Nervousness, or: We

My 1^st oral poem

Nervousness // versus this // inclination to perform
Consciousness // written thus // without pen or form
Thoughts streaming out // screaming // they shout
Pouting // demand control ~
Would we could // arrange ourselves ~
On pages
Rhythms gauged  ~
Should moods // presage // the outcomes?
Kind words // ne'er birthed by rage
We don't change // too much with age // but learn
to exercise our choice
Those darkest inclinations // need not be // given ~
our power ~ of voice
So, better yet // the safer bet // is to set pen to paper
Regret // is so slow to forget // where foolish outbursts take her
Age // too well knows // words spoken // are ne'er to be reversed
'Oral,' it asks, 'Oh. 
Really?'

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d’Verse poetics: Oral poetry

The Challenge

At d’Verse, we were prompted to try something a little different. Perhaps you are used to composing in this way; perhaps you’ve never done it before. Either way, here are the steps for the prompt:

• Begin to compose a poem without putting pen to paper: you can say the words in your head, or repeat them out loud. Record them, if you wish, as an aid to memory. Try to complete the poem as far as possible without writing it down. Think about devices: regular rhythms, repeated phrases or ‘motifs’, alliteration and rhyme schemes – anything to aid the memory and help the words to flow. Alternatively, why not compose a stream-of-consciousness poem orally, recording the words as they come to you?
• There are no strict rules here, but do try to compose at least some of the poem without writing it down immediately, perhaps stanza by stanza. Once you have written it down, read it aloud to yourself, and think about any improvements you could make: a kind of oral editing process.
• Once you have composed your poem, you can do one (or both) of the following:
  • Make an audio/video recording of your poem and post it to your blog.
  • Transcribe your poem, so we can read the finished version. Don’t forget to link up to Mr Linky, and link back d’Verse in your post.