CONTRAPUNTAL POETRY

Contrapuntal Poetry

WHAT IS CONTRAPUNTAL POETRY?

Contrapuntal Poetry is a fusion of two or more separate poems combined and formed into a single composition. Two or more poems with different authenticity are fused together to make a single melody in the new poem. This idea was derived from the contrapuntally- lining multiple, seemingly different melodies into one.

HOW TO WRITE A CONTRAPUNTAL POEM?

The form and layout are very important here, as it should show the difference between the two poems.

• We start by first choosing two poems which we want to fuse and make out a single composition with a unified meaning.

• Now try arranging the lines of separate poems together in one line.

• Like, using the first verse of Poem 1 and the fourth verse of Poem 2.

• And the final step- alternate the lines to make out beautifully.

EXAMPLE OF CONTRAPUNTAL POEM

AUBADE ENDING WITH THE DEATH OF A MOSQUITO

-BY TARFIA FAIZULLAH

Let me break free of these lace-frail

Lilac finger disrobing

The black sky from the windows of this

Room, I sit helplessly, waiting

Silent-sister because you drew from me

The coil of red twine; loneliness-

Spooled inside- once I wanted to say one,

True thing, as in, I want more

In this life or, the sky is hurt, blue vessel-

We pass through each day

Like weary sweepers haunting through glass

Doors, arcing across gray floors

Faint trails of dust we leave behind, he-

Touches my hand, waits for me

To clutch back- while mosquitos rise like smoke

From this cold marble floor

From altars seeking the blood still humming

In our unsaved bodies- he sighs,

I make a fist I kill this one, leaving raw,

Kisses raised on our bared necks

Because I woke alone in the myth of one life, I will

Myself into another-how strange

To witness nameless, the tangled shape,

Our blood makes across us

My open palm

(Note: None of the poems we present belong to us. We present an organized record and analysis of them. All copyrights are reserved to the original author and we are not using plagiarized work. The originality of the writes is verified to the fullest extent we can.)

As it is shown, verses from two different poems have been united into one single melodious piece. Two verses are written separately on alternate sides.

TIPS TO WRITE CONTRAPUNTAL POEM

• Alternate the lines of two or more poems to bring contrapuntally.

• Make them such that the tone changes with the setting of two poems during the transition.

• Try aligning them to either side of the page.

• Or maybe, write them in the same line and later on separate them into columns.

USES OF CONTRAPUNTAL POETRY

The major question is not that which poems you have chosen but, why have you chosen it? This form of poetry is helpful while writing songs or remixes. And before sharing, one should read it thoroughly and check if it is interesting and in harmony.

So, grab a pen and paper and write your next Contrapuntal Poem now!!

THANK YOU!!

-Shreya Mitra (a member of PoeTree FoRest)