Rooster and I went out to breakfast at a local restaurant yesterday morning. They have a picture hanging on the wall of Italian Prisoners of War during WW II being led down the street in shackles. Word Daddy whispered that I should write a poem about that photo and a conversation between old guys at a liar’s table. If you’ve never attended one of these meetings, you should. You’ll realize none of these guys know a thing about what they are talking about after you’ve listened for five minutes. Once you get past that, a writer will understand that they have a front-row seat to a wonderful exercise in dialogue. I created this dialogue Poem I titled Graduation Day.
I researched dialogue poetry online without wanting to give my muse credit for an original idea. A form of dialogue poetry already existed, but there weren’t any hard or fast rules, only general suggestions. So, I decided to write out a firm set of rules I plan to use for my dialogue poetry.
Rules I used to write Dialogue Poetry and Graduation Day
My Dialogue Poems will consist of a conversation between two or more people.
- They will be a reflection of different opinions and views.
- The conversation should be controversial or argumentative.
- I plan to use poetic elements and techniques, but no rhythm or meter rule exists. Free verse is acceptable.
- The dialogue might be tagged or untagged. “He said” or “she said” might or might not be used.
Okay, so I’ve set down a few rules. I hate to give Word Daddy any credit, but he did whisper a good idea into my ear. I plan to have fun writing in this style.
Graduation Day “I used to love this place. In the days of my innocence. I thought these halls were filled with grace Splendor, knowledge, and magnificence Now I know it was all a lie.” I said with a sigh. “I don’t like your insolence. We never promised you the world. But you can achieve a sense Of higher knowledge if you try.” The professor adjusted his gown. “Yes, but in my defense I studied hard but wanted more Then a casual glimpse and a light trace A skimming the surface, if you will, Of the meaning of hidden things.” I said with a frown. “There is no reason to fuss and cry. If you want something more, you see You need to return for another degree.” The professor said with a sly grin. “I don’t like that smug look on your face. I’ve worked so hard that it’s ridiculous. And read all the books you recommended. Still, I think I know less than when I started.” I said, standing my ground. “The beginning of wisdom Is to recognize your ignorance. You see, my dear, knowledge Is a double-edged sword. It’s as valuable as money to this college. Call it academic greed, The more you have, The more you need.”
Who is Molly Shea?
Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh. To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.
Be sure to follow Molly on Twitter!