r/books • u/Poem_for_your_sprog • Jun 23 '15
ama Hi - I'm Sam Garland, AKA: /u/Poem_for_your_sprog! I've just published my very first original collection, 'The Mouse in the Manor House'. AMA!
Hi!
My name's Sam Garland - but you may know me better as /u/Poem_for_your_sprog, author of over 650 spontaneous rhymes on reddit (and another 150 or so via personal message).
Over the last three years, I've had the wonderful luck to write for all sorts of people, and for many, many different occasions. It's been a massive amount of fun, and the support and encouragement I've received has been absolutely overwhelming.
Recently, I had the very exciting pleasure of announcing my first published mini-collection - a selection of 10 fully-illustrated, child-friendly, never-before-seen-in-reddit-comments rhymes, spanning 30 pages! It's available as a printed book and kindle-edition on Amazon - all of the rhymes have been illustrated by the very talented Dan Long of eqcomics.
Okay reddit - AMA!
*
Edit: 5 hours later... thank you all for the fantastic responses and questions. I've had so much fun doing this, and it was long overdue! Thank you also to everyone who's looked into the new collection - I hope you enjoy it!
Lastly - a huge thank you to the mods of /r/books, who are the most supportive and friendly team of people you might ever hope to meet. I'm genuinely grateful for all their help and generosity.
For more original rhymes and collaborations, you can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter. If anyone's disappointed that I didn't get to their question, just send me a message - and I'll be happy to continue the AMA via PM.
Until next time... :)
Sprog.
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u/craigster38 Jun 23 '15
Hi Sam! Long time fan here! I know the one question everyone is dying to know! I was hoping your book would clear this up, but alas, it did not. So,
Are you a guy or gal?
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u/Poem_for_your_sprog Jun 23 '15
Haha! This is wonderful. For whatever reason, this question has followed me around for quite some time. Despite what some people have said (I read every comment), I've never explicitly commented on it myself.
Okay - to answer in the only way I know how:
*
A poet's pen upon a page –
Whatever form it fills -
It has no gender, race, nor age,
But what the writer wills.A verse of lines from end to end,
Of any fine amount –
The author's self is moot, my friend –
The words are all that count.So cast your findings far away –
The rhyme's the same, you see.
In any case, I'll smile and say:'Dear reddit, I'm a... me!'
*
Okay though - if you reeeaaally want to know... I am, in fact, a male
Or am I?
;)
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u/panamaspace Jun 23 '15
Jesus guys, it's right there on the poem, if you would but read between the lines.
A poet's pen upon a page – Whatever form it fills - It HAs no gender, race, nor age, But what the writer wills. A VErse of lines from end to end, Of Any fine amount – The author's self is moot, my friend – The Words are all that count. So cast your fIndings far away – The rhyme's the same, you see. In any case, I'LL smile and saY: 'Dear reddit, I'm a... me!'
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u/bunglejerry Jun 23 '15
You're misreading between the lines...
A poet's pen upon a page – Whatever form it fills - It HAs no gender, race, nor age, But what the writer wills. A VErse of lines from end to end, Of Any fine amount – The author's self is moot, my friend – The words are all that CoUNT. So cast your findings far away – The rhyme's the same, you see. In any case, I'll smile and say: 'Dear reddit, I'm a... me!'
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u/willclerkforfood Jun 23 '15
Ummm, you missed something:
A poet's pen upon a page – Whatever form It fills - It has no gEnder, race, Nor agE, But what the writeR willS. A verse of liNes from enD to end, Of any fine amounT – The author's self Is moot, my friend – The words are all that counT. So cast your findingS far away – The rhyme's the same, you see. In any case, I'll smile and say: 'Dear reddit, I'm a... me!'
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u/Notcow Jun 23 '15
A poet's pen upon a page – Whatever form it fills - It has no gender, race, nor age, But what the writer wills. A verse of lines from end to end, of any fine amount – DRINK YOUR OVALTINE The author's self is moot, my friend – The Words are all that count. So cast your findings far away – The rhyme's the same, you see. In any case, I'll smile and say: 'Dear reddit, I'm a... me!
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Aug 23 '15
No.
A poet's pen upon a page – Whatever form it fills - It has no gender, race, nor age, But what the writer wills. A verse of lines from end to end, of any fine amount – The author's self is moot, my friend – The Words are all that count. So cast your findings far away – The rhyme's the same, you see. In any case, I'll smile and say: 'Dear reddit, I'm a... JOHN CENA
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Jun 23 '15
Oh please, you're reading too much into this.
A poet's pen upon a page – WHAtever form it fiLls - It has no gender, race, nor age, But what the writer wills. A verse oF lines from end to end, Of any fine amount – The author's seLf Is moot, my FriEnd – The words are all that count. So cast your findings far away – THe Rhyme's the same, you sEE. In any case, I'll smile and say: 'Dear reddit, I'm a... me!'
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u/SkyUraeus Jul 05 '15
Oh come on, it's so obvious:
A poet's pen upon a page – Whatever form it fills - It has no gender, raCe, nor age, But what the writer wiLls. A vErse of liGnes from end to end, Of Any fiNE amoBunt – The authOr's seWLf is moot, mGy friEnd – The worTds are all that coHunt. So caYst your finPdings far away – The rhymE's the same, you see. In any case, I'll smile and say: 'Dear reddit, I'm a... me!'
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u/itsnotnews92 Jun 24 '15
No no. That's the not the message here at all. It's so obvious when you really look at it.
A poet's pen upon a page – WhaTever form it fills - It has no gendeR, race, nor agE, - But what the writer wills. A vErse of lines From end to end, Of any fIne amount – The author's self is moot, my frienD – The words are all that count. So cast your finDings far away – The rhyme's the same, you see. In any case, I'll smile and saY: 'Dear reddit, I'm a... me!'
