As previously mentioned on this site, the Folding Mirror poetry form was included in the new Book of Forms, edited by Lewis Turco. One of the examples of an FM poem included in the book was by Caroline Gill, who has also provided a lot of expert advice and support for the establishment of the form and this site. Caroline recently blogged about the book on her Caroline at Coastcard site, and an extract is copied below with her permission.

Caroline Gill
Publication Pointer (2): The Book of Forms (4th edition) by Lewis Putnam Turco

Professor Lewis Turco’s work, The Book of Forms, is now available in its 4th Edition, published by the University Press of New England. This new ‘revised and expanded edition’ has as its subtitle, A Handbook of Poetics Including Odd and Invented Forms. 

A copy of the third edition (published in 2000) has long been my constant poetry companion. I have learned so much about what Professor Turco calls ‘the elements of poetry’, comprising ‘levels of language usage’. I have been fascinated by the plethora of covered forms, from one lineadonics to 210 lined sonnets redoubled.

The latest edition contains all these features plus added extras in the guise of ‘odd and invented forms’. If I home in on British contributions for a moment, you will find a description of Dr Marc Latham’s Folding Mirror Poetry, with an example by Claire Knight and a second one by yours truly.

Lewis Putnam Turco is an emeritus professor of English. He was the founding director of the Cleveland State University Poetry Center and of the Department of Creative Writing at the State University of New York College at Oswega. The new edition, with sample poems by established names like Robert Frost and newer names like Greg Pincus, can be purchased from UPNE: the details can be found here. You can read the reviews on Amazon here.

In drawing these thoughts to a close, I would also wish to express my thanks to those who create these new forms for us to enjoy. For after all …

“It can be argued that to invent a verse-form which becomes immortal,
living on in the works of future poets and in other languages,
is one of the greatest achievements possible for a poet …”  

Martin Lyon, ‘Acumen‘, issue 71 (Sept 2011), p.71 

http://carolinegillpoetry.blogspot.com/2012/01/publication-pointer-2-book-of-forms-4th.html

Image via Wikipedia

Marc Latham’s latest Folding Mirror poem was inspired by a recent sunset that lit up the evening from west to east, after there had also been a great sunrise.

The Day of Double Eastern Delight  

northern hemisphere amaranth again in morning
as our star lights up the sunrise horizon
constellations replaced by bright light
the sun rises into view

azure allure as orb wings westward

day’s gold sets in evening
Venus emerges with new darkening
but east does not turn sapphire to ebony
amaranth emerges once again reflecting sunset

Marc Latham’s central site is the Greenygrey (http://www.greenygrey.co.uk).

Image via Wikipedia

Marc Latham’s latest Folding Mirror poem draws an analogy between natural disasters and human wars. Are human wars as natural, unpredictable and unstoppable as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Human history up to the current time suggests so. The poem is shaped like a volcanic eruption, with the lower half of the poem preceding the upper half narratively.

Here’s the poem:

Natural Disasters

nuclear winter clouds all
bombers above radar
missiles fly silent
artillery arches
shellshock
war erupts out of earthquake words
propaganda
leaders launch
masses find voice
ideology under religion
culture clash tectonic impact

Marc Latham’s central site is the Greenygrey (http://www.greenygrey.co.uk).

Reblogged from WordPress.com News:

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Well explained update on new wordpress features.

Image via Wikipedia

Marc Latham’s latest Folding Mirror poem was inspired by darkness descending on a clear evening while writing up the last poem post on this site. And here it is:

Changing of the Guard

duel at dawn
between night and day
light always emerges
with seed of moon

Yin zen Yang

sun leaves evening all
dark envelopes sky
in the second leg
of cosmic balance

Marc Latham’s central site is the Greenygrey (http://www.greenygrey.co.uk).

Both poems were first featured on this site. Caroline Gill’s accepted poem was Thalatta, Thalatta; Claire Knight’s was Hourglass of Time. Thanks again to Lewis, Caroline and Claire for their creativity and time.

Here’s the image that appears on the Odd and Invented forms blog. Viewing it as a clock face, Caroline Gill is at about 5 o’ clock and Claire Knight is at about 9 o’ clock:

Image via Wikipedia

Marc Latham’s latest FM poem is a jolly little ditty for a January monday in the northern hemisphere, but the poem and day are not all doom and gloom, with
venus already bright in the light,
looking like a diamond coloured kite
above pink contrail ribbons
in a clear sky  sunset.

