zumpoems

Wednesday Poetry Challenge #4

Last challenge provided exercises that removed or added words.

This challenge is about information management by addition.

One should be skilled enough to reduce or increase the number of words in a line, stanza or poem as creative demands (or editorial requirements) dictate.

For this challenge start with a two word sentence such as

See Spot.

Add an additional word but maintain one sentence.

See Spot run.

Double the number of words from 3 to 6; stay with one sentence.

See Spot run down the road.

Double the number of words from 6 to 12 in the one sentence.

See Spot, the incredible wonder dog, run down the long winding road.

Double the number of words from 12 to 24 in one sentence.

On this chilly wintry morning, as flakes of snow tumble teasingly down,
See Spot, the incredible wonder dog, run down the long winding road.

Double the number of words from 24 to 48 in one sentence.

My friend, relax, rest, reduce your thoughts,
sit down in the most comfortable chair we have
so that on this chilly wintry morning,
as flakes of snow tumble teasingly down, 
you turn your gaze outside and See Spot,
the incredible wonder dog,
run down the long winding road.

Double the number of words from 48 to 96 in one sentence.

My friend,
once close in former times not so far ago,
please relax, rest, reduce your thoughts,
make my home your home,
sit down in the most comfortable chair we have,
this one that faces this window,
and gaze outside on this chilly wintry morning,
as flakes of snow tumble teasingly down
and ice forms like shadows on small ponds,
as you forget your busy day
and focus on all that is beyond the warm study
to a colder but truer world outside
and see Spot, the incredible wonder dog,
run down the long winding road.

Increase the number of words from 96 to 107 in one sentence.

My friend,
once close in former times not so far ago,
please relax, rest, reduce your thoughts,
make my home your home,
sit down in the most comfortable chair we have,
this one that faces this window,
and gaze outside on this chilly wintry morning,
as flakes of snow tumble teasingly down
and ice forms like shadows on small ponds,
as you forget your busy day
and focus on all that is beyond the warm study
to a colder but truer world outside and see Spot,
the incredible wonder dog,
run down the long winding road,
gathering speed with each progressive stride,
tongue hanging out in celebration.

This matches the number of words in the Wallace Stevens single sentence poem, The Snowman.  There are many more wonderful things about this Wallace Stevens poem than it consisting of one sentence, but this one single sentence is wonderfully incorporated in the whole approach and experience. (Is there any better poem than this written in the Twentieth Century?)

Next, start with a two word sentence and expand it to a 107 word sentence without taking progressive steps — try to reach the 107 number at one go!

Which approach is easier for you?

Now pick your favorite of these two versions and then modifying the words as you wish, adding and subtracting as you think appropriate, keeping the word count to 107 or more, change it to a one sentence poem.

My friend,
again,
close
as in former times
not so far ago,

when lives where simpler
and looked ahead and not back
please relax,
rest,
reduce your thoughts,

make my home your home,
sit down
deeply
in the most comfortable chair,
the one that faces this window,

and gaze outside on this chilly wintry morning,
as flakes of snow
tumble
teasingly down
and ice forms

like shadows
on small ponds,
as you forget your busy day
and focus on all that is beyond the warm study
to a colder but truer world outside

and see Spot,
the incredible wonder dog,
run down the straight, sometimes unexpectedly slippery, stretching road,
gathering speed with each progressive stride,
tongue hanging out in celebration of the sprint itself.

For additional details, please refer to Challenge #1, Challenge #2 , Challenge #3 and Wednesday Poetry Challenge Introduction.

There is no time limit here, these challenges are open until site is forcibly closed down.

To link to you post

CLICK ON Mr. Linky IMAGE BELOW:

If you wish you can copy the above link and paste at the bottom (or top) of the post or page that contains your response to this challenge.  That gets even more people involved! Just simply copy (as in copy and paste) the Mister Link box above.  It’s that easy.  (Thanks to willowdot21 for giving me the idea — she copied this on her site in her response.)

SUMMARY:

1.  Click on green “Mister Linky” link above.

2. Enter the URL (address of your response to challenge not of your website’s home page) of your post or page that has your response to this challenge.

3. For this challenge, start with a 2 words sentence and lengthen it following the steps above until you have a 107 word sentence, then change that sentence into a poem

4. Anyone that wishes to see anyone’s examples can click on the Mister Linky link above to view any and all of responses.