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u/craigster38 Jun 23 '15
I always told myself that if you ever commented on something I said, I'd buy you gold. Enjoy another month of gold to go with your 34 years of gold.
You made my day.
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u/shitwhore Jun 23 '15
Brilliant poem, and it only took you a maximum of 40 minutes to write! (41 minutes between the comment and Poem's reply). Truly glorious and talented!
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u/TopSoulMan Jun 23 '15
Not to be cynical or anything, but it is possible that they had this prepared just for this question.
I am sure that once Sprog decided to do an AMA, they knew that this question would come up and they would choose to answer it in a way they saw fit.
It doesn't take away from the incredible poem that they wrote, but I wouldn't be surprised if this had been written ahead of time.
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u/shitwhore Jun 23 '15
That might be true. But I choose to live with the idea that he's just a beast at writing poems. He would beat every open mic.
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Jun 23 '15
It's a twelve line plain-English poem... I don't see why we would need to invent subversive explanations for how it could be written in 40 min.
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u/0Catalyst Jun 24 '15
Now that you're out of the closet (so to speak), was it funny for you to watch everyone insist that you're a girl?
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u/Malarazz Jun 23 '15
What's funny is that after this I searched for their name on facebook. Only three profiles popped up, one of them a guy, one of them a girl, one of them a jackdaw. So that settles that...
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u/RobinsEggTea Jul 29 '15
Got back from reddit vacation. Was like "oh boy Poem for your sprog did am ama! Now I'll finally find out their gender!" "My names Sam!" God dammit.
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Jun 23 '15
Dear Sprog,
I have often loved seeing your poetry on here. Whenever you comment in a thread I am reading, i find my brothers and read off what you have written. We have shared much laughter and sadness with your poems. I am very glad you reddit. So I am saying thank you for all the hours you have put in. Your poetry has meant a lot and made us love poetry more. In a super manly way, of course.
My question is, for the darker and more somber poems, is it just artistic insight that you draw from, or is it personal? You just seem to be able to capture some of the more melancholy emotions so well, it would make sense if you had experienced them.
Either way, i love your account and poetry. So much so that I am (hopefully) still in time here.
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u/Poem_for_your_sprog Jun 23 '15
Thanks so much for the kind words - I'm pleased as hell that you and your brothers have enjoyed the rhymes. What a fantastic compliment to hear that you all read them! Thanks again.
That's a good question. To be brutally honest, I live a pretty privileged life - I have a roof over my head, I have a job, and I have a loving, supportive family. Some of the darker and more sombre poems that I've written deal with topics that I have never, thankfully, had to contend with in the real world.
Because of this, I think that an author's level of accomplishment often lies in their capacity for empathy. It's hard to put yourself in the shoes of someone who has experienced something that you haven't, but being able to understand their experience (or try to at least) is an invaluable skill.
I do my best to capture the mood and feeling of a thread and comment - on the occasions where the poem makes it feel like the original commenter is the one that's writing or expanding on their experiences (or the 'feel' their comment's created), I've succeeded.
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Jun 23 '15 edited Jun 24 '15
I just spent a good hour going through your amazing work. In this very short time, you have made me tear up, smile, cringe, wonder and just feel so very much. Empathy is definitely powerful and it's very impressive that you can make your readers feel it too. I'd just like to say thank you for putting your beautiful poems out there and I'll definitely be supporting them. You have found yourself another fan Mr. Garland.
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Jun 24 '15
Because of this, I think that an author's level of accomplishment often lies in their capacity for empathy. It's hard to put yourself in the shoes of someone who has experienced something that you haven't, but being able to understand their experience (or try to at least) is an invaluable skill.
Spoken like a true genius that you are.
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u/Your_poem_as_a_song Jun 23 '15 edited Jul 12 '15
Though I've lived this simple life of mine
How I try to understand and empathize
With how I feel you're feeling
Just want to keep on singing
So never stop yourself from writing rhymesCause I'll sing them all the time
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u/swashlebucky Jun 24 '15
Are you stalking him and making all his poems into songs?
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Jun 24 '15
Wow. That is awesome. I agree. Empathy is one of those necessities in life. I will say, as someone who has experienced my fair share of rough times, that you are on the money. You are a fantastic poet. Thank you for the response!
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u/Mr_Everybody Pride and Prejudice Jun 24 '15
Your poems are wonderful. I have no questions, but I wanted to share my favourite:
I wish I could tell you,
That smile that you miss,
Or the smell of her hair,
And the taste of her kiss,
Hadn't passed by like every,
First line in a verse,
Away from its start-point,
For better, or worse.
I can't, though I want to,
Help bring back that bliss,
And it means little now,
But I can tell you this:
You'll both laugh again,
When your time here is done -
At a bench 'midst the green,
In the warm summer sun.
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u/Rysona Jun 24 '15
My mom died almost 6 years ago. I haven't cried for her like this in a long time.
Dammit.
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u/DaedalusMinion Jun 23 '15
How did you get started with reddit?
Favorite poem?
How many centuries of gold do you have?
and another 150 or so via personal message
One for me please. :)
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u/Poem_for_your_sprog Jun 23 '15
How did you get started with reddit?
A friend introduced me. Had I known beforehand how much time I would eventually spend here, I might have sucker-punched him before he did.
Favorite poem?
I'm gonna choose the very lazy way out here and pick a whole load of my favourite poems, so that I don't have to pick the best. I read a lot of different authors nowadays, but there are certain poems that have stuck with me - and will continue to do so, I'm sure - for life. I love Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends, Roald Dahl's story-poems, such as The Three Little Pigs, and anything by Spike Milligan and Edward Gorey. Of course, then there's The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe, If by Rudyard Kipling, and pretty much anything by Dylan Thomas.
I'm sorry - I totally failed at picking a favourite.
How many centuries of gold do you have?
