I don’t take laxatives or

Diuretics.

I don’t make myself

Throw up.

I don’t care what you think.

I think for myself.

I’m not this, I still have

My period.

Okay?

 

Little Fish

 We lay in a tight row

Like sardines,

Wrapped tight in

Blankets and thick

Fuzzy pajamas

Getting our blood

Pressure checked

Lay down, and close

My eyes to the other

Girls’ gossip, they

Try to include me,

But I have nothing

To say in the morning

This is a strange torment,

Laying so close to the others

Trapped between laughter

And the talk of having to

Drink ensures or not,

Of having to go to an

Increased nutrition plan,

Of family therapy sessions

Coming at the end of the

Week.

 

Doll

 Kara began

Pulling out

Her hair

Extensions

Bundles of

Blonde lay

On the floor,

Her lion mane

Alopecia found

“I’m sick of

The lies!”  She

Twisted her

Face up her

Hands knotted

In hair

“Where did this

Come from?

I didn’t grow it!”

We watched

In horror

We watched

Unable to

Look away

From her

Transformation

Underneath she

Was so small

Like a fragile glass

Doll,

Her features too

Large for her head

Her hair was only

A few inches long

Thin dirty dishwater

Blonde strands like

Weeds dried out

In the sun

She smiled

She laughed

She burrowed

Her face in

Borrowed hair

And

Cried.

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Urban Mythology by Eric Keizer

28 Tuesday Mar 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Release, Books and Reading, Indie Author Spotlight, OWS Ink, LLC.

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Book Release, Eric Keizer, LLC., OWS Ink, poetry, Urban Mythology

Coming soon from OWS Ink, a poetry collection by debut author Eric Keizer. Read on for a few sneak peeks at the contents, a link to preorder, and links to a Headtalker and a Thunderclap campaign.

Consider taking a few minutes to, at the very least, sign up for those two campaigns. It takes a few minutes and costs nothing, but can go a long way toward helping this author’s first publication become a success.

Headtalker Link: https://headtalker.com/campaigns/urban-mythology-book-release/

Thunderclap Link: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/54029-urban-mythology-debut

Preorder on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Urban-Mythology-Eric-Keizer-ebook/dp/B06XSHVDQ8/

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Medieval Book Club: Genesis A&B

16 Thursday Feb 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Review, Books and Reading, Medieval, Medieval Book Club

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Abraham, Adam and Eve, Anglo-Saxon, Book Review, Genesis A&B, Medieval Book Club, Noah, poetry

Welcome to my second Medieval Book Club entry. For this month we read through some Anglo-Saxon poetry (in translation, of course), found free online. If you haven’t had a chance to read them yet, follow this link and give them a read. Let me tell you, it was a blast reading through this poem and, if you are familiar with the stories in the Book of Genesis, you’ll find yourself fascinated with this poetic retelling.

For March we will be reading The Discarded Image by C.S. Lewis. The preview post for this one can be found here, and I am looking forward to reading that book. If you are at all interested, I would love to have you read along and come back to discuss that book on March 16th!

My Thoughts on Genesis A&B:

I really, really loved reading through this poetic retelling of the major stories in Genesis. This captures so many major events throughout the Book of Genesis:

The fall of Satan
God creating the earth
God creating Eve (the pages with about half of the creation story, including Adam, are missing from the manuscript)
The temptation of Eve and her persuasion of Adam to eat the fruit
The fall of man and removal from the Garden of Eden
Cain and Abel
Noah and the Flood
The tower of Babel
Abraham up through the sacrifice of Isaac

As mentioned above, there are spots where the website indicated pages were missing from the manuscript, which is most disappointing early on with the removal of much of God’s creation of the world. We do not see his forming of fish, birds, beasts, or Adam. Yet even with the missing pages, this is a wonderful rendition. I loved seeing the various ways in which the Anglo-Saxon culture was woven into the poetry: gold-givers, thanes, emphasis on combat, the sending of a raven before the dove on the ark, and many others. In spite of these flavorful additions, the poem mostly stays true to Scripture.

