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Demi - Glace - Craig Cornish's Blog

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Demi - Glace

Blog Posted:9/17/2023 8:23:00 PM

A novel, fiction, non fiction, and all the genres is the sauce - Espagnole and brown stock and a bouquet garni reduced until it becomes a novella and then a short story and finally, after the impurities are skimmed and it's seasoned, it becomes a demi-glace - a poem, yet, it's not that simple. A true poem has more reponsibilities than what it's derived from. Restructured prose is not truly a poem because a book tells us a story, while a poem elicits emotions from which we internalize our own story. It doesn't answer questions, it creates them. It shouldn't be overladen with descriptions like fancy adjectives and adverbs but clever triggers that inspire their own colors. A book ends, but a poem never truly does... .. and adjectives 



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Etgen-Baker Avatar
Sara
Etgen-Baker
Date: 9/25/2023 1:38:00 PM
I remember one of my college writing professors repeatedly tell me, "Moderation, dear heart, moderation." You see, I loved imagery but became obsessed with it to the point it was detracting from my writing and my message. When I became an English teacher, I remember telling my writing students the same thing. I had to be patient just as my professor was with me. Learning to write is a process, a complicated one that requires patience, experimentation, focus, and self awareness. Okay, I've said enough. Sara
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Sharma Avatar
Hiya
Sharma
Date: 9/20/2023 9:16:00 AM
Hello, I'm coming here to thank you for the kind support that you've shown towards me, it truly means a lot. Especially, when I'm very new to this platform and possibly one of the youngest here too.. Thank you for your precious guidance. And I always look for various opportunities of learning and growth, so definitely this is a very helpful blog. Like Ink said, using less adjectives is definitely a challenge for me as well but I will really try to do that and refine my techniques, always good to try different styles. Also, I must say that your contest looks very interesting to me and I might write on it whenever the muse inspires.. It's certainly a very unique idea! Have a wonderful day :)
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Cornish Avatar
Craig Cornish
Date: 9/20/2023 10:21:00 AM
Hiya, you are wise beyond your years and that's evident in your writing and your maturity about life. I started writing in high school also - it's at the very least a great way to express and release inner emotions - from there we can try to make it artful or just simply release? You do both! Life flashes by so quickly, I was your age just yesterday (57 years ago - good god!) and probably older than your grandparents but ... it is, and will always be only a number - the rest is up to us to celebrate or lament - I choose celebrate. There's an old proverb that states that we're not old until our regrets take the place of our dreams --- keep celebrating and keep dreaming ... hugs!
Empress Avatar
Ink
Empress
Date: 9/19/2023 1:17:00 PM
I didn’t read this before but i am now and this is something ive been mentored and reminded to do too, as a learner, i appreciate this, as you are an experienced poet, its always good to learn. Ive been looking at your contest very interesting and i will challenge myself to write with less adjectives and do somethng. Thank you for the advice. Sincere guidance like this is always appreciated but not when some others bully poets like me and hiya. Loved this blog
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Empress Avatar
Ink Empress
Date: 9/20/2023 8:45:00 PM
Dear Craig, you must be a teacher or professor by profession? This explanation is one of the most creative and artistic explanations iv ever read in ages, a lesson ill forever remember, thank you so much. Yes I finished my poem not sure if it is good enough but it is the experience that counts and i think with time we learn. Look forward to read and learn more, appreciate your time.
Cornish Avatar
Craig Cornish
Date: 9/20/2023 5:05:00 AM
It's more how you think it flows and looks and feels like a poem more than it looks and reads like restructured prose which is the most difficult part of a poem like this or any poem in specific form. Don't know if this is a poor analogy, but it's like an addition on a house, it shouldn't look like an addition, it should look like it's always been there (belongs). Like the necklace with a beautiful dress, if all that is noticed is the necklace, it's a failure because it's only part of the whole.
Empress Avatar
Ink Empress
Date: 9/19/2023 10:45:00 PM
Tom Woody i appreciate your support always! And you too is one of them very honest with your feedback. I appreciate that
Empress Avatar
Ink Empress
Date: 9/19/2023 10:44:00 PM
I am left with 6 lines in my poem for your contest was fun doing it , good brain exercise, but i will have to make it more concise and try doing with less adjectives. I wanted to ask you whether 15 syllables per line is considered too long for a line? Wasnt sure. Please let me know. And yes, my father always tells me to keep learning, always be a learner, so yes, i am always learning. This is one reason i enjoy soup, because of blogs like this. Thank you and thats a brilliant explanation!
Cornish Avatar
Craig Cornish
