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Craig White's Literature Courses Critical Sources Poetry Exercise: Fixed / Formal Verse |
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Poetry Training, NSSHS, 28 Oct 2011; 1st participant’s name: _________________
Poetry Exercise:
Fixed / Formal Verse
(>pass
always TO YOUR RIGHT>>)
1st
participant: At
“1” below
write a single line of verse of at least 8
syllables (no more than 12) with at least one identifiable poetic technique or
figure and ending with a word or sound that’s not too hard to rhyme. (Example:
“In fade-out from a nothing day I felt a circling light.”) When finished,
pass to
person on right.
2nd
Participant:
At “2”
use at least
one identifiable poetic technique or figure
in writing
a second single line of verse
of comparable
length that
may or may not
rhyme with line 1. Try to continue the images,
thought, theme, or sounds started in line 1. When finished,
pass to person on
right.
3rd, 4th . . . (etc.) participants: At the appropriate number, write another single line of verse that continues thoughts, themes, images, or sounds started in line 1 + one identifiable poetic technique or figure.
Rhyme options:
- If previous two lines rhyme w/ each other, write a line that ends in a fresh rhyme.
- If the previous two lines don’t rhyme with each other, rhyme with either.
- Further down, rhyme with any line above or start a fresh rhyme.
Final participant (5-8?): try a concluding line with a strong rhyme on a strong word.
Delay jokiness or
sabotage as long as possible.
1 In fade-out from a nothing day I felt a circling light
2 and breathed a menthol known at once as risk.
3 "It's you again," one of us said. "It might
4 not hurt to say hello or steal a kiss."
5 Then left me there the cupped hand of the time
6 I had to spend on all between us from that day.
7 I can't give up. To lose this world's the crime
8 For which I'm sentenced and for you must pay.
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