Poetry Forum

Everyone answer this question, if it has not been asked before.

How long does it take you to finish a poem, on average?

I think it has been, but hey.

Usually 30 minutes, never longer than an hour.

Next?

Usually about an hour or so, but I'm certainly starting to recognise the benefits of returning to a poem.

Perhaps that hour is the creative juice, how long can anyone keep that up?The rest of the time is serious contemplation, spotting the flaws, weeding out the chaff.

Of course thats whats great about a forum like this, valued feedback.

I guess its down to how much you value the poem you've written in the first place.

I am new at this site.
It takes usualy an hour or less to write a first draft.
But I usually revise and revise, so I'd say a month or longer.
My time frame is such because I only write occasionally.
As the saying goes (at least for me), my poems are very rarely ever finished.
Bob

Welcome Bob. I look forward to seeing some of the fruit of your monthly labors, if you are willing to put them in the forum.

You wouldn't happen to be the "Bob" Keith is so inspired by would you?

pseudonymous, thanks for the post. As I am NOT a touch typist, my replies wil normally be short. Here are some haiku you might want to look at. Comments appreciated.
THREE HAIKU


I

The sliver of moon
Hints totality concealed:
A smile’s potential.

II

Dawn breaks amid thoughts
Gathering like geese for flight.
Primeval mind wakes.

III

Hidden in shadows,
Deep winter snows slowly fade:
Wild flowers rebirth.



Copyright Robert Otis Pritchard, Jr.
Cheboygan Michigan
April 22, 2005

Two things, regretably neither of which have to do with your haikus:

1. "Copyright Robert Otis Pritchard, Jr. Cheboygan Michigan April 22, 2005" is probably going to get a bunch of nay-sayers. Fight the battle if you'd like, but I think people will be offended you think they want to take your stuff.

2. You are welcome to post these in post-a-poem.

Depends how well the ink flows for me lol i tend to write down what ever i feel or think then re-run it later maybe about 20 mins to half hour...Tom..

"Robert Otis Pritchard, Jr."

Shoot, Pritchard...was hoping for Dylan.

Personally I like the first draft, most things after that disguise the essence.

sometimes, years
sometimes, I can't type fast enough

usually a few hours, with plenty of breaks.

- will

It varies a lot for me.

I do think that the essence of a thought is captured in the initial burst, but then sometimes revision helps to bring that into focus rather than taking away its energy. Last week I wrote one in fifteen minutes that I would never change a word of, but it was a rare example.

I think form can dictate a lot. A regular rhymed metre is easy to write quickly because you have a definite pulse and stress etc. The freer forms always seem to take much more thought and constant re-drafting.

A good friend told me last week (and he wasn't talking about poetry he was mixing a demo cd for his band) that it is always good to walk away and come back with 'fresh ears'. I have taken that advice to heart in both poetry and song writing.

A good friend told me last week (and he wasn't talking about poetry he was mixing a demo cd for his band) that it is always good to walk away and come back with 'fresh ears'.

good advice.