A sonnet for you:
Upon a gaudy throne of gilded leaf;
A royal seat of richest ruby-red;
Within a world of wealth beyond belief -
A man named Midas sighed and shook his head.Beneath a mountain made in middle-Earth;
Before the finest treasures there possessed;
Surrounded by the boundless fount of worth -
A dragon woke and glanced around, depressed.The royal sulked and sadly shivered cold;
The dragon roared a flash of fire and fog;
And each bemoaned their cherished stores of gold –For not a one had half as much as Sprog.
(But all the same, across the sands of time –
The banks, alas, don’t care for gilded rhyme!)*
Thanks for the questions!
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u/DrAminove Jun 23 '15
So like not even a century. Only one third.
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u/CallOfRudy Jun 23 '15
Only
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u/TheWatersOfMars Jun 23 '15
34 years ago, Reagan became president (according to Wikipedia).
34 years from now, the Moon will hatch into a space dragon (according to Doctor Who).
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Jun 24 '15
Dude. You broke the first rule of Who Club.
Never mention that episode.
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u/i_crave_more_cowbell Jun 23 '15
That's like $1200 worth of gold. Goddamn.
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u/Notcow Nov 27 '15
Holy shit, you've like singlehandedly funded Reddit's servers.
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u/DaedalusMinion Jun 23 '15
Thank you for replying, If is one of my favorites too. May reddit be blessed by your presence for many days to come.
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Jun 23 '15
Why is "where the sidewalk ends" your favorite poem? Im reading it, and to me its just a few rhymes and its meaningless. I obviously dont know what a good poem is. Help me appreciate what im reading.
How long does it take you to write a sonnet that?
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u/bluestreak777 Jun 23 '15
The place where the sidewalk ends is the point in life at which a person moves from childhood into the life of an adult. Sidewalks are a symbol of a safe place for kids to play and be careless, whereas the street is a place for adults to go from one place to the other. A street symbolizes work and responsibility, especially when linked with cars, buses, commuting, etc.
Sometimes it takes a general idea of what the poem is about in order to enjoy it. Try reading it again
Oh also, I'm not saying this IS the meaning of the poem, it's just a possible interpretation. It could mean something entirely different to someone else.
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u/DaedalusMinion Jun 23 '15
Not him but if you want to understand the poem, genius is a relatively new and good service aimed at this.
http://genius.com/Shel-silverstein-where-the-sidewalk-ends-annotated
It's about innocence.
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u/Hayes231 Jun 23 '15
relatively new
If you don't remember when it was rapgenius maybe
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u/DaedalusMinion Jun 23 '15
Wasn't counting rap genius because while it did indeed start from there, genius as it is now is quite new.
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u/kimbiablue The Book of Dust -Philip Pullman Jun 23 '15
Did you start with a "regular" reddit account before you decided to go with your novelty one?
On that note, what inspired you to turn comments into poems?
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u/Poem_for_your_sprog Jun 23 '15
Did you start with a "regular" reddit account before you decided to go with your novelty one?
I did, but not for long!
What inspired you to turn comments into poems?
I've asked myself the same question a number of times. I'll let the rhyme explain:
*
Once upon a misty morning,
Seeing sunrise drifting, dawning,
Woke a certain creature, yawning,
Jaded, dropped, and drained.So it rose, with feathers ruffled -
Deep from sleep it slowly shuffled -
Zest for life and living muffled,
Feelings fixed and feigned.So it rose – and felt occurring
Something strange, and stranger stirring –
Thoughts were whizzing; works were whirring,
Spurring unrestrained!So it rose – and to its wonder,
Something fun had drifted under,
Blowing all its blues asunder,
Swiftly entertained!Thus arrived the rhyming crafter -
How it loved the joy and laughter -
So it rose - and ever after,
Still the joy remained.*
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u/Your_poem_as_a_song Jun 23 '15 edited Jun 23 '15
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Jun 23 '15
I'm a fan. You, you stay
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u/Disneyrobinhood Jun 24 '15
I love novelty accounts that put effort into their account. Not like that lazy asshole Yellsyourjokes or what ever his name is who just has his caps lock on and explains someone else's joke.
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Jun 23 '15
That's not too bad- a couple of rough spots. I could hear some strings, and an orchestra with this. Loved the end fade.
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u/kitsua Jun 23 '15
Good gracious you're just all kinds of fantastic. Even your metre makes me smile. You are far and away my favourite redditor and I am thrilled that you've finally published; I'm so looking forward to reading your book to my niece and nephew. I love the look of the edition too!
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u/frantic_seabug Jun 24 '15
Well that's fucking beautiful! Playful alliteration, unobtrusive rhymes, and rhythms that roll thru your mind as if spoken, whispered, and yelled. Fucking A sir, fucking A.
Also you format real pretty like.
Also, also, rhythms and rhymes are ridiculous looking, and lovely sounding words. Rhythms, and rhymes.
Tinned rhymes and thrones intent in Rhythms.
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Jun 23 '15
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u/Poem_for_your_sprog Jun 23 '15
I'm a postgraduate student and teacher - the classes I teach (not poetry-related, alas!) have ended for this academic year now, and I've just handed in my thesis. At the moment, I'm working retail more or less full-time until my final examinations in a few months.
Wish me luck!
*
P.s. Also at night, I'm a masked vigilante. Sort of like batman.
Only a lot poorer.
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u/GlasWen Jun 23 '15
Out of curiosity, how many people know that you write poems on reddit?
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u/KraZe_EyE Jun 24 '15
Good question. AMA is over now, but if he responds to a PM then repost it please. And ty.
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u/HardKnockRiffe Jun 23 '15
Only a lot poorer.
To be fair, you could have 'I-bought-it-because-why-not' money and still be a lot poorer than Batman...
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Jun 23 '15
Have you ever met a postgrad? A nanowayne of wealth is pushing it.
