Praise for alliteration
Poetry (pen) Pals #25
I’ve heard it said that most of us have favourite writing devices or techniques that we tend to use a little too often. The editors among us probably do a knowing sigh at this point. If we plan to publish poetry it can be worth knowing what these are. You know so that our readers don’t need to point them out for us. “Oh look, another metaphor about food”. Or, “a big fan of a colon aren’t they!”
Or in my case, “seriously, more alliteration?”
This is not to say I don’t have others. Nothing like a bit of personification when I’m struggling to describe something effectively. You could probably point out a few more hiding in my blind spot.
But oh my goodness do I love a bit of alliteration. I think this is probably related to my love of spoken word - I go a bit soft at the centre when I hear alliteration used to good effect out loud. The sound of a poem, the musicality, the way it can slow down or speed up as it leaves your mouth, this often leaves me longing for more.
So, what to do when you are trying to rein in your use of a certain poetic device? That’s right, do a whole post in which you celebrate said device. Look, I didn’t say logic was a strength.
Also, this gives me a reason to share a poem which is just brilliant:
This is, The Sound of Their Names, by Ellen Bass, written as part of Project 19 which marked the centennial of the passage to the Nineteenth Amendment in the US. You can read all about that here on Poets.org. Apologies that I had to split this into two images. You can read it in full here.
The alliteration is so effective, the repetition of the word ‘praise’, I love how the form changes to ensure that each name gets plenty of airtime. The attention given to sound in how this poem has been crafted (even within the title) so cleverly mirrors the desire to have us speak these (potentially forgotten?) names out loud. The message behind it is so powerful. The final line.
Your writing prompt for this week:
I don’t believe that we’ve done a writing prompt yet that focuses purely on a poetic device so here we are. The theme is completely up to you but your challenge this week, if you choose to play along, is to practice using some alliteration.
It’s not the most complex technique, often it’s one that you hear talked about for young children learning to write poetry. But let’s not pretend it doesn’t still require degree of skill to be used effectively.
Can it be too much? Probably. But we are just playing here and no-one’s judging so let’s enjoy slathering it on with unsteady hands (wink emoji).
Nelly x
P.s Do let me know in the comments if you also love this poem? And which bits of it stand out to you…
I regularly share with my husband the prompt for the week, it looks like it might become a joint effort or I just steal his ideas. with permission of course. Belonging to poetry pals has increased my joy this year in writing poetry, in hearing poetry, in talking about poetry with you guys and my husband who is enjoying my joy. i love this community and how its making a better poet and also a my joyful and therefore more me and that leads me to being a better human.
I have actually written with alliteration before. It was one of those 3 AM word vomit trying to shut my mind up so I could get some sleep poems. I was half delirious and still don’t entirely believe in the quality of the product, but it feels much to sacred to edit. It’s almost like a landmark.
Because of my experience, I second your belief about alliteration. It is exciting to write this way, because it is like rhyming, only at the beginning of the word instead of the end. Such soundplay opens the door for even the most unrhythmic free verse to dance on the tongue. Truly, alliteration is not appreciated enough.