Rhyme & Structure Challenge (celebrating a person, place, or

Rhyme & Structure Challenge (celebrating a person, place, or thing)

I invite p&q members to write a poem in an Ode style - celebrating someone, something, or someplace that you love or that inspires you. The only requirements are that it has rhyme or be of and in an establish structure (Haiku, Senryu. Tanka, and such). The poem must be structured, either by rhyme scheme and stanzas or by form and structure. You can write it as a Sonnet, Ballade, Acrostic, Kyrielle, Quatern, Retourne, or whatever form you like, as long as it's structured and/or has a rhyme (rhyme scheme). You can also create your own Ode with an original or organic rhyme (rhyme scheme). Your Poem Can Be Up To 40 Lines Max!!!

Ode: (ohd)

1. An ode is a type of poem lyrical poem - of elegant, elevated style - marked by exaltation, lofty feeling, and flowery (flattering) language, Complimenting/Extolling a specific, person, place, or thing: An Ode has no specific rhyming or metrical pattern and can vary in length of lines and complexity of rhyme scheme and stanza form. It must include the word "ode" in its title and the poem must meet the fore stated standards to qualify as an ode. (A form of stately and eloquent lyrical verse)

2. A lyrical poem praising or glorifying a person, place, or thing.

________________________

The Ode is a very friendly form, in that its requirement is primarily focused not on the construction of the stanza but on the organization of stanzas in the poem, the requirement for these stanzas being little more than a personally constructed meter and rhyme scheme.

Stanza Development

When developing your stanza, remember what you all probably know already about meter and rhyme from your participation in this workshop. Make sure that each line rhymes with at least one other line. A first stanza might operate best by curiously describing from an outside point of view the subject matter, and then delving further until coming to a more intimate understanding in the final stanza.

Developing the Pindaric "unit" one should try to keep a certain unity between the strophe/antistrophe and the epodes, so that the units are each distinct and transist one into the other.

The "epode" can differ from the other stanza formats but it is probably a good idea to keep a similar meter and rhyme style, with a subtle variance, or maybe a shortening of line count to have a more pointed effect.

Odes can be of any length but traditionally are long rather than short. I think that in this workshop we could happily function with Pindaric odes a length of three units or more, or Horatian odes of four stanzas or more (maybe less if the stanzas are on the larger side, more if on the smaller side).

Line lengths do not need to be consistent throughout a single stanza, but if they are inconsistent, then those inconsistencies must be maintained in stanzas following that format. If anybody doesn't understand this, please ask me in a reply, because I feel like I'm unclear.

Subject Matter

The subject matter of the ode tends to be celebratory, and of a particular subject matter or personage (ode to my sister, ode on a box of crayons, &c). Keep in mind when titling your odes, that typically an ode "to" something is written as address, with second-person reference (a "You" entity and an "I" entity). An ode "on" something is more detached and written with third person reference to the subject matter.

Again, if you want to stay traditional, Pindaric odes best celebrate something of public importance, where Horatian odes are more personally inclined---but even the great Romantics are guilty of wandering from these traditions a little, so it's not set in stone at all.

Great idea, Robert

Fantastic idea Robert. I'll give it a whirl.

Larry, Em we need to define some parameters. like setting a time limit (due date) and also we need to make a concerted effort comment and vote the poems we find alluring.

Tell us when you want them, Robert.
Should we post them here or to you?

Post them here or the links to them here, so they can be commented and voted upon. How about we give those interested two months to craft their poems. August 5th seems like a good due date.

Sounds great Robert

Okay, well go with August 5th as the due date. Get the word out on the challenge. We want as many good poems as possible. Looking forward to seeing the splendid, resplendent, and extraordinary worth that p&q poets out fourth.

Okay, Till August 5th.

I'm on it.

Looking Forward to Your Work Everlasting.

Okay, this a try. It might not be what you are looking for. I'll try to write something else. But so far, it has been fun.

TITLE: An Ode to my Pillow

Oh fluffy, whitey pillow!
when night do comes
and I cry like a widow,
you are the sons
that stop my mournful bellow.

To me, you are a willow.
A tree with tongues
that speak just to a window
but that has thumbs
and looks just like a weirdo

Your touch sends me to limbo
where I do sums
and dream about a hero
who fights off scums
and lets world-peace continue

Without you, I'll be zero
not even crumbs
in a game of nintendo
not even strums
that are strummed from a cello

You are my beloved pillow!

Cute Everlasting/

Thank you Robert

I'm curious, what exactly do you have in mind with this challenge? I mean, are you looking for something cute, serious, breathtaking, stale, or moving? Or whatever comes?

Could you give an example of an Ode?

Looking for your best. It doesn't have to be serous (of a serious subject matter) but it does have to be a serous attempt at writing something good. I just want people to put their best efforts to writing something good and exploring the cart of poetry.

Alright, I'll give a serious attempt for the next write. I hope everyone else also gives a try.

Robert,
I am having trouble understanding the strophe, the initial part of an English Pindaric Ode.

Most sources skillfully avoid presenting what it actually is.
Some sources describe it as multiple lines repeating themselves, making it sound somewhat like the opening of typical blues stanzas where the first line is repeated.

However, another source declares the Strophe is modernly taken as any "long non-isomorphic unit" while drawing a distinction between a Strophe and a Stanza.

Non-isomorphic is the opposite of what I had understood.

Any help in explaining it?

Larry. just write something that moves you, exploring rhyme and the building of some sort of coherent structure, I want people to work on crafting a poem either from an established form or creating a structure of their own (own design).

How's this one going?

I'm trying... but it's harder than I thought.

Just find your passion (something your passionate about) and just write you can always edit/revise it later Everlasting.

Hey Robert,

I have but I'm still struggling with structure. I can't quiet sync my feelings with the meter and the rhymes.

Here are two of my attempts:

Ode to God
http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/life/poems.php?id=1251716

Ode to Love
http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/life/poems.php?id=1251760

I'm just stopping by, to let you know that I am working on it.

Both wonderful attempts Everlasting. I personally like "Ode To Love Itself" Don't worry so much about structure. This is more a challenge about pushing yourself and using rhyme scheme, structure, and metering to create something splendid and resplendent. You can free free to create your own structure and to fluctuate on the metering. As long as the poem has Flow and symmetry, it's fine.

Done:
Ode to my Daughter
http://www.friendship-poems.com/poems.php?id=1251955

A Most Touching Ode Larry.