An American sentence:
In Japanese haiku, words form breaks between images, not commas.
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 
Very well expressed.
๐งก๐๐ป Dolly ๐๐ป๐งก ~ thanks!
My pleasure, David.
I read Ginsberg years ago, never really got into him. I preferred Snyder from that bunch. However, reading your posts makes me reconsider my position. Thank you for sharing this information.
๐๐๐ป Mangus ๐๐ป๐ ~ thanks, friend; that’s kind of you
Sincerely,
David
Fabulous! And, so true!
๐ค๐๐ป Suzette ๐๐ป๐ค ~ thanks!
Yes, they say the comma slows ๐ ๐ the eyes
๐๐๐ป Abi ๐๐ป๐ ~ yep!
๐๐, with some lovely word sounds
Sigh, waiting in the ER is a bitch especially without answers <— my night thus far written in American Sentence style ๐
๐๐๐ป Matt ๐๐ป๐ ~ I’m so sorry ๐
Life is a bit better now David, thanks for the words ๐
a break
means the world
pouring rain
๐๐๐ป Barbara ๐๐ป๐