How does punctuation add or subtract from a poem’s power?
I tend to punctuate poems. In the rare ***?mes when I leave a poem unpunctuated, I feel ***? if I have illegally passed a stop sign. What’s your take on this?
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Tags: Gray Ghosts, Poem, Poems, Punctuation, Rare Times
July 11th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
I will just answer ***? a reader. I think it depends on the form, structure, rhythm, of the poem. Most of Aragon’s poems are unpunctuated ****? then, when I read them, I feel that there is an unexpressed punctuation that is not imposed on the reader. On the contrary, it means a greater involvement of the reader who then has to find this internal rhythm. It forces me, ***? a reader, to read out loud, and that can be a ****?d thing. So, I suppose that unpunctuated poems are harder to write because punctuation has to be expressed, one way or another, even though it does not appear on the page (or the *****?en…).
July 13th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
I’m ****?red to death of the comma.
It is misused, a lot, and it hurts more than it helps, it ***?ems.
I, usually, overuse it.
July 15th, 2009 at 4:15 am
I prefer punctuation, although I would be the first to admit I may use it incorrectly. School was a long ***?me ago and ***?r away.
July 17th, 2009 at 4:14 am
For me, ***?rsonally, the lack of punctuation slows me down–unless the line breaks ***?ll where there normally would be some form of punctuation–and I spend more ***?me trying to figure out how I should be reading and can’t concentrate on the content. And when there’s more than one subject the lack of a ***?riod only adds to the confusion of where the verbs go.
I believe poetry is meant to be delivered verbally, like music, and therefore the tempo should be written in along with the notes and chord progressions.
July 18th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
okay, I cheated, I read everyone’s answer before making my comment. Of course, I couldn’t have said it ***? ****?d ****? I agree with Mixtli! I need to practice what I learned back in elementary school and use punctuation better.
You once pointed out to me that one of my poems read like a long ***?ntence and then demonstrated it–I appreciate that! I did ***?e your point and did rework it and added the punctuation!
As important ***? punctuation is, I have ***?en in my own work that wrong punctuation is even worse! Use your helpers and get it right—-now I need to practice all of this myself!
July 20th, 2009 at 11:29 am
I have been “formally trained.” When I write poetry I am used to capitalizing the first word of every line and punctuating ***? grammatically necessary. That being said, I’m trying to let go of those habits, because I feel it can take away from a reader’s own interpretation of a poem. If I put a ***?riod at the end of a statement the reader WILL pause. If I let it go, the reader can choose to end the statement there or add a little from the next line to the statement, etc. I hope that made ***?nse.
It does feel to me like I am breaking some sort of cardinal sin when I do not punctuate and capitalize correctly though. I guess it’s just what I was always taught. Not saying I’m ***?rfect at grammar, spelling and punctuation, ****? I do try.
EDIT: Now that I’ve read the answers – I’d like to add that I don’t have trouble reading poetry with no punctuation or capitalization – it goes back to my original statement. I think poetry is subjective. I like to ***?ther my own feelings about a poem ***? I’d like others to do with mine.
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:23 pm
I never ***?e it in the work. I never use it. I wish I knew why. I am a vague, random ***?rson and my thought processes ***?em to run smoother without the clutter. How strange is that?
I’m learning from the responses. I must drive ***?ople crazy with my writing
However, I think my work would suffer and I might not be able to write at all if forced to change.
July 27th, 2009 at 1:09 am
Many ***?mes punctuation
will disrupt the flow
words that ****?t to run
are stopped
for no ***?iin
July 30th, 2009 at 2:47 am
First, that Mix guy got on me once for not punctuating. Now, I am aware of it. It can be helpful. In one of Evadne’s poems yesterday, she used three ***?riods in one line — very effective. I think the punctuation helps the reader to understand where the pauses should occur. I also think some poems need no punctuation at all. So…. it depends.
I saw this question on Mars.
July 31st, 2009 at 5:17 pm
if the poet ****?ts the reader to get to the very meaning he specified, he must punctuate properly to show detailed ****?tomy of the event[like Michael Angelo's paintings, and classical music songs, and Ballet dance].
if he ****?ts to give them just a hint – that ****?ges their feeling, or a clue that would inspire their own imagination to draw its own pictures of the event, he would apply it partially [like Picasso's Guernica, and rock music].
if he ****?ts to let the meaning entirely up to the readers, he would omit punctuation, or come heavy on the ***?riods. in this case, they get the poet’s feeling of it, ****? the meaning is left entirely to them to figure it out [ modern paintings, ****? music, and hip-hop dance].
me thinks that it is way better for those who dont know how to punctuate -like myself – not to punctuate the verse. improper punctuation confuse the reader, where the lack of makes him ponder.