It’s National Poetry Month. In April, I will reflect daily on the craft tip offered in The Practicing Poet: Writing Beyond the Basics, edited by Diane Lockward. Of course, I will also write a poem using the craft tip in celebration - and because apparently, I like a good challenge - of Poetry Month. Each day, the new poem will be posted on my blog, Merely Day by Day. Buckle in.
When I am unable to ask a good question about a topic, I know I have much to learn. It’s always a sign. So it was with today’s craft tip shared by Cynthia Marie Hoffman in The Practicing Poet: Know More. It seems there’s much more I can learn about research in poetry. This is another tip in the section designed to help discover new material, but I rarely write poetry that needs research - well, so far I haven’t written much poetry that requires research. The most I’ve ever used this technique was when I dabbled in some informational poetry work with students. I have a feeling I will be spinning this tip for a while.
There were a few quotes that stood out to me:
The Rabbit Hole
Today’s rabbit hole has more to do with questions than answers.
Hoffman asserts, “The best craft is invisible.” Hmmm. Is it?
Who are the adult poets that use research in their poetry? I scanned my poetry collection and didn’t come across a poet I thought used research to write their poetry. If you can think of someone, I hope you’ll share the poet in the comments. I did find several children’s poetry books in my picture book poetry collection that required research by the poet. Interesting.
I’ve always been intrigued by conversations about the use of persona in poetry. I’m sure one has to do much research to get close to an accurate voice in a poem in which the poet assumes the voice of someone else. (This Slowdown conversation with Major Jackson and Aria Abur digs into the conversation around wearing a mask as a poet and the complexity of using persona in poetry.)
Interesting read about research in poetry: “Making dragons out of maps: How to use research in poetry” by Samira Asma-Sadeque.
What are the questions I should be asking about using research to write poetry? Hmmmm.
Stop by Merely Day by Day to read today’s poem.