By Aaron Gansky @ADGansky

Much to my father’s chagrin, I studied poetry in college. Yes, I’m that guy. What’s worse, I studied it at the post-grad level as well. Pops likes to remind me that poetry is what people write when they can’t write novels. I like to say that novels are what people write when they can’t write a poem.

But as I spoke with an old student via Facebook the other day (thanks for the idea, btw, Renato), I was reminded how little I actually say about poetry. 

My father may not remember this the way I do, but here’s how this scene plays out in my mind: While still working toward my BA at CSUSB, my father called me to tell me about a line he’d just written. He read it to me, excited about how beautiful it was. He couldn’t say why he loved it so much, just that it sounded right. I looked over the line and, with my fancy new college-learning, told him he’d penned a line in perfect iambic pentameter.

“Watch your mouth, College Boy,” he said.

Okay, he didn’t say that, but it felt right for the story. The point is this: while you may not be able to tell me what iambic pentameter is, you know it when you hear it. It sounds right. Why? Because it mimics our normal speech patterns. Poetry and fiction have a lot in common. But, for whatever reason, people think prose is an excuse to ignore poetic elements.

Think of music, of timing and rhythms, of swells, crescendos, pianissimos. Think of the sound of the words, the high-tight vowels, the bass note, full bellied vowels (ohs, uhs). Your poetry should sing, as should your fiction.

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, I’d really suggest practicing some poetry. Learn the language. Read the greats (I’m a fan of Frost, Bishop, Moore, Plath, Rich). Try your own poem (something more than a Dr. Seuss impersonation). Enroll in a beginning poetry course, or an analysis of poetry course. Better yet, you can start here. Some great resources available free.

Until next time.

In addition to being a loving father and husband, Aaron Gansky is an award-winning novelist and author, teacher, and podcast host. In 2009, he earned his M.F.A in Fiction at the prestigious Antioch University of Los Angeles, one of the top five low-residency writing schools in the nation. Prior to that, he attained his Bachelor of Arts degree in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from California State University of San Bernardino.

He lives in a quiet little town in the high desert of southern California with his family.