Home » Poems » Blogs » About Importance of Sonnets and bending rules too.

Robert Lindley

(Click for Poet Info...)

A few of my quotes over the years:

Listing A Personal View Of What Poetry Is

1. Poetry is a stone, turned to expose to searching winds of a once hidden earth.
Robert J. Lindley

2. Poetry is art, mind painted, heart colored and fire risen.
Robert J. Lindley

3. Poetry is a fruit, hanging on a bountiful tree, begging to fall.
Robert J. Lindley

4. Poetry is an ever expanding ocean, begging ever more creatures to swim in its swirling depths.
Robert J. Lindley

5. Poetry is cake on a golden platter, eaten with fork, spoon, butter knife or greedy hands.
Robert J. Lindley

6. Poetry is cherry blossoms, crying for the soft, cool winds to wave their beauty to the awaiting sun and the gasping skies.
Robert J. Lindley

7. Poetry is glistening dewdrops falling upon virgin ground to gift dawn's hope and night's desire to match brilliance of glistening moonbeams.
Robert J. Lindley

8. Poetry is a poet's heart and soul uniting to bless others, while temporarily shielding searching souls against this dark world's poison tipped arrows.
Robert J. Lindley

9. Poetry is brightly sent musical notes that heart sees, mind colors and spirit longs to record.
Robert J. Lindley

10. Poetry is ink blotted, soul driven splashes that cry to be read, beg to be understood and unabashedly sing to give to its dear readers.
Robert J. Lindley

11.Poetry is a colorful bird, in heavenly flight to a paradise that awaits man's sincere pleading heart and desirous spirit.
Robert J. Lindley

12. Poetry is a child happily playing, a mother joyfully singing and a father blessed to have and so very dearly appreciate loving both.
Robert J. Lindley

Robert J. Lindley, 7-17-2018
Subject, ( What Poetry Is)

**************************

My biography will be very limited for now. Here , I can express myself in poetic form but in real life I much rather prefer to be far less forward I am a 60 year old American citizen , born and raised in the glorious South! A heritage that I am very proud of and thank God for as it is a blessing indeed ~

Currently married to my beautiful young wife(Riza) a lovely filipina lady and we have a fantastic 7 year old son, Justin ~

I have truly lived a very wild life as a younger man but now find myself finally very happily settled down for the duration of my life~

I decided to rest here and express myself with hopes that it may in some way help others, for I see here a very diverse and fine gathering of poets, artists, and caring folks~

Quickly finding friends here that amaze me with such great talent~~

I invite any and all to comment on my writes and send me soup mail to discuss

whatever seems important to them ~

Home
Previous Blogs
Photos

Robert Lindley Poems

About Importance of Sonnets and bending rules too.

Blog Posted by Robert Lindley: 5/29/2018 9:57:00 AM

What Is the Significance of a Sonnet?

Jordan Weagly Updated July 20, 2017

Contemporary Significance

Sonnets remain significant because they offer examples of how strict, formal poetry can also offer some flexibility to authors. For example, switching the rhythm of a sonnet’s typical unstressed/stressed pattern to a stressed/unstressed pattern in one line draws attention to the line and does not violate the more important formal requirements such as stanza length. Contemporary poets have used the traditional rules of line, rhythm and rhyme and the opportunity to bend these rules as a way to add new meaning and unique expression to their poetry.

https://penandthepad.com/

****** My advice is to write your words , your way and bend as you please. Originality in poetry is as important as is its rules, forms , etc, IMHO. *Robert J. Lindley*

("the opportunity to bend these rules as a way to add new meaning and unique expression to their poetry.")

Post Comments

Please Login to post a comment

Constance
La France

Date: 5/31/2018 9:00:00 AM

Great blog Robert, in studying the poets of the past, even they bent a rule now and again... too strict is too boring for me ~

Robert Lindley
Date: 5/31/2018 4:05:00 PM

So true my friend. Poetry was not born with all these poetry forms, they came about by poets writing and breaking the established rules. Now those poets are part of the golden classics and poetry continues to evolve. Yet one must give the respect and reverence to the classic poetry that is the foundation and not think it can be totally cast away. For such thinking is great folly indeed!! Thank you for commenting my friend..

