Welcome to
RhyPiBoMo 2015 Day 2
Nikki Grimes
*
As we approach Maya Angelou’s birthday on Saturday I am reminded of how poetry can make an impact with words in a way no other medium can. Today’s guest blogger is an honored and award winning poet and author who has impacted many children and adults with her words.
This challenge is called Rhyming Picture Book Month but poetry is certainly included in this celebration because it is poetry that makes the words sing in chorus. The poetic techniques used in prose make the words leap off the page and into the reader’s heart.
And, that has nothing to do with rhyme!
I am thrilled and honored to introduce Nikki Grimes.
*
*
A RAP ON RHYME
by Nikki Grimes
*
*
Word is an elastic thing.
Pull it, stretch it, make it spring.
Call it music, it will sing.
Call it dance, watch it swing.
Call it brick, then build a wall.
Call it snow, see it fall.
Word is magic. Word is all.
*
When I teach a poetry workshop, the one law I lay down for the duration of the workshop is this: Do not use rhyme. Now, that might sound strange coming from me, a poet who is known for using a variety of rhyme schemes, and internal rhyme, in my own poetry. However, I use rhyme realizing that rhyme and poetry are not synonymous. Rhyme is an element of poetry, but it is not the thing itself. And even when I do employ rhyme, it is really the only poetic element used. The opening poem is an example of that. In it, you will notice metaphor, assonance, repetition, and meter as well as rhyme. In another poem, I might switch up the rhythms and choose consonance, alliteration, and simile. The one thing I won’t do is structure a poem solely on the basis of rhyme, internal or external. Yet, I find most writers, unfamiliar with the genre, approach poetry as if rhyme were its primary default. It is not. Nor should children’s poetry be so narrowly defined. Poetry for young readers should be as rich as you can make it, and rhyme alone won’t get you there.
*
To write a poem is to paint with words, to create a moment or a story using imagery. I’d rather a writer explore the use of metaphor and simile to create imagery. In so doing, the pen becomes a paintbrush, words become colors, and the page becomes a canvas. That’s the kind of writing I mean when I speak of poetry.
*
Don’t get me wrong: rhyme is a wonderful tool, when used wisely. But the rhyme should feel organic, not forced, as is too often the case. The words “forth” and “north” may rhyme with one another, but unless both words are germane to the topic, the rhyme is forced. Nor should rhyme get in the way of telling the story. Story is key! No amount of clever wordplay (if indeed it is clever) can make up for a lack of coherent storytelling.
*
As a writer stretches by employing a variety of poetic techniques, the poet becomes more sensitive about when and how to use rhyme, and focuses, instead, on wise word choice based on meaning, emotional impact, and, where appropriate, musicality. If, for example, your subject is a somber one, you don’t necessarily want to create a rhyme scheme that is sing-songy. And if you do, that choice needs to be clearly intentional. Of course, developing that kind of objectivity requires the perspective of distance. Pulling back from using rhyme as a default gives the poet an opportunity to develop that kind of objectivity.
*
In Poems in the Attic, my newest book of poetry, I mix free verse and tanka. I especially love haiku and tanka poems because, while both require a fairly tight rhythmic structure, they also challenge the poet to paint a picture or tell a story using the briefest amount of words. Such poems are, of necessity, short on rhyme, but long on metaphor. A few strokes of the pen is all you have room for. Creating this type of verse pushes the poet to dig deep, and both reader and poet benefit from the effort. The work thus created is often more powerful, beautiful, lyrical and meaningful than poems which rely on rhyme, alone, most especially if the writer is new to the genre. Like most things, rhyme done well appears to be easy. In reality, it is anything but.
Is what I’m suggesting more difficult than “simple” rhyme? Absolutely. But isn’t your reader worth your best effort? And trust me, that extra effort will show, and editors will take note. In an industry as competitive as ours, such things matter. If you want your poetry text to make it out into the world, you’ll have to get it past an editor first! And if that text employs rhyme, it had better be extraordinarily well done. And if it isn’t, what’s the point?
*
About Nikki Grimes
New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes is the recipient of the 2006 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. Her distinguished works include ALA Notable book What is Goodbye?, Coretta Scott King Award winner Bronx Masquerade, and Coretta Scott King Author Honor books Jazmin’s Notebook, Talkin’ About Bessie, Dark Sons, The Road to Paris, and Words with Wings. Creator of the popular Meet Danitra Brown, Ms. Grimes lives in Corona, California.
*
*
Look at all these fabulous books by Nikki! WOW! And these are just the ones available now…
Find out more at: http://www.nikkigrimes.com/
*
*
*
Thank you so much Nikki!
*
RhyPiBoMo 2015 Optional Writing Prompt: 4
*
This is NOT part of the pledge. It is an option for a writing exercise for those interested. You will not publically share this as part of RhyPiBoMo but may keep a journal of your writing this month for your own review.
