An American sentence:
Squinting, a slender girl stops searching the murky sea for her glasses.
What’s an ‘American Sentence’?
Allen Ginsberg, inventor of the American Sentence, felt that the haiku didnโt 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 ๐ฎ๐ฑ 
What a terrible way to lose your glasses! What a thought-provoking poem, David! Maybe she should have her glasses on a strap when she goes swimming if she can’t safely swim without them. Or maybe the meaning is more philosophical than practical. I will have to think about that. ๐ Hope you are doing well! โค
๐๐๐ป Cheryl ๐๐ป๐
[โฆ] To the best of my knowledge, I first learned of American sentences here on WordPress from The Skepticโs Kaddish. [โฆ]
๐งก
That happened to my aunt. I remember it vividly. (K)
It’s a mistake I would never allow myself to make – way too risky!
You can be sure Iโve never tempted fate.
Always interested and I will try to keep an open mind. Probably the best way to do that is by having a go at each one myself. I certainly admire your capacity for new ways and means.
ok, here are three to get you started ๐
https://poetscollective.org/poetryforms/crystalline/
https://poetscollective.org/poetryforms/lune/
https://poetscollective.org/poetryforms/atom-2/
Nice sentence David, but I am not sure about Ginsbergโs mucking around with Haiku.
you’ll have to take that up with him, Sean…
personally, I really dig the American Sentence; but, obviously, as with all forms, it’s a matter of personal taste ๐
much love,
David
also, I would add that Ginsburg was hardly the only one to muck around with the haiku – there have been many poetic forms derived from it throughout the years – if you’re curious, I can give you a few other examples!
Inspired by your spectacular American sentence, David.
Fish-eye view of squinting female grasper, groping grouperโs spectacles. 8()
๐ ๐๐ป CES ๐๐ป๐
From the looks of it, they aren’t on her head, either!
๐ฐ Annette ๐ฐ
Clever sentence, ๐David๐. One sentence told a whole story. Amazing ๐คฉ
๐ thanks, Amber ๐