I’d never written an intentional ode before learning that I was
going to be honored with the 2014 Kean University Distinguished Alumni Award.
Apart from being profoundly grateful for such an unexpected honor, I found the
idea of making a ten-minute speech at the awards ceremony a little daunting. I
knew from the get-go that instead of a traditional speech, I’d much prefer to write
and read a poem for Kean U.
It didn’t occur to me until much
after the poem was written that it is indeed an ode, not in any formal sense,
but definitely in spirit. I began to research the form, having little prior
interest in odes other than perhaps Keats’s “Ode to A Grecian Urn” (and that
only because I like Keats).
An ode is generally defined as a
poem in which someone or something is addressed in an elevated style or manner
and written in rhymed or unrhymed form with varied or irregular meter.
Historically, odes were invented
and popularized by the Greek poet Pindar. Originally accompanied by a chorus
and dance, and then taken to heart by the Romantic poets to convey strong
sentiments, there are three types of odes: Pindaric, Horatian, and Irregular.
Pindaric odes contain a formal
opening (a strophe) with a complex metrical structure, followed by an
antistrophe (which echoes the opening) and an epode (the closing section of a
different length and composed with a different metrical structure). William
Wordsworth’s “Ode on Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early
Childhood” is a good example of an
English-language Pindaric ode.
Horatian odes are named for the
Roman poet Horace and tend to be more tranquil and contemplative than Pindaric
odes. Less formal, less solemn, and geared more to gentle reading than performance,
Horatian odes typically use a regular, repeating stanza pattern. An excellent
example of the Horatian Ode is Allen Tate’s “Ode to the Confederate Dead.”
Irregular odes have been written
with a range of formal possibilities, sometimes recalling the themes and tones
of Classical odes. Keats’s “Ode on
a Grecian Urn,” which I mentioned earlier, was based on the poet’s experiments
with sonnet form. Other well-known odes include Percy Bysshe Shelley's “Ode to
the West Wind,” Robert Creeley's “America,” and Robert Lowell's “Quaker
Graveyard in Nantucket.”
Of course, it’s not poetically
incorrect to write an ode that’s not Pindaric, Horatian, or Irregular. You can
make up your own form and simply write a poem that honors or praises someone or
something in any way that you choose (see #6 under “guidelines”). So ... don't be frightened off by what may seem lofty or ambitious. Have fun with this!
Guidelines:
1. Generally, stanza length, meter, and
rhyme are flexible in ode composition, which leaves you lots of room for
experimentation and creativity.
2. The ode is traditionally a longish
poetic form. Because you’re honoring someone or something, you’ll want to
include a fair amount of description and/or detail. Think about writing your
ode in four-line stanzas with a minimum of about five stanzas.
3. If you choose to write a
Pindaric Ode, remember that this form of ode traditionally tends to be serious
in tone and often has a historical perspective. Typically, Pindaric odes
celebrated deities, important people, places, and events (rather than more
commonplace people or things) in a tone that was somewhat distant or detached
and something less than passionate. Keep in mind that Pindaric Odes repeat a three-stanza pattern
throughout the entire poem (a triad that consists of the strophe, antistrophe,
and epode).
4. If you choose to write a
Horatian Ode, remember that this form of ode doesn’t have a fixed stanza
length, but each stanza in your ode should have the same number of lines (as
few as two or three lines or as many as 20 or 30 lines). Every stanza in a Horatian
Ode should be the same length—if there are four lines in your first stanza,
then every other stanza should have four lines. Traditionally, Horatian Odes
are personal but are somewhat reserved with emotions more muted than wildly
fervent.
5. If you choose to write an
Irregular Ode, be aware that this form of ode has no predetermined number of
lines and, unlike other ode forms, each stanza within a single ode can contain
a different number of lines (though they may be the same or similar if you wish).
An Irregular Ode might consist of five three-line stanzas that are book-ended
by two stanzas of five lines each.
6. And … I’ll add the “Freeform
Ode” in which you praise or honor someone or something without any attention to
format all: no set number of lines, no set number of stanzas (stichic format is
fine too), no rhyme, and no prescribed meter. You’re free to be as distant or
as passionate as you like!
Tips:
1. An ode should only be focused on a single topic, so choose
wisely.
2. Think in terms of person, object, place, idea,
relationship, animal/pet, or a time in your life for your subject. Because an
ode praises and honors its subject, be sure to choose a subject that will allow
you to develop a strong emotional center.
3. Decide how long you want your
ode to be, and be sure not to over-write it. Although odes have been on the long side by
tradition, that doesn’t mean yours has to be a long poem.
4. Decide on a stanza format that
appeals to you (number of lines and number of stanzas). You may want to write
for a while before making these determinations.
5. You may want to try a rhyme
scheme for your ode—if you do, be sure to avoid the pitfall of making meaning subordinate to rhyme.
6. Edit carefully and delete extraneous
material, details, and overstated emotions.
7. Work toward a sense of
elegance in both content and style.
8. Don’t be afraid to adopt a
lighthearted approach, especially if you choose to write a Freeform Ode. You
might enjoy writing an ode on an unexpected subject (i.e., a cockroach, a head
cold, weeds in your garden, a person you dislike). Be sure to “play” with your
idea through romantic language, linguistic frills and flourishes, and a
convincing argument for praising your unexpected subject idea.
Examples:
