Friday, June 12, 2009

CORA Diversity Roll Call #8: Got Poetry?

Your assignment is to post a poem in a form unique to a particular country, an example would be the sijo (Korea), haiku (Japan) or American Sentence (this is a single line of 17 syllables like a haiku. Created by Ginsberg). Another option: post a favorite poem by a poet of color. Tell us a little about the poet and the poem. Last option, post a poem that celebrates a particular country or culture. Tell us why you enjoy this poem. Please cite the collections for your entries. Let us know if you own the collection containing your feature.

I'm sharing my attempts at the American Sentence penned by Allen Ginsburg. Below are three drafts, all different themes. All feedback is welcome. Whether you're a poet or avid poetry read, don't fret, I have thick skin.

American Sentence

A flock of black boxes flap their wings and tuck their tails for dollars.

****
Beneath blue lights I flood the floor like unstrung beads in a frenzied pour.

*****
Lions for lambs fall like snowflakes on frozen hills of Afghanistan.

CORA Diversity Roll Call is a bi-monthly meme hosted by Ali at Worducopia and me.
We post an assignment the 1st and 3rd Friday of every week . You have from the posting date to the next assignment to write and link your post. We suggest you try to post in the first week of the bi-weekly time frame. Our next Roll Call will be hosted by Ali on 6/22. Join us.

Today is Poetry Friday, too. Read more entries at Critique de Mr. Chompchomp. To read more Roll Call entries, check the comments here.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I tend not to understand much poetry, but your efforts at an "American Sentence" sound very beautiful.

Color Online said...

Thank you, Rhapsody.

Kelly Polark said...

I have never attempted the American Sentence either. Yours provoke much thought! I will have to try to write some at some point!

Anonymous said...

I love these!! I have never tried this form--have never read its description until now. Looks like fun. :-) Thank you.

Zetta Elliott said...

I never heard of this form, either, but love the image you created & the movement/sound of fallen beads...

Irene Latham said...

Ah, the American Sentence... I hate to think this is the form that defines America... will have to think on that. Meanwhile, love what you've done with it, especially the third.

Color Online said...

Irene,

I featured this form because it is unique to America. I am not arguing it defines America.

Thinking Aloud said...

Beneath blue lights I flood the floor like unstrung beads in a frenzied pour.

I love the sentence.
Sounds like me yesterday:)

Serena said...

I like the rhythm of this American Sentence: "Beneath blue lights I flood the floor like unstrung beads in a frenzied pour."

But the most vivid of the lines for me is this one: "A flock of black boxes flap their wings and tuck their tails for dollars."

Great work.