The Wordsmith

Just a concept piece that hit me after being told the "difference" between rappers and poets. I say a wordsmith is a wordsmith.

dipping raw thought
into the molten secretions
of poignant emotion

a hammer of
swirling adjectives and nouns
flatten rigid concepts

cooling waters of clarity
settle impassioned heat
aiding constructive manipulations

metaphorical resilience
provides a hilt, safeguarding
ink stained hands from attack

the refined cloth of structure
rubs away grime
polishing a sword made of ink

and such is the intricate process of the wordsmith
may every thought forged be a benefit to the craft

Author's Note

Just clearing my notebook of semifinished projects, this was one of them. As always, your honest thoughts are welcome.

Reviews

[Ruth]

Oh wow...this is stunning! I agree, as you stated above "a wordsmith is a wordsmith" :) The fine execution of art woven in this piece is sublime, one of the best poems I have read of late...

[Cassie]

This is worded so perfectly. Good job

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you, Cassie.

[h d e rushin]

no shameless fable in your writing brother...just hard, expressed determination. great poem....dana

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you, Dana... your visit and review as are greatly appreciated.

[barleygirl]

You describe writing in a way so it would be impossible to classify into categories! Showing, instead of telling, you paint words as boundless magic when pen is wielded by the earnest. Love your imaginative details expressed in many fresh phrasings (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

I am humbled by your wonderful thoughts on this piece, it wrote itself mostly... but, I am happy to know I followed my pen to a good place here.

[Paul Bell]

Always think rappers see words as pictures.
But be it poet or rapper, we all start on a blank sheet or screen hoping something comes to fruition.
Sadly with me it's always four in the morning the words start forming.
Mind you, that could be the start of a rap song. (Four in the morning, I'm alive.
Words are flowing, ten past five.
Six o'clock, heading for a fall.
Another rapper hits the wall.)
Something tells me that won’t be getting released anytime soon.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Some of the best bars are unreleased, underground material. Mainstream has become a muck of regurgitated rhetoric. I appreciate the engaged and entertaining review.

[BlackPrince]

This is a wonderful poem that sums up the creative spirit of a wordsmith.
Your word-choice and imagery is impeccable.

On the issue of Rap and Poetry, to me they are like brother and sister: they are of the same source but still both have their unique characteristics, though poetry can be considered here as the experienced first born.
Rap is a musical genre, just like many others, that is derived from the poetic creative perspective and expression of human emotions.
Rap has a typical song structure of verse, chorus, verse, since it is a music genre that adheres to specific rules in its field of music (context). And Rap must have rhyme to truly be judged as Rap (context)

Conversely, poetry as a literary artistic craft has a wider range of forms, a vast spectrum of devices to express emotions. A poem can be as short as two lines or as long as 10 rap songs combined, when considering a poetic form called Epic Poetry. But a rap does not meet its full requirement if it's only two lines (context).
Yet Rap and Poetry both require and often use poetic devices such as metaphor, simile, personification, oxymoron, paradox, hyperbole, alliteration, rhyme...
It is much like comparing journalism and tourism brochures-- they're both informative, but the context and structure differ.

Cool!!!!

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you for such an in-depth review. You are absolutely correct on many of your points. Rappers and poets share the same table... we just sit at it differently. The conversation that sparked this piece was nearly discrediting rappers as possessing no poetic qualities at all. I simply can not agree with that.

[Chris Shaw]

A wordsmith always has a store of works in progress, and you without doubt are someone so defined. You are a master of your craft. A pleasure to read this poem. All good wishes.

Chris

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you for the uplifting review, Chris. It's truly a gift reading such words from a poet/wordsmith as talented as yourself.

[Dara]

This is truly magnificent. One can tell in the first few lines that you are finely tuned in your craft. Your words just flow and the metaphors are astounding. This is a keeper for me.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you, so much for an inspiring review. I'm pleased you found this piece so affecting.

[Kelly Scheppers]

There are gems in those lost notebooks that have never seen the light of day. I have an entire file of them that I am beginning to breathe new life into. What a process it is, and an awakening. You have taken that quote, " I say a wordsmith is a wordsmith", and brought it to its fruition in every sense of the word. Good seeing you again, Travis!

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thanks, Kelly... i have been trying to find my footing within writing again. I hope my struggles will pass soon. Thanks for the humbling words, they're greatly appreciated.

[Kelly Scheppers]

...my pleasure!

[The Iron Horseman]

An excellent depiction of the process of forging a verbal sword, my friend. I have been told by some that I use words like spears, so the analogy appeals to me. As usual your work is both expressive and thoughtful. I enjouyed this very much.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thanks old friend, I'm glad you were able to enjoy this piece. Your visit as usual is appreciated.

[The Iron Horseman]

My pleasure entirely.