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Question: Can you see the difference between prose set in lines and poetry!?
Thoughts on the World at 2 AM
by Elaine Polin
I have straddled the Equator,
Stood on Galapagos’ shore,
Bought jade in Guatemala City,
Heard “Women’s Mass” in Santiago,
Traced Jesus’ steps in Jerusalem,
Stuffed my prayer into the Wall,
Faced the Alps from Zurich
Sailed ‘round the Arcachon dunes!.
Kissed the Stone at Blarney Castle,
Picnicked on Gilligan’s Island
Tasted tacos in Nogales
Dined on couscous in Montréal!.
I have watched the guard change
In London and Maroc,
Viewed the Alps from Zurich
Touched the Apennines!.
Spoke Castilian in Spain and
Strange Spanglish in San Juan,
Franglish in Québec City
And my soul’s tongue in Pa-ree!.
I have explored great America
North, South, East and West,
Dehydrated in deserts
And shivered on hills!.
Yet, when the packed aircraft
Circles my long, fragile Island
My heart reaches down to meet
Its bright, sparkling waters!.
I know every time that
Wherever I roam
I need to come back
To my dear Island home!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
You went through all this just to tell me I spelled cuscus wrong!?!.!.!.heheheWww@QuestionHome@Com
There is indeed poetry and also prose, and the line between the two can sometimes be as wide as the grand canyon, or at others, as fine as the San Adreas fault!. I feel what you have written here actually falls into both catagories as it straddles the fault line, and rests on both sides!.
There is indeed poetry
and also prose,
and the line between the two
can sometimes be as wide
as the grand canyon,
or at others, as fine as
the San Adreas fault!.
I feel what you have written
here actually falls into both
catagories as it straddles the
fault line, and rests on both sides!.
Whereas, what I have written here has no poetic quality at all, and couldn't even be called decent prose!.
Regardless of the line forms!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Please excuse my immediate flipant-sounding thoughts!. Having only read the first couple of verses my instant connection was to the 70's song "I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me"!. Then having finished the poem it reminds me strongly of a pseudo anthem of Australia (sung famously by the late Peter Allen) "I still call Australia Home" and also a more recent Australian song by a singer named Christine Anu called my "Island Home"!.
Your prosaic offering is really well done and it sings to me (obviously) Thank you!. I hope you can get some more sleep!.
Good night!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Please allow me to disagree!. Your lines arranged in prose would be poetic prose!. Why!? Because there is a rhythm in poetry that only exists occasionally in prose!. There are sentences that I find poetic in Hugo or Stendhal, but the whole novel could not possibly be a poem!.
But I see what you mean, too!. Some poems simply do not possess music or rhythm!. You can arrange the lines any way you like and it will never work!.
Anyway, I liked your story (each poem is a story, isn't it!?)!. Did you really have couscous in Montréal!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
I have to agree with everyone who is saying it is a poem!. There is prose and then there is poetic prose and as long as your verse contains some form of poetic device then it is a poem!. Meter and slant rhyme definitely qualify!. Regardless, your poetic prose is captivating and adeptly rendered!. I'm a bit envious!.!.!.The furthest I've ever traveled is Mexico!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
What joy a world traveler would have - to see and explore - the different countries and life styles of the world!. I have only been as far as Alaska (passing through Canada) - and it was marvelous!. Most of the images - you mentioned - I have "experienced" from TV - oh well, sometimes something is better than nothing ?Www@QuestionHome@Com
I think I see where you are going with this if you will pardon the pun!
The first five verses are simply a recitation of places visited or seen, there is no emotional contact, they are simply facts!.
In the final verses however, there is the beginning of a connection, feeling, being!.
I would call the last two verses poetry!.
P!.S!. can I have your Air Miles!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
The first 5 stanzas to me are just statements set in poetic form!. The rest though, is poetic!. They have a rhythm as I read and say something!. What is interesting is that this refined would to me, make a great poem!. "The Traveler Home!." Could you have this ready by tomorrow!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
What a trip!.!.!.As I am packing to head to Papua New Guinea, I found your piece!. I think you know I lost so much In New Orleans after Katrina and have relocated!. It still hasn't felt like home here!. Until now!.!.!.!.thanks so much for helping me to see!. Where my head is not always where my heart is!. I think this trip, I will be going home afterwards!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
This is a poem indeed and a good poem! you made me travel from place to place accompanied by a sweet cadence of thoughts and sounds!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
"Hi!",
I quite liked it as I got to travel to different places as I read!.
And thought it was educational as well thrugh the Geological refference!.
WELL DONE!
Cheers: )Www@QuestionHome@Com
My only comment on your poem/prose is the repeat of
S2L3 and S4L3 other than that "I feel it "!. I could do with more explanation of poem verses pose!. Who decides!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
Whatever it is! I enjoyed the read!. Kudos!Www@QuestionHome@Com
Does to!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
You have taken me to places I have visited many times in my dreams!. Hopefully one day I can write a true story/poem like this!. This was an enjoyable read, thank you for allowing us to join you in your memories of your travels!. But, like you say, there is no place like home!Www@QuestionHome@Com
This is definitely poetry; the list structure is a symmetrical rhetorical device which only works in verse!. You did break the lines and stanzas all at the same places, and the regular lengths were achieved through disciplined syntactical variation of a repeating theme!.
In addition to a nice metre, the poem maintains a pretty convincing off-rhyme most stanzas: equator/shore, Castle/Montreal, Maroc/Zurich, !.!.!., that/back!.
The only thing I missed is that post-Byron, San Juan always has to rhyme with `new one'/`true one,' or else I will totally trip over it!.
Very pretty-- there really is something half-watery about landing in New York!.
PS - Actually this poem has a really strong trochaic beat perhaps partly because you so persistently begin with pronouns and verbs!.Www@QuestionHome@Com