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Question: Speaking of 'better words,' what is your opinion of this poem!?
The first name is coincidental and has nothing to do with my choice:

From The Best American Poetry 2007
(Originally pub!. in 'the tiny')!.

Etudes
by Elaine Equi

Autumn is a solitude!.
Winter is a fortitude!.
Spring is an altitude!.
Summer is an attitude!.

Summer is a multitude!.
Autumn is an aptitude!.
Winter is a Quaalude!.
Spring is a prelude!.

Spring is a lassitude!.
Summer is a longitude!.
Autumn is a gratitude!.
Winter is an interlude!.

Winter is a beatitude!.
Spring is a platitude!.
Summer is a verisimilitude!.
Autumn is a semi-nude!.
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Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
It is clever!.!.!.!.but, say for argument's sake, you got hold of a rhyming dictionary!.!.!.all you would need to do was decide which 'tude' would suit each season!.!.!.and hey presto - this poem!.!.!.!.(although I did like Autumn is semi-nude at the end)!.!.!.the progression of the seasons didn't really impress me either!.!.!.!.

In fact, I think we should all have a go at a variation of this!.

Edit - I didn't read anyone else's comments before posting!.!.!.I am gratified to find that my opinion is shared by manyWww@QuestionHome@Com

Given a quick look-up of Equi (thank you google) she seems to be someone who enjoys the technicality of poetry and prefers to write to that whim!.

Fitting that etude is plural then!. There are more than enough reading exercises here to keep me busy a few readings!. Although I probably added a few more than the writer intended!.

The stanza can be read as a year!. The same season can be read up or down!.

Really, great writing!.

Yes, here, definitely speaking of "better words!."

OP: Didn't mean to take anything away from Equi!. "Exercies" isn't really the right word for the poem, since you are right, this is an original work!. It is more the right word for the reader!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I see a lot of tudes and 1 nude!. I can find no repetitive rhythm to give it meter, so I look for a meaning, and finding none, I try to figure out just why it was written in the first place!. I cannot come up with any reason this would be included in a book of the "BEST" except as a space holder, but I may have missed the point of it altogether!. If there is any enlightenment to be given, please do so!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

She's got a potentially good thing going here, but the drawbacks to this are several!.!.!.repetition can be a good thing, if done correctly!.
She should revise this into a different format, style, and give concrete images to all those ryhmes!.!.!.so the reader could 'see'!.

Good Morning!Www@QuestionHome@Com

I stopped reading because of the continual use of the seasons, and the rhyme!. It seems that this was a test in coming up with words rhyming with --tude!.

Just not my cup of tea!. tWww@QuestionHome@Com

Is this what is meant by forced rhyme!? I don't like to ever sound negative about any poem (or non poem)!. I like the first stanza a lot!. Maybe she should have left it at that!?
Just my opinion!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Nembutal's frost
bit my toe!.


Good lesson :)

Edit: Noted the progression as well!.!.!.

eg!. The tough, numbing, lethargic winter turns blissful!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

thanx 4 asking opinions i only comment on naturally original works plWww@QuestionHome@Com

For me, this one is juvenile!. I don't like it, even though it gets nekkid at the end!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'll take the Quaalude!. LOL Well DoneWww@QuestionHome@Com

It is clever!. But after the second stanza, I became bored!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Play on words clever!? but does not emote!.Www@QuestionHome@Com