Story and music. That's pretty much what poetry is about, I think. Formal structure, syntax, tone, and other poetic elements all seem to serve either story or music, or both. Narrative or lyric.
I thought it might be fun and instructive to attempt to re-write a couple of well-known poems. One of the greatest American narrative poems is Richard Hugo's "Degrees of Gray in Philipsburg." Story-telling at its absolute highest peak.
My favorite lyric poet, Li-Young Lee, wrote "I Ask My Mother to Sing," which is music from the title on through to the lovely last line.
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171835
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/246596
What if we try to re-write Hugo's poem as a lyric, and Li-Young Lee's poem as a narrative?
The link of the week is, of course, www.poetryfoundation.org. Thanks to them for their great work.
I thought it might be fun and instructive to attempt to re-write a couple of well-known poems. One of the greatest American narrative poems is Richard Hugo's "Degrees of Gray in Philipsburg." Story-telling at its absolute highest peak.
My favorite lyric poet, Li-Young Lee, wrote "I Ask My Mother to Sing," which is music from the title on through to the lovely last line.
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171835
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/246596
What if we try to re-write Hugo's poem as a lyric, and Li-Young Lee's poem as a narrative?
The link of the week is, of course, www.poetryfoundation.org. Thanks to them for their great work.
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