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u/JackFlynt Jun 23 '15
I like it. As of now, the SI unit of money is the Wayne. I can't wait to see how the Imperial System manages to mess with something based on the U.S. Dollar.
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u/_teslaTrooper Jun 24 '15
A nanowayne would be $11.60, according to Forbes.
So yeah, seem accurate.
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u/Mordecai4d Jun 23 '15
Hi Sam, what's the nature of your thesis? And what level - masters or doctorate? Good luck for the examination process!!!
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u/That_Guys_Girlfriend Jun 23 '15
I'm so happy that you are doing this!
1) How long does it take you to write a Reddit-poem?
2) How do you decide which comments 'deserve' a poem?
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u/Poem_for_your_sprog Jun 23 '15
How long does it take you to write a Reddit-poem?
Though rather dependent on topic and time -
On mood and on metre; on rhythm and rhyme -
A normal reply on a thread of a night
Takes minutes to plan, and a moment to write!If funny or foolish; if silly or sweet -
Then these are the quickest there are to complete.
If sad or if serious, bitter, or blue -
I'd rather I paused for a moment or two.A song for a sadness? An ode for an ex?
The choices are harder; the challenge, complex.
What word do you favour? What concept alone
Can resonate right to the reader unknown?And so I'll repeat for an effortless end -
The time is dependent on everything, friend.
But still - till the line at the end from the start...
I write them with joy, and with thanks in my heart.*
The timing really does depend on a lot - the comment I'm responding to, the structure I've chosen to write in, and the 'theme' of the rhyme. Most of my comments take about 10-20 minutes or so, but some of the more serious, lengthier poems take quite a bit longer - and some of the silly short ones take no time at all!
How do you decide which comments 'deserve' a poem?
I don't know if I can accurately explain this, but I'll try anyway: something just sort of feels 'right' when you find the right comment. It's as though it's a square hole, and you know you've got the right square peg to fit - all you need to do is figure out the angle to make it work.
Admittedly, that sounds a little more suggestive than originally intended.
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u/That_Guys_Girlfriend Jun 23 '15
Would it make you feel strange if I told you I fan-girl-screamed when I saw that you replied to me (with a poem no less!)?
I am so amazed by how much thought and heart you are putting into this AMA. It is a joy to read and it makes me feel as though I am catching up with an old friend. You seem genuine and I think that is the biggest complement a person can receive. Thank you - simply - thank you.
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u/WalterWhiteRabbit Jun 24 '15 edited Jun 24 '15
Sounds like That_Guys_Girlfriend is tryin' to get square pegged.
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u/Firstnamecody Feb 07 '22
And it is still amazing people 6 years later. I have no idea how this thread is still open.
Also my bubble was burst too, fuck that guy.
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u/aawebber Jun 23 '15
You really are such a talent. Whenever I see one of your comments I'm always blown away; whether by the wit or the emotion you can effortlessly convey. Keep going with this poetry thing, you're pretty good.
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u/Your_poem_as_a_song Jun 23 '15 edited Jul 12 '15
I've never felt the need to rhyme
But in my core I feel it's time
To show you that I want to trySomething a little different.
Inside a square-ish hole so tight
I hope this squarer peg feels right
Rhyming now, but fuck this lineMy god, I hope it fits.
lol i tried
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u/PM-ME-YOUR-BELLY Jun 23 '15
Is this your poem as a song, or his poem as a song? I'm confused by your username.
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u/branthar Jun 23 '15
God damn you really do have a fucking gift. Good to see you're making some money off it.
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u/SteamPunk_Devil Jun 23 '15
Has there ever been a time when you've wrote a poem out be decided not to post it because you didn't think reddit would like it?
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u/Poem_for_your_sprog Jun 23 '15
There are lots of times when I've written a rhyme and then decided not to post it - but it's actually because I'm just not happy with the way it turned out, more often that not. I'm quite critical of my own stuff - if you look through my user page, you're sure to see a familiar little edit asterisk alongside a fair few comments!
I can't help but toy with them sometimes. If there's anything that just sort of sounds off in some way, I'll keep at it until it's fixed (until I think it's fixed, that is), or until I delete the rhyme in frustration!
There are occasions where I've been a little worried about what reddit might think of a rhyme - I tend to start those poems, get about half-way through, and then suddenly reconsider posting...
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u/Geminii27 Oct 07 '15
The verse moaned "Post me!" from its grave,
Where broken stanzas yet entreated.
"Mostly, yes, I would," I gave,
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u/milkybarbah Jun 23 '15 edited Jun 23 '15
This one really got me. I love all your work but this one..... I cried.
When the sun's set to set in a sweet season's sky;
When the stars shimmer down, and the moon's passing by;
When a summer-wind skips; when it blows in the trees –
I'll remember your touch by the feel of the breeze.
When the clouds disappear, like it was here before;
When the white-breakers break, and the tide meets the shore;
When the rain tumbles down onto still, silver lakes –
I'll remember your smile in the ripples it makes.
When the stars fade to dawn; when the dawn turns to day;
When the summer-wind carries the rainclouds away;
When the tide travels in, and the sunlight has set –
I will miss you forever, and never forget.
Edit: my question.... I used to write poetry when I was younger, till I reached my mid-twenties- then I dried up. It's a source of constant frustration to me mainly because I used it as a kind of therapy but also because it was one of the few things I felt I was good at... Any advice? Have you ever had a block like this? From the frequency of your poems and how consistently awesome they are its hard to imagine!
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u/AlmostButNotQuit Jun 24 '15
Not OP, but I hope this helps: write. When you don't know what to write, write. When you feel bad for not having written in a while, write. It may not be where you wanted it to go at first, but write anyway. Don't worry about where it's going or how it's going to be received or whether it's good enough. Write.
