Mini-Lesson Three: Your Inspiration

Notice: Some information and poetry for this series of poetry lessons is taken from Fundamentals of Poetry by William Leahy, published by Kenneth Publishing Company, Box 11120 , St. Petersburg, FL 33733, 1987 Edition, Copyright 1963. Unless otherwise noted, all specific examples and poems in this series are from this book.
There is a saying, “The pen is mightier than the sword.”  To a certain extent, that is true. Force may be used in a temporary situation, but words have longer lasting power. Words, spoken or published, have sparked wars, created nations, and changed the world in many ways. Documentation is the main phrase in business, government and education. Millions of documents are stored in different media daily. Archeologists depend of discovered documents to find out more about lost civilizations. Even knowing how ruthless Hitler was, his rise to power was done legally, according to German law at the time. Without propaganda, Hitler would have remained a lowly corporal. There is power in words! Now back to poetry…
Knowing the power of words, the writer needs inspiration to tell a story and to make his or her rhymes. Poetry is not all just describing the clouds or flowers, but it1s a good place to start. These kinds of things are objects around us. Writers need subjects that are familiar to them. It could be flowers or the  clouds, but like reporters, poets see things around them in a different way, and put them into a perspective that makes the object fit in that writer’s reality.
Unlike traditional reporters, though, poets can use adjectives and adverbs and  action verbs to show emotion or feelings for a certain subject or topic. Poets are reporters in disguise!
One of my favorite recent poems is “On Days Like These.” I wrote it on a December day, the day my school was to dismiss for Christmas break. This is a stressful  time for everyone, especially teachers, who sometimes don’t want to be in the classroom as much as students desire to be at home. There are problems, unexpected situations, and sometimes plain bad luck that happen on “One of those days”  as the phrase goes.

On Days Like These

When the questions are in shades of gray,
it’s hard to think what to say
on days like these.

When I wrap my arms around you tight,
my insides feel just right
on days like these.

When my emotions are tossed about,
I just want to shout
on days like these.

When my mind rests at ease,
I sip a glass of iced tea
on days like these.

When life’s solutions don’t seem fair,
I find it hard to care
on days like these.

When there doesn’t seem to be time,
I find those who are kind
on days like these.

When the answers don’t seem right,
the end isn’t in sight
on days like these.

When I see that old photograph,
I can’t help but laugh
on days like these.

When I see you smile at me,
I’m glad you love me
on days like these.
The original inspiration of the poem is not evident. Poets have a license
to exaggerate the facts, to create a new situation, invent details, and
improve upon the kernel of inspiration. This license is used only to achieve
what the poet desires from the poem. Historically correct ballads would
attempt to include all the facts along with detailed accounts and descriptions of the actions. Here is a very famous poem by Tennyson, “The Charge of the  Light Brigade.”

The Charge of the Light Brigade

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
“Forward the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!” he said.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

“Forward the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldier knew
Some one had blundered.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do or die.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to the right of them,
Cannon to the left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of hell
Rode the six hundred.

Flashed all their sabers bare,
Flashed as they turned in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wondered.
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right through the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reeled from the saber stroke
Shattered and sundered.
Then they rode back, but not,
Not the six hundred.

Cannon to the right of them,
Cannon to the left of them,
Cannon in back of them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came through the jaws of Death.
Back from the mouth of hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.

When can their glory fade?
Oh, the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honor the charge they made!
Honor the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred.

There are enough words in the English language to describe any thing,
situation, action or place. Poets have extended their license to exaggerate
to include the right to create new words if one does not fit.
As demonstrated in this lesson, the right word or punctuation mark in the right place can have a profound difference. I heard on the news that a U.S. defense contract was increased by $70,000 because a comma was left out in one particular section of the contract. Observe the things, the people  and events around you for the basis for your inspiration, and like tea, let ideas seep until they can become subjects for your poems. The words may taste good. I once read a poem about how to eat a poem.

For more information go to poetry techniques, click here.