Hello, this is Frank Hubeny. The topic is irony. Victoria Slotto covered this some years ago. See this link for her perspective on it with many examples of how irony can be used in poetry: https://dversepoets.com/2013/04/04/just-say-what-you-dont-mean-irony/
I’ll offer another illustration of irony. Here is a reading of Oliver Goldsmith’s “An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog” with the text of the poem in the video:
One of the delightful features of irony is that everyone can enjoy such a poem even those who don’t get the ironical interpretation. One can enjoy Goldsmith’s poem as the tale of a man so good that when a mad dog bit him, the dog died. Or, one can enjoy the poem as the tale of a man so “good” that when a good dog bit him, the poor dog died. Either way works.
The force of Goldsmith’s irony comes not from misunderstanding the poem. There is nothing cryptic or hidden in the poem. Everyone understands it even on first reading. The ambiguity is right on the surface for different people to understand the poem differently.
Ambiguity is powerful, but it is also not enough for some poets. They hold strong positions on some topics, perhaps rightfully so, and they want to make sure the reader hears that position. That often leads to something called sarcasm. With sarcasm there is no longer that ambiguity that makes irony powerful.
The challenge is to write an ironical poem on whatever topic you desire and using any style. May the force of ambiguity be with you.
To help get you started, since the theme is open, if you enjoy humor, it is hard not to be ironical. Twist one of those delightful jokes into a poem. If you enjoy agonizing over the antics of a favorite political character or worry about how the world will end, you already have plenty of material for an ironical poem. I think mine will be on ways to handle an impending market crash. There just has to be some understandable ambiguity to pull this off.
We can also discuss possible themes in the comments section below.
Here are the procedures:
- Write your ironical poem and post it to your blog.
- Reference this dVerse post.
- Add the link to your blog post in the Mister Linky below.
- Leave a comment here. We can discuss irony, what works; what doesn’t. You may know other examples of ironical poetry like the Goldsmith example above.
- Read and comment on other people who have linked their poems. It is useful to see how others have responded to the challenge and, when you do so, you get to know them better.
I am looking forward to reading your poems.
Welcome! This is Frank. The bar is open with an opportunity to post your ironical poems.
I look forward to a grin or two… great and hard to write.
Irony can be very hard, just like writing humor. We often want to say what we mean when it is sometimes more effective to say just the opposite.
Good evening Frank.. a hard subject… but whenever hard I bend to form… and out pops an ode in ottava rima.
I think using a simple form like a limerick or common meter is an easy way to start thinking ironically. The form signals that one is kidding–or maybe not.
A challenge to write Frank ~ Its a balance to be subtle, while trying to be ironical ~ Looking forward to hitting the trail in a bit ~
I suspect some people are naturally more ironical than others. Usually, I am not subtle enough in what I write and I lose the ambiguity early on.
Hi Frank! Nice to see you tending the pub today. Posted mine — will do some catch up reading on the nature poems and come back in early AM for some irony.
Sun is shining in Boston but — wait for it — ironically snow is predicted for tomorrow!😳
Snow tomorrow? Can’t wait.
Good evening Frank, Bjorn, Grace, Lillian and everyone else who is making their way into the bar as I type this comment rather slowly. I have made a small offering this evening and did try to write ironically but I couldn’t muster any humour, I’m afraid. But I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone else has written. 🙂
I don’t think irony has to be humorous. Yours is ambiguous and understandable. You wrote a poem about someone writing “demented” poetry.
Thank you, Frank!
I’ve been waiting, Frank! I just posted a poem that’s ironic but not new (for Poets United.) So I’ll sit with this and come up with something else just for my wonderful friend. (You.)
You are almost always first to comment, don’t know how you do it. Everywhere I go to read you are there. I swear, you and Bjorn seem to have a sixth sense about it. Try as I may I am always behind, catching up with my reading and writing. It’s not that I spend that much time biking being semi-retired I have the time. I guess I’m not that good at managing it. Lol!
I appreciate you as a friend, photographer, and poet, Frank. Hugs!
I just saw your poem about Bruce/Caitlyn. Interesting account of events. I don’t know that much about fashion or the Kardashians or transgender issues.
Don’t worry. If you can’t find something to post, that’s fine. I use these things as opportunities to force me to write something or dig up something I’ve already written and edit it.
I am going to have to post more photographs to Google+ like you and Gary Lo do. After your last Saturday’s Image Write I realized I wasn’t using Google+ as much as I should have been.
That is awesome, Frank! People love photographs and I can’t wait to see more of yours. Don’t forget the communities on g+ for photography. I like to post public mostly.
I think you’d remember Bruce Jenner if you looked him up he was an Olympic star in his time.
I feel the same and love to have reasons to write. I wrote one already and may do another. I like using irony and humor very much.
I know almost as much about sports as I do about fashion. I’ll look up Jenner and those photography groups on Google+.
Lol! Just because you’re a man I shouldn’t assume you like or know sports, so true!
I walk (a lot) and do some yoga since I have a “free” gym membership. I want to do more photography after seeing your work.
I bet you’re in great shape! I used to do a lot of Yoga until my knees went bad. It’s very hard to kneel on them sometimes so I still stretch but don’t get on the floor as much. You are so sweet, Frank!
I’m in pretty good shape. What I mainly try to do is keep a straight back posture, hence the yoga. I don’t try to get into strange yoga positions. I can’t sit in a lotus position.
Me either! Lol! I used to of course. Just got done writing my Limerick and linking an older poem to PU and now I’m going riding. I don’t know if I can write a poem a day this month. I’ve done it before but I’m a lot busier now. Hugs!
