An American sentence
In warm embrace, my context dissolves. It’s thus I encounter myself.
What’s an ‘American Sentence’?
Allen Ginsberg, inventor of the American Sentence, felt that the haiku didn’t work as well in English. Ginsberg decided to remove the line structure of the haiku, maintaining the requirement of 17 syllables total. He felt that removing the line count freed the American Sentence up for the idiosyncrasies of English phonemes.
The requirements:
- Composed in one line;
- Syllabic, 17 syllables;
- Condensed, written with no unnecessary words or articles;
- Complete sentence or sentences;
- Includes a turn or enlightenment.
the author I mention is Robert Aitken btw – I like the nerdy emoji – very much so 😀
✨💟 Barbara 💟✨
Wonderful. And an additional joy, we’re on a similar theme this week 🙂
✨🙏✨ Paul ✨🙏✨
🙂
Very beautiful. 🙂
💓 Terveen 💓
Whoa…you outdo yourself…
😘 Limp 😘
😀 – who said ‘a cold embrace will do’? there is a paradox to grow into imho, David and all 😀
🤭
what’s that? looks like a smiley with lipstick smudged? (I have enlarged it – but none the wiser: is it blushing or hiding a giggle or …?
hiding a giggle
‘Solid’ melts in warm embrace!
❤ DD ❤
This is a really good American sentence penned down! ( Not trying to be too flattering 😂)
Even the most solid soul may collapse, eventually. We are only humans afterall.
I suppose it depends on what you mean by “soul” and whom you’re asking 🙂
Indeed… 😉
Ah nice American sentence 😀. I do agree with you here, but a cold embrace does work too, for me 😋.
Btw here’s my next heptastich:
https://theforgersoffantasy.art.blog/2021/09/03/dreams/
and this too!
https://theforgersoffantasy.art.blog/2021/09/04/fantasy/
wow! you’re really on a roll with these! 🥐
❤
David
Haha, thats a bit too much praise, I’m afraid.But anyways, thanks!!😀😎🧡
nah!
Truly words that inspire in loving embrace David 💖
🤗😍 Cindy, like this? 🤗😍
Just like that!
And p.s. everyone would read your 📚 👏👏💕
This is the best one your done so far! I love a poem that makes me think and feel!
Mission Accomplished!
❤ Muri ❤
Another great American sentence.
💘 Molly 💘
This one warms my heart.
❤ Lauren ❤
You warm my heart on a consistent basis!
-David
in warm embrace
context dissolves:
I meet myself
===
absolutely beautiful, David (sorry about any hint of plagiarism there. It is yours.
😃 Barbara 😃
Imitation is the highest form of flattery ❣️
the in some minds unnecessary and superficial rigidity by way of translating the syllable count from Japanese into English has been criticised and argued against by many, not just Ginsberg. As much as like (some of) Ginsberg, I feel Robert Aitken in his book about Basho (Zen Wave) is an even better, more knowledgeable expert witness for the case.
So what does Aitken say and/or suggest?
well you have to read the book, David. Aitken’s theme is more Basho’s existentially liberated way of being. But by way of inserting some haiku – both, if I remember correctly, translating Basho’s and some of his own or others, Aitken de facto makes a case for a more flexible approach to haiku. The basis and grounding in an image of nature is a hot dispute. Personally, my amateur view would be that the 21st century approach cannot exclude the industrialised (and worse) way of living.For some that may mean to focus on nature to get us grounded, yes, and for some other themes may be at least as important. If I see your American sentence as an experimental existential haiku, then that would be one option….
Interesting 🤓