Poetics

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Poetics

Christine Henderson

Choosing Your Words

If poetry is defined as a pure way of expressing thought or emotion, then we, as poets, must strive for the greatest impact using the most concise phrases. In order to do this; we must choose our words carefully, using language to conjure images in our readers' minds. We must make each word count, aiming for no waste of space.

Set the mood by your choice of adjectives. A bitter, growling wind and a sunset of violent, raging purples and reds prepares your reader for an angry confrontation. That same wind could caress and the sunset present a sensuous, velvet tapestry, if you were having a clandestine affair. If the wind blows and the sunset lights the sky, your reader has to wait to find out what sort of temperament the hero is in.

The right word or name can be the difference between a good phrase and a mediocre one. "For Whom the Bell Rings" doesn't have the same image as "For Whom the Bell Tolls," does it? Was it an accident that "Casey at the Bat," by Thayer, was set in Mudville? Do you think Alice would have been as enchanted in Little Rock? And Romeo wouldn't have been quite as dreamy if his mother had named him Hubert. We all have images associated with sounds and names, so take advantage of this when creating a scene.

Work with different descriptions, such as "wiry as cat whiskers" or "wispy as kitten whiskers" (check it out if you don't think there is a difference!). Twist a common phrase. Aim for action to shock the senses. Instead of "the stain on the carpet caught his eye," say "the blood stain screamed for attention" or, even better, "the blood stain screamed MURDER!" Startle your reader into seeing a subject for the first time. In "From the Corner of His Eye," Dean Koontz describes a necktie as being made "from the flag of some obscure third-world country with no fashion sense." No other comment is necessary — that tie is vividly imprinted into your mind.

Use colors to anchor emotions. Common identifications, such as red for anger, blue for sadness, green for envy, and white for innocence help to set a scene. "Her words were sharp, with emerald edges" or "His eyes shot scarlet bullets" draws an immediate understanding of the situation from the reader.

Set the pace by the rhythm of words. Use long, languid sounds for a leisurely look at something, and quick, crackling words for a heart-stopping story. In developing these sounds, use the words themselves, and the vowels — long sounds such as L, M, N or S or the short, abrupt sounds of D, J, K, or T. The pulse of the story will engulf the reader as quickly as any full-blown description.

Pace can also be established by punctuation and sentence structure. Using short, staccato sentences and statements will make the reader's mind work quickly, and using the opposite — slow, complex sentences — forces him to read calmly, and carefully consider your words.

Be a master of your craft. Get the most out of each word. Make your reader see, touch, and feel your poem, essay, or story. If you can do this in an imaginative way, he will come back for more. Wouldn't you?