Practically everyone in life had such moment when suddenly embraced feeling cannot be put into words. And so there is a wish not only to keep the memory of this moment, but also to share the experiences with the family and friends. And most often the only thing that can help is a poetry. The poetry allows to transfer the slightest shades of feelings. In poetry those thin and imperceptible images which are so difficult for concluding in a framework of ordinary words reveal. I want to learn to write verses!, - it is quite often possible to hear it from the people who are able to see fine, and eager to share what was seen. But how to learn to write verses? And whether it is possible to learn to write verses, without being presented since the childhood, without finding in itself talent, and having only felt desire to express sincere experiences in poetry? And if it and is possible, then how to begin to write verses if knowledge about this art are limited only to the school program and the collection of poetry read at a leisure? Perhaps, the following recommendations will also not open a poetry gate, but will specify a way to them.
How it is correct to begin to write verses?
There is such delusion that to write the main thing with all the heart, and observance of rules and canons is not for poetry. And without having understood inaccuracy of this statement, it is impossible to seize poetic skill. For this purpose it is useful to study how poets write verses. For example, even in the school program it is mentioned how Pushkin wrote verses. Each rhyme, each syllable were picked carefully up and counted. Or famous Charles Baudelaire whose shocking and rebelliousness infuriated the strongest figures of the state in poetry was strict and disciplined, each his word was perfected, and each stanza scarred soul the reader. To understand, how important to own skill of a word, it is necessary to read various translations of the favourite works. You should not read, for comparison, it is necessary just to observe what emotions and images arise when reading the same poem in different variants of translation. As an example we will consider two variants of translation of the stanza of the famous poem of Edgar Poe, Crows:
- Ah! To me it is remembered so clearly: there was a December and day rainy,
Was as the ghost – a reflected light red from my fireplace.
I waited for a dawn in impatience, in books vainly of a consolation
I looked for that night tortures, - vigils night, without that whom
Called Linor here. That name … angels whisper it,
– it is not on the earth
- In December – I remember – was
it is full-whose sad.
In the center under ashes coals
inflamed sometimes.
Heaps of books did not satisfy
not for a moment my grief –
About the lost Lenore,
that, whose name forever –
In an assembly of angels – Lenora,
that, whose name forever
In this world it was erased –
without trace
How to learn to write verses correctly?
To write with all the heart, this, of course, integral condition but, unfortunately, not the only thing. There are certain laws and rules. And exceptions in these rules are admissible only on condition of skill of the author. Even the illegible reader will feel a difference between the mistake made accidentally and intended change of the standard rules. And how to begin it is correct to write verses, without having studied laws of creation of a rhyme and subtleties of literary receptions? It is simply impossible.
Once again we will remember how Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin wrote verses. Its syllable, fully conformed to strict literary requirements, and at the same time, masterly owning a word, even breaking traditional representations, it followed fundamental rules. Rules which are result of centuries-old studying influence of words on subconsciousness of the person. And therefore before the real, sincere creativity begins, it is necessary to master the equipment.
There is a simple reception by means of which it is possible to set the gained knowledge in practice. For this purpose it is necessary to choose a simple subject, but by all means causing bright emotions. For example, walk on the seashore. Further, studying each new rule, it is necessary to describe walk by the sea with use of the studied material. The same when studying a system of versification – it is necessary to describe walk on the coast in each studied size. Studying poetic receptions, it is also necessary to fix each reception, by means of the same subject. And in end it will be useful to describe walk by the sea in different genres and styles. This exercise will allow to realize on own experience what impact on perception the method of giving and statement has. Besides, exercise gives the chance to try the hand diversely, to find the most successful and receptions, interesting to itself.
Except everything, the following recommendations can be useful to beginners:
- it is impossible to break a poem rhythm. Even one excess syllable can ruin all melody of the work;
- it is not necessary to sacrifice sense and the idea to please to intricate phrases;
- to write verses only waiting for result inadmissibly. Creativity is not result, but process, and each its moment has to give pleasure and contribute to the literary development of the author;
- without soul it is impossible to write verses too and if written does not cause deep feelings in the author, then the reader especially will have no emotions;
- in order that the poem was really poetical, it is necessary to avoid such trivial methods of rhyming as tears dreams, a rose - a splinter, heaven – miracles, to open – to cover. Beginners also should not use inexact rhymes;
- nobody should imitate, even to the most favourite authors.
How to learn to write beautiful verses?
There is only one way which during all eras was popular with great poets – to read, to read much. And to observe. Only this way it is possible to learn to feel poetry music. Only this way it is possible to increase a lexicon, to expand the knowledge of poetic receptions. Only this way it is possible to like spirit of creativity. At the same time it is necessary to read also classics and contemporaries, and the glorified poets and unknown. It is useful to read authors whose skill is far from perfect too. It will allow to realize as it is not necessary to write verses and to avoid mistakes in the future. But it is the best of all to read the real literary geniuses, true verbal artists. To study at them, and in the creativity to seek for incessant improvement.