A Vital Question & A (D-) Definition of Poetry

originally published 1992Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Margaret at Reflections on the Teche for Roundup.

I'm feeling a wee bit lighter today, as I reached a point in my revisions where I can STOP... and print the book out to read in 7-10 days -- once my brain has cleared a little!

I wish I had more time... alas, I'm on a deadline. The good news this isn't my last chance to improve the book -- there will be another round, or three. :)

While at the Florence-Lauderdale Library last month, I picked up a few books at the used book store. One of them was THE D- POEMS OF JEREMY BLOOM: A Collection of Poems About School, Homework, and Life (sort of) by Gordon Korman and Bernice Korman (son & mother!).

Poor Jeremy. He just can't figure this poem thing out. Ha! I can relate!

Here are two of the poems I really enjoyed:

VITAL QUESTION

If  a poem doesn't rhyme -
How do you know
       It's a poem?

If it's about sunsets and flowers, well okay.

But some of them might be about termites, and rats,
Cockroaches, earwigs, bedbugs
  and silverfish,
Battalions of cooties,
  And are more like the exterminator's report
         Than a poem.

So how do you now it's a poem
   If it doesn't rhyme?

-----

DEFINITION

A poem.

Rhyme salad,
Chopped by the word processor,
Garnished with pictures,
Sprinkled with adjectives,
Tossed by a poet-chef.
Lettuce, onions, tomatoes, images --

A poem.

-----

So Jeremy learned something, didn't he?

If I could talk to him, I'd add... "surprise!" Because surprise is one of my most favorite elements of a poem.

What about you? What would you tell Jeremy?