Monostich
A monostich is a poem which consists of a single line.[1]
Form
A monostich has been described as 'a startling fragment that has its own integrity' [2] and 'if a monostich has an argument, it is necessarily more subtle.' [3]
A monostich could be also titled; due to the brevity of the form, the title is invariably as important a part of the poem as the verse itself: [4]
Some one line poems have 'the characteristics of not exceeding one line of a normal page, to be read as one unbroken line without forced pauses or the poetics of ceasura', and others having ' a rhythm, (as with one-line haiku), dividing easily into three phrases'. [5]
History
Almost all examples of monostich are imported from other languages: the Russian and the French.[6] Modern monostich was started in Russia in 1894 [7] when Valery Bryusov published the single line of pretty absurdic essence:
- О закрой свои бледные ноги.
- Oh, cover your pale legs.)
Perhaps the first to re-introduce one line poems was Guillaume Apollinaire with his "Chantre" (1914)[1] in his collection 'Alcools' (1913), mentioned by Leroy Breunig in 'Apollinaire and the monostich' followed by Bill Zavatsky with his 'Roy Rogers'article(1974)[8] in which he made clear hat one line poems are not at all foreign to Western poetic tradition, also including therein some from Jerome Rothenberg's 'Technicians of the Sacred'(1969),[9] all of which are referenced in William Higginson's 'Characteristics of monostichs'.[10]Another, one Emmanuel Lochac published in 1920 'one-liners' under the title 'Monostiches'.[11]
Later, John Ashbery in '37 Haiku' demonstrated the Haiku in the monostich form.[12] Ian McBryde's 2005 book 'Slivers' consists entirely of one line poems.[13]
See also
References
- ^ http://www.thefreedictionary.com/monostich
- ^ Hahn, Kimiko, 'A Broken Thing: Poets on the Line'
- ^ Martin, Camille, 'The Humble Monostich' , Rogue Embryo, 2011 .
- ^ http://www.poetrydances.com/monostich.php
- ^ Higgison , William 'Characteristics of One line poems and Monostichs' Haiku Clinic, Simply Haiku.com
- ^ Kacian, Jim 'The Shape of Things to come: From Past and Future' Juxtapositions, 'The Journal of Haiku Research and Scholarship'
- ^ Strahkovsky, Leonid 'The Silver Age of Russian Poetry: Symbolism and Acmeism' Canadian Slavonic Papers vol 4 1959
- ^ Roy Rogers ,article , Winter issuse, New York Hospitality House 1974
- ^ Higginson, William 'One line poems to one line Haiku' Haiku Clinic
- ^ http://www.simplyhaiku.com/SHv2n5/haikuclinic/haikuclinic.html#return_7
- ^ Breunig Leroy, 'Apollinaure and the Monostich', 'Roy Rogers' , New York House, 1974
- ^ Ashbery, John '37 Haiku':A Wave: New York:Viking 1984
- ^ Hirsch, Edward 'A Poets Glossary' Houghton Mifflin Harcourt , Boston 2014ISBN 9780151011957
External links
- [2] Monostich examples by Yvor Winters
- Examples by Ian McBryde
- Article-on Ashbery '37 Haiku'
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