How Poets Construct Poems

Viewing of Poetry Construction

Joseph Castronovo (United States}
Wim Emmerik (Netherlands)

Use of patterns and phonological

transitions (otherwise known as Morphing)
ASL Poetry
Some Formats for Creating ASL Poems

ASL 315

Constructing Poems Constructing Poems

Joseph CastronovoUSA Wim EmmerikNetherlands
 Meeting Schedule Make Up / Creative Workshop
Monday March 27: Tuesday March 28:
o Monday April 10th
1 to 2 PM 9 to 10 AM
o Available for Creative Work / Feedback and Makeup
anna Name
o Between 2 and 8 PM (set a 4 hours block that we all can
kevin Name
agree on)
2 to 3 PM 10 to 11 AM
abdul jacob
o Community Performance
sumit Name
o Thursday April 27th evening
3 to 4 PM 11 to 12 PM
o Rathskellar
Name duke
Name jenna
1 to 2 PM (carey & justin)
2 to 3 PM (paige)

COMPOSTION Remember the Toolbox

Constructing poetic patterns
Viewing Joseph Castronovo and Wim Sign formation/phonology
Emmeriks interview: Understanding parameters:
Handshapes
How do they compose poems?
Handedness (one-handed or two-handed signs)
Discuss Joseph Castronovos analogy: A poet is like Movements
a painter working on a canvas. Frequency, Manner, Directionality and Contour
Locations
Other observations? Palm Orientations
Non-Manual Signals
Rhyme & Rhythm
Transitions
Metaphors and Neologism
 Welcome Back Work
GoReact
Take 10-15 minutes to create a:
Gallaudet 150 or Spring Break Poem
Gallaudet 150 or Spring Break Poem
IMPROMPTU (adj.) Comments
Definition: improvised, spontaneous, unplanned; informal:
off-the-cuff, spur-of-the-moment, ad-lib.

Incorporate some elements from the Toolbox

You may use elements of the Plutchik Poem we
did Wednesday March 8th

Some Selected Formats

Acrostic Poems
Number Poems
Handshape Poems PARALLELISM POEMS
Parallelism Poems
Cinquain Poems
Senryu
Palindrome Poems
 English:
Parallelism = Balance We Real Cool
by Gwendolyn Brooks

A parallelism poem is about creating THE POOL PLAYERS SEVEN AT THE GOLDEN SHOVEL
BALANCE between lines.
We real cool. We
Balance in terms of: Left school. We

The number of words/signs in each Lurk late. We

Strike straight. We
contrasting lines
Sing sin. We
Contrasting movement patterns and Thin gin. We
rhythm.
Jazz June. We
Poets may select contrastive ideas/issues/themes Die soon.
to create Parallelism poems
Gwendolyn Brooks, "We Real Cool," from The Bean Eaters. Copyright 1960 by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Analyzing Parallelism Pattern in

We Real Cool Cow and Rooster by Clayton Valli
We real cool.
1 2 3

We left school.
1 2 3

We lurk late.
1 2 3
We strike straight.
1 2 3

We sing sin.
1 2 3

We thin gin.
1 2 3
We jazz June.
1 2 3

We die soon.
1 2 3
 Cow and Rooster Formula The Dogs by Ella Mae Lentz
Location [5]: FARM LCL:5 plains
Cow [Y]: COW FAT SCL:Y lies down
Rooster [3]: ROOSTER SWANKY BPCL:3 stands on feet
Cow [Y]: BPCL:Y chews
Rooster [3]: BPCL:3 kicks up dust
Cow [Y]: BOAST+ PLAY-AROUND
Rooster [3]: BPCL:3 charges cow LOUSY+
Cow [Y]: SCL:Y get up to charge
Rooster [3]: BPCL:3 charges
Cow [Y]: SCL:Y turns around SCL:Y swaggers away
Rooster [3]: BPCL:3 turns and struts away BPCL:3 feather sways
Location [5]: FARM LCL:5 plains
Patterned layers: 5 lines for each hand-shapesY & 3; first and last
line uses handshape 5 (matching the number of lines using Y & 3

On Valentines Day by Clayton Valli To a Hearing Mother by Ella Mae Lentz

Natural Born Lesbian by Rosie Goodman Your Choice? by Serica Jackerson

Twins by Rhonda Jennings-Arey Breathe by Brenda Thornton

 Poem with Parallelism Create Parallelism Poem
Sample format base on Vallis Cow and Rooster:
Create your own poem featuring parallelism
Opening Statement
Select a theme with contrasting concepts/issues Proposition 1A Proposition 2A