Here’s the FM poem:

Dying to Live, Living to Die

In Death
we find
what we’re looking for
our role’s rendezvous
rehearsed
not knowing the part

Life is learning and losing

returning to the magic
unknown
nature’s voluminous  void
promise of innate discovery
last known
At Birth

Marc Latham’s central site is at the Greenygrey (http://www.greenygrey.co.uk)

• Nominate 15 other bloggers
• Inform my nominees
• Share 7 random facts about myself
• Thank those who nominated me
• Add a picture of the award to this post

Here’s 15 other bloggers:

kjpgarcia.wordpress.com
KJP Garcia’s poetry site. 

whimsygizmo.wordpress.com
de jackson’s poetry site.

dwrob.com
David Robinson’s writing site.

jakill-jeansmusings.blogspot.com
Jean Knill’s writing and poetry site.

didyoueverkissafrog.typepad.com
Alberta Ross’s writing site.

travelthroughhistory.blogspot.com
Ruth Kozak’s blog for the Travel Thru History website.

trevorbelshaw.com/blog
Trevor Belshaw’s writing blog.

evocativeembrace.wordpress.com
nice newish poetry and writing site.

writingtipsforbetterwriting.wordpress.com
Ledia’s writing and poetry site.

sajeevkmenon.wordpress.com
Sajeev Menon’s poetry, philosophy and photography site.

thepagesandfriends.blogspot.com
Marit Meredith’s blog for the Pages magazine.

zumpoems.com
Zumwalt’s decades of poetry.

asjellis.wordpress.com
Stories by A.S.J. Ellis

amarketingexpert.com/blog
Book marketing advice.

lesleycarter.wordpress.com
Lesley’s bucket list for 2012.

And 7 Random Facts:

1. I hitch-hiked a lot when younger.

2. I’ve travelled to all the populated continents.

3. I have run three marathons.

4. I am a published writer and poet.

5. I have a PhD.

6. I had a trial with a professional football/soccer club.

7. I often do stupid things and feel very lazy.

   Now, to let my nominees know…

Marc Latham hadn’t planned any new Folding Mirror poems this week, and wanted to focus on other writing work, but Suzi Quatro’s Search for Jim Morrison inspired a poem yesterday, and Neil Oliver‘s History of Ancient Britain documentary last night (http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b01971gm/, available until 10:04PM Sun, 8 Jan 2012 in the UK; don’t know about any other availability) had an exciting archaeological find in Orkney that seemed perfect for a Folding Mirror poem.  As the documentary is only available this week it was thought that a quick publishing was needed.  Sorry if it’s a poetry overload so soon after the holidays!

Spiritual Portal found between Ring of Brodgar and Stones of Stenness

The Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness have long been fascinating attractions on Orkney, off the north-east coast of Scotland.  An archaeological dig between the two circles, called the Ness of Brodgar, has now found a large temple complex, which they think was a portal on a procession route from the Land of the Living – Stones of Stenness to the Land of the Dead – Ring of Brodgar.

It is thought that there was a similar relationship between Stonehenge and the nearby Durrington Walls, with a procession route between the two via the River Avon.

It is believed that the Ness of Brodgar was destroyed when the Bronze Age brought a new political and religious system, and the inhabitants lost faith with the old Stone Age rituals.

The poem is structured in line with the order of the ancient procession rather than geographically; as shown in the above map on the Orkney Jar website, the Ring of Brodgar is north of the Stones of Stenness.  Here’s the poem:

When Life Looked into the Mirror of Death

Land of the Living
Stones of Stenness
carefully crafted circle
spiritual lea
pathway between sea

Ness of Brodgar, purifying portal

respecting ancient lessons
pathway processions
alms around ancestors
Ring of Brodgar
Land of the Dead

Marc Latham’s central site is the Greenygrey (http://www.greenygrey.co.uk).

Image via Wikipedia

Marc Latham’s latest fm poem was written on New Year’s Day while listening to the BBC Radio programme: Suzi Quatro in Search of Jim Morrison, (http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b018b6gj/) which is available in the UK until 10:02PM Wed, 4 Jan 2012.  Don’t know if it’s available anywhere else.

The poem is about two very different kinds of lifestyle either side of a warm, dry and comfortable contented reality.  One of the alternative bipolar lives would be of pampered luxury in a pleasure palace and the other a rough living hitch-hiking hobo.

Contented Living, Contents of Dreaming

playboy mansion
is where I’d like to be
surrounded by women
all sweet as honey

roof under rain, wall in want

the long winding air
flying catapult kingdom
calls my mind on the wind
sunshine freedom

Marc Latham’s central site is the Greenygrey (http://www.greenygrey.co.uk).