I probably wont be able to, but I hope it is the intention that counts.
Cheers for the excellent prompt Frank. It made me remember a poem I had written many moons ago which appears to fit the bill.
Will enjoy visiting others who are meeting at the bar. Hope you all are well and happy!
Kind regards
Anna :o]
Poems written many moons ago are welcome. What I posted I wrote long ago and modified just a bit because I wasn’t consciously thinking of irony.
Your poem made me think of want to get a hamburger. 🙂
Building a wall then putting a big hole in it, then filling that hole, seems funny to me. Or a door with no wall. I thought I knew what irony was, until I tried to write it!
Walls and doors are nice opposites. A locked door and a wall are pretty much the same thing. And a door without walls is a nice twist on all of that.
i feel this was timely after a long week at work for me, a little humour and irony what an amazing thought for a prompt, I am going to attempt this with something I wrote so out of character a few months back and see if I can meet the bar today. Thank you for always providing excellent examples and inspiration to get started when you are tending the bar!!
I’m looking forward to it. Sometimes a prompt teases out that poem one has set aside in the past giving it another chance to appear. I am glad you liked the prompt. I relied on Victoria Slotto’s earlier description to guide mine.
One of my only political poems I’ve written, but I find that is the best approach to dealing with the gravity of partisanship and corruption: with irony and humor. Thanks, Frank!
I generally avoid political poems as well. I figure their shelf life is only a few years. Irony and humor are ways for people with different views to come together.
Thursdays always a long day…just back form teaching in Glasgow so will pen a short one and return to read and comment tomorrow. Interesting prompt Frank.
Thanks, Paul. Irony need not be as long as that Goldsmith’s poem. Even a limerick works nicely.
Went with the trusty Haiku.
Ah, that’s even shorter than a limerick.
I posted 2 for this prompt and I’m done. I’ll be back to read tomorrow. Group hug!
Thanks, Bekkie! Group hug to all.
Evening all! LOVE this prompt!! (I always tell my students that irony trumps every other card in the literary deck!) In keeping with the theme, Frank, I’m going to start with a Grin and Tonic, please! 😉
A Grin and Tonic is my favorite as well! Irony is best. It makes me hesitate should I think I understand something too easily.
I think the dog is actually a woman, and I think he killed her.
Hi, Y’all — It’s been too long since I last buzzed the bar; please don’t swat me aside. Irony, blessed irony! A perfect occasion to occasion my return. Cheers!
I am glad the topic encouraged your return. I won’t swat you.
Thank you kind sir!
By the way, that was an excellent use of irony with the “cockroaches”.
Good to see you, Charley!
Good to be back!
Late to the party and have no idea if I have followed directions properly, but it sure was fun to write. I also like to run with scissors. 😉
I don’t know what the directions are to properly do irony. Some understandable ambiguity is all that is necessary. You set up an ambiguous state in the first stanza and left the reader wondering if one should approach the dragon or not.
Irony is not lost on me, but yes, it is difficult to write. Staying up late as long as I can. Thanks for the prompt today.
Thanks for participating, Kathy. I just finished reading your poem. There is a literal interpretation as well as an allegorical interpretation which seems to me to provide the basis for irony.
Yay, finally, a prompt that doesn’t tell me WHAT to write about, but instead a style or form in which my muses could play. Most, I guess, enjoy words or pictures or subject prompts but my mind seems to rebel being told such things. Instead, I seem to play better when given more freedom. You sample poem was fun, Frank. Thanks.
I’m glad you liked the prompt and Goldsmith’s poem. Your poem left open multiple interpretations. I suspect the quest for a lost love usually ends unsuccessfully. What happens after that failure is what I think the different interpretations of your poem reveals.
As ever, I got caught in the rain and am running behind….is the bar closing soon? Or do I have a little time? Working on a piece right now ~ Jason
Hi Jason, this prompt closes on Saturday at 3pm EST. You have some time, smiles.
OH wonderful Grace, thank you for the reply. I am not a fast writer, but I got inspired! I will read up what the others have written and will post a bit later, after a bit of polishing! ~peace 🙂
Okay! I’m in — hope this meets the bar! ~ Jason
It meets the bar as far as I’m concerned. Thanks! I enjoyed the progression from finding the rain annoying to wanting to stay in it.
Thanks, Frank. I appreciate the feedback and am thankful for the prompt — the confluence of a rainy night, a memory, and a poetry prompt brought it all together 🙂 ~peace, Jason
I just remembered that we should share a song for the prompt… and this one has to be perfect
Nice song. I like these lyrics among the others: “Good advice that you just didn’t take.”
Persevered with this prompt though it took me ages (beyond Mr Linky’s patience even) -not sure I managed more than a sprig of spring irony but enjoyed the challenge
p.s. surely one of the best ironic lines are Mr Cohen’s:
“I remember you well in a Chelsea hotel
That’s all – I don’t even think of you that often”
Sometimes I am not in a mood for irony. I want something more direct, heartfelt and meaningful. Irony can be “mean” and I don’t want that either even when I want to be ironical. I am glad you liked the challenge whether a poem came out of it or not.
clever but scathing – has impact – often harsh but can be heartfelt in the right hands 😉
I’m late, and not sure I fulfilled this prompt.
https://wordpress.com/post/purplepeninportland.wordpress.com/23800
It fulfilled the prompt. Setting standards for others creates a humorously ironical situation when one can’t meet those standards either.
This looks like the link: https://purplepeninportland.wordpress.com/2017/04/03/his-comforts/
Thanks, Frank. My titles have been disappearing lately!