  Poetry
This week: Make It New Edited by: redridinghoo
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"What makes a good poem? Brevity, terseness, spareness, viewing something new for the very first time, creating an image like no one has ever been blown away by before in their entire life."
Lee Bennett Hopkins
"Every poem can be considered in two ways--as what the poet has to say, and as a thing which he makes..."
C. S. Lewis
" Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood. "
T. S. Eliot
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Make it new
The new year is a time of reflection and renewal. Why not bring that to your poetry? It’s as good a time as any to bring out your old poetry and breathe new life into it. Today we’ll look at a few ways to do that.
Look at it with fresh eyes—Tweak it.
You probably do this with your more recent work as you progress through your drafts of the piece. However, consider doing this with your older work, also. As you refine your craft you become a more mature poet. Now, this doesn’t mean you toss your old piece and totally revamp it. That would be like looking at things you drew as a child and taking that stick figure piece and turning it into a full portrait. If you think you’ll make more than small changes then consider taking it in a new direction instead.
Take it in a new direction.
There are several ways you can take a piece in a new direction. I wouldn’t get rid of the original. Instead, create a companion piece to the original.
1) Take an older piece you wrote long ago and develop it to a more mature level. Meaning, use what you’ve learned since you wrote it and take it up a notch or three. I would save both pieces. Don’t get rid of the old for the newer piece.
2) Change the POV of the piece. Look at opposites (ex: parent to child), side steps (ex: sister to brother), and total off take (ex: person to inanimate object).
3) Change the location. If it’s in the city, take it to a pasture, or the ocean or even another country. If it’s day move it to the night. If it’s summer, try it with a fall feel.
4) Change the theme. If it’s about grief, try apathy, or even try all five stages of grief in five separate companion pieces.
Can you apply a ‘what if’ scenario to it?
This is limitless—just like story telling. What if a bear walked by? What if a garbage can caught fire? What if a bee buzzed up the narrator’s nose? What… Like I said, limitless.
After you read the piece can you brainstorm any ideas off of it?
Read the poem and see if you can spark any ideas. Use the ideas above or come up with your own.
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Theme: Reflection and renewal.
| |  | It's A New Morn [E] #1097747 Light after dark, calm after turmoil, hope after despair. It is Spring a time for renewal. |
| | | The Craftmans Hands [E] #541332 Tools in life are all but tools without the knowledge or heart to empower them short poem |
| | The Sun Sets [13+] #700312 A poem about someone reflecting on a dying world as he watches the sun set. |
| | | Reflections [13+] #674878 Little pieces of reflections that run through your body. |
| | | Autumn [E] #543324 My reflections on one of my favorite seasons. |
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https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Have a question, answer, problem, solution, tip, trick, cheer, jeer, or extra million lying around?
If so, send it through the feedback section at the bottom of this newsletter OR click the little envelope next to my name redridinghoo and send it through email.
Comments on last month's newsletter:
From: oldmonty
Comment: A great N/L when it's poetry from a fine poet.
Thanks, Monty!
From: pandapaws214
Comment: I wrote a poem using Phoebe's Form... "Invalid Entry"
It's lovely! Thank you for trying out Phoebe's Form.
From: radicalrhoda
Comment: Thank you very much for highlighting a couple of my poems in this newsletter. I am honored. Bunnie
You're quite welcome. I enjoy featuring good poetry.
From: 1starsong
Comment: Oh wow! Red, this is amazing and meaningful gift. You rock. *Heart* I enjoyed your poem too.
Thank you so much for saying so! I had an amazing little girl for inspiration 
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Poetry: January 20, 2016 Issue [#7429]
