Rarely am I one to point a finger of accusation at anyone else–I’m well aware three fingers are pointing back at me in return. This time, however, I’m more than happy to assign blame.
For months now, Brandon (Words of Redemption) has suggested I’m making up poetic 
forms for Pensieve’s Poetic License (documented here and here). Hmph! My goal for PPL has always been to encourage non-poets (un-poets? poet-impaireds?) to step out of their writing-comfort zone and try their hand at something new. Along the way, I’ve stumbled across poetry forms I’ve never even heard of, so this is a stretch for me as well.
I love exercising my creative gene…and it’s no exaggeration to say it’s a THRILL when "you" join me! I KNOW many PPL participants have never written poetry before, they shake in their shoes when they click "publish", and they feel naked and exposed to share their attempts with the interwebs. Every month–every submission–touches and inspires me in some way…but mostly leaves me feeling like a proud mama, realizing that my babies courageously stepped onto the ice and found solid footing beneath.
Which brings us to this month’s poetic form: a Pensieve
Yes, Brandon, I’m f i n a l l y making one up…and it’s all.your.fault!
Thank you.
While we were on vacation, Brandon’s friendly teasing prompted a "why not?" in my mind and a poetic form began to take shape . Poetry at its best invites the reader into the author’s thoughts; you feel what they felt when writing it even if you don’t completely understand it or know the back-story. Words brushstroke masterpieces; not with paint on canvas, but with imagery that speaks to and evolves from our need to create.
Our need to create. (Hmmm, because we’re created in the image of God whose creativity knows no bounds, it’s small wonder this is inherent "need" in our lives…whoa, Nellie, now THAT is seed for later thought…Heather & Erin–why am I thinking of y’all right now, lol?)
What is a Pensieve? A titled, five-line poem; each line correlates to one of the five senses–sight, sound, scent, taste, touch–and describes the subject (title). The goal is for the reader to take on the poem as his own, being able to "experience" your subject through your words, by seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and feeling what you described. (If you’re looking for an alternate definition of "pensieve" and found this post via a search engine, please click here.)
The style is reflective and should leave the reader with lingering thoughts. The name for this poetic form is somewhat of a play on words: the subject is word-drawn from a memory (from the writer’s "pensieve" 🙂 ) and reflected upon
by both writer and reader, pensively.
Will you join me for this month’s Poetic License? Will you help launch this new poetic form? Will I be the only one tip-toeing on the ice this time around? Even if you’ve never tried PPL before…I would love the company. Inventing poetic forms is kind of scary, and it sure would be nice to do so among friends.
Here’s one to get you started; if you’d like to write a Pensieve, post it, then check back here on Friday to link your submission (leave a comment here to let me know your plans, and I’ll send you a reminder email when the link is active).
Never-ending curtain-call of thunderous applause,
insisting "the show must go on".
Tightly closed lips and defiant clenched teeth–
no match for the salty drink she imposes
Briny scent inhabits each breath,
aroma familiar and certain and welcome
Feet burrow in sugared grains,
skin tingles as sun dries, then bakes, to golden.
Girl, I’m literally so excited, I can’t stand it!! SERIOUSLY!! I have tried creating my own poetic form over the years, came up with some little things years and years ago (lost by now), and just kind of brushed it aside doing babies and marriage. Anyway, what I’m saying is, I’M SO PROUD OF YOU!! THIS IS SO COOL AND AWESOME. You saw it through, unlike me. How intimidating was this?
Anyhooty, I’m all over this!! I want to try it. Didn’t you say it was a 5-line poem? You’re confusing me. Yours isn’t…but, I LOVE IT!! Is this one of those things where it should be 5 lines, but when you get swept away in the moment, you cheat without knowing it, and then you don’t care because it’s just so good?
I’ve got a couple of days to think on this. I’m excited. I’m intimidated! I’m READY! You go girl!!
Wow, this is different and I think I will try, based on time issues, but I definitely want to. (is that a definitely maybe?) ha
I love your Beach one!
