The synthetic ode is a poetic form of my own design, which evolved naturally out of my work with the trisect. My study of this form began in 2007 and is ongoing as time and resources permit. My hope is to use this form to evolve and refine my use of verbal depiction and to further develop my understanding and use of complex parallelisms across the spectrum of my poetry and writing in general.
In short, the synthetic ode is a modern—or postmodern—Anglicized variant of the ancient Pindaric ode that incorporates the concepts of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis into its semantics. Structurally it strives to adhere to and expand upon the poetic form created and popularized by the Greek poet Pindar around 500 BC. To learn more, including a detailed explanation of the form itself, follow the first link in the list below, “What is a Synthetic Ode?”
Every synthetic ode I have written is linked to from the list below. Entries are organized from the most recently completed poem to the oldest.
What is a Synthetic Ode?
This article provides background and detailed information about the synthetic ode along with insights gained from working within its framework. Links to examples are provided in order to illustrate the form in general, including commentary meant to highlight and clarify important features.
Samsara (August 2014)
Here I use beautiful, striking imagery and metaphor to synthesize “birth”—or coming into being—and “death”—or going out of being—as “impermanence.” This is the idea I originally wanted to explore when I first conceived the synthetic ode in 2007. It just took a number of years to get around to it.
Spark (January 2013)
Here I use vibrant, cosmic imagery and metaphor to explore three key attributes of star formation: “Accretion,” “pressure,” and “equilibrium.” For me this seems like a perfect metaphor for the coalescence and spark of beingness—or selfhood. This poem may now only be found in my book,
an inkling hope.
Coming Together (October 2012)
A friend asked me to write a poem to commemorate her wedding, so I wrote this. Here I use imagery and metaphor to explore some of the personality contrasts between her and her fiancé and the synthesis of their coming together in matrimony. This poem may now only be found in my book,
an inkling hope.
Contrast (July 2009)
Here I explore the male and female energies and synthesize them as a karmic dance throughout all of time and space. This represents a highly abstract approach that relies heavily on imagery, metaphor, and archetypes to carry the content. This poem may now only be found in my book,
an inkling hope.
Transmogrification (November 2008)
Somehow I see the innocent curiosity and wonder of a child’s mind and the gratuitous mayhem and violence of many video games as glaring contrasts—perhaps with some license. With this in mind, it’s easy for me to consider the soldier on the field of battle as a potential synthesis for these contrasts.
Ode for Joy (November 2007)
I met my wife in 2007 when she messaged me out of the blue on
Yahoo! Messenger. She stumbled across one of my poems at
AllPoetry and then read all my online profiles before contacting me. Here I synthesize the contrasts of our experiences getting to know one another as moving through life together.
