UNDERSTANDING POETRY: THE PLACE OF PUNCTUATION IN A POEM
By Kukogho Iruesiri Samson

Then, I could work on a poem for days trying to master the
existing styles (mostly sonnets and other metered poems). As a result, my poems
were mostly with rhyme, rhythm and regular meter for years, until around 2009.
A decade into poetry, I had developed my own rules. I change
them as I grow.
These days however, new ‘poets’ simply gather
expressions, break them into verses and group them into stanzas (or just flow)
– then you have a poem.
There is nothing wrong in that, especially with poets whose
verses are rich in metaphors, imagery and all other ingredients of
poetry. But it must be also noted that following poetry rules gives our
poems structure and clarity – common ground rules that help the poet
communicate clearly and effectively to the reader.
In this lecture, our main concern in PUNCTUATION.
Punctuation in poetry is similar to punctuation in prose and
serves almost the same purpose as bar lines in music without which the words
and notes won’t flow all together. In order words, punctuation assists in
organizing your words into discernible verses:
- encapsulates
thoughts and ideas
- aids
in coherence and the presentation of meaning
- signals
when and where to breathe (very important)
Interestingly, many poets use punctuation marks without
knowing why they used them; others just write their verses without using any
marks at all, not deliberately, just because they do not know how and where to
use them. A third group of poets place punctuation arbitrarily, without
realizing that punctuation actually aid the readers’ interpretation and also
determines his/her breathe pauses.
The fact is that the punctuation marks thrown in affect
the reader’s pace, understanding, eye movement and perception.
Before we go too far, let’s talk about the TYPES OF VERSES,
determined by the POSITION of the punctuation they contain:
- End-stopped
line – when punctuation occurs at the end of a line/verse,
allowing the reader to pause before moving on to the next verse
- Run-on
line/Enjambment – when there is no punctuation at the end of the
line and/or the idea expressed in the verse is continued in the next
- Caesura
– when a punctuation mark comes within the line itself
Examples:
Once and again on running track [Enjambment]
Bolt beat them all, a tall man black [Caesura]
And did you not all clap with glee [Enjambment]
For all the watching world to see? [End-stopped]
Bolt beat them all, a tall man black [Caesura]
And did you not all clap with glee [Enjambment]
For all the watching world to see? [End-stopped]
WHICH PUNCTUATION MARKS SHOULD A POET USE?
There are several punctuation marks you can use in your
poem. In this lecture, I will focus on the ones I have used:
PERIOD (.) - the period is used to show a
final end to the thought/sentence and indeed verse; after an abbreviation. The
reader will most likely stop to think about what has been read so far.
Life is not a joke.
Those who live know
Life is not a joke.
Those who live know
QUESTION MARK (?) - the question mark is used to
indicate a direct question at the end of a verse. When it is being read, the
reader asks himself the question, and pauses:
Is life a joke?
Does it not make you cry?
Does it not make you cry?
EXCLAMATION POINT/MARK (!) - the exclamation
point/mark is used to express a sudden outcry, excitement, finality or just add
emphasis. It affects how the reader will view the verse or poem:
Life is not a joke!
Those who live know.
It is sometimes a yoke!"
Those who live know.
It is sometimes a yoke!"
COMMA (,) - the comma is used to show a
separation of ideas or elements within the verse. In a poem, you can also use
it to eliminate excess words. Eg "The sun, rain, road flogged him to
death" eliminating 'and the' twice. It is also used to separate two or
more complete, independent clauses in a verse:
Life is a slaver,
life is a beast
life is a beast
or
he came, he saw, he conquered
but life took his debt, his loan
but life took his debt, his loan
SEMICOLON (;) - the semicolon is used to connect
two independent clauses in a verse or at the end of a verse (linking two
verses):
Life is a slaver; it has no pity
Or
man is killing himself;
his hands strangle mother earth
his hands strangle mother earth
COLON (:) - the colon is used after a word
introducing a quotation, an explanation, an example, or a series:
Each life is a script:
we are born, we rehearse
we act and we die
we are born, we rehearse
we act and we die
You can also use it when indicating time in your verse:
Life left him at 2:03pm
DASH (– /-) - the dash is of two types, endash
(short) and the emdash (long/double dash).
