Exploring Genres - Free Verse and Verse Novels

by Jeanette O'Hagan

In the last Genre Post - Valerie Volk ably spoke for the value and place of poetry. (You can read her post here.)  Before we move on to another genre, let's explore a little more the possibilities of poetry.

Often when we think of poetry, we think of rhyming couplets, but there are, in fact, a wide number of poetic forms and traditions. There are traditional forms like couplets, sonnets and ballads; humorous forms such as limericks; or more challenging forms like villanelles and sistenas. There are also Japanese forms such as haikus and tankas, Arabic or Burmese forms etc and modern forms like found or shaped poetry.

Today, I'd like to explore two - the verse novel and free verse.

Verse Novel

As Valerie reminded us, the verse narrative (a story told in verse) is as old as story telling, itself.

The Epic of Gilgamesh, Homer's Iliad and Beowulf are all ancient stories told through poetry.  While much of the Bible is in prose - Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations and most of Job are told poetically. Hebrew poetry relies more on structures such as parallelism, chiasmus (x-type pattern), assonance (similar sounds) and word puns, than rhyme and rhythm. Chaucer and Shakespeare used poetic verse. At a popular level, local stories were expressed in ballads - such as 'The Man from Snowy River'.

Since the eighteenth century and the rise of the novel, prose has replaced poetry as the preferred way to tell stories.

However, in recent decades, the verse novel has emerged as a popular genre, particularly in young adult literature. In a verse novel the narrative is told either entirely, or in part, by poetry. It also includes characters, point of view, dialogue, narration, description, and other features appropriate to writing a novel. The poetry may be traditional form with strict rhyming and meter, but it is often told in free verse.

Calvin Miller's powerful trilogy - The Singer, The Song, The Finale - is an allegorical and poetic retelling of Jesus' life, death and resurrection that helps one see this pivotal story with new eyes.

More recently, Michelle Dennis Evans has published Sink, Drift or Swim - a young adult, free verse novel about Rina's fishing trip with her dad. It an engaging and dramatic tale told from Rina's point-of-view in her distinctive voice.

Why not just tell the story in prose? By choosing free verse, Michelle Evans brings both a vividness and a focus to Rina's experiences and thoughts. It enables Michelle to tackle a serious subject with a light hand. I think it adds to the impact of the book.

So, what is free verse?

Free Verse

Usually, when English speakers think of poetry, we think of rhyme and meter (or beat), e.g. 'I'm a poet, and I didn't know it.' As I mentioned above, other cultures use different devices. The Hebrews especially liked parallelism, Japanese poetry often focuses of syllables. However, with English poetic forms we also have blank verse (meter without rhyme) and free verse (which may include rhyme, but isn't tied to a particular meter).

Free verse uses other elements such as assonance, metaphor, image, alliteration, the senses, themes, pacing, white space and other visual elements such as changes in font or how the letters are aligned to convey meaning and emotion.

While there is both a discipline and indeed a refining process in using a particular poetic form like a ballad or a villanelle - there is a freedom in free verse which I particularly enjoy.

Often poetry is a way of expressing the inexpressible, of allowing deep emotions eloquence and crystallisation. Free verse gives freedom to vary the rhythm and pace. Also, I find an element of play and fun with free verse.

Here is an example from my own work - but I'd also urge you to check out poets such as Michelle Dennis Evans or Cameron Semmens 10 Poems that can really help you through a tough spot and his other books or perhaps some of the poems in Glimpses of Light, especially Sue Jeffrey's 'Sight' or Mazzy Adams 'Journey' for great examples of free verse.

Thunderstorm

The teacher’s voice drones on

Futt, futt, white dusty blades whirl

the fan rotating overhead

listlessly pushing the hot humid air

around the temporary aluminium heat box.

At last the sonorous school bell rings

Books slap shut, chairs squeal, pushed backwards

“Class dismissed” “Homework due on Monday”

and we jostle and stream out into the turbid air.

Moisture beads on my upper lip,

my forehead and armpits drip.

Overhead white cotton candy clouds tower.

I adjust the strap cutting into my shoulder

and daydream my way home.

