A new aphorism in the form of an American sentence:
Novelty may bring self-satisfaction while provoking not a thought.
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.
What’s an aphorism?
In order to be a true aphorism rather than a truism or clichรฉ, an aphorism has to contain a new, thought-provoking idea, and those are difficult to come up with on your own! In addition, aphorisms have to make a complicated point in a very short space of time, so a good metaphor is invaluable in writing aphorisms.
d’Verse prompt: Meet the Bar with Aphorisms
At d’Verse, poets were encouraged to formulate their own aphorisms and publish them.
If you’d like, you may add a short piece of prose explaining your aphorism. (I didn’t.)
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 
Trudat! โค๏ธ
๐๐๐ป Punam ๐๐ป๐
Novelty is often sought for novelty’s sake which is more like fleeing your past.
๐ค๐๐ป Bjรถrn ๐๐ป๐ค ~ yes, indeed
Thinking of your blog I think: something done alone is easier done with someone else.
๐๐๐ป Christine ๐๐ป๐
My mind is not all that sharp – I could only imagine truisms and clichรฉs….
๐๐๐ป Muri ๐๐ป๐
Yes. (K)
๐๐๐ป Kerfe ๐๐ป๐
Excellent poignant.
๐ค๐๐ป Suzette ๐๐ป๐ค
Not a thought, mind empty as the universe, novel in a sentence. ๐
๐ฅฐ CES ๐ฅฐ ~ Shabbat shalom
Shalom Shabbat
True.
๐๐๐ป Dolly ๐๐ป๐
So true! Well done, David!
๐๐๐ป Dwight ๐๐ป๐
Well, your aphorism certainly provokes a thought!
๐๐๐ป Jo ๐๐ป๐
Aphorism
Trudat be lingo
๐ ๐๐ป Abi ๐๐ป๐
Great American Sentence.
Thought Provoking.
In the days of Covid one had to be so novel. Provocation was the worst temptation in these days.
Glad you liked ๐