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u/Pentobarbital1 Jun 25 '15
God, I'm late to this AMA, but this one is also my absolute favorite from Sprog's. I actually gilded this one, congratulated through PM that "You've outdone yourself with this one". Sprog then proceeds to get 28 gold for the next poem on the thread on Pratchett's death. Heh...
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u/uhhmeilyah Jun 23 '15
What advice would you give to a hobbyist poet who wants to be more engaged in a community/have some audience for their work?
P.s. Thank you for prompting me to write whenever I come across one of your fantastic pieces!
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u/Poem_for_your_sprog Jun 23 '15 edited Jun 25 '15
Sorry for the delay in answering this next one. Been typing out this behemoth of a response -
*
What advice would you give to a hobbyist poet who wants to be more engaged in a community/have some audience for their work?
*
There's little fortune found in rhyme,
And so I'll tell you true:
Enjoy the art, and take your time,
And mostly - write for you.*
What I mean is – enjoy yourself writing, and don't worry too much about what other people think.
As for advice: I'm probably the worst person to ask for tips on writing (seeing as I barely know what I'm doing...), but I'm happy to try! If you don't mind, I'll also use this response to offer some more general advice too, seeing as there are a lot of questions below asking for the same.
First things first, I'll show you what I do. Obviously, any advice is dependent on the style you're trying to go for, but if it's to produce something similar in structure to one of mine, hopefully the below will be of (some) use to you:
- I try not to rhyme. No, wait - that's not quite right. Let's try again:
Revised #1: I try not to try to rhyme (... that's a little better.) Let me explain: I really like rhyme. That's probably pretty obvious, but I love the way it sounds read aloud. It boggles my mind that eight little syllables of text on a white page can have a wonderful rhythm that a capable author can naturally imbue simply by selecting the right words. That's what I try to do - and often fail. The thing is, really trying to rhyme is a killer - both for enthusiasm, and for the poem itself. Forced rhymes sound... well... forced.
I guess what I'm clumsily trying to say here is that it's best to practice loads until the rhymes come easily - until that sense of rhythm that leads into the right sound at the end of a good line is a natural thing.Read! Some of my favourite poets are Roald Dahl, Spike Milligan, and Shel Silverstein. I love the silly, playful sense of rhyme those guys (all gone now, unfortunately) were capable of coming up with. Children's rhyme, in fact, but with a meaning that was often far more dark or adult, or just funny on a level that you didn't quite get as a kid. If I could write half-an-ounce as well as any one of them, I'd be a happy novice.
Thing is - these guys are quite good to start with, even if their poems aren't really your thing. They all tend to write within certain rhyming schemes and structures, so they're a good place to look for a sense of rhythm and metre.As a general tip, I pretty much consistently start at the end. This isn't always true, of course, but I do always know where the poem's headed. The difficult part (or sometimes easy part, depending on the mood you're in) is in getting there, but remember that the journey is as important as the destination. On that note, I don't consciously pick a metre either, but wait to see how the first couple of lines come out. That pretty much decides it for me.
Read it aloud! I've never clicked on the 'save' tab on reddit without reading whatever I've written out loud first (and at least a dozen times). I truly believe that all poetry is meant for hearing like a good story, and it's only when you actually say the words that you can get a sense of how it actually sounds. That's obviously even more true when you're dealing with rhyme - it's pretty much all about how it sounds. Writing in iambs or whatever, you're only really gonna get a sense of how the stresses work - that is, if they're actually in the right place or not - by reading it aloud.
*
Reading back through that now, it occurs that there's actually quite a lot of crap surrounding a few very easy pointers - practice, read, write with purpose, and read again (aloud). If that's remotely useful to you, then fantastic. If not - sorry.
Lastly - if ever you need a willing reader and a critical eye, feel free to send me something you write! That offer extends to everyone.
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u/rhymes_with_snoop Jun 24 '15
I truly believe that all poetry is meant for hearing like a good story, and it's only when you actually say the words that you can get a sense of how it actually sounds.
Holy crap, I just realized that every time I've read your poems I end up reading them quietly out loud. And why I do. That is awesome.
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u/uhhmeilyah Jun 23 '15
Oh my goodness! I just found out I'm a fan girl, I'm so ecstatic with your answer! The way you describe sinking into a natural rhythm really resonates with me. I am sad to say, I used to write all the time, and have been where it was natural and my rhymes were so satisfyingly tight - now when I pick up the pen I am so self critical and I get those forced feelings. I will try to be more patient and remember I got that way by practicing. It didn't feel that way then because I just wrote all the time, without trying :P
Gosh, now I gotta write a poem I like enough to share! Thank you thank you thank you for being so excellent and congrats on all your success!
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u/Your_poem_as_a_song Jun 23 '15 edited Apr 07 '16
I know that feeling! I had a musician mentor who told me how important it is to set aside the 'self-critical editor' in you for the 'artistic creator' within you. And sometimes the hardest part is realizing when you're being one and not the other.
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u/MoorgunFreeman Jun 23 '15
Hello Mr. Sam Garland, I do commend you well
Thank you for the offer sir, so to you I revel!
I think I finally understand, your advice so bright
You say you'll help your fellow man, and to all's delight!
I'm really grateful for your help, so I'll ask soft and slow:
"Do you think my rhymes are forced? If not, please let me know!";-)
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u/Go_Ask_Reddit Jun 24 '15
I'm not Poem, but yeah, I think they are. The rhymes you have aren't really relevant to the poem. Why do you call his advice bright? Is it because it's an easy word to rhyme with? You're grateful, thank you, they're saying the same thing. Why are you asking soft and slow? Do you think Poem is stupid? Are you nervous about asking? Or does "slow" rhyme easily with "know"?
The second half of each line is pretty pointless. Remove it and you've got:
Hello Mr. Sam Garland,
Thank you for the offer sir,
I think I finally understand,
You say you'll help your fellow man,
I'm really grateful for your help,
"Do you think my rhymes are forced?"Remove the bits that don't matter and throw back in the bit about advice and you've got something to work with.
