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Eiregirl
Joined: 21 Jul 2005
Posts: 10230
Location: Chasing a pink bunny
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Not long enough (#19 Monody)
What is a monody?
One definition of a monody describes it as a poem that gives a passionate expression of grief over someone’s death. This is similar to an elegy or a dirge, which also lament the death of someone. (this is the form my poem will take)
Another definition of a monody is that of a song which describes it as a solo vocal composition. This is one of the forms Sappho is famous for even though in her time it was not called a monody.
Structure…
There is no set structure to a monody though many do have rhyming verse it is not a requirement.
Often monody’s are written in a way that they can be sung but that too is not a requirement.
History…
There is no clear starting point in history for this form of poetry…at least not that I can find but I have found that monody was a type of lyric poetry that was used in ancient Greece and was generally written to be sung even though it was not until about the seventeenth century that this form was actually called a monody. In the late sixteenth century there was an attempt to restore ancient Greek idea’s of melody and declamation. As the “mon” implies it was for one person without a chorus. The earliest references to monody that I came across were references to a style that Sappho is suspected to have used which would have been somewhere between 630 to 570 B.C. give or take 10 or 20 years. So one could say that a very old form of poetry has a rather new name.
If you have interest in this form try reading William Wordsworth's "She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways."
Now my poem:
Not long enough
The flowers mark the spot of your long endless sleep
Your time upon this earth though short it may have been
Was long enough for you to become my friend
Long enough for you to touch my cold heart
With immense love in your eyes you held out your hand
Taking my hand into yours you lifted me up
The smile on your face let me know you were a friend
At the time you seemed old to such a young child
Today I realize thirty years you would never see
But for the short time I knew you…much you did teach
You taught this weary child to smile once again
You taught this little one to cherish each day
It was not till many years had passed
That I knew what I had learned from you
Now I see the world as I hope you would too
To me you were never here long enough
Edit #1, #2 (added more historical information)
Last edited by Eiregirl on Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:28 am; edited 2 times in total
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Tue Apr 04, 2006 9:19 pm |
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animaanna
Joined: 22 Aug 2005
Posts: 323
Location: Portland, OR
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Sad and sweet - hope I dont have to use this form anytime soon. Much love to you
Jilli _________________ "Poetry is the silent voice that is heard everywhere inside of us..."
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Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:34 pm |
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Violets-On-The-Sea
Joined: 06 Nov 2005
Posts: 115
Location: England
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Oh my gosh, I thought the poem was by Wordsworth!!!!!! (needless to say I haven't read much of his stuff - I didn't like it), - otherwise, I would definately have asked your permission. Please accept my apologies for this lapse of politeness. It really was a complete mistake. But on the plus side I am happy you were happy about it, and I will add a link to this page to attribute that so beautiful poem to you. Thanks for being kind.
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Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:35 pm |
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irisheyes
Joined: 18 Jun 2005
Posts: 420
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Eiregirl
A beautifully emotional poem.
Sad but with a gratefulness also for knowing your friend and learning what you did from her in such a short time.Things that have stayed with you since.
Thanks for sharing Eiregirl and thanks again for taking the time to enlighten us all with the different forms of poetry there is.
Hugs
Irisheyes
XXX
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Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:00 pm |
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Eiregirl
Joined: 21 Jul 2005
Posts: 10230
Location: Chasing a pink bunny
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Edited the history section and added a little more historical information.
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Sun Aug 06, 2006 6:49 pm |
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