Oh, AMAZING, I love it! It’s.. It’s… PERFECT. It’s you, by incorporating all the senses. But that’s what makes it flexible enough to be me or someone else. I’m excited. I’ll get to it… but it may be later tonight after VBS.. I’ll be back!
YOU GO GIRL!
Love it! I’ll see what I can do, but you took the beach!
Yeah, count me out. I don’t do made-up poetic forms…
Ah, who am I kidding? You know I’m in, since I’m partly to blame here. 🙂
And as I told you yesterday, this really is a brilliant form. I might even create a Wikipedia entry for it… how cool would that be?
Yep – you’ve intrigued me. I’m going to give it a try. I think the hardest part is deciding on a topic. But you’ve challenged me and I love a challenge.
I need to stimulate my brain. I am in. 🙂
Only you could make a post about creating a new poetic form as brilliantly engaging as the form itself. Five-lines, five-senses? Perfect. Like the points on a star – um, well, a five-pointed star, anyway.
Just think, one day kids will read about you in their literature class.
Then they’ll rue the day you were born when their teacher asks them to write five Pensieve’s over Christmas break.
I forgot to say – though it probably goes without saying – that the first Pensieve ever written sets a rather high bar for the rest of us. Beautiful words, Robin.
I can taste the salt on my lips…
I haven’t written a poem in such a long time, I used to love writing poems, it was my favorite form of writing. I don’t know if I could write a good one now, I’ll try to think of one
Very nice.
I’ll try.
I love poetic forms. With so many ways the words can take you, it’s nice to have small parameters that can help you focus on content.
This is very interesting! I haven’t been feeling too creative lately and it’s been awhile since I’ve written poetry, but I may – one day soon – have to try this out. It is intriguing me. Come by to remind me, k?
I love a poetry challenge that doesn’t tell us to do double-helixes in a sychamore beat – so I love this one. Shall give some thought and be back on Friday.
Great idea! I am so glad to have found you because I have been a “dormant” poet, in this sticky sleep, avoiding the pen and paper… So exciting to see you create your own form!!!
I really want to join and start the writing back up! I started writing poetry during my FIRST JOB—I was a poet apprentice. Isn’t that the COOLEST first job ever?!
Y’aaaawwww’lllll! YOU’RE BLESSIN’ MY EVER-LOVIN’ SOCKS OFF!
Well, you would be if I wasn’t already barefoot :).
THANK YOU for joining me!!! I’m headed out the door (Carrabba’s–wahooo!) or I’d be more chatty!
Until latah, gatahs! 🙂
Oh cool! A new reader here… I’d love to join in. Such an awesome idea 🙂
You may live to regret this Robin, but I’m in.
Robin, so excited about this and about your new form that I just posted a “Pensieve”. I even made three stanzas of Pensieve! VERY fun!
Joy
OH, I am so in!!!! This is such a great idea…kudos to you for creating a new poetic form that is going to take the interwebs by storm!
YEP, I’m so in!
How cool is this! Coining a form of poetry! I think it’s wonderful – and I love your inaugural poem!
When you do a Mr. Linky you can add mine (or I will come back and do it)
http://oncedeadbutnowalive.blogspot.com/2008/07/pensieve-poetic-license-july.html
OH MY WORD!! Brandon might do a Wikipedia entry for the Pensieve?!!! Girl, you are so rockin’ and about to be POETICALLY FAMOUS maybe!! Ha! I’m so excited for you!! Look how people are joining in! You are just taking the blogging and poetry world by storm you little thing!!! I’M SO PROUD OF YOU!
wooo hoooo I wrote one today – so I”ll be posting it tomorrow sometime and come back and linky.
It doesn’t ryhme or make sense, but it still counts…right?
Oooh…love this, Robin. Gorgeous! I have family visiting and am wiped out, so I probably won’t have time to write anything this week. But I hope to be back to try your form later!
Okay. I took the plunge. My pensieve is titled “Baked Potato” and it’s on my website.
Ok. Here is my Pensieve for this month. Check it out, please. My poem is titled “E-Bay.”
Yeah okay, I’m in.
As it is Friday here now I have mine up and posted – a translation to the word Hoon – one who burns rubber impressing his mates (if he has any).
Pensieve