Poefusion

Poefusion #17

The next writing exercise is by David Rivard from the book The Idiot's Guide to Writing Poetry by Nikki Moustaki. Excerpted from page 286- 287.

Write a poem of at least 15 lines that employs the principle of the via negativa, either in whole or part.

The via negativa (by way of denial) is one of the essential devices for any poet's toolbox. Through repetition and resistance, it creates a pressure that can be both dramatic and psychological; through the use of a releasing turn (somewhat like that of the sonnet), it can create surprise and structure. Structurally, it provides the sense of counter-argument and of changed feelings. A famous example is Emily Dickinson's poem # 510 (below).

The basic idea is to create an impulse to deny some facts, events or feelings and to deny repetitively, so that pressure builds. Then you release all that pent-up energy by reversing direction and admitting to something.

Poem #510
by Emily Dickinson

it was not Death, for I stood up,
And all the Dead, lie down-
It was not Night, for all the Bells
Put out their Tongues, for Noon.

It was not Frost, for on my Flesh
I felt Sirrocos-crawl-
Nor Fire-for just my Marble feet
Could keep a Chancel, cool-

And yet, it tasted, like them all,
The Figures I have seen
Set orderly, for Burial,
Reminded me, of mine-

As if my life were shaven...

Other examples:

Wallace Stevens's Disillusionment of Ten O'Clock
Marina Tsvetaeyeva's Homesickness