An American sentence:
Could written lines match the force of the most emotively spoken words?
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.
Let’s write poetry together!
When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.
–Ben Harper (b. 1969)
Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!
The Skeptic's Kaddish 🇮🇱 
I believe they can outdo those spoken words. The power of the pen and words open to interpretation and imagination are so powerful. 🙂
🤎 Terveen 🤎 – thanks for sharing your opinion!
-David
I have always admired Ginsberg, love his free form writing, and the American sentence makes sense as a western sentence. Harper harps on with commonsense – wonderful, and best wishes for your generous venture, I hope to engage with you somehow at some point.
🤗 Paul 🤗 – thanks! Looking fwd to that!
-David
I think so!
and yet you record so many of your written poems!
❤
David
Yes, I do feel called to read some of my poems and I do view many poems like songs – best heard, however there are some that find strength in a quiet interaction between the words and the reader. 💕
The writer shouts ALL CAPS, the orator crescendos his words freely.
Well done, Wordsmith! You’ve made your point quite effectively and succinctly.
Good question. I guess it depends on the audience…
It just seems harder to shape the audience’s perception without facial expressions and intonation…
Sometimes I am disappointed when I hear something read out loud – soz, that’s not very helpful is it.
no – that totally makes sense – I was thinking of effectively spoken words that stir their audience.
Ah well … a stirring performance is all well and good, but then the performer is making decisions of interpretation for the audience. (I am obviously feeling contrary tonight – apologies!)
that’s an interesting point, actually!
Ah,I am stuck here.😁 I can’t deny the fact that verses and lines can be very powerful, and convey messages in their spirit; but words, I feel, emotive words, have a different impact on people… I’ll leave it to you to decide 😉 but for now, great American sentence and great question too! 😀
I tend to feel that no matter how pleased I may be with a piece of writing, there is something lacking that feels insurmountable to me.
Haha, that’s true in my case too, most times. But sometimes, I just don’t feel like contradicting the completeness of a work… if its good enough! 😀
As to your question; Wouldn’t that be subject to the inferring emotions barrowed? After all, some people are deaf while others are merely blind. imo
Assuming an audience with all senses and faculties functioning…
Well then- my answer would remain the same. The emotive movement in each of us varries, so our emtions would determine which of the two had the greatest impact but i suspect it would be split nearly 50/50 predicated more on preference as opposed to being impactful.
imo
Thank you for answering 😍
My pleasure, David.
I love the Ben Harper quote. Your American sentence asks a good question.
🤎 Molly 🤎
I think the answer is “yes,” but in the case of the written word, more depends on the reader’s perception/state of mind in order to receive the emotion. With spoken word the emotions are more likely to be perceived regardless.
Cool sentence!
🤍 LR 🤍 – I think you are right about perceiving emotions. Spoken word is more clear in that way, I believe.
-David
Its very thought-provoking indeed!