A sonnet is a poem defined by its form 14 lines of rhymed iambic pentameter= sonnet Iambic pentameter: a line comprised of five iambic feet (PENTAmeter) Iambic foot: one unstressed syllable + one stressed syllable Rhyme scheme: the pattern of rhyme at the ends of the lines In Elizabethan (English) sonnets, the rhyme scheme is
Notes on Sonnet Form Read More »
Write a free verse poem that is a stream of related images. These images do not need to be connected into a single story or scene. They should, however, be concrete and vivid and eventually add up to a dominant impression conveying a definite emotion of some kind. A close style analysis of a 20th
“Is there no context for our lives? No song, no literature, no poem full of vitamins, no history connected to experience that you can pass along to help us start strong? Stop thinking about saving your face. Think of our lives and tell us your particularized world. Make up a story. Narrative is radical, creating
Family Oral History: Narrative Poem Read More »
Finding poetry prompts in the captivating richness of poems: Use the following strategies to start your own poem drafts (notes for poems) in response to favorite poems, playfully finding poetry prompts in the captivating richness of poems by reading, reading, reading poems: *Quick write all that comes to mind initially after first reading the poem
1. Things I’m afraid to tell myself 2. Ways of Oregon rain 3. I’m from a place where 4. Things Momma don’t allow 5. Things I’ve learned lately 6. Nerudian questions like––What truly sleeps in a riverbed? Why is everything more beautiful underwater? Why do rivers journey? How far can you travel downriver? Who is
Some Playful, Aggravating & Reusable Poetry Prompts Read More »
When asking “What Next?” of a first draft, remember grandfather, Peter Elbow’s maxim: Our first draft is often only half there. Revision is the opportunity to grow and discover the missing half––often the half that makes our work fully present, complete and publishable. 1. Leave your work to cool for a couple days when possible
Re-Seeing What We Write Read More »
This month, our student contest winning poems are on exhibit in the State Capitol building in Salem. If you have a chance while National Poetry Month lasts, check them out! The capitol building is open weekdays, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Also please congratulate our Manningham winners: High school division First Place: Marika
Celebrate National Poetry Month with Oregon’s Students! Read More »
The Oregon Poetry Association congratulates the winners in the eighteenth annual K-12 student poetry contest. We are delighted to announce that student poems will be featured in an exhibit in the state capitol building during April, National Poetry Month! Division I: Kindergarten through Second Grade Due to a shortage of entries in this category, judges
2016 Oregon Student Poetry Contest Winners! Read More »
Shawn Aveningo of The Poetry Box is proud to announce the upcoming release of the latest issue of The Poeming Pigeon: Doobie or Not Doobie, just in time for the Oregon’s first ‘legal’ 4/20! The Poeming Pigeon: A Journal of Poetry and Prose Vol 2, Issue 1 — Doobie or Not Doobie? ISBN: 978-0-9863304-83 $12.00
The Poetry Box’s “The Poeming Pigeon: Doobie or Not Doobie” Coming Soon! Read More »
Mark your calendars! OPA’s 2016 annual conference will be September 30th – October 2nd, 2016, in Eugene. The Valley River Inn hosts, and there will be a public open mic at Tsunami Books the evening of October 1st. We are using the same format as last fall’s conference in Portland. Watch for a call for
OPA Fall Conference 2016! Read More »
