Finding The Words
For National Poetry Month, we asked four local Philly poets to break down the fundamentals of poetry.
This is an interactive experience. Tap anywhere to start.
What makes a poem, well, a poem? Poetry can be hard to define, but once you’re familiar with poetic devices like rhyme and meter, it’s easier to identify. You know it when you see it (or, for spoken performances, when you hear it).
For National Poetry Month, we asked some local artists to perform their own poems to explain four common technical aspects of poetry: rhyme, imagery, meter, and structure.
Keep tapping to hear each of their explanations— and stick around till the end for some powerful spoken word performances.
Jaylene Clark Owens
RHYME
rhyme n.
Two words sound similar
perfect rhyme
catflat
slant rhyme
toastexpose
How did you use rhyme in your poem
“Mind Yo Business”?
“people-y”
“deep-ily”
Jovan McKoy
IMAGERY
im•age•ry n.
visually descriptive or figurative language
simile
metaphor
me•ta•phor n.
applying a word/phrase to an action, but not literally
si•mi•le n.
comparing two words, usually using “as” or “like”
“asimileislikeametaphor”
How did you use rhyme in your poem
“Type Of Love”?
Like Wanda and Cosmo,
youmakemymindwanderthecosmos
Mary Mance
METER
me•ter n.
the rhythm of lines and verses in a poem
iambic pentameter
ten syllables of alternating stress
How did you use meter in your poem
“Road Work Ahead”?
free me•ter n.
a rhythm that is intuitive and free-flowing
slowdownbutstillproceed
Gabriel Ramirez
STRUCTURE
struc•ture n.
a poem’s form, length, rhythm, and rhyme scheme
couplet
a group of two lines
stanza
any grouping of lines
What is the structure of a
sonnet?
traditional sonnet
strict rhyme scheme
modern sonnet
more interpretive
vol•ta n.
a turning point in a poem
Why use a sonnet as the structure in
“For Ota Benga”?
“Mind Yo Business”
Structure:Rhymed Couplets
Meter:Free
SometimesIbewatchingpeoplebeingallpeople-yExpressingtheirohsoimportantopinions,thinkingthey'redoingitalldeep-ilyAndIjustbewantingtobelike,Yo,shutup!Andmindyobusiness!
Folksbereadytojudgesomeoneelse'slifewiththequicknessButiftheiractionswerebroughtbeforethepeople'scourtThey'dhavetoresorttobriberytogetthejury'ssupport
Folksbeworkingthemselvesintoafull-blowntizzyTalkin'incircles'boutfolksoutsidetheircircles,howdotheynotbedizzy?
Gillespie-in-the-facewithstoredgossiptheycanpullfromatanytimeforsomeone'sdefamationButwhyyousoconcernedwithsomeoneelse'slifewhenwhattheyeatdon'tleadtoyourdefecation?Themeatin'pruneswon'trelieveyourconstipation
Butmaybeifyoustoptalkingishaboutotherpeopleit'llbringyouprodigiousreliefStopmaskingyourmaliceinyourreligiousbelief
HangingyourhatredonJesus'garmenthemYououthereloathinggaypeoplebutJesusloveseveryoneofthem
Andwhenaskedthemostimportantcommandment,HesaidlovingyourneighborasyourselfisnumbertwoSoifwegonkeepthefaith,itmeanslovingthegay,thebi,thepan,andthetranstoo
FolksberushinghomefromworktositontheircouchontheinternetFacebookpostingabouthowacouple'sloveisdirtywhentheyain'tevenwashfordinneryetOrI'llseeamememakin'funofsomeone'sleveloffitnessAndnocap,IwannagoALLCAPS,like,YO,SHUTUP!ANDMINDYOBUSINESS!
SoStaceygainedalittleweight,whymustshealsogainyouropinion?YourpictureisofBradleyCooper,whileyourbodyprofileismorelikethatofaminion.Andthat'sok!That'sok.AllbodytypesmatterButallopinionsdon't,especiallytheonesabouthowsomeoneelse'sbodyisskinnierorfatter
Speakingofbodies,thisoneisminetomindPoliticiansmakingdecisionsonwhatIcandowithitisastraightupcrimeTheytrynatakebirthcontroloverthebodiesofwomenThegovernmentistellingwomenhowtheyshouldplantheirparenthood,inthisdayandage,areyoukiddin'?!
Butthisain'tnolaughingmatter,itain'tajokeLowincomewomenmayneedtotravelover250milesfora legalandsafeabortion,whentheyarealreadybrokeAbrokensystemtryingtoprotectlife,butnoyoudariskEverybodyjustshutupandmindyourownuterus
Andifyoudon'thaveone,well,then<laugh>Ireallydon'tseehowyou'retryingtopolicewhatgoesoninmywombHow'boutyoufocusontheBlackandBrownchildrenthatpolicehavesenttoanearlytomb?
