L Milton Hankins Poet Pantoum

The Challenge of Poetry Forms

I love the challenge of poetry forms
Giving my brain an excellent verbal workout,
Experimenting with writing beyond the norms
Lest I become stale or suffer burnout.

Giving my brain an excellent verbal workout
A critical, indispensable exercise
Lest I become stale or suffer burnout,
Results are challenging to my surprise.

A critical, indispensable exercise
This playing around with rhyming words
Results are challenging and to my surprise,
Some of my poetry is for the birds!

This playing around with rhyming words
A lifetime of pleasure it has brought
Some of my poetry is for the birds,
But, to abandon it, I surely cannot.

A lifetime of pleasure it has brought
Experimenting with writing beyond the norms
But to abandon it, I surely cannot
I love the challenge of poetry forms.

Written September 7, 2022

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Kim Rodrigues September 8, 2022 at 6:55 AM “Some of my poetry is for the birds” - apt, for the exercise of using a variety of words and experimenting with different forms is worth it and one can improve over time. Of course one must study meter and forms, syllables, rhyming etc.. Just like an artist can draw/paint in classic but also unique ways, we must hone our craft. PS is a great site for learning! L Milton Hankins September 8, 2022 at 8:28 AM I certainly agree with that, Kim. That's one of the reasons I have become an avid supporter of the site. It helps me hone my poetry writing skills.

Caren Krutsinger September 8, 2022 at 2:50 AM "Some of my poetry is for the birds, But, to abandon it, I surely cannot." - you and I both, Hank. You and I both! L Milton Hankins September 8, 2022 at 8:29 AM Thank you, Caren. I always enjoy reading your poems, else I wouldn't! (chuckling)

Michael Tor September 7, 2022 at 6:51 PM Milton I like certain forms for what they allow you to express. For instance Personification. I guess we all have favorite forms and forms that are not as appealing as much. I am more into the message conveying than the form. Am I missing something Milton? L Milton Hankins September 7, 2022 at 7:02 PM I don't think so, at all, Michael. I am intrigued by poetry forms mostly, I believe, because I have always loved word play and word puzzles, so I find many poetic forms are structural constructs, so, they are very appealing to me.

Jenna Logan September 7, 2022 at 5:06 PM I've found it's true that people shy away from having to write in a particular form for contests. Sometimes they are a challenge, but I think worth the effort. Good points made, Milt. L Milton Hankins September 7, 2022 at 6:09 PM Thank you, Jenna. I appreciate your insight and your kind comment.

Jeff Kyser September 7, 2022 at 3:24 PM There have been some very specific ones lately, wow. And a few I just had to pass on. But I agree, it is nice to have the challenges to encourage me to write when I otherwise might not. L Milton Hankins September 7, 2022 at 4:09 PM So true. I particularly enjoy word play, so the complexity of some of the forms is especially appealing for me. Some of the newest I've encountered are just plain hard to master! Thanks, Jeff.