Poetic Licence

Poetic Licence

Poetic Licence

Poets are a unique bunch

With rules unto themselves.

Throw grammar laws out of the door,

Leave spelling on the shelf.

 

The need to rhyme and follow form

Requires a special skill.

Poetic licence oft‘ employed

So the rhythm isn’t killed.

 

To throw the words into the air

And let them fall at will.

To then arrange them into lines

Gives poets quite a thrill.poetic licence

 

Stanzas do not need to rhyme,

Especially in this day.

But even free verse needs to flow,

True poets find a way.

 

Sometimes poets create words,

As Shakespeare often did.

Did grammar nazis scold the bard,

Like some rebellious kid?

 

So if a word just doesn’t fit,

Spell it as you must.

Shorten it or make one up,

But write that poem or bust!

 

by John Hansen © 2017

 

John Hansen
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John Hansen

Longtime poet but not in the traditional technical sense. I enjoy rhyme but like to experiment and dabble in many different forms and maybe even make up some of my own. There is always a message or lesson I want to promote through my writing, for that reason, my poetry generally shies away from the abstract and obscure. After a lot of procrastinating I have finally self-published my first eBook of poetry "I Laughed a Smile" at Lulu.com. Now I find myself branching out and experimenting with short fiction. I have also been fortunate to have two poems chosen to be made into songs and recorded. The first "On the Road to Kingdom Come" by Al Wordlaw, and the second, "If I Could Write a Love Poem" by award-winning Israeli/British singer Tally Koren. I am also finding my services increasingly in demand as a freelance writer and I have ghost-written the text for a number of children's books and educational tutorials. It has taken me many years of searching and restlessness to realise that my life's passion is to write. It saddens me that I wasted so many years not devoting to that, but thinking positively, the experiences gained over those years are now wonderful material for my stories and poems. I want to try to bring a new focus on poetry and try to make it appealing to a new generation of young people and those who thought they never liked or understood it before.

15 thoughts on “Poetic Licence

  • July 30, 2017 at 6:24 AM
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    How true about us lot, Poets are a class all of our own. Nicely penned with a sense of humor indeed. Well done bard. All your stanzas put a smile on my face.

  • July 30, 2017 at 7:36 AM
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    Thanks, Vincent. Even us poets need to be able to laugh at ourselves. Thanks for reading and the fine comment.

  • July 30, 2017 at 8:24 AM
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    Love the humor my friend…. really love the humor…lol…. take care John

    • July 30, 2017 at 4:25 PM
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      Thank you, Kurt. Glad this hit the funny bone as you probably need a little humor at the present time. I hope your brother is continuing to improve.

  • July 30, 2017 at 11:16 AM
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    Funny but how true. Apostrophes get placed in words substituting for e to lessen syllable count, etc. Commas and punctuation amiss but if the end result leaves you smiling or in tears, then job well done. Nice one John. Sorry I’ve been on hiatus for a week or so, I’m on vacation and grabbing every moment I can to read and write.

  • July 30, 2017 at 4:27 PM
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    Hey, thanks Paul. Yes, we certainly take some liberties with language. Hope the vacation is going great and I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

  • July 31, 2017 at 2:16 AM
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    Thank Tony. I think we are all guilty of that at times…and why not, there’s no rule against it. But I am sure you are the master 🙂

  • July 31, 2017 at 5:48 AM
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    Under the fun, lurks a longstanding truth where poetry is concerned. There wouldn’t be so much great verse if some rules hadn’t been broken, would there? Loved it, John!

  • July 31, 2017 at 6:05 AM
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    Thank you, Shalini. Good to see you back on site. You are exactly right “There wouldn’t be so much great verse if some rules hadn’t been broken”. Glad you enjoyed this.

  • July 31, 2017 at 12:43 PM
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    Ha…I do like this, and it’s so much fun to read!

    If I could sit in a room all day
    and do nothing, but read poetry,
    How very happy I would be,
    and my delight would be lopetry.

    LOL…

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