Anaphora is a literary term for the practice of repeating certain words or phrases at the beginning of multiple clauses or, in the case of a poem, multiple lines. The phrase “A time to,” as used in the third Chapter of Ecclesiastes, is a good example of anaphora. But you don’t have to be the Old Testament (or a Byrds song) to use anaphora. Allen Ginsberg used it in Howl, for example. This post by Rebecca Hazelton on the Poetry Foundation’s blog gives other great examples of anaphora in action, from Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech to Homer Simpson. So today, I challenge you to write a poem that uses anaphora. Find a phrase, and stick with it — learn how far it can go.
I Wanna Be A Writing Cowgirl
by Dot
Her mother said, "it's cold outside and the ground it dirty,
put on your shoes."
So she pushed and wiggled her six-year-old toes
into a five-year-old's sneakers.
Her mother said, "the milk's better this way, mixed half and half,
powdered and skim."
So she sipped and she tasted and she decided
she didn't like to drink milk.
Her mother said, "when you grow up you'll need a real job,
a teacher or secretary."
So she put away her pencil and closed the notebook
hiding her writer's dream in her mattress.
Her mother said, "you'll never get a man if you act like a tomboy,
don't be so tough, let the boy win."
So she hid her strong arm and she let the boy decide
even though she'd written the play.
Her mother said, "don't get too big for your britches, never boast,
never brag; but always do your best."
So she learned how to study, to test, to get straight A's
and remain silent.
Her mother said - many things and most of them
turned out to be wrong.
So she listened and she tried
until she learned better.
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