Recently I re-read Bob Hicok’s poem “In Michael Robin’s class minus one” (please click HERE to read it)
and wondered what it is that I find so fascinating about it.
And there are quite Some things that fascinate me in that poem – how specific he gets, the creativity and sensitivity…
But what impressed me most was how he’s using the poetic tool of conversation to tackle a difficult subject – the death of a boy
I started thinking about conversation in poetry and realized that I use it quite frequently in my own poetry without thinking too much about the Why.
But there are some good reasons – for example…
- I find that conversation always feels natural
- it gives the poem an in-the-moment feel
- it adds multiple dimensions in the dialgoue’s back and forth //instead of one-dimensional you go three- or even more-dimensional
- It puts the poem into present tense
- It can connect different parts in a natural way
- It pulls the reader into the poem cause usually we tend to listen to convos or even want to engage in them
- It’s a cool way to embed different points of views
- It feels personal
- It can be used to make a thinking process transparent instead of providing a fix “solution”
- people “listen” to the conversation and while it goes bring in their own thoughts as well
.
So for today, I want us to write conversation poems
If you have a difficult subject, you may wanna try to combine metaphor AND conversation
It can be a convo between different people or like in Bob’s poem with a river or some other object or fantasy being
The whole poem can be a conversation or you can just place some conversation lines into an otherwise non-conversational poem
.
If you are new, here is how this works:
- Write a poem based on the prompt and put it on your webpage or blog.
- Click the Mr. Linky button below and enter your name and direct web address (URL) to your poem.
- There you will find the list of others playing along, read them, tell them what you thought of their poem.
- If you use social media to promote your works, include the tag #dversepoets or @dversepoets so we can find and promote you as well.
Have fun – and looking forward to seeing you out on the trail!
–Claudia
Gabriella said:
Hi, Claudia! Very interesting prompt. A real challenge for me.
claudia said:
smiles… it’s always good to stretch a bit beyond our comfort zone… you did well gabriella
MarinaSofia said:
That is something I certainly struggle with – I can only seem to get one voice going in a poem. Monologue rather than dialogue. Look forward to seeing what others come up with!
claudia said:
i love to slip in different roles – probably that’s the reason why i love conversation in a poem
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
This was a very interesting way to stretch yourself – I think I will do this more.. Just came from my last concert in my series.. Next autumn it will be a new one. Tonight it was Mozart and Schubert 😉
claudia said:
oh nice… two real masters… i should go to concerts more…
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
A concert series helps – we have 9 Thursdays over the year
claudia said:
that’s cool… i heard they have that in basel as well.. need to check…
Mary said:
I had to stretch a bit with this one too. Writing conversation in poetry does not come naturally to me…whereas it seems to come naturally to you, Claudia. But it is good to practice different things….so I look upon my poem as a practice. I am looking forward to seeing what others write to this prompt as well….
claudia said:
it’s interesting that some poets use it quite frequently and others never…. i always find it makes a poem more approachable for me
Mary said:
I will keep the technique in mind, Claudia…
grapeling said:
thanks for linking the Hicok pen, Claudia – what an extraordinary poet. ~
claudia said:
he’s awesome – one of my favs.. i have two books by him… and hey – for our 2 year anniversary we even had him as a guest in the pub…smiles
grapeling said:
I remember that guest post. Need to check him out more ~
december cornucopia said:
I apologize for hastily adding my link without reading the prompt; I was confusing the days, thinking it was open-link night. Please remove my link.
claudia said:
done… maybe you wanna join us with a convo poem later? smiles
freyathewriter said:
Thank you, Claudia, for hosting tonight, and providing such a great prompt. I’ve gone light-hearted rather than deep and serious… I hope that’s OK?
claudia said:
totally ok – and woot on your first poetry reading – that’s awesome!!
freyathewriter said:
🙂
claudia said:
alright… bedtime over here for me…. i will converse with my pillow a bit… dreams and feathers…. smiles… see you tomorrow morning…
Adriana Citlali Ramírez said:
Happy dreams! I just wrote my conversation with a silent cat. I will start the reading round and go to sleep. It is late over here!
Okelle said:
This was just the inspiration I needed to rework an old draft that’s been hanging out, not playing nicely with my other pieces.
charliezero1.wordpress.com said:
So, the topic for today’s poem is about conversations? using metaphors right?
brian miller said:
hey C…sorry i am late in the pub…have been out on the trail…
but for some reason i cant access dverse at all from work now…
its on the banned list for ‘pub’ ha…
coo…i use quite a bit of conversation and dialogue to break up
verse and stanza…i find what people say quite fascinating
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
HA.. school an pub does not go well together.. 🙂
Walt Wojtanik said:
About a year ago, I was working on developing a “new” poetic form which I called the DIALOGUE DIZAIN.It follows the basic format of the Dizain, (ten lines rhymed: a b a b b c c d c d). The body of the poem is a dialogue between two people on the subject of the poem. Seemed like a good idea at the time. My poem is in this form.