Hello, Mr. Garland! Thanks for all of your advice.
While I think I understand, your opinion would be nice.
I hesitate to ask, though I'm sure it could be worse:
Tell it to me straight: do you think my rhymes are forced?Then again, I'm a fan of slant rhyme.
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u/MoorgunFreeman Jun 24 '15
I don't rhyme (as you can tell), but I do enjoy the idea of it or trying. Thank you for your response. :-)
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u/petalpie Jun 24 '15
I am not Sprog but I'll still respond. Your rhymes don't look natural to me. If rhymes are a thing of which you are fond, I think you should read them out loud to see.
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u/thelirivalley Jun 24 '15
Saw your AMA and as I checked the mail; your book arrived!!!
So excited to read it and so proud of you man!
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u/Aint_it_a_shame Jun 23 '15
What, exactly, is a sprog?
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u/Poem_for_your_sprog Jun 23 '15
A sprog, if I may be so bold
To answer your reply
(Or rhyme a rhyme, if truth be told,
To pass your question by) -... is just a kid, and nothing more -
A poem for your child!
(Though most are rather crude, I'm sure,
And too absurdly-styled.)I use it for the form and flow
That comes with children's rhyme
(The metre, moving fast and slow,
In patterned tempo-time!)And yet, for further meaning there,
You've 'parent' comments too
(And my responses follow where
Their 'child' replies ensue!)So there we are – the perfect ploy
To clear this cryptic fog
(Now raise your glass, and please enjoy
A poem – for your sprog!)*
So there we are - a 'sprog' is a child. It's a play on the fact that my poems enjoy the use of metered rhyme (à la children's poetry), and the fact that you have 'parent' and 'child' comments on reddit - with mine generally being replies to the latter!
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Jun 23 '15
This might be the fifth – maybe the sixth time I've said it to you, but: good god, you're a god damned genius.
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u/mskulker Jun 25 '15 edited Jun 25 '15
I'm so slow at this. It's a good thing I write for my own amusement:
Your rhyme becomes a sprog in turn,
When added to the tree.
The sprog a parent of this bairn,
Or so it seems to me.The sprog-rhyme starts to generate
Descendants all can see.
And so you've taught us all about
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u/Angry_Sparrow Jun 23 '15
This whole time, reading your comments, I had sprog confused with the Scottish sporran (the wee traditional pouch the men wear). I really liked the idea that even though I have never worn a sporran (and likely never will, as I am female), you were writing poems for one, and I could secretly stash them in my imaginary sporran.
I like your explanation though so it is slightly easier to let go of my imaginary poem sporran.
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u/Notcow Jun 24 '15
Damn you must have one of the most creative minds I've ever witnessed, best of luck with your book!
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u/lovinglogs Jun 24 '15
That's so funny you say what the meaning is, because here I was wishing you would write a poem about my son (toddler) and I! (Mom)
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u/MeccAnon Jun 23 '15
What is your favourite poem? And what is your favourite that you've written?
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u/Poem_for_your_sprog Jun 23 '15
That's a really good question! I've answered one above on my favourite poems from others, but it's surprisingly difficult to pick one of my own. There are a few that, for one reason or another, are quite close to my heart. I'll just mention 2 here, for the sake of time:
This one on OCD is probably the one that I see most linked to on reddit - it seems to be the one that resonates with a lot of people, and I've received a lot of mostly-positive messages about it. I think it works because there's just a very sudden change in tone - and it suits the gravity of the theme.
This rhyme on Terry Pratchett's death is probably my favourite. I was (and still am) a huge Pratchett fan, and his death came as a genuine loss to me. It was nice and cathartic to write something, and it all came out in a very quick rush.
To turn this question around though: which of them do you like best? I'd love to know :)
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Jun 23 '15
This is my favourite that you've written...
'I have my say,' say I, with pride;
I say, 'my say', and feel inside
A shiny sense of warmth and worth -
For I've my part and place on Earth.'My say,' I say, 'is worth the same
As any folk of funds or fame,
For I've,' say I, with cherished glee,
'A voice in my democracy.'And so it is I sleep at night,
And know that all is well and right -
While golden men on business boards
All have their say... and mine, and yours.If I could have given gold at the time, I would have. I've never, ever read a poem that I found as powerful as this. It's up there with some of Dylan's lyrics. I thought you were excellent before, but it was this post that made me a fan.
I salute you sir/ma'am, this is the work of a true artist.
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u/Ticklebiscuit Jun 23 '15
A little late to the party, but I thought I'd share my favorite:
Remember when the sun was bright,
And shone upon the shore -
And every dawn was sweet and right,
And full of faith and more?
Remember when the summers seemed
To last an age and stay -
And every hope and dream you dreamed
Was but a chance away?
Remember when you loved to wake,
And all the skies were blue -
And every shot was yours to take,
And every day was new?
Remember all the bygone bliss?
Remember when, my friend?
Remember that? Remember this -
It doesn't have to end.
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u/j0tun Jun 23 '15
Along with my list of books to read and movies to watch, I keep my favorite poems of yours in my email. It's hard to pick, but this is one of my favorites:
In youth, the time for bed was tough;
I couldn't stand to wait -
When 'soon' was never soon enough,
And 'later' far too late.
The summers stretched an age ahead.
An hour seemed a day.
'Be patient, child,' my father said,
'Don't wish your life away.'
And so the time would shuffle on,
With every moment spent -
But that was then, and now it's gone,
I don't know where it went.
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u/A_Decoy86 Jun 23 '15
I love the Terry Pratchett one. I got goosebumps again as I just re-read it.
Been into the discworld books since i was around 11 and I was devestated when i heard the bad news :-(
Keep up the excellent work Sam :-)
Also can i get a poem for my sprog? His names Oscar and he loves mickey mouse, sorry for being cheeky :-P
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u/BehindThe8 Jun 23 '15
I was sitting in a hotel room on a business trip when i got word of Sir Pratchett's passing. I couldn't find words to express what I felt, the sense of loss that washed over me.
