How Long Should My Poems Be?

Sam just asked a great question, one that I should have addressed earlier.

I am asking you to shoot for about 12-15 lines on average for each of your poems. Since some will come more easily than others, I will be satisfied if turns out to be 10 lines and the next one runs to 20. While more isn't always better, students who exceed the average will have shown signs of having gone above and beyond the unit's minimum expectations.

And finally... It would be a good idea for each and every one of us to understand (and shun like an infectious disease) the concept of doggerel. If you are curious about how to avoid writing doggerel, you may wish to brush up on what wikipedia has to say on the subject: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doggerel, particularly the bit about "Doggerel is usually the sincere product of poetic incompetence..." e.g. The cat sat on the mat. Rhymes should be like good movies--no one should be able to anticipate the end until it arrives.

Questions about anything?

CP