Strain Better Than Stanza

Thanks to Robert Shubinski of Bob's Byway for advice on best term for a Demish poetry concept. (see: Amel's Poetry, Ameron)

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Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2000 21:22:41 -0600
From: "Robert G. Shubinski" <rgs@wwa.com>
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To: Lynda Williams <williaml@unbc.ca>
Subject: Re: Sort of a stanza but ...

Dear Lynda,

The term "stanza," as you correctly sense, is not very suitable for your purpose since it is
so strongly suggestive of a recurring pattern of line groupings.

I would suggest using the word, "strain," in its denotative sense of a passage or piece of
poetry. From a quick perusal of some of the poetry on your website, I think that "strain"
would be descriptively accurate without being restrictive as to form, and  would also evoke
appropriate connotations of effort, force, tension, melody, eloquence, disposition, style,
tone, as well as a group of related types.

Cordially,

Bob

Lynda Williams wrote:

> Dear Bob,
>
> I am a science fiction author who "runs" a universe that includes
> a poetical culture. My co-author and I have a supporting web site
> where we post background material.
>
> I discovered your dictionary of poetical terms while looking for a
> better choice of word than "stanza" in the description of a
> (fictional) poetic tradition found at http://www.okalrel.org/works/bycharacters/amel4.html
>
> Couldn't locate one. But I wondered if you might have a suggestion.
>
> I was looking for something evocative of 'cycle' or oral tradition or
> pieces that might be arranged in different ways for different purposes.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> Lynda J. Williams, williaml@unbc.ca, (250) 960-5613
> http://www.themestream.com/authors/113215.html
> http://www.okalrel.org
> http://ctl.unbc.ca

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