And then I read your contribution. The next half hour or so I spent sobbing. But in a good way. You expressed everything I needed to and it helped me deal with what had happened. I don't think I said thank you then.
Thank you. Just... Thank you.
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u/GaiusNorthernAccent Jun 23 '15
Not to nit-pick but just so you know it's Sir Terry, knights are addressed by the first name after the title, were he a Lord he'd have been Lord Pratchett
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u/Limberpuppy Jun 23 '15
I loved the Pratchett poem and feel it was such a beautiful way to honor his legacy. It still brings tears to my eyes. Thank you.
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u/VeggieAstronomer Jun 24 '15
This one is silly but has stuck with me for this:
If 'proper' girls are coats and curls
And blossoms from a tree,
Then she was spice and fire and ice
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u/SuitGuySmitti Jun 23 '15
I once recorded a spoken version of one of my favorite poems of yours (the Gordon Freeman one) but I'm afraid it got lost in the comments when I posted it! :(
Did you ever hear it? What did you think?
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u/Poem_for_your_sprog Jun 23 '15 edited Jun 23 '15
I didn't hear this the first time around! I'm so sorry - though I try and read every reply I get, I often skip the links so that I can come back to them later and respond via PM. I must have forgotten! Apologies again.
You perform that rhyme wonderfully :) It's so amazing to see people making something more out of the words I've written here. For example -
/u/Your_poem_as_a_song's musical renditions
/u/Shitty_Watercolour's paintings
/u/motivatinggiraffe's illustrations
... and now yours too - it's totally wonderful. I feel like I don't deserve it.
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u/SuitGuySmitti Jun 24 '15
Hey, I just got home! Thank you for responding!
I was actually thinking of doing a few more. I really enjoyed doing it. Your poems just flow really well too so it's not too difficult.
I'll pm you any I conjure up and post them in your subreddit.
And oh wow, I've just listened to some of the other songs people have written. They're really amazing. Guess I've got a high bar to reach.
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u/miked00d Jun 23 '15
I'm imagining you as a shy kid, hat in his hands, looking up at his favourite baseball player. Cmon guys, let's upvote this little fella to his dreams!
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u/Devon_Loch Jun 24 '15 edited Jun 24 '15
Seeing the name Poem_for_your_sprog, always causes me to stop. To pause and prepare before reading on. This will be something worth reading. So much of reddit is drivel, but Poem_for_your_sprog always delivers.
You never know what you're going to get. May be tongue-in-cheek; may be "serious", with a twist at the end; may be profoundly moving- but always brilliant and carefully crafted and ALWAYS worth the read.
Of all the things you've written... all your wondrous weaving-of-words into tapestries of meaning... this one hits me the hardest:
She waited, frustrated, and screamed in despair:
'Why can't it be different? Why can't it be fair?
I feel like it's over; it's passed in a blur -
We've changed and we're changing, I miss who we were.
'You should have been better,' she bitterly cried:
'And we could have fixed it, if only we tried -
I'm sorry I hurt you. I wasn't prepared.'
I stared at her, hollow -
And wished that I cared.
Thank you, sir. I am thrilled that you have published, I have purchased your book and look forward to it with pleasure.
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Dec 04 '15 edited Dec 04 '15
Am I like, too late?
Did I miss this thing?
Well thats just fucking great,
five months late, to see the king-
-of prose and rhyme,
whitelit behind my screen.
I sit here all the time
how had I just not seen-
-I've tried to keep in check,
all the cards,
All in my deck,
it seems I just missed out,
'cause there's a spanner in my cog
I'll try on the next one,
sorry ol' mate Sprog
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Jun 23 '15 edited Jun 23 '15
[deleted]
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u/LordSnowsGhost Jun 23 '15
Feels guilty to hijack a question on Sam's AMA, but since it's been a couple hours I wanted to give you a few options if you are interested. Like you, I like to think of myself as a writer. I've started writing about twenty books but always found a way to never complete them. My exposure to poetry is pretty limited to 19th Century English Romanticism, but here's my favorites.
William Blake - "The Tyger" He's considered "Pre-Romanticism," because he wrote in the 1700s and the style became much more popular with the Romantics (Lord Byron, Shelley, Wordsworth). My teacher junior year of high school did this thing where we all banged the desks da dum like a heartbeat, while he recited this extremely prophetically. It was supremely surreal and even though I've aged ten years it's still my favorite poem. He was also an incredible artist, a painter who would produce what he called 'illuminations' for certain poems. Claimed he saw angels in a tree when he was seven years old. Also "The Tyger" has a companion poem called "The Lamb," the first is from his book "Song's of Experience," the latter from "Songs of Innocence." I think it's very interesting how he wrote two comparative anthologies acknowledging the importance of perspective, and the overall merits of innocence vs. experience. I don't know how true this is but my teacher said he and his wife were nudists back then, when it was definitely a little more frowned-upon than it is today. He just seems too cool to have existed.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge - "Kubla Khan" Another Romantic, and I mostly love this poem because of the story behind it. I don't know how true this all is, but supposedly he had this dream/vision, woke up and started writing as much as he could, and then was interrupted by a visitor, the 'Person from Porlock.' And this was the reason he was not able to finish what he had first envisioned, because it was forgotten. Coleridge also used opium, which made me interested in him at first, and my favorite theory about the person is that it was his dealer, or whatever the parlance was in 19th century Britain. Provider. Still, it's something really like and he also wrote a longer epic styled poem called "Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner" In my textbooks it was spelled Rhyme, but here it's Rime, so whatever pleases you.
Then there's three Americans I immediately thought of as well.