http://wojisme.wordpress.com/2014/05/08/san-jose/
Grace said:
I don’t use conversations too so this was also a challenge for me ~
Am hitting the poetry trail now ~ Wishing you all Happy Thursday ~
Glenn Buttkus said:
I tend to lead off all my poems with a quote, kind of a lead in to more conversation; in essence, to me, poetry is a convo, or communication. I often use dialogue in my work. Claudia & Brian have a good ear, & their use of dialogue always sounds natural, like creative eavesdropping. A very cool prompt, for sure; smile.
brian miller said:
i would agree on poetry in and of itself being a conversation…often one sided, even if facets are explored but the reader has a chance to react as well….
katiemiafrederick said:
Well..if conversations with my cat Yellow Boy counts..i guess last night’s post can past the grade on this prompt…
Claudia.. i guess…all my writing is a conversation..at least with my self and sometimes with ALLITIS..so i guess that makes somewhat of a versatile conversation..
piece of writings..for what i do..:)
But there are no longer any regulations in structure..in He art for me..
It only flows per dream of last night for new morn..awakenings..:for one
Heart as whole for ALLITIS…;)
brian miller said:
ha. i talk with my cat too, so…
brian miller said:
booyah…the 28 page paper is done….just 3 little 2 pagers to finish up tomorrow…the light…i see the light….
good night…grabbing the last two and then off to bed..
grapeling said:
the light is the train passing you in the tunnel. you made it! ~
Susan said:
Hey, Claudia! I’ve used more conversation in the past, but tonight, this was on my mind. I hope it serves. I remember when I had to retire my typewriter and get a computer–something to do with rewriting college papers. Brian! I know you can just imagine doing your 28 page paper on a typewriter! Good luck with finishing the semester. Happy weekend.
purplepeninportland said:
Love this prompt. Mine is up at:
https://purplepeninportland.wordpress.com/2014/05/09/no-witness/
billgncs said:
wow – what a poem – thanks for sharing it. Dialog is one thing that seems to fit better in prose for me.
claudia said:
good morning… totally overslept and way late now… have to run and will be back in the evening after work to read your poems…
CC Champagne said:
When I read this prompt I thought to myself ‘Great! An opportunity to try and NOT rhyme!’… Guess what I ended up with? *sigh* Anyway, thanks for a great prompt and for reminding me I should write conversation more often.
rosross said:
I thin we often have conversations with others even while knowing there will be no reply. Self-talk is soothing.
brian miller said:
nope. one sided conversations dont last long in my circle. soon enough i stop wasting my breath.
rosross said:
Ha, I am sure it is a personal thing. I find talking things through in my mind with myself and others helps – also with spiritual guides/angels. Maybe it is my Aquarian Moon. 🙂
Kathy said:
Well I will have to get some shut-eye and will visit others’ entries in morning…and I used an old poem, revised it a bit…I think I’m one who prefers to not use dialog in a poem….fun to try though 😉
claudia said:
smiles… i think it’s always cool to try something new – and if it’s only once… i’ve tried food that i will never eat again…but it was an experience anyway…smiles
Sumana Roy said:
great prompt Claudia… 🙂
Madhura said:
Oh! Bob Hicock’s poem is FABULOUS! I remember having read it a long while back, so thanks for reminding me, Claudia! I just linked mine, it’s some lighthearted silliness… The conversation happened that way, I swear! :-p
Anyways, very interesting prompt, and I’ll be back later to read other poetic conversations! 🙂
claudia said:
smiles.. i like lighthearted… and i love talking to the clouds as well…smiles
claudia said:
ok… way late but i made it back… and out on the trail to catch up…smiles
happy friday!!!
Poet Laundry said:
Wow…that Hicok poem, sensational…I definitely want to check out more of his work. Thanks for the challenge Claudia!
claudia said:
i discovered him through one of karin’s prompts where she linked to a poem by him…
hypercryptical said:
Love this dear Claudia – the poem is not new, but a draft in waiting and you provided an avenue for it escape!
I must apologise to all dVerse poets – for yet again I do not visit all – very few in my last entry.
My home life exists under immense stressors /pressures and I will visit as best I can. If I miss you good folk out there – I am so sorry.
dVerse offers light to my darkness and I much appreciate that.
Kind regards
Anna :o]
gailatthefarm said:
What an amazing poem. I can not hold a light to that one.
I will try.
gailatthefarm said:
Not meeting the bar. I published eight minutes too late. Thanks for the fun.
ManicDdaily said:
Hey Claudia, Brian–I am posting belatedly.
http://manicddaily.wordpress.com/2014/05/10/what-he-spoke-of/
Thanks, Claudia, for the wonderful poem in the prompt and the wonderful prompt and your own poetry–you too Brian–with such great dialogue. k.