What a fun exercise. I love that there are multiple ways that can and will work, that there is no "right" way to do line breaks, that you may end up discovering a line break that speaks to you even more than the original. I am still learning this about poetry.
Yes! There are not right line breaks, no right titles, no right endings. All of it's up for grabs. And the same is true for order of poems in a collection--there is no right order (unless of course there is a chronological narrative). If you gave students 15-20 poems by any living poet, for example, and told them to assemble (and title) a chapbook and defend their choices, I bet all would be different and compelling in their own ways.
I've actually done this with fifth graders. It's fascinating what they come up with (and their rationales) PLUS it totally frees them up to play with line breaks once they see that there are no rules and no one right way.
I like this. Adapting it to the flash essay I’m working on, I’m going to play with varying sentence length and see how longer sentence/shorter sentence impact the piece.
Happy one-year-a-versary! I'm glad you feel For Dear Life is a force for joy and meaning. I agree. It's been a true blessing in my life. I've learned so much from you, and the different angles you take on the craft are endlessly interesting and encouraging.
Not to be weird, but last night I had a dream that I was at a gathering with you, and I told you, "I'm so proud of you for where you have gone with your own poems, as well as for poetry and what you are creating in the world that is even more than you know!" So, here it is again in case you missed it!
What a fun exercise. I love that there are multiple ways that can and will work, that there is no "right" way to do line breaks, that you may end up discovering a line break that speaks to you even more than the original. I am still learning this about poetry.
Yes! There are not right line breaks, no right titles, no right endings. All of it's up for grabs. And the same is true for order of poems in a collection--there is no right order (unless of course there is a chronological narrative). If you gave students 15-20 poems by any living poet, for example, and told them to assemble (and title) a chapbook and defend their choices, I bet all would be different and compelling in their own ways.
I've actually done this with fifth graders. It's fascinating what they come up with (and their rationales) PLUS it totally frees them up to play with line breaks once they see that there are no rules and no one right way.
Yes, I was actually thinking that my son would like this, particularly the freedom of it, and he’s in fifth grade!
I like this. Adapting it to the flash essay I’m working on, I’m going to play with varying sentence length and see how longer sentence/shorter sentence impact the piece.
Thanks Maggie! Line breaks have been so elusive for me. Always learning. Appreciate this.
Thanks Maggie,
Happy one-year-a-versary! I'm glad you feel For Dear Life is a force for joy and meaning. I agree. It's been a true blessing in my life. I've learned so much from you, and the different angles you take on the craft are endlessly interesting and encouraging.
Not to be weird, but last night I had a dream that I was at a gathering with you, and I told you, "I'm so proud of you for where you have gone with your own poems, as well as for poetry and what you are creating in the world that is even more than you know!" So, here it is again in case you missed it!