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As many of you can see, I've been a pretty terrible blogger lately! What can I say...Life.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Day Four of Poetry Week: Ironic Poems

Ironic poems were introduced to me in my first creative writing class. At first, I found them difficult to understand. Catching irony was never a strong suit of mine, along with catching when people were joking about something, but then I discovered that irony can be subtle, elegant, and have a magical innocence (which I often seek in my poetry. I'm not going for a pessimistic or satirical kind of irony.)

For me, there is a thought process when it comes to ironic poems. I definitely have to start with a story and find some irony in it before I can complete it. Maybe, for a few of you, it will come very naturally. (Crossing fingers!)

Definition: a poem that illustrates a situation, or a use of language, involving some kind of discrepancy. The result of an action or situation is the reverse of what is expected.

Famous Example: from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”
Water, water, everywhere,
Nor any drop to drink.

*****Examples*****

If Pennies Could Buy Wishes
Aubrie Anne (2008)

A girl sat by a fountain
With a penny in her hand
All she had to do was throw the coin
And wishes were at her command
With eyes closed tight
And a firm sure grip
She let the penny fly
It landed with a reassuring splash
Now all she had to do was stand by
But years had passed
And the girl grew wise
She found pennies could never buy wishes
Next time she’d use a dime

*****

Dreaming Becomes the Lie
Aubrie Anne (2008)

Dreaming comes so easily
Because I’ve dreamed my entire life
I’ve seen the woman I would become
I’ve seen the man I’m suppose to love
I’ve seen brilliant flashes
From a life I want to lead
The images have all passed before me
They’re lies I want to believe
And I wake up from an endless nightmare
To find I’ve yet to live

*****Questions*****

Have you ever heard of ironic poetry before?
Have you ever tried to write it before?
How'd it go?
Share some with us!
If you've never tried it, would you consider it?

5 comments:

  1. I appreciate good irony, but I've never written poetry about it.

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  2. Okay, I just got back and put this together really quickly. Hope you like it. I wrote a version of it ages ago, not as an Ironic Poem, just because... But thought it'd fit well. Liking yours. ;)

    http://wordsinsync.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-four-of-aubries-poetry-week-ironic.html Xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. i love the poems you wrote. :) i don't really like to write much but i sure do love reading.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Matt...They are pretty hard. At least for me they were.

    Shah...Cool. I promise I will come take a look at you poem tomorrow. I'm too tired tonight and want to make sure I am fully aware so I can give a good review!

    Grace...That's cool. I'm happy you like to read poetry though. Some of it is just so beautiful. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've written an ironic poem called "Blue Tarps." Sent it to New Ohio Review today. I'm wondering now whether I sent it to the right publisher. Does anyone know whch small presses publish "ironic" poetry. Can anyone help? Would somebody wish to read that poem and comment?
    Thanks in advance. Pam

    ReplyDelete

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