Great job on the Nonet poems yesterday!! Cheers!!
I really,
really, really love the word “hyperbole.” I just like the way it sounds. And
when used in poetry, it can be the cause of more fun than a life-long pass to
Disneyland. (THAT was a hyperbole, by the way).
Hyperbole
Poems are written in overstated, figurative language. They are full of very
large exaggerations, often used for emphasis. A hyperbole is a figure of speech
and a type of irony that uses extreme exaggeration for emphasis or to make a
point. [Irony: the use of words to express something other than and especially
the opposite of the literal meaning]. Such statements are exaggerations, but
are not metaphors.
Obviously, hyperboles
are not intended to be taken literally: “I’ve been waiting for an eternity for
you to get here.”
Another case
in point: “Hyperbole is the greatest thing in the history of the entire
world!!!”
“I’ve told
you a million times to …”
“She has a
bazillion books.”
“I’m so
hungry I could eat a horse.”
The 18th
century poet, Robert Burns, used hyperbole in his poem, “A Red, Red Rose.” In
the poem he exaggerates about the degree of love he feels for his beloved. He
says that he’ll love his “bonnie lass” until the seas go dry, the sun melts
rocks, and the sands of life come to an end.
Here’s a
great example in an excerpt (1st verse) of a hyperbole poem, “I Ate a Spicy
Pepper” by Kenn Nesbitt – who has an excellent site for teaching poetry to kids
(or anyone else, for that matter).
I ate a spicy pepper
From my brother on a dare.
The pepper caught my head on fire
And burned off all my hair.
It goes on with more examples of hyperbole – such as
My mouth erupted lava
And my tongue began to melt.
My ears were shooting jets of steam.
....
Well, you
get the idea ~ there really are no special rules as to rhyme or rhythm with a
hyperbole poem. You are the ruler of the world … of your poem, that is. (Threw
in a little hyperbole for ya’).
So, what’s
on your mind? Have fun with it!! S-T-R-E-T-C-H the truth and write a poem!!
Here’s a
crazy little 4-line example I wrote a few years ago. What do the rest of you
out there have to offer?
The little girl said she had a dog as
big as a cow.
I thought that was odd and I asked her how.
She said the dog ate as much as a horse.
Well,
I thought, that explains things, of course.
©
2021 Stephanie Abney
YOUR TURN!!
PLEASE REMEMBER ~ any poetry found on this blog, written by me, is my
personal property and may not be used without my permission, other than sharing
it as an example in a lesson or to read it to someone. The same goes for any
poems that are shared in the comments of this blog or elsewhere online as a
result of this challenge. They are the creative property of the person who
writes them. These poems are their original work and no one may use them
without their permission. It is understood that they own the copyright to them
as soon as they create them and especially once they post them. Thanks so much!
*** Also, if you choose to
post your poems on your own blog or elsewhere on social media ~ that’s awesome.
But PLEASE don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post
your poem on your blog or your FB wall or wherever AND LINK BACK TO EACH DAY’S
SPECIFIC BLOG POST for others to come here to read the instructions. I’ve spent
considerable time researching the poetry forms and writing them up to share
with you. Thanks for respecting my work.
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