Ifyoudon'tagreewiththeabortionstuff...justgetthisSometimeslifewouldbesomuchbetterifwejustmindourownbusiness
Don'tlistentoH.E.R.,Idon'twantyoutofocuson...meHow'boutyoufocusonY.O.U.?'Cuz'havingmyself-confidencedipcuzyouwannachipinyour2 centsaboutmyself-worthiswhatI'mnotfinnado
Ifthetimewespentjudgingotherpeople'slifechoices,weinsteadspentonourselves??<laugh>Imaginetheself-improvementRisin'overcriticizing...let'sstartawholemovement!Ifthere'sacertaingroupofpeopleforwhichyouhaveantipathyDespiteyourdifferences,findsomethingyouhaveincommon,thusbuildingbuildingupyourempathy
Youmaysay,ButJaylene,ain'tyoucriticizingthefolkswhoarecriticizingbysayingallofthis?Isn'tthathypocritical?Youain'tmindingyoownbusiness!Andyouknowifyouwannalookatitlikethat,thatcouldbetrueButIgetpaidtospitthesepoemssomymindismybusiness,boo
Butmoreimportantthanthat,IspitthesewordsbecausethesearesomeofthemostpolarizingtimesthatIhaveeverhadtowitnessButtheydon'thavetobeifyouleadwithlove,findyourselfinothers,and,ofcourse,don'tforgetthis
Thenexttimeyougetreadytoopenyourmouthandcriticize,shutupand--Youknowwhat?<laugh>I'mgonnajustgomindmybusiness
“Type Of Love”
Structure:Free Verse
Meter:Free
GirlyougotthattypeoflovethatMakesamanwannawritealovepoemforyoulikeEVERYmorningI'mtalkingaboutthattypeoflovewhereyoulovethemjawnsevenwhenthey'recorny
ThatlovelikeBonnieandClydeOrbetter yetDonnaandEric FormanThattypeoflovethatjustmakesreallovefeelsoforeignThattypeoflovethatifIwasintheGumpYougotmefeelinglikeForrest
Thattypeoflovethatshowsmethatyou'readifferentgirlThat90sloveThatWhitleytomyDwayneWayneYoushowmethere'sadifferentworldTypeoflove
ThatfightforyoulikeMartinTypeofloveThatforyouI'denteranyarenaGirlyougotthatDAMNGINNNNAAAATypeoflove
ThattypeoflovewhereeverytimeIseeyouImustbitemybottomlip,Causenomatterhowmuchyoursizemaychange,I'llalwayslovehowthosejeanswillfittypeoflove
ThatyouposeandIpainttypeofloveThatdanceintherainanddoitforLilSainttypeofloveThatwhateveryouservemeI'llcleanmyplatetypeofloveGirlyougimmealovethatgotmefeelinglikedamnThatevenwithoutthecharmYourheartgotmefeelinglikeI'mtheluckiestmanTofindchurchinyourarms,
AndseeanangelwhenyougivemeyourwingspanThattypeoflovethat'llhaveGodbemywingmanHebelike,onmyBiblesheagoodjawn
Thetypeofwomanyouain'tgotnochoicebuttoprayforTheonethathasyoufeelinglikeSuperman,sowhat'sthecapefor?She'smyLoisLaneduringmylowestlaneMyrestartbuttonandextralifeduringanygame
ThattypeoflovewhereIpromiseyouahomeevenifIonlycarryabrickThattypeoflovewhereshecallmeonherbreaktocomplainaboutwork,evenifshe'sonlyanhourintoashiftTypeoflovethatfallforyoubutnevertrip
TypeofloveThatExwho??Typeoflove,Textwho??Typeoflove,ThatyoutheonlyonemyspiritwantstolaynexttoTypeoflove
ThatgreatsextypeofloveThatI'mnottalkingaboutmyclotheswhenIaskyoutothrowitbackTypeofloveThathowarewesupposedtomakemusicwithoutanystrings attachedtypeoflove
Thattypeoflovethat'llhavemebattlethemonstersinthebackofmyconsciousAndifI'mhonestIlovethewarsyoufighteveryday
IlovethatformationyoudoHellIapplauditLikeaBeyfanataBeyoncéconcert
Thattypeoflovewhereevenifwe'remarriedIstillbethethirstiestguyunderyourcommentsThattypeoflovewhereIlovetoseeyounakedAndI'mnottalkingaboutwhat'sunderyourundergarments
ThattypeoflovewhereI'llcallyoubabyevenwhenwe'relividEvenwhenourviewsaredifferentThattypeoflovewhenyou'remylung,myrib,myheartandanythingelsethatkeepsmelivingThattypeoflovewhereIgotyobackevenifmyspinewentmissing
