An American sentence:
Look, Friend. We both know these words aren’t poetic in the slightest bit.
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!
But they do make us think more about how we put together our words. (K)
Darn! You got me, Kerfe ❤
That’s a nice play of words David!
Well yes. Different strokes, different folks.
Exactly.
And somehow, they miraculously become an American sentence? 🙂
totally by accident! 😉
I do hope my American sentences come out like that 😀
And btw, here’s my entry for yesterday’s prompt (I turned it in late 😬)
https://theforgersoffantasy.art.blog/2021/12/03/fragments-of-thoughts/
duh😂
😉 Veera 😉