Concrete Poetry

Concrete Poetry

SHAPE (or CONCRETE):

Shape poems are made up of words that have been placed in such a way that they make the shape of an object and also use words to describe the object.

You can find a variety of shape or concrete poems on the internet where people are now also using flash animation with poems.

Here is an example of a concrete poem:

    summer

       rivers

     murmur

       leaves and breezes

       whisper

          bees and

            dreamy

     thoughts

   hum

  as summer

   winds

     on

Concrete poetry has no agreed-upon conventions. It is certainly more elegant to have the shape formed by a natural line length.

Sometimes the visual form makes it possible to read a poem in different ways. A poem written in the form of a circle may be read from different starting points, or in alternate directions. A poem written in the form of a "V" may be read down and then back up, or left-to-right, or down the right side and back up the left...

Many intriguing possibilities, aren't there?

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Here is another example:

between green

mountains

sings the flinger

of

fire beyond red rivers

e.e. cummings

Exercise: Concrete Poetry

Within the limitations of your computer, create a poem so that the shape of the text on paper matches, in some way, the theme or nature of the poem.

If you want to write your poem on paper:

· Start by making a simple outline of the shape or object ( an animal, a football, a fruit etc.) large enough to fill a piece of paper.

· Then brainstorm a minimum of ten to twenty words and phrases that describe the shape. List action and feeling words as well.

· Next, place a piece of paper over the shape and decide where your words are going to be placed so that they outline your shape but also fit well together.

· Separate words and phrases with commas.

Guidelines for critique:

1) How identifiable was the visual image formed by the text?

2) Did the visual image match the poem?

3) Did the visual image add to the enjoyment of the poem?

4) Was the poem good enough as a poem to stand alone, be enjoyable without the visual image?

5) How arbitrary was the arrangement of text, to form the visual image?

6) Did the arrangement of lines allow for alternative ways of reading the poem?

Your critiques may also cover any other aspects of the poem, but be sure to include the exercise points above.

Your poem’s words in a shape or concrete poem should create a picture of the idea you are writing about. If you combine your words effectively, you’ll be able to open up people’s eyes and imagination or give them a sense of delight.

Examples of Concrete or Shape poetry on the Internet:

http://anitraweb.org/kalliope/concrete.html

http://www.manassas.k12.va.us/Round/ClassWeb/Slough/Poetry/concrete.htm

http://members.optusnet.com.au/kazoom/poetry/concrete.html

http://quest.nasa.gov/aero/wright/teachers/wfomanual/langarts/poem.html

http://www.schools.pinellas.k12.fl.us/educators/tec/pravda3/concrete.html

http://oregonstate.edu/~smithc/poems/dove.html

http://oregonstate.edu/~smithc/poems/fish.html

http://oregonstate.edu/~smithc/poems/urban.html

http://oregonstate.edu/~smithc/poems/owl.html

http://oregonstate.edu/~smithc/poems/boat.html

http://oregonstate.edu/~smithc/poems/salmon.html

http://www.baymoon.com/~ariadne/form/concrete.htm

http://www.dmturner.org/English/Poetry/elements.htm

      

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