Propositions and counter propositions need to Proposition 1B Proposition 2B

be balanced in terms of: Proposition 1C Proposition 2C
production,
Proposition 1D Proposition 2D
number of signs,
pattern and Closing Statement
rhythm

Theme
Subjects. Places. Persons. Things. Ideas. Contrasting Propositions

Some examples:

Mountain vs. Beach

Dog vs. Cat
Socialism vs. Capitalism SHARE YOUR PARALLELISM NOTES/IDEAS
War vs. Peace
Novel vs. Movies
Space exploration vs. underwater exploration
 Catching Up on GoReact Coming Up on GoReact
Better catch up because more are coming up

Spring Break or Gallaudet 150 Poem 2nd Draft

ABC Story 2nd Draft
Two not submitted Parallelism Poem (today)
Number Story 2nd Draft
3 not submitted
Cinquain Poem

Acrostic Poem 2nd Draft Senryu

9 not submitted
La Mer Inspired Poem
Poem with Handshape Constraint 1st Draft
2 not submitted Image Poem
Poem with Handshape Constraint 2nd Draft Nursery Rhyme
Non submitted

Spring Break or Gallaudet 150 Poem 1st Draft

Freestyle Poem
3 not submitted

UPCOMING DATES
April 10th [this Monday] from 2 to 8 PM (Lab time
feedback and second draft final videos in studio)
April 21st Mindvolt participation encouraged
Sign up through Google forms for auditions CINQUAIN POEMS
April 27th 7 to 8:30/9 PM Performance in Rathskellar* a type of poem that use a 5-line pattern
Update?
Advertising
Committee
*participation required
 Example of Cinquain Format Cinquain Poem
Line 1 - one word for the topic (subject or noun) Pattern 1 English Example

Line 1: A noun Mules

Line 2 - two words that describe your topic (adjectives)
Line 3 - three words that describe actions related to Line 2: Two adjectives Stubborn, unmoving
your topic (action verbs)
Line 3: Three words describing Braying, kicking, resisting
Line 4 four words that describe feelings related to action
your topic
Line 4: A phrase describing feeling Not wanting to listen
Line 5 one word that is another name for your topic
(synonym for line 1 or something that sums it up)
Line 5: Another sign for the noun People

http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/davidc/6c_files/Poem%20pics/cinquaindescrip.htm

ASL Cinquain Cinquain Animals

We can set up our own rules that determines the 1. One sign (An animal)
criteria for each line but the pattern needs to be
consistent 2. Two Classifiers (describing prominent features)
Line 1 one sign [e.g., noun]
3. Three verbs (or adjectival predicates) in chain
Line 2 two signs [e.g., two adjectives]
Line 3 three signs [e.g., three action verbs] 4. Four signs (2 classifiers and 2 verbs or adjectival
Line 4 four signs [e.g., a phrase of four signs] predicates leading up to the sign in line 5):
Line 5 one sign [e.g., one sign related to line 1 (noun
or an attribute/characteristics] 5. One sign (An adjective or noun (that describes or is
befitting of the animal)
Example for ASL: see next slide
 ASL 315 2016: Robyn Spigner
Lion Cinquain Wolf
1. One sign: LION
2. Two Classifiers: BUSY-HAIR, CLAWED-FEET
3. Three verbs in chain: CHASE, CATCH, EAT--GULP
4. Four signs (2 classifiers and
2 verbs or adjectives leading
up to the sign in line 5): LICK-LIPS, SATISFY, YAWN,
CROSS-PAWS
5. One sign (An adjective or
noun (that describes or is
befitting of the animal): KING

ASL 315 2016: Jade DeLao ASL 315 2016: Conrad Baer
Dog Crab
 Animal Draft
Alghamdi- Falcon Cinquain Animals
Ballard-

Carpenter- 1. One sign (An animal)

Hawkins- Pig 2. Two Classifiers (describing prominent features)

Lynch- Panda 3. Three verbs (or adjectival predicates) in chain

Magallan- Lion
4. Four signs (2 classifiers and 2 verbs or adjectival
Malik- predicates leading up to the sign in line 5):
Malone- Rottweiler 5. One sign (An adjective or noun (that describes or is
Smith, J- Hyena befitting of the animal)
Smith, D- Chameleon