*
Today your challenge is to write a TANKA, which means “short song,” and has been used in the Japanese culture for nearly a thousand years. It is sort of a longer version of a Haiku that gives you a bit more room to tell a story.
*
In a tanka, there is something special about the third line. This line is called the pivot, which means a turning point. The pivot divides the tanka into two different sections, which are joined in the middle in order to tell the whole story. The first section uses the pivot as the ending line. The last section uses the pivot as the beginning line. Each half is an individual story but when added together by the pivot, both tell one complete story.
*
The theme of your tanka is: Bird Cage
*
Line 1 – 5 syllables
Line 2 – 7 syllables
Line 3 – 5 syllables (pivot)
Line 4 – 7 syllables
Line 5 – 7 syllables
*
*
For example:
*
She pecked and peeked out
Wondering what was out there
The door flew open
She paused, then flew in joyful
Fear, pecked and peaked in freedom.
© 2015 Angie Karcher
RhyPiBoMo 2015 Maya Angelou’s Birthday Celebration Webinar
This will be a fun celebration of Maya’s life! The evening is hosted by Jackie Wellington and Angie Karcher. We will read Maya’s poetry plus some of our own poetry written to honor her. We will discuss diversity in children’s books and how through poetry, children may gain a new view of the world around them. Jackie has organized a poetry contest only for those who attend the webinar. The winner will receive a copy of the picture book MAYA ANGELOU, donated by Jackie. Details will be given during the webinar.
Don your fanciest hat and put on those pearls and join us for an evening of celebrating this extraordinary person. See you at the party!
Please register in advance as there are limited number of spots available. Once you register you will be emailed a direct link to the webinar as well as a reminder.
Link to register for the webinar:
https://www.anymeeting.com/AccountManager/RegEv.aspx?PIID=EB57DB87854731
*
*
*
More information coming soon concerning
Rhyming Critique Groups,
the Barnes and Noble BookFair and
the Official Golden Quill Poetry Contest!
Stay tuned!
*
Official RhyPiBoMo 2015 Registration ends on April 8th, Midnight Central Time
so register now!
*
If you are not officially registered you will not be able to participate in the Golden Quill Poetry Contest, in Rhyming Critique Groups or will not be eligible for daily prizes.
*
To see if you are registered go to the Master Registration List on the drop down menu under the RhyPiBoMo Blog tab above.
*
Registration Link:
https://angiekarcher.wordpress.com/rhypibomo-2015-registration/
*
*
Angie Karcher 
Great advice. Thank you, Nikki! Now I want your new book. Will have to order it.
Thank you, Nikki. Looks like today I’ll put my brushes away and paint with words. What a treat.
Kristi Veitenheimer – Thank you for a very enjoyable post. Good advice for those of us just venturing out into poetry.
Rebecca Trembula — I needed that reminder to make sure I was focusing on more than just rhyme, thanks!
Sara Green A challenging and informing reminder of the fundamentals of poetry. Thank you!
Elaine Hillson – Thank you Nikki for a very enjoyable post filled with good advice. I love your image of painting with words because that’s what I feel I am trying to accomplish. It’s not easy to transfer the image in your mind into words on the page, but when you succeed it really is a wonderful feeling.
Alistair Lane – Thanks for this. Great post! I regularly write haiku for myself, to practice that discipline of word economy and metaphor. May have to try tanka too now
Lisa Willard ~ Nikki, I love your word poem. Thank you for your post on so many aspects of poetic technique.
Linda Schueler: Lovely words, Nikki. Thank you.
“To write a poem is to paint with words”
With each word a splash of color is added to the canvas we call story.
Thank you, Nikki, for this post.
Great advice! Thanks!
Thanks for the words of wisdom from someone who paints with words so well.
What a great point! So often we want to jump straight in with rhyme first before learning poetic techniques or thinking about why we want to use rhyme. Thanks for a great post, Nikki!
Thank you Nikki fro such n insightful post. This particular statement commanded my attention “As a writer stretches by employing a variety of poetic techniques, the poet becomes more sensitive about when and how to use rhyme, and focuses, instead, on wise word choice based on meaning, emotional impact, and, where appropriate, musicality”
Clark Haaland
and of course I embarrass myself without spell checking….that’s what happens when you post before you have coffee – apologies to all
Pat Haapaniemi – Very informative post, Nikki – thanks!
I never knew about the pivot line in Tankas. Makes me want to write!
Kimberly Cowger
Thanks for the post. Very good advise.
Katie Gast
Natasha Garnett
Thanks Nikki. Thanks Angie.
I had to open the cage too.
Kathy Mazurowski
A painting with words, a perfect image.
Beautiful advice — and I adore your comparison of the pen as paintbrush as we strive to first write poetry that then flows into appropriate rhyme. Thank you Nikki.
I still have last year’s daily posts on my computer and I scroll through them periodically. I can already tell I will be doing the same with this year’s posts. Thank you for excellent information and a nudge to try tanka. It’s been on my “shoulds and oughts” list for a while!
