Lauren's post

"The thing that really struck me about this poem was the verb usage. It is narrative poem--telling a story--but still uses strong action verbs that help create a ritualistic, rhythmic feel. Often, in a narrative poem, the process of telling the story involves too many "prose" words (conjunctions, adverbs, unexciting verbs, and the like) and not enough words charged with significant meaning. In this poem, the author manages to tell the story AND use some of the best assortment of verbs that I've seen:

set ablaze
swing
leading
surround
flicker
ignites
click
pump
flail
jumps
flirts
rocking
testify
snuffs
flashing
surrender

The poem could have conveyed the same story with uninteresting verbs, but the passion behind the poem would have been lost completely--as would have its effect on the reader."

Great observation, Lauren. I definitely agree that some narrative poems tend to have prose-like diction, and this is probably why many poets opt for the prose poem route. Good narrative poems impress me so much because the poet has to relay so much information in a very specific order and manner without delving into prose. In other types of poems the poet can reveal important elements of the poem in any order he/she would like but with a narrative poem it just can't work like that. They have some flexibility in how he orders it chronologically, but it still has to be discernible for the reader. You mentioned the ritualistic feel of the poem and I totally agree and think that that feel is what makes this poem. Great insight Lauren.