~ The Poet's Place Cafe~

by Jay O'Toole

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A place for discussion on poetry, reviews, contests, etc.

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Sep 2, 2024 at 1:28pm

#3677051

Tools of the trade: Words

by Dave

Human nature requires expression. Musicians use instruments, such as trumpets, guitars and timpani drums, to make the sounds which evoke emotional reactions from their audiences. Sculptors use blocks of wood, granite or clay as their medium with which to project conceptions, gourmet chefs use concoctions of meat, produce and spices, and artists use paint, canvas and brushes. Words are the pigments on a writer's palette.

As the smallest unit of language that can independently project complete meaning, the word carries a heavy load. Nouns represent persons, places, things, or ideas. Verbs convey an action, an occurrence or a state of being. The poet paints word pictures that sing to communicate concepts through the selection and arrangement of words.

Specific, concrete nouns are more likely to engage a reader's imagination than general, abstract terms, as explained in the following link: https://www.albert.io/blog/concrete-and-abstract-nouns/

Muscular action verbs propel a poem forward more forcefully than the bland passive verbs which merely state that something exists, as described in the following link: http://www.writersdigest.com/qp7-migration-books/rhythm-method-excerpt

In addition to literal distinctions, the poet applies liturgical cadences in sound arrangements and the weight of connotation by associations in meaning to shade the tone and reinforce the images being portrayed: http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/out-cradle-endlessly-rocking

Assignment: Now, it is your turn to break out your palette and paint us a picture that sings.

Let the creativity flow from your soul!