It would seem that this poem might have been the influence for Milton’s Paradise Lost, as it begins with Satan being cast down from Heaven and then, a little later, returns to him and has him sending his fallen angels out to try and corrupt mankind. It is not Satan, but one of his minions that tempts Eve. There is a tree of life, but that is not the forbidden tree that Adam and Eve eat from but rather one that is black and corrupted. And the serpent tries to persuade Adam first, who rejects the offer and scorns the serpent before it turns to convince Eve. These are likely made with no ill intent, but they are among some of the major deviations. Yet that being said, I enjoyed them as they added a little extra character and some variety to a story that I know so well from the Bible. It’ll never become what happened, but I can appreciate the creativity here.

There really isn’t much more to say about this. I wish that we could have seen their version of Joseph’s story, as I am certain it would have held some great gems that tied into their culture. I am also very excited to read the Anglo-Saxon poems for Exodus and Daniel a little later this year. It is great that they created these poems in Old English, long before printed Bibles could be easily manufactured. It would have allowed everyone to know some of these basic stories without the need to read latin or any other unfamiliar language in which the few Bibles would have been transcribed into. The best way to ensure the religion spreads through the culture would be to take the stories, put into their common language, and put a modern flavor on some aspects of the stories. That is exactly what we have here.

And, true story, I laughed when I read that Noah sent a raven out from the ark.

Questions:

  1. What were your overall impressions from reading the poem? Were there parts of the poem that really stood out to you as being more enjoyable to read in this format?
  2. Which Biblical stories would you like to see done in Anglo-Saxon form? They did these Genesis stories, Exodus, and Daniel. Are there any other stories or books in the Bible that stand out as ideal for Anglo-Saxon poetry? My thoughts are that Samson and Joshua would be prime candidates.
  3. While this is certainly no replacement for Scripture, do you think an approach like this could make the Bible, or parts of the Bible, easier for today’s readers to read and enjoy while still taking away key principles from Scripture?

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Guest Post: EPIC by Dane Cobain

05 Wednesday Oct 2016

Posted by David Wiley in Guest Post, Indie Author Spotlight, Vikings

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Tags

Dane Cobain, Epic, Guest Post, Indie Author, poetry

So I was contacted by poet and author Dane Cobain and, while I did not have the time to take on reading and reviewing one of his books, I was intrigued by his offer to write an exclusive poem based off five words I would provide. Being a bit of a fan of the Icelandic Sagas and Norse Mythology, I gave him this list of words: Saga, Shieldmaiden, Berserker, Valhalla, and Viking. So here is what he came up with, the poem that you won’t find anywhere else:

 

Epic

 

THIS.

IS.

EPIC.

 

Come on,

you act like you’ve never

met Thor before,

like you’re a berserker

without a purpose,

pillaging parishes

and pushing priests

over the sides

of a longship.

 

When I die,

they’ll burn me

in the back of a Volkswagen

Passat,

along with my

belongings;

Valhalla was made

for men like me,

maybe.

 

I once knew a Viking,

his meme was Stig

and he could drink more mead

than a Viking needs;

Stig died

when we were still

at university,

but I still miss him

when I go pillaging.

 

These days,

my shieldmaiden

is a little old lady,

an ageing Asian

who sharpens her tongue

on a whetstone.

 

And my saga

is set

to continue…

 

So there you have it. What did you think? Be sure to check out Dane’s work, which is listed below:

No Rest for the Wicked

(supernatural thriller)

When the Angels attack, there’s NO REST FOR THE WICKED.

Father Montgomery, an elderly priest with a secret past, begins to investigate after his parishioners come under attack, and with the help of Jones, a young businessman with an estranged child, Montgomery begins to track down the origin of the Angels.

When Jones himself is attacked, Father Montgomery knows he has to act fast. He speaks to the Angels and organises a final showdown where he’s asked to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Find out more.

 

Eyes Like Lighthouses When the Boats Come Home

(poetry)

Eyes Like Lighthouses is Dane Cobain’s first book of poetry, distilled from the sweat of a thousand memorised performances in this reality and others. It’s not for the faint-hearted.

