Today I thought we should try out a genre that’s a blend of journalism and poetry. When I grew up there was almost always a “dagsvers” (dayly verse) in the light page of the newspaper. These are short, often rhymed verse that in a compact form commenting recent events. They were often combined with a drawing. According to the internet this type of poetry is limited to the Nordic countries, but I would love to be proven wrong. But when I google daily verse, I get a bible verse, which is not what I’m after today. The closest in English poetry is probably the poetry found in publications like Punch magazine.
So today I want you to write a brief comment in simple poetic form, it’s a good idea to use humor and/or irony, and maybe even satire to get your point through. Forms like limericks or nursery rhyme are excellent. If you have the ability it would be great if you can combine it with a drawing. Remember this is poetry to make impact. To be chuckled at, or maybe even choke to your morning coffee. and maybe even making your targeted angry. When thinking of this poetry I came across this piece by a poet friend that I thought could illustrate what I want for today. It might not be rhymed, but palindrome poetry works just as well.
Non-existent and brittle Kingdom
Illusion is Queen
Left is right and right left
Political confusion
Entry denied
Mirror
Denied entry
Confusion political
Left right and right is left
Queen is illusion
Kingdom brittle and non-existent
So today I want you to take the newspaper, focus on being a poetic journalist. Make a point and utilize the tools of irony and humor to comment burning events- Today is not the day to be subtle or speak in metaphors but rather blunt and straightforward, and if you dare, add your own drawing.
- Write a poem and post it to your webpage.
- Enter a link directly to your poem and your name by clicking Mr Linky below
- There you will find links to other poets, and more will join
- Read and comment on other poet’s work, we all go here to have our poems read
- Promote your site and poetry you like on social media of your choice
Welcome all of you 😉
I just came out of a concert, Stockholm has beautiful spring weather and leafs are just bursting into verdant bliss.
sounds lovely…so what concert was it this time?
We had Russian composers.. Glinka, Schnittke and Rachmaninov 😉 and a Colombian conductor
Glinka!!
Yup 😉 but just a short piece
whassup bjorn…welcome back from your trip…
i have fun with political poems…used to write them a whole
lot more, esp around election season…
poetic journalism, now that could be an interesting job….smiles.
Yes – we had quite a few, though it has come out of fashion.. I guess the cost of having a poetic journalist no longer pays itself
Hey Bjorn – I guess I read your email tooooo hastily. When I wrote my poem dujour today I didn’t get it quite right to be a dagvers – so I must go back to the drawing board and try again. Glad to see you here behind the bar (even though it’s orchestra night). I’ll be practicing piano and trying to think of something clever. (I am not so good at clever but I will try!)
Ah – I so hoped to read it.. But hope piano bring out the best
This takes me back. I was introduced something similar in the late 70’s by a Danish Quaker. These were gruks or grooks by Piet Hein.
THE ROAD TO WISDOM?
Well, it’s plain
and simple to express.
Err and err and err again,
but less and less and less.
— Piet Hein
Oh yes.. Sweden, Denmark and Norway had this type of poetry.. Great piece
Very fun prompt, Bjorn. I’m having to post an old one because I have a lot going on right now but playing with another idea. The paper is a good source for inspiration.
loved your old poem… seem to be a little wild west in the retirement homes in Reno
Fun prompt, Bjorn!
Thank you.. Fun reading.. loved your entry.
heya…. just back from paris and hitting the trail to read….
I hope you had a great time Claudia.. your take on Ukraine was good..
we had a wonderful time… aaahhhh…vive la france!! smiles
Tres Bien 🙂
I dreamed I was in Paris last night with people I thought I knew (but had never seen before in real life) .. we all spoke French except the French who responded in English. We all spoke formal French because that’s all I know. I lost my passport in a department store and we ran around Paris (we were in our 20s in the dream) and never found it..how weird was that!
that makes me smile… would’ve loved to meet you in paris… and i would’ve helped you get that passport back… or maybe just stay ageless…even better…smiles
My two öre are in the ring as well! Will go around reading more tomorrow, but great prompt, Björn! Och visst var det en underbar dag i Stockholm idag? *ler*
a wonderful day in Stockholm .— solen sken hela dagen..
Great idea, Bjorn, and I’m afraid dagsvers doesn’t seem to be in evidence here in the UK…. I think it should!
I’m glad you seem to have made it back from your long wait at the train station… unless you are still waiting, waiting, waiting…
ah.. since the wait was for an 18 hour trip.. they managed to catch up a few hours delay and we arrived before schedule… such is the case with trains…
dagsvers is disappearing gradually here as well.. but I still read it every now and then in our daily (printed) newspaper..
I need to head for bed… but just a reminder — on Saturday it’s going to be the monthly Open-Link Night. I hope it’s going to be great. I hope our monthly collaborative poem will be ready…
sleep well… heading to bed myself now… paris wore me down a bit…ha… will catch up tomorrow morning before work….
Goodnight Claudia…
So I sort of figured it out..perhaps??
Oh dear! We’ve got a link up that’s not working properly. It comes back to this page. #12, summerstommy2.
yep. will fix it…
Nice to hear from you happy travelers; my sarcastic bone isn’t helping me today, but I had fun writing for the prompt, nevertheless.
Not always easy to be sarcastic – reading a newspaper sometimes helps…. 😉 look forward to read you entry.
Yummy prompt Björn – thanks so much for the inspiration.
Sorry folks with regards to last weeks prompt – visited but a few as real life took over. Hope to do better this time!
Anna :o]
Hope to read your entry later… Soon of to work
Oh, how could any dinkum Aussie resist something called dagvers (or dag verse)? Of course, “dag” means something very different to us, lol. I’ve left a link on my poem to the most accurate explanation I’ve found of that definition, as the term is seldom properly understood by non-Antipodeans, even when they think they get it. Luckily, this kind of dagginess happens to be very appropriate for the original meaning of dagvers too. 😀
cleaned up the bad link for you rosemary….smiles…
ha funny on the different meanings as well…
Thanks.
🙂
I really look forward to your double meaning,. Always funny with double meaning
The Aussie version of “dag” is more of a context for my poem. I didn’t know “snollygoster” until reading your comment there. It’s absolutely what I was talking about! 🙂
good morning…. back and catching up once i had a REALLY STRONG coffee….smiles
Ah – good morning Claudia… Too tired this morning.. But I will be out reading later today…
thanks Björn….in the new context the poem looks so different and appropriate…sharing a few lines 🙂
Yes when I read your poem.. I saw directly a political dimension..
This is quite a timely prompt! Then again, the American political system is just begging for satire most days….
Most systems are open for satire…
i would agree… ha
Sorry, busy week and had no time to participate. Not that I don’t like getting on the soapbox – I have plenty of views about the news. But know that I am visiting and reading your poems – not sure I’ll have time to comment though.
Maybe for OLN tomorrow 😉
your reading is appreciated marina… and yeah…maybe we’ll see you for oln…smiles
I think I have been waiting for an opportunity like this. 🙂
I look forward to read your entry
ha smiles….every once and a while it’s just good to rant a bit…ha
I wrote it this morning but was to late!
In perfect time for OLN tonight 😉