An American sentence:
I reflect upon how to make people I’ve never met feel something.
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 
Every creative personโs struggle, very well expressed in an American sentence.
๐ค๐๐ป Dolly ๐๐ป๐ค ~ thanks!
Easy – you write poetry and it goes like an arrow into the heart and mind!
๐ค๐๐ป Muri ๐๐ป๐ค ~ thanks!
I have an old notepad that says, โI buy things I donโt need, with money I donโt have, to impress people I donโt know.โ
๐๐๐ป Leenda ๐๐ป๐ ~ ha! Right on!
Great sentence!
๐๐๐ป Leenda ๐๐ป๐ ~ thanks!
and you do it so well! โฃ๏ธ
๐๐๐ป Cindy ๐๐ป๐
๐๐๐
Just keep writing, David. ๐
๐๐๐ป Terveen ๐๐ป๐
Well, if nothing else, you’ve made me feel something with your diversity and talent. If you get a chance, David, check out my piece from today. It was my attempt at an American Sentence. Wishing you peace, dear friend.
๐๐๐ป Paul ๐๐ป๐ ~ I will!
Thanks for taking the time, David. Means the world!
๐ค๐
Something you achieve effortlessly it seems. Lots of heart. Xo
๐ค๐๐ป Selma ๐๐ป๐ค
Make movies
From the books you wrote for them
๐๐๐ป Abi ๐๐ป๐
๐๐
You speak to them
โค๏ธ๐๐ป Abi ๐๐ปโค๏ธ
๐๐
short and powerful. Lovely David.
๐งก๐๐ป Destiny ๐๐ป๐งก
ha – the only way is: to give up
๐ค๐ค Barbara ๐ค๐ค ~ think you so?
๐ yup – you can’t make anyone feel anything – ehm unless you manipulate them through telepathy๐ค๐ฃ got to rush off to a zoom class…
well I suppose it depends upon what one means by “make” – because I think most artists are trying to “make” others feel something ๐
ok – of course, I guess as ever it is a case of Begegnung – writer with creativity and audience and vice versa…