“I’ve never seen anyone do a stream of consciousness piece as talented as that. Very impressed.” – Mark Allard-Will, author of Saskatch-A-Man and co-founder of Cuckoo’s Nest Press

Find out more.

 

Former.ly: The Rise and Fall of a Social Network

(literary fiction)

When Dan Roberts starts his new job at Former.ly, he has no idea what he’s getting into. The site deals in death – its users share their innermost thoughts, which are stored privately until they die. Then, their posts are shared with the world, often with unexpected consequences.

But something strange is going on, and the site’s two erratic founders share a dark secret. A secret that people are willing to kill for.

Find out more.

 

Social Paranoia: How Consumers and Brands Can Stay Safe in a Connected World

(non-fiction)

Social Paranoia: How Consumers and Brands Can Stay Safe in a Connected World is the true story of how sometimes the updates that you post come back to haunt you. Filled with real case studies and practical advice, it’s a guidebook for everyone who has an online presence from consumers to massive corporations.

Sometimes, people really are out to get you. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Find out more.

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Scripture Saturday: Glass by Andrea Lundgren

04 Saturday Jun 2016

Posted by David Wiley in Christian, Guest Post

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Andrea Lundgren, Christian, Glass, Guest Post, poetry, Scripture Saturday

Apologies for the delayed posting on this one! Today we have a guest post from Andrea, who operates her own blog as well as co-authors one with her brother. Both will be linked down below! I am super-excited for this, as Andrea will be contributing a post every first Saturday of the month either in the form of a poetic work or some other form of devotional/thought-provoking post pertaining to Christianity. Enjoy this great poem and be sure to check out her blogs and her book!

glass-heart

There is Light

And there is Darkness

And we are glass.

 

Purified

So Day can shine through us

Illuminating hearts,

Changing lives.

 

Or clouded

So only Night can glare

Shriveling flowers,

Darkening worlds.

 

We may be warped by our choices

Whether Light

Whether Darkness

Until we can no longer change sides.

Set for good

Of locked on evil

Until

We

Break

And the pieces still reflect an every growing gloom.

 

But there is mercy

For the Glassmaker knows

When what passes through us is not ours,

And hating the darkness,

He still does not hate our form,

Our crystalline hearts.

He still wishes

To save us

From ourselves.

 

There is Light

And there is Darkness

And we are glass.

 

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (KJV)

Copyright 2015 Andrea Lundgren
Photo by quicksandala, Creative Commons

Her personal blog, "Into the Writer Lea", which features Book Reviews, Writing Tips, Poetry and Life
"Operation Echo", a blog co-authored with her brother to empower Kingdom believers.

Check out her book, “Kisses Never Hurt Me”, a retelling of Sleeping Beauty (and leave a review).

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New Life

14 Saturday May 2016

Posted by David Wiley in Christian, My Writings

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Christian, New Life, poetry, Praise, Worship

O Lord, my God, you made the sky and seas,
mountains, the moon and stars. You filled the earth
with birds and beasts, flowers and fish and trees.
Compared to these, how can one life have worth?
Before my birth you knew me. In the days
I spent in womb, you knit and formed ev’ry
organ, muscle, each limb and bone. Your ways
are just and pure and good, you set us free.
And now I stand in awe as you create
new life within my wife. Each day he grows
bigger, stronger; our joy swells as we wait
to hold and know our son, to let love show.
He shall be raised to know and love your ways.
Honor, glory to God with all our praise.

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Perfecting Your Poetry

14 Thursday Apr 2016

Posted by David Wiley in Writing Resources

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

poetry, Read, Writer's Toolbox, Writing Poems, Writing Prompts

I’ve been writing poetry off and on since 1999. During these seventeen years I’ve taken English classes, creative writing classes, read poetry books, read poetry essays, written poetry essays, and written a poem a day for a month. My greatest time of growth as a poet came while taking a graduate-level poetry writing course a few years ago, which allowed me to take note of a few habits that helped me to grow and become a better poet.