Clouds roil and collide

stacking ever higher

their underbellies bruised in aubergine tones.

The sudden hush of bird song,

a fitful wind stirs

harrying leaves along gutters

eyes seared by silver flashes

sonic booms reverberating

watery missiles pelting down

stinging arms and face

water sluicing through flattened hair

burrowing past turned up collar

flowing in plump streams

pooling and gurgling

overflowing in the gutters.

My shoes squelch

with each liberated step

until laughing and gasping

I hug my slick school bag

and run as I laugh

attempting to chart a path

between the silver rain drops

flying towards home.

Jeanette O'Hagan ( First published, Judge's choice, Poetica Christi Inner Child, 2014)

So - if you have an inkling to write poetry - but have always got bogged down in meter and rhyme - why not give free verse a go?


***This is a cross post with Christian Writers Downunder.***

Images and poems © Jeanette O'Hagan

Jeanette O’Hagan first started spinning tales in the world of Nardva at the age of eight or nine. She enjoys writing secondary world fiction, poetry, blogging and editing.

Recent publications include Heart of the Mountain: a short novella, The Herbalist's Daughter: a short story and Lakwi's Lament: a short story. Her other short stories and poems are published in a number of anthologies including Glimpses of Light, Another Time Another Place and Like a Girl. Jeanette is also writing her Akrad’s Legacy Series—a Young Adult secondary world fantasy fiction with adventure, courtly intrigue and romantic elements.

Jeanette has practised medicine, studied communication, history, theology and a Master of Arts (Writing). She loves reading, painting, travel, catching up for coffee with friends, pondering the meaning of life and communicating God’s great love. She lives in Brisbane with her husband and children.

Find her at her Facebook Page or at Goodreads or on Amazon or on her websites  JennysThread.com or Jeanette O'Hagan Writes . if you want to stay up-to-date with latest publications and developments, sign up to Jeanette O'Hagan Writes e-mail newsletter.  

Book Review: Love is the New Black, by Cameron Semmens

Review by Andrea Grigg

I’m not normally a huge poetry fan, but when I picked up Cameron Semmens’ Love is the New Black from the bookstall at our lrecent Christian Writers’ Conference, I had to have it!

My copy of Love is the New Black is a third edition. It was first published back in 2009, under the title 23 Versions of Psalm 23, but since then, Cameron has added fresh material, and I love it!

The book is divided into eight sections:

1.    Love, Loved, Loving

2.    23 Versions of Psalm 23

3.    Brilliant Bible Bits

4.    Behold, Christmas Retold

5.    Questions, Questions, Questions

6.    The Messiah’s Message on the Mount

7.    Prayers for Wonderers and Wanderers

8.    Appendices Please!

Cameron’s Christmas story, Star! Stable! Saviour! was featured on our ACRBA tour on Tuesday. (You can read that here) I adore this book, as have all the children I’ve read it to. It’s fun to read as everything begins with the letter ‘S’ – how clever is that? In the same vein, section 3 of Love is the New Black contains 12 poems, each one highlighting a letter of the alphabet.

Here’s an example from ‘Messiah Makes Meal for Massive Multitude’:

Midday, and the Messiah mentioned to his mates,

            ‘Migrate with me to a meadow

            For a moment’s meditation.’

The Messiah and the Messiah’s mates moseyed to the marina

            Where the mono-masted mono-hull was moored.

The multitude mobbing the Messiah mourned the moving,

            and enmeshed in Messiah-mania,

             moved methodically meadow-wards.

Brilliant, isn’t it?

Section 4 is particularly pertinent, being all about Christmas. While there are a number of humorous poems, there are also many thought-provoking ones. There are four under the heading of Imagine this Christmas, from the perspectives of Mary, Joseph, a shepherd and then God himself. I found them particularly touching.

My favourite section though is the one containing the versions of Psalm 23. There are many entertaining poems, like The Twenty-Third Jedi (Yoda is my shepherd, want not shall I), or The Lamb’s Side (My Lord is the shepherd, I shall not bleat) but while the poems may be funny, they tug on the heartstrings too. I read a couple to my Bible study group and there were some tears amongst the laughter.

