A Poem Assignment.


Two things are happening at once. That is for you, the
beginning--or perhaps a bit beyond the beginning-- poet.
You want to put together a collection, but you should
also still be breaking new ground, finding out what it is you
ARE as a poet. This should be part of what goes on as you
figure out your taste as a reader. Do you like the more narrative
things as you browse online or read The Laurel Review? Or do
you dig the inderterminate stuff at Octopus? Try to think of
the chapbook as an INTRODUCTION to who you are, but
also will be, as a poet. Quality is obviously the most important
thing. But being aware of structure, and working to create an
interesting structure, is important too.

But there is room for this kind of thing:

Write a poem, a loose imitation of Noelle Kocot. It must be at
least 22 lines long (and under fifty lines long). It must be written
in third person, and we must find someone's NAME amidst your
lines. Further, it should allow one or more pieces of dialogue.
No line shall contain more than eleven syllables. Tell your tale
in a somewhat breezy, occasionally weird, style, in which
immediacy is favored over a traditionally POETICAL sounding
structure. Voice is important, and accesibility. It should feel
playful but, like the Ashbery imitation, feel like serious ART.
This poem is due on February 5. You can then include it also
with your growing collection of work and hand it in on February
19, but you are not required to.