Modern life is more about material and tangible goods than about spirit pursuit. Weset clear targets for our future, neglecting that we are gradually losing onejoy that human kind usually have: the fun of spontaneity. The writer of thisessay reminds us that poetry, especially creating poems, can provide us suchpleasure. Though the writer of this essay writes in a half-mocking tone, andthe method he introduces will not ensure us to create a wonderful, or evenpresentable poem, his real purpose is to make the creation of a poem lessdifficult than we may imagine and to induce amateurs to set their first stepson their journey to a more aesthetic life.
1. In terms of organization, the article clearly falls into three mainparts:
The firstpart (Paragraphs 1-3) introduces the problem with poetry and the significanceof the writer’s solution.
Thesecond part (Paragraphs 4-9) introduces in detail howpeople can create a poem of their own.
The third part (Paragraphs10-12) serves asthe ending of the essay. In this part, the writer reiterates his intention andmake s kit clear he is just joking by presenting such a method of creating apoem..
2. The mocking tone of the author is mingled with some fairly emotional statementswhich reveal his real love of poetry, e.g.
“Once aperson has written a poem, of whatever quality, he will feel comradeship withfellow poets and, hopefully, read their works. Ideally, there would evolve averitable society of poet-citizens, which would elevate the quality of lifeworldwide. Not only that, good poets could make a living for a change.”(Paragraph 3)
“But atleast it’s a poem and you’ve written it, which is an accomplishment thatrelatively few people can claim.” (Paragraph 10)
“Chancesare, you’ll find their offerings stimulating and refreshing. You might even trywriting some more of your own poems, now that you’ve broken the ice. Observe others’ emotions and experience yourown — that’s what poetry is all about.(Paragraph 11)
III.Rhetorical Features
Apparently simple but lucid English, sometimes even a colloquial speechstyle, creating the effect of a heart-to-heart talk between the writer and thereader, e.g.
“The last line ofyour poem should deal with the future in some way.” (Paragraph 8)
“Now that poem(like yours, when you’re finished) is rotten.” (Paragraph 10)
How to Write a Rotten Poem with Almost No Effort
Richard Howey
1 So you want to write a poem. You’ve had arotten day or an astounding thought or a car accident or a squalid love affair and you want to record it for alltime. You want to organize those emotions that are poundingthrough your veins. You have something to communicate via a poem but you don’tknow where to start.
2 This, of course, is the problem withpoetry. Most people find it difficult to write a poem so they don’t even try.What’s worse, they don’t bother reading any poems either. Poetry has become analmost totally foreign art form to many of us. As a result, serious poetseither starve or work as account executives. There is no middle ground. Good poets and poems are lost foreversimply because there is no market for them, no people who write their own verseand seek out further inspiration from other bards.
3 Fortunately, there is a solution for thisproblem, as there are for all imponderables. Theanswer is to make it easy for everyone to write at least one poem in his life.Once a person has written a poem, of whatever quality, he will feel comradeshipwith fellow poets and, hopefully, read their works. Ideally,there would evolve a veritable society of poet-citizens, which would elevatethe quality of life worldwide. Not only that, good poets could make aliving for a change.
4 So, to begin, have your paper ready. Youmust first understand that the poem you write here will not be brilliant. Itwon’t even be mediocre. But it will be better than 50% of all song lyrics and at least equal to one of Rod McKuen’sbest efforts. You will be instructed how to write a four-line poem but thebasic structure can be repeated at will to create works of epic length.
5 The first line of your poem should startand end with these words: “In the — of mymind.” The middle word of this line is optional. Any word will do. It would bebest not to use a word that has been overdone, such as “windmills” or “gardens”or “playground.” Just think of as many nouns as you can and see what fits best.The rule of thumb is to pick a noun that seemstotally out of context, such as “filing cabinet” or “radiator” or “parkinglot.” Just remember, the more unusual the noun, the more profound the image.
6 The second line should use two or more ofthe human senses in a conflicting manner, as per the famous, “listen to thewarm.” Thisis a sure way to conjure up “poetic” feeling and atmosphere. Sincethere are five different senses, the possibilities are endless. A couple thatcome to mind are “see the noise” and “touch the sound.” If more complexity isdesired other senses can be added, as in “taste the color of my hearing,” or “Icuddled your sight in the aroma of the night.”Rhyming, of course, is optional.
7 The third line should be just a simplestatement. This is used to break up the insightful images that have been presentedin the first two lines. This line should be as prosaic as possible to give a“down-to-earth” mood to the poem. An example would be “she gave me juice andtoast that morning,” or perhaps “I left for work next day on the 8:30 bus.” Thecontent of this line may or may not relate to what has gone before.
8 The last line of your poem should deal withthe future in some way. This gives the poem a forward thrust that is alwayshelpful. A possibility might be, “tomorrow will be a better day,” or “I’ll findsomeone sometime,” or “maybe we’ll meet again in July.” This future-orientedending lends an aura of hope and yet need not be grossly optimistic.
9 By following the above structure, anyonecan write a poem. For example, if I select one each of my sample lines, I comeup with:
In the parking lot of my mind,
I cuddled your sight in the aroma of thenight.
I left for work next day onthe 8:30 bus.
Maybe we’ll meet again in July.
10 Now that poem (like yours, when you’refinished) is rotten. But at least it’s a poem and you’ve written it, which isan accomplishment that relatively few people can claim.
11 Now that you’re a poet, feel free to readpoetry by some of your more accomplished brothers and sisters in verse. Chancesare, you’ll find their offerings stimulating and refreshing. You might even try writing some more of your own poems,now that you’ve broken the ice. Observe others’ emotions and experienceyour own — that’s what poetry is all about.
12 Incidentally,if you find it impossible to sell the poem you write to Bobby Goldsboroor John Denver, burn it. It will look terrible as the first page of youranthology when it’s published.
1. Whatdoes the writer think is the problem with poetry? (Paragraph 2)
2. Whatis the solution for this problem suggested by the writer? (Paragraph 3)
3. How doesthe writer justify his solution? (Paragraph 3)
4. Whatis the real intention of the writer to present such a method of creating a poem?(Paragraph 11)
5. Whatis the purpose of the last paragraph? (Paragraph 12)
Class Activity
Group discussion: What is your comment of author’smethod of creating a poem and do you like the poem he composes according tothis? Do you have any other ideas about how to create a poem?
