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Suzette Richards
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Mission statement: I don’t use AI to generate or even tweak my poetry, because I am a better poet than it.

 

Poetry has been my passion since my retirement from an accountancy based career a dozen years ago. I currently live in South Africa and this rainbow nation has inspired many of my poems. I also have British nationality and embrace their grammar and spelling, but I read widely and am not fazed by strict grammar rules: A pavement/sidewalk; glasses/eyeglasses; judgement/judgment, et cetera; they are one and the same to me when I read poetry. To date, I have self-published a number of books, including the poetry anthology by international poets, © Time, 2014 ISBN 978-0-620-60578-6, and have been cited in many international publications, both poetry journals, as well as in scholarly handbooks. Some of my short stories have been published in international electronic publications, and one of my novellas had been short-listed for an Afrikaans SA publication.

I serve on the Board of Advisers, of Taleemi Baithak.

I have a number (14 to date) poetic forms to my credit, notably, Suzette Prime, 2012 (listed here on PoetrySoup under Types of Poems), as well as The Tesla 3-6-9, 2017, and Suzcrostic, 2021 (listed under New Poetic Forms here on PoetrySoup), Suzette sonnet (Suznet), 2023 - introduced via an article here at PoetrySoup, as well as the brand new Suzette Swan Arc, 3  April 2025. These all resist AI imitation.

My most recent books which include examples of my poetry as well as notes regarding poetry - available directly from me:

  1. © The Eutony of Words, 2018 ISBN 978-0-6399382-0-2
  2. © Docendo discimus, 2021 (Revised 2023) ISBN 978-0-620-95432-7
  3. © Flight of Thoughts, 2023 ISBN 978-0-6397-8880-7
  4. © Downtown - Poetic Devices, 2023 ISBN 978-0-7961-1968-1
  5.  © Rocking Poetry, 2033 ISBN 978-0-7961-2824-9
  6. NEW: moonwake - Suzette Prime poetry, ISBN 978-1-0370-1836-7(PDF). It is a collection of 61 Suzette Prime poetry spanning from 2012 (when I designed the poetic form), up till now.

Poetry seen through the colour wheel

Blog Posted by Suzette Richards: 5/19/2024 2:43:00 AM

PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz (Artist unknown)


As with fashion where certain colours dominate a season, so certain topics seem to dominate for a period of time in poetry.  Have you ever wondered what the balance of the chief and juxtaposing elements of your poem should be? If we consult the rules governing the colour schemes used in, for example, interior design, we might draw a comparison.

The 60-30-10 rule in interior design: This timeless decorating principle helps you achieve a balanced and harmonious colour scheme in your living space. 

  1. 60% Main Colour: The main colour should represent 60% of the colours in a room. This colour serves as the backdrop and anchors the space.
  2. 30% Secondary Colour: The secondary colour should make up 30% of the room’s colours. It supports the main colour but is distinct enough to create contrast and interest.
  3. 10% Accent Colour: The accent colour adds pizzazz to your space. You can pull this colour from artwork or printed fabrics. 

Similarly, a poem is often designed around a main theme with the vocabulary sympathetic/complimentary to the topic. To lend interest to the poem, poetic devices are used to support the set mood. The punch line (the reason why the poem exists) might be a surprising twist or a revealing accent to the poem. Like with interior design, a poem needs a place for the eye to rest; best achieved just prior to the punch line.

Don’t forget to visit my current premiere contest, Curtains, for details. It might be a colourful, humorous sketch or something more sombre and thought-provoking.

Happy quills!

Suzette

 



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Date: 5/22/2024 1:16:00 PM
Suzette, great blog and I love that image, the colors are divine ! Hugs
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Suzette Richards
Date: 5/23/2024 3:23:00 AM
The colour looks good enough to eat :)
Date: 5/19/2024 9:53:00 AM
Interesting relating poetry to interior design. Both are art and I enjoyed what you mentioned about the twist. I love a poem with a good twist
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Suzette Richards
Date: 5/19/2024 10:05:00 AM
Same here :)
Date: 5/19/2024 7:16:00 AM
Thank you for sharing!!
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Suzette Richards
Date: 5/19/2024 10:06:00 AM
You are welcome:)

Previous Blogs

 
Go Fish - A Book Prize
Date Posted: 7/30/2025 1:37:00 AM
Mathematics, Poetry, and Trust Issues
Date Posted: 7/26/2025 2:10:00 AM
A Fascinating Cultural Tension
Date Posted: 7/20/2025 1:20:00 AM
Blasphemy
Date Posted: 7/14/2025 8:12:00 PM
A Gentle Nudge is not a Critique
Date Posted: 7/13/2025 3:17:00 AM
Tonal Slippage – The Ins and Outs
Date Posted: 6/30/2025 4:45:00 AM
THE AI-BRAIN SYNDROME SYMPTOMS
Date Posted: 6/26/2025 3:09:00 AM
JUDGING GUIDE FOR SPONSORS
Date Posted: 6/20/2025 1:10:00 AM
Suzette Swan Arc - Contest Finale
Date Posted: 6/14/2025 12:12:00 AM
Suzette Swan Arc and AI with Examples
Date Posted: 5/25/2025 6:00:00 AM
Lost in Translation
Date Posted: 5/21/2025 3:17:00 AM
Elements of Nature - Suzette Swan Arc Poetry
Date Posted: 5/14/2025 11:20:00 PM
Klein’s Vase Verse - A New Poetic Form Freer than Free Verse
Date Posted: 5/7/2025 12:54:00 PM
Free Verse – How Free is It?
Date Posted: 4/26/2025 11:37:00 PM
Gender Influences on Contests
Date Posted: 4/20/2025 2:54:00 AM
Memento on the Moon
Date Posted: 4/9/2025 12:26:00 AM
Tariffs on Penguins Limerick
Date Posted: 4/4/2025 7:02:00 AM
Light or Shadows
Date Posted: 3/25/2025 1:55:00 PM
Blood Moon Eclipse - Light or Shadows
Date Posted: 3/11/2025 12:46:00 AM
A Timely Intervention
Date Posted: 3/2/2025 12:42:00 PM
On a more serious note
Date Posted: 2/23/2025 5:40:00 AM
Weekend Wacky Limericks
Date Posted: 2/22/2025 3:34:00 AM
Saints and poets maybe – The Bride Trilogy challenge
Date Posted: 2/14/2025 12:37:00 AM
Saints and poets maybe
Date Posted: 2/9/2025 4:24:00 AM
According to the poem’s meter is stressed
Date Posted: 1/25/2025 9:53:00 PM

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Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry