| This investigation shows that far from a mysterious process where "the muse" simply whispers into one's ear, creating a poetic work is just that---work. The thesis opens with a discussion of the merits of craft, explaining how the greatest poetry does not simply happen, but is a result of a finely honed skill. The research then breaks into sections, each dedicated to a particular style of poetry. The first several pages of each section are research-driven, covering a full explanation of the style, the form or format, its history, and some if its more well-known practitioners. Each research section is then followed by several original works in that style, following five repeating themes. These themes begin with the usual fodder of poets: love and loss. This is followed with two seemingly mundane physical objects, glasses and keys. The final recurring theme, which might be seen as very concrete or very abstract, is "miscut pockets." This final focus may be seen as a metaphor for working through this craft of poetry, when words applied incorrectly skew the overall finished product away from perfection. For the shorter forms, such as Haiku, more than one original work is included in deference to its brevity. Finally, the last section consists of a conclusion which summarizes again the merits of honing the craft of poetry, and which addresses the journey of writing the thesis. |