Typeoflovewhereourdatesaresolongtimeisn'tinourvisionThattypeoflovethatmakesmewanttogiveyouandyouranxietythesamekindofattentionWhereIwouldfindreligionevenifmyGodwentmissing
WhereIcan'tbepeacefulIcan'tbeHinduorBuddhaUnlessyoupartofthemeditation
Sobluntshe'spartofthemedicationTypeoflovewhenshe'smypartner,mypriest,andmyeducationThattypeoflovewhere ifIlostmymemoriestodayTomorrowIwouldfallforherwithnohesitation
ThattypeoflovewhenyoujustlovethelittlethingslikeHowwaswork?DidYoueat?Whenyoucomehomemeandthebedare waiting
NetflixdebatingHopefullyleadintonakedbathingTypeoflove
Thatwegotogetherlikecheeseandnachos,LikeWandaandCosmo,LikeIthinkit'sfairlyoddhowyoumakemymindwanderthecosmos
LikeinafewyearsIseeyouandImakingloveinourhouseholdStrongfoundation,seethat'showahouse holdsTypeoflove
Andyouknowthatit'strueThatI'llalwayshavethislovepoemready,alwaysjustforyou
“Road Work Ahead”
Structure:Free Verse
Meter:Dynamic
IwishlifecamewithroadsignsSPEEDLIMIT:onedayatatimeCAUTION:slowdownCAUTION:curveaheadCAUTION:anotherobstacle
STOPDETOURIN2000FEET
AnotheralterationtotherouteI'vesetformyself
DEADEND:I'vemadethewrongturnyetagainTimetoturnaroundOnestepforward...twostepsback
NOTURNONRED:achancetotakeabreakGREENLIGHT:it'stimetogoagain,I'vegotthingstodo
LEFTTURNONLY:finallysomedirection,I'mfeelinglikeI'montherightpathONEWAY:I'montherightpathinthewrongdirectionOnestepforward...twostepsback
CAUTIONNOU-TURN:mustcontinueonthewrongpathtogettotherightwayOnestepforwardtobeinthesameplaceIjustwas,stilltwostepsbackAnotherdetour,anothersetback
LIGHTSONWHENRAINING:areminderthatevenwhenI'mcryingthere'sstillareasontokeepgoingAlightinsideofmestillglowingBrightliketheyellowlightsthatremindmetoslowdownbutstillproceed
SLIPPERYROADAHEAD:aslipperyslopeprobablyacopingmechanismtohandletherainROADWORKAHEAD:constantlyunderconstructionateveryturn
BEPREPAREDTOSTOP:youmighthavetostopsoslowdownjustincase
Onedayatatimebecomesoneweekatatimebecomesonemonthatatimeuntilyou'reattheendoftheconstructionzoneENDROADWORK:therideissmoothyetagainAndfinallythejourneycancontinue...anduntilthenextsignPROCEEDWITHCAUTION
“For Ota Benga”
Structure:Sonnet
Meter:Pentameter
Notfamily.Yourhand.ReachingwonderIamaman,Ihavetoguess,asyoupetme.Yourwrist.Vulturewinginmyteeth.Yourhandisabloodiedkoifishflailing
ontheground.Yes.Yourarm.Yes.Adamnshameattachedtoadamnshame.Writingmytruth—emotional/otherwise—morepeoplewouldbedead.Birdswithflightpatternsforgraves.
Wishyoucould'veseenit.Silk-windpassesthroughthecracksofmyfingersbeforeIfist.BeforeIkill.I.Themonsterwhosemonsterkepthimalive.Yourhandandthat—
Youreagerblood.Youreachedandyoureceived.Isathere.Youreached.Took.Withoutquestion.
How we chose our poets
The Inquirer put out an open call on Instagram for people to nominate poets they thought would do a good job of explaining poetry fundamentals.
We also reached out to Voices In Power, which has been one of the largest poetry communities in the Philly region for 10 years running, for a list of recommended poets.
From those two lists we got roughly a dozen poets. After disqualifying poets the Inquirer has already worked with/featured in the past, we ended up with a list of 10 poets, which we prioritized based on community feedback.
Staff Contributors
- Design and Creative Direction: Dain Saint and Charmaine Runes
- Videography and Video Editing: Lauren Schneiderman and Jenna Miller
- Digital Photo Editor: Rachel Molenda
- Poets: Jaylene Clark Owens, Jovan McKoy, Mary Mance, Gabriel Ramirez
- Ota Benga Photo: Library of Congress