Melanie Ellsworth – Nikki, I am really looking forward to reading Poems in the Attic when it comes out. I’ve been trying to compose haiku in my head as I walk my dog, and it’s surprising how difficult it is to paint a rich image with so few words. On a recent walk, I tried to pick up a nail in the road so it wouldn’t pop someone’s tire, only to discover it was partially embedded in the pavement. Somehow the visual surprised me, so that set me off trying to write a haiku to describe it – fun but hard!
Such important reminders of all the many devices that make poetry – above, beyond, and even without the rhymes. I wonder, 200 years from now, will people celebrate the 140 character “poetic form” known as a tweet? LOL
Katey Howes
Patricia Toht. So many quotable lines in your post, Nikki. I especially appreciate this one: “Poetry for young readers should be as rich as you can make it, and rhyme alone won’t get you there.” Thank you for your advice. Now time to try a tanka!
Thank you Nikki. Wonderful post and great advice.
Melinda Kinsman – Thank you, Nikki – A great reminder of all the other elements we need to be thinking about, many of which I’m still learning to tune up.
As we mention the word “poetry”, I’m very curious to know how Nikki, or you, Angie, might simply define the term to Kindergarteners? I’ve been asked by a teacher to do a video for her class this month, talking about poetry (as they are about to start learning about it) and reading from a book of very simple poems I wrote and self-published for kids about Monsters (just basically mere fun rhymes).
The more I think about the word, the more I realise that I don’t really know a simple definition for it. In fact I’m not even sure I know a grown-up’s definition for it, either, and checking dictionaries hasn’t given me anything that I feel satisfies me. Any thoughts appreciated. ❤️
“… rhyme and poetry are not synonymous. Rhyme is an element of poetry, but it is not the thing itself.” Awesome! Well said!
Great advise! its very easy to focus completely on the rhyme and forget about the other poetic techniques that are just as important!
Rachel Hamby
A wonderful post, informative and inspiring! I’m looking forward to playing around with a Tanka, too.
Thank you Nikki for a beautiful post. Studying poetry rather than applying rhyme alone makes so much sense. I want to go back and revise right away!
Thank you, Nikki! Your artistic self comes out beautifully even in non-poetic forms like this post. Sandy Perlic
Rita Allmon– Nikki, thanks for sharing your knowledge and talent with us. I love A RAP ON RHYME!
It’s a great painting of words about words. It inspires me to mix up some new colors on my palette for some colorful doodles I can stretch across my canvas… creating pictures in the minds of readers.
I love this post so much. “Isn’t your reader worth your best effort” is exactly what I needed to hear to help me keep going. To keep pushing through any obstacle that arises. Thank you, Nikki!
Poetry seems so intimidating to write, but your advice makes it seem possible. Thank you. Sandy Powell
Charlotte Dixon
Thank you, Nikki, for the enlightening and inspirational post.
Thanks for your words of wisdom about the wonderful wooing of poetry. Well done, good and faithful poet.
Thank you for helping me, CARRIE CHARLEY BROWN, think deeply about labeling the “rhyme” term to encompass all poetic techniques! It is true- we tend to categorize everything under one label, when each, in it’s own right, is so powerful. Most of my writing is not in rhyme, but I can say that I strive to integrate poetic techniques into all of my stories. Thank you, also, for the prompt, which is teaching me new ways to explore writing.
Appreciations from Jan Godown Annino the fabulous Nikki Grimes & Angie K.
There is a buffet of nourishment for poem writers here & I am pulled to
” But isn’t your reader worth your best effort?” – an absolute that I am pleased we are
reminded of by Nikki.
My picture book I read today is the delightful, THE BED BOOK by poet Sylvia Plath, with pictures by Emily Arnold McCully
My poem I read today makes me want to shuck my shoes at the shore, “Sand” by today’s incomparable workshop leader, Nikki Grimes, from her 2013 novella in verse,
WORDS WITH WINGS.
Happy Wednesday, ever’one.
Thank you for the terrific post!
Rosemary Basham
Great advice, thank you!
Terry Pierce–I love the writing prompt! Thank you, Nikki for your wise words of advice and distinguishing that rhyme is just a part of poetry but not the thing itself.
Great advice. Thanks for the advice lots to think about.
great advice. I agree w ith everything.
And tanka is one of my favorite Japanese forms for poetry. I also like haibun.
Off to write a TANKA!
Annie Bailey – Excellent advice! Thank you for your post Nikki!
Wonderful advice, Nikki. Thank you.
I love your references to painting and imagery, as well as musicality. All so important and wonderful advice to incorporate. Thanks, Nikki.
Wôw. I really love your Word Poem, Nikki. Thanks for the words of wisdom.
Wow! That was an awesome post. Learned so much. Thank you Nikki! Pia Garneau
Love your work, Nikki, and your rap on rhyme! I recently read both Words with Wings & Chasing Freedom & loved them. Thanks for the helpful post!!