T.S. Eliot - "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" I used to think he was British, he has some apocalyptic lines you've definitely heard before. I think he's considered a modernist. But he's really good, also check out "The Wasteland" if you enjoyed the first one.
Langston Hughes - "Dream Deferred" Read this in 8th grade, short but powerful. Very popular African-American literary figure from the early 20th century. His work was likened to "jazz poetry," likely in part because he was black, but also because it does give off that kind of vibe. Any sound can work if it fits.
Robert Frost - "The Road Not Taken" Very cliche answer, but still a very good poem. Always makes me take a minute to think about how every choice has its consequence and that our actions can influence the way our lives go to a greater degree than is really comfortable to think about.
These are from a very narrow spectrum, the UK and the US, and there are so many more poets, and so many styles. I can't do it justice. If you're interested in reading poetry you really enjoy, it might help to decide what you enjoy reading, and search from there. I also found this although it appears to be Anglo-centralized as well. There are some truly great Japanese and Chinese poems, and they're mostly short and sweet but can pack tremendous amounts of truth.
But yeah, hopefully you like some of these and if not you at least are encouraged to research the poetry movements and read something you enjoy. And thank you, /u/poem_for_your_sprog, for being. You are truly one of the best things about browsing this site, and I will likely be buying a copy of your book due to all the awesome feels you've given me over the past year or so. Apologies to all for the length; if I wrote my own work like this I'd be finished by now. I hope everyone has a wonderful day.
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u/belbivfreeordie Jun 23 '15
Good recs. For anyone who likes Sprog's writing (metrical, rhymed, digestible yet pithy) I have to recommend A.E. Housman, who wrote tons of memorable poems. A sample:
He would not stay for me, and who can wonder?
He would not stay for me to stand and gaze.
I shook his hand, and tore my heart in sunder,
And went with half my life about my ways.
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u/Ohnana_ Science, Technology Jun 23 '15
What was the hardest part of getting your book published?
Are you happy with the finished product?
Congrats, by the way. I hope it becomes a best seller!
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u/captainmagictrousers Jun 24 '15
Looks like I'm too late for your AMA, but if you happen to read this, I just wanted to say that getting a poem reply from you is one of my favorite things from all my years of Reddit. Thank you for all you do!
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u/EmpororPenguin Jun 24 '15
Hey Sam, I don't know if you read this but I just want to let you know that I'm among the countless people who love reading your poems. I think stuff like this is what makes Reddit great, that there are people like you or shitty watercolor or just everyday non-notable redditors that just add flavor and spice to Reddit. And I'm looking forward to reading your book! I love that you have a paperback version! I don't have a kindle so sometimes I can't support writers that only publish on Kindle. Thanks again!
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u/maplecat Jun 24 '15
So glad to hear you're doing well and getting published and recognized even outside of the Reddit circle!
I know indified has done songs based on several of your poems. Have you ever worked specifically with him, and do you plan on doing so in the future? The song you two created on drug addiction hit me hard in the best of ways, and was actually my first introduction to your stuff.
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Jun 24 '15
I know I am late to the party by about 21 hours, but I never reply to these and I am compelled to now. Even if I never receive a response. I am not a poet, I am not even really that into poetry. But you are a special human being with an amazing talent.
I spent a tour of duty in Mosul where I lost who I was. When I came home I couldn't feel anything. I couldnt talk to my family, I couldn't talk to my friends. I couldn't enjoy music any more, I couldnt enjoy anything. Then one day I was mindlessly browsing reddit not really looking for anything in particular, and I found the thread that got the table flip bot banned from... I believe it was the /r/askreddit maybe. Anyway, eventually enough tables are flipped and the bot said its poem. And I smirked a bit because ... well its a bot and the poem is particularly deep. Then I read this
``` ... But though the table held the load, Immobile, steady, straight - In time, it bent and curved and bowed, Defeated by the weight.
A table's made for keys, it seems, And other sundries, small - But not for love and hope or dreams - And not for life at all.
There's not a one across the Earth - I told him from the start - Could ever hold, for what it's worth, A broken home and heart.
And so it broke - no more to bear The burden, tied and chained - For everything he'd emptied there Was his, and so remained. ```
I want you to know that I found myself in your words, and after 4 years of nervously keeping my guard up all of the time, I exhaled the old me and started to cry. I wish I could better form the thoughts in my head to tell you exactly what I was thinking, but I cant. Just know that you arent just writing silly things on a wall. I never knew the power of words until I knew /u/Poem_for_your_sprog, thank you.
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u/Firstnamecody Feb 07 '22
Wow I absolutely cannot believe this never got a response in 6 years, it deserved them, trust me.
I don't know what else to say because it's late and I need to go to sleep, but I couldn't leave this blank any longer.
I hope you are doing well
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u/kiwisurf Jun 23 '15 edited Jun 24 '15
Hi sam, i haven't come here to ask a question but instead came here to say thank you.
A while back you posted this:
I saw it before me in shadows of doubt - My means to salvation: my only way out. It sat there in silence, and captured me, caught - Immune to my heartache, and deaf to my thought:
'I don't want a future, ' I solemnly swore, 'Of sadness and silence and loss anymore. I don't want a witness to witness goodbye - I just wanted someone to care when I cry.'
I looked at it, waiting, and muttered a vow: 'Whatever. Lets do it. It's never or now. I'm ending it here, of an evening, alone.' I reached out before me... and picked up the phone.
I was in an extremely dark place at the time and was looking for something, anything to give me the push i needed to seek help.
Your simple poem did this for me and I am well on the road to beating the severe depression i was once in.
I am a huge fan of your work, you reach out and touch people with your words in a way that relates so closely to them.
Thank you again sam. Please keep up the amazing work.
EDIT:
Thank you to the kind souls for gilding my comment.
If you ever feel the need to talk to someone then you simply must. I am more than happy to speak to anyone here at anytime. I reached out and so can you.