During his two year tenure, your new Hampshire Poet - Damian Kelly-Basher - will be writing a series of blog posts for us sharing what he has been up to, telling us his poetic plans for the future, and inviting you to get involved in poetry in Hampshire. Read on to find out what's happening in Damian's world!
In this blog, Damian discusses Syllabic Verse
This year’s National Poetry Day theme was Counting. So, I thought of Syllabic Verse.
These poems have a format where there is a pre-arranged number of syllables (beats) for each line or for each verse.
It appears in Ancient Greek and Roman poetry and classical French and Italian poetry where the languages are more syllable-based.
In English, syllabic verse was used more as a writing tool by Modernist poets like Marianne Moore, Dylan Thomas and Thom Gunn. Because rhyme and stress are not so important in these poems, it can be hard to notice the syllable count either on the page or when spoken.
Examples
Dylan Thomas’ poem “In my craft or sullen art” has 7 syllables for each line except the last.
Marianne Moore used less regular syllable counts. In her poem “No swan so fine” each
verse has lines of 7, 8, 6, 8, 8, 5, and 9 syllables.
Catullus, writing between 87-54 B.C, wrote poems using 11-syllable, hendecasyllabic lines
(a 6-syllable word)
Writing idea.
Write a syllabic poem. Use lines of 7, 9 or 11 syllables (beats)
Write about anything you want.
Write as many lines as you want.
The only rule is: every line in your poem must have the same number of syllables.
Also, find words with really long syllable counts and see if you can put them in your poem.
Have fun. Writing is about having fun with words.
Damian Kelly-Basher is Hampshire Poet Laureate 2024-26. The appointment of the Hampshire Poet takes place every two years and is jointly led by Winchester Poetry Festival and Hampshire Cultural Trust. The position of Hampshire Poet provides the opportunity for a Hampshire-based poet to undertake commissions, lead workshops and give readings and talks throughout the county, as well as acting as an advocate for poetry and poets.
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