MARC'S MEMOS
8-19-10
I entered the September Poetry Contest. I continue to enter even though I know I have no possibility of winning. When I first entered the contest last year, I was very excited to have my poems read. After many discussions about rhyme vs. free verse or prose, there seemed to be a growing sentiment that rhyming was out of step (or not popular) with modern poetry. Anyway, I decided that it didn’t matter if I was criticized for the style or content of my poems. It gave me something to blog about and maybe somebody might even like one.
The giveaway of my book POEMS FROM THE HEART is still ongoing and will end September 6th with the Goodreads Team deciding the winners. I also would like to announce that the Kindle edition of my book is now $2.99 on AMAZON.COM. By the way, here is my non-rhyming poem.
SANCTUARY
A slender shadow from a solitary palm tree
Provides little relief from the mid-day sun
As the searing desert heat continues its assault
Mundane chores seem to mock my will to succeed
While profuse perspiration trickles down to taunt me
Losing focus on the task at hand
I choose leisure over labor and escape to my sanctuary
Slipping gently into this man-made oasis
I dissolve into the shallow depth of liquid luxury
Arching back to scan the sky above
Slowly moving wisps of fading clouds
Struggle for survival as the scorching summer sun
Flexes its muscle with blinding brilliance
Concealing the stars behind a bright blue curtain
Knowing their turn to shine will come again
When the sun retreats to slumber
UNTIL NEXT TIME, TAKE CARE! MARC
I entered the September Poetry Contest. I continue to enter even though I know I have no possibility of winning. When I first entered the contest last year, I was very excited to have my poems read. After many discussions about rhyme vs. free verse or prose, there seemed to be a growing sentiment that rhyming was out of step (or not popular) with modern poetry. Anyway, I decided that it didn’t matter if I was criticized for the style or content of my poems. It gave me something to blog about and maybe somebody might even like one.
The giveaway of my book POEMS FROM THE HEART is still ongoing and will end September 6th with the Goodreads Team deciding the winners. I also would like to announce that the Kindle edition of my book is now $2.99 on AMAZON.COM. By the way, here is my non-rhyming poem.
SANCTUARY
A slender shadow from a solitary palm tree
Provides little relief from the mid-day sun
As the searing desert heat continues its assault
Mundane chores seem to mock my will to succeed
While profuse perspiration trickles down to taunt me
Losing focus on the task at hand
I choose leisure over labor and escape to my sanctuary
Slipping gently into this man-made oasis
I dissolve into the shallow depth of liquid luxury
Arching back to scan the sky above
Slowly moving wisps of fading clouds
Struggle for survival as the scorching summer sun
Flexes its muscle with blinding brilliance
Concealing the stars behind a bright blue curtain
Knowing their turn to shine will come again
When the sun retreats to slumber
UNTIL NEXT TIME, TAKE CARE! MARC
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I enjoyed reading your poem Marc & brought to me wonderful visuals as do any of your poetry.
Those who say we writers of rhyme should come out of the dark ages, should look at where 'free verse' originated, their 'modern' style is not so modern & they should also learn to embrace & accept all forms of poetry if they wish to call themselves 'true' poets.
I found this while 'studying' some of the many different forms.
It is argued that free verse in English first appeared in the 1380s in the John Wycliffe translation of the Psalms and was repeated in different form in most biblical translations ever since. Walt Whitman, who based his verse approach on the Bible, was the major precursor for modern poets writing free verse, though they were reluctant to acknowledge his influence.
One form of free verse was written by Christopher Smart in a long poem called Jubilate Agno, written sometime between 1759 and 1763 but not published until 1939.
So according to this & other references I read, free verse is a very old form of poetry, ancient 'Haiku' that was carved into rock has been argued to be the first 'style' of free verse.
Still, I love my rhyme. (-: