The American Sentence

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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