Frederic
Parker

Date: 5/30/2018 12:47:00 PM

I like Craig's analogy and find it's based in reality.Seems to me the discussion has come down to whether or not a sonnet is considered a sonnet if it doesn't follow the rules of a sonnet, thus bending the rules is on one side and not bending is on the other.Again I agree with Craig, if you post your poem as an English sonnet then it should follow the rules of an English sonnet.If you post your poem simply as a poem in sonnet form then most likely the rules are bent or you would have posted it as an English sonnet.Nothing wrong either way.It comes down to clarity...

Robert Lindley
Date: 5/30/2018 1:57:00 PM

Correct identification of form I agree with myself. If a contest stipulates only -sonnet- then one should not have to meet anything other than the basic 14 verses, and bare essentials on that broad classification. If the word "Spenserian" is added then one must meet the stricter form. If one wants more leeway to be more original true to ones own words, then class ones sonnet as -just -, sonnet. Let those wanting to place strict form over originality and poetic freedom do their thing, as they should do any wanting to be more original and true to their own creativity. There is too much bias towards those that do not live or die by strictest form, seems to me.

Craig
Cornish

Date: 5/29/2018 3:23:00 PM

Let me take your analogy to a jet versus prop (in Roy's comment) - no problem in horse vs car etc. unless they are competing with each other. There is merit and beauty in both yet let it be horse vs horse and sopwith vs sopwith. If someone says they wrote an English sonnet it should be ababcdcdefefgg and in iambic pentameter (the sopwith), but if they cannot or chose not to let them chose a contemporary/modern sonnet (the jet)--I enjoy both and have written both and n'er the tween shall meet. Creativity has no bounds. I describe freedom, since there is no true freedom (since we cannot fly) as the freedom to choose that which we will be restricted by. We must respect what we choose.

Robert Lindley
Date: 5/29/2018 5:31:00 PM

Better understanding of the conflicting changes taking place in poetry today. Agreed, not calling a deer a horse, and a horse a deer is to be welcomed. As is limiting the criticism of those that head towards originality over stricter form. I chose my way to write , which makes it no better or no worse than any other poet's methods. In that I admire the true greatness of the classic poetry as well as these newer forms/ variations. Once I found no favor with free verse but have now seen/learned better since that time. Such should not be in competition which each other, but instead appreciated as different creations based upon different standards, IMHO.

Craig
Cornish

Date: 5/29/2018 11:54:00 AM

My martini analogy references that a true martini is dry vermouth and gin or vodka, but now it has become whatever one wants to concoct. The formal sonnet forms like Shakespearean/English, Italian etc. had set rules of rhyme and meter and there are perhaps 30+ more sonnet forms with varying set rules, but, the flexibility comes into play not with the original forms but with contemporary/modern sonnets where line length, mixed or no meter and slant rhyme are gladly allowed. What the heck does "stanza" length have to do with any of it! The way he ends his comment is insane. Anyone who doesn't know the subject would learn nothing from Mr. Weagly.

Craig Cornish
Date: 5/29/2018 3:24:00 PM

Agreed Robert

Robert Lindley
Date: 5/29/2018 12:52:00 PM

I quoted the part that I took to be important and relevant to my own way of writing sonnets. And never give anything but praise for the classic poetry that so wins the hearts and souls of true poets. To me the question is- how much do we sacrifice originality and heartfelt verses to maintain strictest adherence to form. Some may view it as which is the most important.. However , new poetry forms, or deviations IN OLDER FORMS have added as positive to poetry's advancement, IMHO. Exactly how much, is yet to be determined by future generations.

Robert Lindley
Date: 5/29/2018 12:44:00 PM

I see and agree with you on much of what you say. I am one hundred percent against those that think the old standard and more classic forms in sonnets are to be totally ignored. As well as I believe greater props should be given those that truly excel in staying in strict form and still displaying creativity, beauty, aforethought and quality. Tho' with that said, I also see the depth and immense beauty in originality, true poetic creativity/style and maintaining ones words that come straight from the heart- as in not editing them to meet strictest form. Each poet must decide which side to sacrifice a bit on , IMHO.