Valenzuela-

Senryu
BACKGROUND
Senryu poetry started in Japan during the 13th
century it was a spinoff from Renga which is
composed orally by poets in groups.
SENRYU Renga poets would often play a game of
showmanship, with one poet offering a stanza off the
top of his head and another challenging the previous
poet's cleverness by producing something even more
compelling. [one-upmanship]
In time, these games became regarded as Senryu
poems.
 Subject of Senryu Senryu by Michael Dylan Welch
Senryu focus on making fun of human nature like
after the verdict her swollen head...
image of a human in comical action, doing the arsonist the astrologer
something relatable, familiar, ironic or even lights up seeing stars

embarrassing such as awkward romances, confused bending for a dime billboard lady
two businessmen in a bikini --
children, etc.. bump heads three-car pileup
One poet writes of a child searching for his shoes, hazy summer afternoon -- kindergarten Christmas
unable to find them because they are on his feet. the smog-check mechanic pageant --
puffs a cigar a wise man
Another poet writes of a man squinting to read the loses his beard
express checkout --
word "optician." the fat woman counts his favourite deli --
the thin man's items the bald man finds a hair
in his soup
The tone of the Senyru is always humorous,
sometimes even sarcastic.

Senryu Format
Senryu (like haiku) are produced in three lines,
Hide and seek Line 1 = five syllables
Count to three Line 2 = seven syllables
Winter comes Line 3 = five syllables
Total of 17 syllables
17 syllables/sounds in Japanese Senryu translate to
The robber,
somewhere between 12 to 15 English syllables.
when I catch,
my own son What does that means for ASL ?
 Senryu in ASL
We can determine that syllables in ASL
are related to the frequency patterns:
Lets say signs have repeated movements
= two syllables
Signs that have single movement beat
= one syllable
Inflected signs show three movement
beats = three syllables
Sample ASL Senryu
Three lines and 17 syllables
Line 1 = 5 syllables
Line 2 = 7 syllables
Line 3 = 5 syllables
In principle the first and third line are similar in length while the
second line is longer
Senryu featuring foible
BOY GANGSTA PUT-ON-FEDORA
2 2 1 =5
OUT WALK SEE GANGSTA PULL-OUT-GUN
1 2 1 2 1 =7
OOPS THAT MY FATHER
1 1 1 2 =5

Alternative Format Conrad Baer 2016 a

Alternatively, a Senryu in ASL can be
made of between 15 to 17 Signs
Focus on the subject of a Senryu:
human flaw/foibles
Line 1 & 2 set up situation and scenario
Line 3 punch line
Conrad Baer 2016 b Franklin Jones 2016

Kyle Dryer 2016 Andrus Washington 2016

 Brainstorm
In Groups-
Brainstorm different situations
that are humorous
First two lines form set up
Third line is the punch line

Trump Senryu Trump Senryu

Base on Trumps Twitter account @realDonaldTrump
Base on Trumps Twitter account @realDonaldTrump

A sentence has an average of 16. Analysis of Trump tweets

16 words averages to 160 characters
http://www.140characters.com/2010/05/25/economy-
of-words/
Twitter limits up to 140 characters which equals to
around 14-15 words
A Trump Senryu will have between 15-17 signs
Following the style of a Trump Tween
http://www.vox.com/2016/5/16/11603854/dona
ld-trump-twitter
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-
election/donald-trump-s-campaign-tweets-n593846
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/metrical-
analysis-of-trump-insult-haiku
http://www.npr.org/2017/01/27/511216062/pres
ident-trumps-tweets-annotated
 Trump Senryu
Base on Trumps Twitter account @realDonaldTrump

Patterns found in @realDonaldTrump tweets

o Subject range?

o Ends Tweet with overall evaluative comments

o Negative Evaluation-
o SHAME
o BAD
o INCOMPETENT
o Positive Evaluation (if any usually about self)
o AWESOME

Palindrome
A palindrome is a word, phrase, verse, sentence, or even
poem that reads the same forward or backward.
Palindromic names: Hannah, Eve, Anna

PALINDROME POEMS Palindromic words: Civic, kayak, level, madam, racecar

Palindromic sentences:
Do geese see God
A man, a plan, a canal Panama
Live on evasions? No, I save no evil.
Too hot to hoot.
https://www2.cs.arizona.edu/icon/oddsends/palinsen.htm
Counter-poetry by Mari Klassen Palindromes in ASL
Consider the possible signs that are palindromic?
Contrasting movements probably the first step
Up Down;
GROW GONE
THRILL DEPRESS
Away from body Towards body
POSTPONE -- PREPONE
Handshape changes
50>05
LIGHT-ON LIGHT-OFF
S5>5S
WARM CHERISH [weak]

Sign level first then sentence and so on