Date: 9/19/2023 7:18:00 PM
There's always that edge - the chaos theory of being close enough to the cliff to not fall off, but close enough to see...beyond? Thank you - we learn from each other! Actually, my current contest is not really a good inspiration and I won't do the same again, because it's difficult enough to be creative without last words being forced upon us--write on! My bad - the next more inspirational, I hope!
Woody Avatar
Tom Woody
Date: 9/19/2023 3:09:00 PM
You're so gracious inky
Fowler Avatar
Linda Alice
Fowler
Date: 9/18/2023 10:20:00 AM
“The road to hell is paved with adverbs.” ~ Stephen King “Adverbs are the tool of the lazy writer.” ~ Mark Twain “When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them--then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are far apart.” ~ Mark Twain
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Parker Avatar
Arlo Parker
Date: 9/18/2023 5:45:00 PM
Season, taste, season as you go AND doesn't the reader eventually "finish" the poem? :-)
Fowler Avatar
Linda Alice Fowler
Date: 9/18/2023 11:38:00 AM
I read these quotes at the top of my "working poetry" file whenever I begin a new endeavor. :)
Cornish Avatar
Craig Cornish
Date: 9/18/2023 10:51:00 AM
Exactly - My second artistic love is culinary and spices are essential, but too much or too many, destroys a dish. With writing we can remove them (embellishments), but they cannot be removed from food - yet always added. Some put their pen down and see perfection - I agree with Charlotte that "a poem is never truly finished"... except for those with some truly significant emotional attachment. Thank you, Linda for your very pertinent comment.
Puddifoot Avatar
Charlotte
Puddifoot
Date: 9/18/2023 7:57:00 AM
i would also add that a poem is never truly finished! i agree there shouldn't be so many adjectives and adverbs that they weigh a poem down; if they're layered too thickly the reader can become overwhelmed and can't catch a breath; less is sometimes more..thought provoking blog, craig
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Cornish Avatar
Craig Cornish
Date: 9/20/2023 10:26:00 AM
Always get lost in your writing Charlotte - hmm, interesting that when you're lost, you find things you didn't know you were looking for?
Fowler Avatar
Linda Alice Fowler
Date: 9/18/2023 11:34:00 AM
I agree Charlotte. Less IS more and a poem is never truly "finished". :)
Woody Avatar
Tom
Woody
Date: 9/18/2023 6:38:00 AM
So many writing styles. Who is to say one is better than another? Some fill their poetry with colors, textures, feelings, emotions. Others write bare bones with few words to express a feeling, or an idea. Still others, like myself, enjoy telling a poetic story with a set theme, a beginning, and an end. Not trying to argue. Just saying there's room for all types of artistic expression. Interesting blog Craigster
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Cornish Avatar
Craig Cornish
Date: 9/18/2023 10:15:00 AM
I'll leave this for now - Robert's blog post takes priority...
Woody Avatar
Tom Woody
Date: 9/18/2023 8:00:00 AM
But I do agree there's a tried and true path toward improvement. Reading the greats. Studying forms. Practice practice practice. Lots of hard work.
Woody Avatar
Tom Woody
Date: 9/18/2023 7:57:00 AM
Poetry is so subjective. In the past I would have argued your same point. And, like anything else in life, there's bad, good, better, best. In every field of endeavor. But over the years I've learned to be more flexible in my poetic views, less rigid. There's room for everyone
Cornish Avatar
Craig Cornish
Date: 9/18/2023 7:37:00 AM
True, there is room for all types of expression but like anything in life, we can strive to learn how to polish our skills. Some can take the same collection of flowers and produce a magnificent arrangement, while others produce something not so special with the same flowers. No one is stopping anyone from being average if they're happy with it, but some want to do "better" and there IS a way. Yet, we are all restricted by either lack of effort or lack of inherent ability or both. Read up on adjectives and adverbs (overuse) and in NO way am I implying bare bones.
Lawless Avatar
John
Lawless
Date: 9/18/2023 4:33:00 AM
..."a book ends, but a poem never truly does...That one line, I believe, sums it all up.
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Da11y Avatar
Di11y
Da11y
Date: 9/18/2023 1:36:00 AM
Interesting and worth pondering Craig, thank you - good blog
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Da11y Avatar
Di11y Da11y
Date: 9/18/2023 12:54:00 PM
Haha it's a great tag line :)
Cornish Avatar
Craig Cornish
Date: 9/18/2023 12:52:00 PM
I do so love to be pondered, but for too long! I might expire!
Richards Avatar
Suzette
Richards
Date: 9/17/2023 11:43:00 PM
I enjoyed this truly inspired write, Craig.
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Cornish Avatar
Craig Cornish
Date: 9/18/2023 12:51:00 PM
Thanks Su
Parker Avatar
Arlo
Parker
Date: 9/17/2023 8:57:00 PM
Demi-glace: a reduction. Poetry: a distillation. Heart and soul emulsified to produce a delicious and substantive essence revealing life in ways unique to every poet and a declaration of viewpoints on any subject that one's mind must, indeed must, announce. Evocative Blog, CC. :o)
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Cornish Avatar
Craig Cornish
Date: 9/18/2023 12:50:00 PM
Right on Arlo - even if it's rot-gut...it's soul!

