A few days after the phone conversation with my doctor, I recalled an educational piece that another poet and mentor of mine had written, and passed around at one of the many workshops we participated in, back in the early ‘90s. I dug it up, and e-mailed it to Lorne. Have yet to hear back from him.


A Suggested Guide / Standard to Writing Poetry

by Marty Flomen


Clarity

 does it reasonably communicate
 does it avoid esoteric references / contrivances / deceptiveness
 is it unfettered / uncluttered (unmuddied waters)

Vitality

 does it express something ‘worthy’
 does it expand the reader - challenge sensibilities
 is it fresh
 is it tangy
 does it have unpretentious uniqueness

Integrity

 does it say exactly what it is supposed to say
 is the poet in total control ie: does it express exactly
 does it avoid unnecessary sidetrips
 is every word the most effective
 is it complete
 is it based unabashedly on the poet’s experience

Impact

 does it work on a ‘what you see is what you get’ basis
 does it transcend to a symbolic / metaphoric level
 does the leveling come naturally
 does it have at least a major ‘freshness’

Poetic

 is it appropriately rhythmic / poetic
 does it have a clear sense of drama
 does it avoid unnecessary preaching
 does it reverberate in a desired direction
 is it primarily emotive and sensory
 does it engage all the senses / imagination / intuition



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10/06/2021

Posted on 10/06/2021
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