Sadly, I have not completed a poem since that class concluded. I have done some major revisions on one poem, a short epic called “Taking Down Goliath”, and have started working on two different poems in the meantime. One was taking a previous flash fiction piece that I wrote in 2012 and turning it into a ballad poem. I mean to return to that and finish it at some point, but other writing projects currently demand my attention.

The other I began just this morning. It is something I have felt on my heart for a few weeks now to do, and I just worked up the courage to begin today. I have a journal that sits beside my Bible. I’ve tried journaling. My wife is great at that in her walk with God. Not me. I’ve tried writing favorite verses but find I lose interest quickly. Today I turned to a new page and started writing a poem. My hope is to slowly fill the rest of the pages with some poems and then have a nice chapbook in my possession with poems that explore Bible stories, center around Scriptural passages, and give glory and praise to God.

So the five things I have discovered helped me to grow as a poet are fairly simple. Some may seem to be common sense. Others might seem surprising to you and run counter to what you would usually do when writing poems. Don’t balk at them! Trust me, each of these was very instrumental in my growth, as the challenge from some of them is what is needed to be forged into a better poet.

1. Write More Poetry – This really should be a given for anyone who writes, poetry or otherwise. The more you do something, the better you will become. A blank page won’t get accepted for publication, and the words don’t just magically appear on the page. And, no matter how busy your schedule might seem, there is always time to write. Even if that means waking up earlier or carrying a small notebook and pen with you everywhere you go. If you want to write more often, you will find the time. My own plan with my bigger project is not to sit and write a full poem each day, but rather to get down a few lines. I know I can find the time to do that.

2. Read More Poetry – This is another given for writers. A person who writes Mystery novels will read a lot of other mystery novels. Poets have it lucky because there aren’t many modern novel-length poems that we would have to read. I personally think that the best thing to do is read a variety of poems, spanning across different poetic movements and different time periods. Read the old, the really old, and the new. Read local and read poems from around the globe. It is easy to stick to a poet or an era you love the most, but that can only take you so far. There is a wealth of poetry out there to discover, and many of them are not found in anthologies like Best Loved Poems of the American People. Those are a great starting point, but they are far from being definitive sources. Pick up the complete works of a few major poets. Pick up some of the more specialized anthologies. Get a poetry collection from a local author at an Indie Bookstore.

3. Begin Compiling Your Favorite Poems – This is, essentially, what an anthology editor will do: select their favorite poems and put them all together. If you are like me, you have read anthologies and found some, or even many, of the poems didn’t stand out. But some will stand out. And by taking the time to write them, or type them, you will be reconstructing the poem and seeing it in a new way. Don’t just copy and paste it from a website. Type it out word-by-word. When you are done you will have a best-of poetry collection and you will, hopefully, learn a few things about the poems as you type them out. Bonus points if you take the time to annotate as well!

4. Use Writing Prompts – It seems like so many of the prompts are meant for poets because they focus on one moment, one scene, one idea. This is a free idea factory for any poet, which takes away the whole writer’s block excuse before it even starts. They also serve another purpose, which is to move you out of the comfort zone. We all have those topics we return to over and over. The prompt moves you into uncharted territory, which is why it also goes well with number five…

5. Experiment – This applies to topics, but also to something far more beneficial. Write poems (note this is plural, meaning do each one more than once!) in new formats, like the villanelle or sestina. Expand beyond the sonnet and, especially, past the modern habit of free verse. If you always capitalize the first word of each line, try writing poems without capitalization. If  each line is always a complete thought, write poems where the only line ending with a period or comma is the last line. Mix things up, sprint so far past your comfort zone that you can’t see it any more. The class forced me to do just that. One of my best poems was also the hardest one to write the rough draft for. I’ve not only discovered new formats for poetry, but I’ve also found that my natural style of writing a poem isn’t anything like what I wrote for those first thirteen years as a poet.

What are some of the things you think are most important for becoming a better poet or writer? Is there one thing that has helped you grow more than any other?

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