Craig Cornish
Date: 5/29/2018 12:06:00 PM

Ah, I went to the article itself and your excerpt above, taken out of context, makes no sense, but taken with the whole it does. it is important, however, to put these in context to be truly informative, otherwise those not as aware as you and I will be confused,

Craig
Cornish

Date: 5/29/2018 11:40:00 AM

Hi Robert, This is an entertaining one. First, I totally agree with your comment in the blog heading but not so much in your response to Roy - Whoever the "penandpad" people are, it sounds like Professor Irwin Corey, the king of double talk because no sense can be contextually derived. It is the most ridiculous definition of the contemporary significance of a sonnet than I could ever conceive. Jordan is obviously an intellectual blowhard that has stepped out of his "smart" zone and into something he has no comprehension of. Yes, sonnets have evolved more than any other strict form through the years but only in the same way a martini has.-continued

Roy
Pett

Date: 5/29/2018 10:08:00 AM

Hi Robert, I’m no expert and never will be but it is my understanding that the flow of the poem is more important, so if a line requires an extra or one less syllable so be it, perhaps I’m wrong.

Robert Lindley
Date: 5/29/2018 11:15:00 AM

I agree. Also if a poet decides to write the way their heart sends, then strict adherence to strict form rules be damned. New forms and new variations of old forms were created by accepting this philosophy. We would not now have jet planes if the propeller driven ones were held sacred and to be the end all of end all, IMHO. Yet jets did not destroy flying, they made it all the more beneficial to all of mankind. Thanks for sharing your thoughts my friend.

Robert
Lindley

Date: 5/29/2018 10:08:00 AM

Comments are welcomed be they pro or con in nature. Thanks...

Previous Blogs


I am taking a short vacation Date Posted: 9/25/2023 6:28:00 AM
BLOG- On one of my favorite Wordworth poems Date Posted: 9/20/2023 9:55:00 AM
Linked article on 19th Century Poets Date Posted: 9/18/2023 3:33:00 PM
Blog: Does Classical Mythology Have A Place In Contemporary Poetry? Date Posted: 9/9/2023 12:35:00 PM
New Blog, Why Dark Poetry Fascinated So Many Famous Poets.. Date Posted: 9/7/2023 7:53:00 AM
Words On The Need For And The Benefits Of Dark Poetry. Date Posted: 9/5/2023 6:28:00 AM
The Fifth Poet, in my famous Poets Series, John Keats Date Posted: 8/31/2023 1:19:00 PM
A Blog On Life And Poetry. Date Posted: 8/29/2023 11:35:00 AM
5 Writers Who Blur the Boundary Between Poetry and Essay "Poets are the Hoarders of the Literary World" Date Posted: 8/29/2023 11:20:00 AM
Man, What A Delicious Gob-smacking Dream I Had Last Night Date Posted: 8/28/2023 11:58:00 AM
Blog on , Thomas Hardy Date Posted: 8/17/2023 9:26:00 AM
Blog, What Is Modern Poetry? by Alan Rankin Date Posted: 8/12/2023 3:13:00 PM
Blog On Poetry And Truth, Think Date Posted: 8/5/2023 5:06:00 PM
Blog on next two poets chosen to be honored in my, Second Poets Tribute Series Date Posted: 8/3/2023 7:00:00 AM
Blog On Coleridge, A Brilliant Poet That Every Poet Should Know Date Posted: 7/26/2023 8:06:00 AM
3 poems and a prayer, O' yes from 1973 Date Posted: 7/11/2023 2:18:00 PM
A Blog on the magnificent poet Alfred Noyles Date Posted: 7/10/2023 10:18:00 AM
BLOG ON Shelley Notes on Percy Bysshe Shelley's A Defense of Poetry Date Posted: 6/30/2023 3:19:00 PM
Blog, Recently Written Words, Hoping To Revive My Poetic Spirit Date Posted: 7/4/2022 4:38:00 AM
Blog, A Hebdomad Of Poetic Thought, Musings And Deep Internal Pain Date Posted: 5/15/2022 9:20:00 AM
Blog, ( Ancient Times, Some Fragments And Poetic Memories ) Date Posted: 4/21/2022 7:24:00 AM
Blog,A Menagerie Of Verse, Rhyme, And Meandering Thoughts Date Posted: 4/10/2022 8:20:00 AM
Blog- To write, to not lose my sole remaining small joy amidst this darkest sea, this horrendous cavern of epic pain, mournful loss and deepest of darkest sorrows … RJL Date Posted: 3/7/2022 7:04:00 AM
Death comes to my beloved wife. Date Posted: 2/27/2022 9:49:00 PM
Why I am away from this poetry site, Loss of my beloved Brother... God bless one and all Date Posted: 2/19/2022 4:27:00 AM