- The
endash (-) is used to connect numbers or elements of a compound
adjective:
he ruled 6 years, 1990 - 1996
feared Lord of Lagos - Abuja power play
feared Lord of Lagos - Abuja power play
- The
emdash (–) is a little more complicated. It is used, within a
verse or at the end, to indicate a break in thought or verse structure;
introduce a phrase added for emphasis, definition, or explanation;
separate two clauses (like the semicolon):
Life is not a joke –
though the living sometimes laughs
it is a heavy yoke - many gladly bear it
though the living sometimes laughs
it is a heavy yoke - many gladly bear it
HYPHEN (-) - the hyphen is the same symbol as
the endash but it is used creating compound words, particularly modifiers
before nouns, name or syllables of a word:
Life is a power-hungry slaver
Treating the six-year-old girl
Like a hell-doomed grandpa
Treating the six-year-old girl
Like a hell-doomed grandpa
PARENTHESES ( () ) - the Parenthesis is a curved
notations used to contain further thoughts or qualifying remarks
Life is not a joke
(Though it sometimes makes us laugh)
It is a heavy yoke"
(Though it sometimes makes us laugh)
It is a heavy yoke"
or
Life is a heavy yoke
(Oftentimes gladly borne)
That all men must bear
(Oftentimes gladly borne)
That all men must bear
APOSTROPHE (') - the apostrophe is used to show
the omission of a letters from a word, possessive case:
Buhari's pow’r was nation'l
GEJ’s clout was region'l
GEJ’s clout was region'l
QUOTATIONS MARKS ( “ ” ) - the quotation mark is
used to separate the part of a verse that is directly spoken by a persona in
the poem or quote attributed to another source and presented word for word.
The son of man said "I am the way"
but men needed freedom, not a way
but men needed freedom, not a way
ELLIPSES (...) - the ellipses mark is used to
show an omission of letters or words (especially in a quote) that do not
interfere with the meaning. It can also show a transition or time lapse:
Life dealt me a bitter blow
Stole my heart, my wealth…
Now I am a corpse walking
Stole my heart, my wealth…
Now I am a corpse walking
Or
"I am the way… life"
The son of man said
The son of man said
Punctuation gives the reader a brief release in tension,
allowing him/her to pause for a moment and consider what has been read so far.
This is why you must be thoughtful in where you break the
line because your choices will affect the reader’s experience of the flow and
motion of the poem.
See the poem below:
WHY DOES LOVE STEAL OUR TONGUES by Kukogho Iruesiri
Samson
he was a little boy reaching for manhood
she, little girl arching for womanhood [comma]
his was mixed tale of tears and hope
hers, a life upwards Life’s slope [apostrophe]
she, little girl arching for womanhood [comma]
his was mixed tale of tears and hope
hers, a life upwards Life’s slope [apostrophe]
two stories crossed: one scene, one act [colon,
comma]
pretty lass, scrawny lad lacking tact [comma]
him a sapling uprooted, replanted [comma]
her the rose everyone wanted
pretty lass, scrawny lad lacking tact [comma]
him a sapling uprooted, replanted [comma]
her the rose everyone wanted
her heart was loud, but lips were mute [comma]
while he was lost in voiceless youth
tho’ Cupid’s bow a shot released [apostrophe]
time wept for two lips deceased
while he was lost in voiceless youth
tho’ Cupid’s bow a shot released [apostrophe]
time wept for two lips deceased
a week, a month… wore out Time’s soles [comma,
ellipsis, apostrophe]
a glance, a smile, two whispering souls; [comma, comma, semi-colon]
and still no telling word was risked
until away the lad was whisked
a glance, a smile, two whispering souls; [comma, comma, semi-colon]
and still no telling word was risked
until away the lad was whisked
she grieved, he mourned (but time heals all) [comma,
parenthesis]
… one decade plus, the lad stands tall [ellipsis]
once little lass, now jewelled queen: [colon]
a wife serving her king’s whim [apostrophe]
… one decade plus, the lad stands tall [ellipsis]
once little lass, now jewelled queen: [colon]
a wife serving her king’s whim [apostrophe]
two stories crossed: same scene, same act [colon,
comma]
a bejewelled queen, fine man with tact [comma]
he an oak – deep-rooted. she wanted [emdash, endash, full stop]
but silver ring on a finger taunted! [exclamation]
a bejewelled queen, fine man with tact [comma]
he an oak – deep-rooted. she wanted [emdash, endash, full stop]
but silver ring on a finger taunted! [exclamation]
why does love steal our tongues?! [question mark,
exclamation]
The poem above used detailed internal punctuations but does
not follow the norm of using uppercase letters as the beginning of each verse
as is done by most traditional poets. In this case, the poet deliberately broke
rules.
