The American Sentence form was invented by Allen Ginsberg and introduced to me via Our Lost Jungle. (Khara House)
Here are the rules copied from her site:
“This form, invented by Allen Ginsberg, is simply a variation of the haiku. The rules of an American Sentence are very simple. The poem is one sentence, 17 syllables long. That’s it. If you can write a haiku, you can write an American Sentence, though it would also be fair to argue it’s a little more challenging because while haiku don’t have to be complete sentences, American Sentences … well, kind of obviously do.”
Here are some examples that I came up with. My thought is that these are great poem starters, fillers, and endings contained in a single thought. Just like that sentence.
“Salmonella lesson”
Who knew a tainted cantaloupe could force me to sit and write all day.
* * *
“Same old same old”
I dip my hand into the prayer bucket and find yesterday’s egg wash.
* * *
“Curiosity speaks”
A stranger’s glance and pointed finger prompted this poem I write, right now.
* * *
“A weary husband”
If this ragged man did not build it, then how did he get all those scars?
* * *
“Just for us”
I will travel west until the end, to find some empty space for us.
* * *
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