My Past Blog Posts

 
Who Wrote about a Lamb Where?
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Some Tidbits on Writing
Date Posted: 3/27/2024 11:19:00 AM
Black and White
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Haiku 201
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Simply Complex
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Date Posted: 11/29/2023 8:03:00 AM
Veterans Tribute
Date Posted: 11/10/2023 5:37:00 AM
10 Years ago and One Year Before he Quit Living
Date Posted: 10/28/2023 9:37:00 AM
Sometimes song lyrics are poetry
Date Posted: 10/14/2023 2:14:00 PM
Climates
Date Posted: 10/13/2023 6:19:00 AM
Golden Shovel Admissions
Date Posted: 10/3/2023 11:54:00 AM
Demi - Glace
Date Posted: 9/17/2023 8:23:00 PM
SHOW!
Date Posted: 9/3/2023 7:12:00 PM
A Sonnet for Becca
Date Posted: 8/26/2023 7:41:00 AM
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Date Posted: 8/16/2023 8:09:00 AM
One of a Kind is Now Two
Date Posted: 7/30/2023 7:39:00 PM
The Warden
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An Unanswered Joke
Date Posted: 7/4/2023 7:27:00 AM
Sitka Contest Result Thoughts
Date Posted: 6/20/2023 2:25:00 PM
Sitka Sunset
Date Posted: 6/18/2023 7:38:00 PM
Form?
Date Posted: 6/10/2023 7:53:00 AM
New Contest
Date Posted: 5/16/2023 11:49:00 AM