WHEN MY LOVE SWEARS THAT SHE IS MADE OF TRUTH (Sonnet
138) byWilliam Shakespeare
When my love swears that she is made of truth
I do believe her, though I know she lies, [comma, comma]
That she might think me some untutored youth, [comma]
Unlearnèd in the world's false subtleties. [full stop]
Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young, [comma]
Although she knows my days are past the best, [comma]
Simply I credit her false-speaking tongue; [semi colon]
On both sides thus is simple truth suppressed. [full stop]
But wherefore says she not she is unjust? [question mark]
And wherefore say not I that I am old? [question mark]
O, love's best habit is in seeming trust, [comma, apostrophe, comma]
And age in love, loves not to have years told. [comma, full stop]
Therefore I lie with her, and she with me, [comma, comma]
And in our faults by lies we flattered be. [full stop]
I do believe her, though I know she lies, [comma, comma]
That she might think me some untutored youth, [comma]
Unlearnèd in the world's false subtleties. [full stop]
Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young, [comma]
Although she knows my days are past the best, [comma]
Simply I credit her false-speaking tongue; [semi colon]
On both sides thus is simple truth suppressed. [full stop]
But wherefore says she not she is unjust? [question mark]
And wherefore say not I that I am old? [question mark]
O, love's best habit is in seeming trust, [comma, apostrophe, comma]
And age in love, loves not to have years told. [comma, full stop]
Therefore I lie with her, and she with me, [comma, comma]
And in our faults by lies we flattered be. [full stop]
CAN YOU DO WITHOUT PUNCTUATION MARKS?
The answer is ‘yes’ with a huge caveat.
The poet E.E. Cummings is well known as a grammar rebel that
care not a little about rules of grammar, especially punctuation, and he
successfully alters basic sentence structure.
Now many poets would however accept his style as seen in the
poem below:
anyone lived in a pretty how town by ee cummings
anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn’t he danced his did.
Women and men (both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isn’t they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain
children guessed (but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more
when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyone’s any was all to her
someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance
(sleep wake hope and then)they
said their nevers they slept their dream
stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt to forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)
one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was
all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
with by spirit and if by yes.
Women and men (both dong and ding)
summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn’t he danced his did.
Women and men (both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isn’t they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain
children guessed (but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more
when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyone’s any was all to her
someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance
(sleep wake hope and then)they
said their nevers they slept their dream
stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt to forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)
one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was
all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
with by spirit and if by yes.
Women and men (both dong and ding)
summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain
NOTE: he removed the capital letters and almost
doesn’t use punctuation at all. It is rebellious and may not be accepted in
some quarters, put to the test of grammar, it may fail woefully. But it still
accomplishes a lot as a poem, earning accolades in his time.
In conclusion, I would like to state the following:
- learn
the rules before you attempt to break them
- when
you break them, be purposeful, know why
- don’t
be afraid to experiment (rules are meant to be broken)
Also:
- Every
verse with more than 1 CLAUSE needs INTERNAL PUNCTUATIONS
- END
punctuations like FULL STOP, and COMMA can be done away with, if you so
desire
- Punctuations
within the verses of the poem are VERY important
- Even
where the poem has no punctuation, EXCLAMATION marks, at the end or within
a verse, are needed to show the intensity of a verse. Same with QUESTION
marks where a question is asked
- Placing
the right punctuation marks within your poem not only aids the reader, it
also ensures that your emotions are conveyed
REFERENCES:
BREAKING GRAMMAR RULES IN POETRY WRITING by Melissa
Donovan
TO PUNCTUATE OR NOT TO PUNCTUATE, THEREIN LIES THE QUESTION byTerrie Relf
SHOULD ALL POETRY LINES END WITH A COMMA OR PERIOD? by Brandi Reissenweber
PUNCTUATION AND LINE BREAKS IN POETRY by Ann L. Camy
TO PUNCTUATE OR NOT TO PUNCTUATE, THEREIN LIES THE QUESTION byTerrie Relf
SHOULD ALL POETRY LINES END WITH A COMMA OR PERIOD? by Brandi Reissenweber
PUNCTUATION AND LINE BREAKS IN POETRY by Ann L. Camy
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