Here are the first two stanzas of The 23^rd Calm …

            (breathe)

           

            The Lord is my shepherd,

            I shall not stress.

           (breathe)

           He makes me lie down in green pastures for natural aromatherapy

           He leads me to quiet waters to ensure good hydration

           He restores my stillness.

           He guides me in paths of tranquility for His name's sake.

           (breathe)

And the first two from The Desperate Prayer of the Sheepish Believer …

            Lord, I feel sheepish all the time,

            but I’m still not sure if you’re my shepherd, cos

            I still want.

           

           And I'm not sure I want to lie down in green pastures - 

           there could be snakes!

           And what if I slip on wet rocks beside the still waters?

           Cos I know still waters run deep

           and I'm not a very good swimmer.

See what I mean? Cameron's poems are totally relatable, entirely relevant and truly remarkable. 

I recommend you try Love is the New Black for yourself. It also would make a fabulous Christmas present!

 Andrea writes contemporary romance. Her first book A Simple Mistake was a finalist in the CALEB Awards 2012. Her second novel Too Pretty was released in 2014 by Rhiza Press. 

Andrea would love to hear from you via her Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/author.andreagrigg

  

Book Review - The Poetry of Home by Cameron Semmens

Reviewed by Dale Harcombe

Occasionally a book come along that captures your heart. That was the case with this book. I fell in love with this poetry collection from the beginning. The poetry is fresh and accessible, and uses interesting imagery. I am always a sucker for poetry with inventive imagery. Imagery is one of my favourite aspects of poetry.

The poetry is at times playful and humorous, at other time serious, but it is always thoughtful and thought provoking. I liked the ideas expressed about home in ‘Being Here and The Sweet Splendour of The Everyday’ and the pictures presented. I liked ‘Routine is a nice frame/ for a spot of spontaneity/ Everything looks better in a frame.’ And I could associate with the love for buttons, and ‘those occasional free-range button days’ where the poet dreams of other places but then puts them into context of the rest of his life.

I like the interposing of the full moon through the window with the boxer imagery of ‘Sting like a beam’ and the humour and clever flowered imagery of ‘The Force of a Thousand Flowers ‘that begins the section ‘My Family.’ Appreciated this thought in ‘The Husband Manifesto - the journey from Boy to Man to Husband, takes guts, guidance, grace and good choices.’ I chuckled at ‘Heat Wave Hot Wife, Bun in Oven and ‘My Pipe- Cleaner Kingdom.’

And loved the honesty of ‘Things I Say When People Ask How It's Going With The Kids’ and sad reality of 'Beat of the Moth’ and silent appeal in 'Make Poetry History' as well as the quiet beauty of ‘I Dream of Ghandi’ and ’The Many Wings of Prayerflies.’ I could go on and on picking out lines and specific poems I liked, but this review would turn into an epic. The best thing is to get a copy and read this book yourself.

As well as the array of poems I liked the quotes from varying people like Maya Angelou, Mitch Album, Lao Tzu, Friedrich Von Schiller, Robert Frost and others that are given at the beginning of each section. I also appreciated the practical suggestions at the end of this collection for ‘how to write your own way home.’ I haven’t used any of them yet. But you can bet I will. I loved pretty much everything about this book, including the cover and the black and white photographs scattered throughout. Most of all, this collection reminded me how much I adore poetry and the power it has to make us look at things with fresh eyes and notice what is around us each day.

I liked both the playful and reflective look at life. I found section 5 ‘The Weird’ for me the least satisfactory poems of the collection but that could be just me and it might just have been my frame  of mind at that time. It certainly didn’t lessen my enthusiasm of what is a wonderful collection of poetry. I was reading this while waiting for a friend at the coffee shop recently and when she read a few poems she declared it ’simply delightful.’ I have to agree. Even those who don't normally read poetry will, I think, enjoy this book.

This book was an entry in the Caleb poetry prize.

Dale writes fiction and poetry. She has had poems published in literary magazines and newspapers as well as in several anthologies in Australia and overseas. She has a collection of poetry, Kaleidoscope which was published by Ginninderra Press. She is working towards another poetry collection as well as writing another novel.