My Recent Poems

Date PostedPoemTitleFormCategories
4/25/2024 The Quicksand of Thought Sonnetloss,
4/12/2024 Forgotten Field of Forever Free versememory,
4/12/2024 A Wish for Spring Abecedarianseasons,spring,
4/9/2024 eclipsed-dodo Dodoitsulove,
3/31/2024 Ethereal Lantern Free versehome,hope,
3/28/2024 The Basting Spoon Maestro Free versegrandmother,
3/27/2024 Making Music Free versemusic,old,
3/24/2024 Song of the Wind Personificationweather,wind,
3/18/2024 Yin - Yang Free versecreation,
3/16/2024 Let's Tango Free versenature,seasons,
3/10/2024 Woven Worlds Othertruth,
3/2/2024 A Hydrangea's Lament Free verselife,
1/23/2024 Fate Cannot Wait Limerickfunny love,
1/22/2024 A Terrible Start Limerickfunny,
1/16/2024 Unsinkable Sonnetdeath,
1/16/2024 Scentient Sijolove,
1/9/2024 Dorian Gray - A Triple Entendre Quatrainself,
1/8/2024 Shizumanu Taiyo Lyricsong,
1/1/2024 breakfast Senryunew year,
12/31/2023 Naked Apprehension Free versenew year,
12/26/2023 love Haikulove,
12/20/2023 Everywhere Free verseloss,
12/13/2023 winter sky Haikuwinter,
12/12/2023 DIVORCE Acrostichope,
12/8/2023 Wabi-Sabi Free verselife,
12/1/2023 Always Home Free verselife,
11/21/2023 Stars of Clarity Free verselife,
11/4/2023 Daylight Saving Free verseautumn,
11/2/2023 Morning Mood Haikulife,
11/2/2023 The Trail Ends Sign Free verseinspiration,
10/30/2023 Repurposed Evolution Free verselife,
10/24/2023 Cowplops Senryufunny,
10/14/2023 The Unsupervised Stop Sign Free versedeath,life,
10/12/2023 Erinyes Alexandrinehalloween,
10/7/2023 Phantom Dreams Alexandrinedream,
9/11/2023 Edges of a Dream Iambic Pentameterdream,
9/9/2023 Vanilla Shell Free versemorning,
8/30/2023 Golden Shovel Versestorm,
8/26/2023 A Sonnet For Becca Sonnettribute,
8/24/2023 A Fish Lass Lament Rhymehistory,
8/21/2023 Entrenching Reality Sonnetwar,
8/17/2023 Out My Window Free verselife,
8/7/2023 Pavilions of Time Sonnetmemory,
7/29/2023 When Doves Cry Sonneteulogy,
7/7/2023 Pasted Nostalgia A Prose Poetrymemory,
6/27/2023 A Silent Kind of Blue Sonnetmusic,
6/23/2023 The Scoop On the Poop Limerickfunny,
6/8/2023 Beyond the Veil Sonnetmoon,
5/17/2023 Sitka Sunset Free versesunset,
5/8/2023 Anatomy of Melancholy Free versedepression,
5/5/2023 Yonder Free versetruth,
5/2/2023 The Old Man Rhymeeulogy,
4/27/2023 Fixation Free verselife,
4/24/2023 Weave Blank versedream,life,
4/20/2023 Violin Sonnetmusic,
4/5/2023 I Died Sonnetdeath,
3/8/2023 Graduation Day Free versegraduation,
2/10/2023 The Clearing Free verseintrospection,
1/24/2023 The Fiddler and the Frog Blank versehumorous,
1/8/2023 The Leprechaun's Gift Metrical Taleinspirational,
12/24/2022 The Cardinal and the Rose Free verselife,
11/16/2022 Don'T Quit Your Daydream Rhymedream,love,
11/15/2022 The Notch Free versenature,
11/1/2022 Get Ready Villanelleworld,
10/18/2022 All Hallows' Eve Sonnethalloween,
10/10/2022 The Poems I Never Wrote Free versewriting,
10/4/2022 Superiority Free verseintrospection,nature,
10/3/2022 I Apologized To An Acorn Free verseintrospection,nature,
9/21/2022 Seasons Know Free verseseasons,
9/21/2022 September Air Tankafaith,
9/20/2022 Autumn Constanza Rhymededication,
9/6/2022 Drifting Thoughts Sonnetlife,
8/4/2022 Gymnopedies No 1 Lyricsong,
6/12/2022 The Covered Bridge Free verselife,
6/8/2022 The Olde Salt Free versewisdom,
6/5/2022 A Moon In June Quintain (Sicilian)memory,
2/27/2022 Write of Love Free versewar,
1/23/2022 Coccinellidae Rhymefunny,
1/19/2022 Faces of Loneliness Narrativeloneliness,
1/16/2022 Sand Child Free versechildhood,
1/16/2022 Snowbirds Rhymeseasons,
12/11/2021 Xmas Memories Concretechildhood,
11/14/2021 The Siege of Vicksburg Free versewar,
9/17/2021 Faith Free versefaith,loss,
9/9/2021 Autumn Sapphic stanzaautumn,
8/30/2021 Vagabond Dreams Free verselonging,
8/26/2021 Nothing In Particular Free versewriting,
8/22/2021 Dog Day's Orchestration Rhymelife,
8/19/2021 A Widow's Walk Free verselonely,
7/28/2021 The Lady Metrical Talepoetry,
7/5/2021 Blinded Love Sonnetlost love,
5/6/2021 Worm Hunting Free versenature,
3/29/2021 Contemplation Free verselife,nature,
3/25/2021 Breakfast Balls Free versegames,
11/5/2020 Rapid Eye Movement Rhymedream,
11/3/2020 Run Slowly Blank verselife,
10/26/2020 Charybdis Free versestorm,
10/19/2020 Fading Hopes Sonnetlife,
10/8/2020 Trespassing Walls Free verselife,
10/8/2020 Timeout Free verselife,

My Photos


Fav Poems

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Book: Shattered Sighs