CALAVERA POETRY

CALAVERA POETRY
To celebrate Day of the Dead, why not write a Calavera (“skull”), a Mexican poetic genre; a humorous epitaph of sorts. An epitaph is a phrase written in memory of a person who has passed away as an inscription on a tomb. Calaveras are meant to make fun of people as if they were already dead.

They are usually written on the eve of the Day of the Dead on November 2.
Mostly written with irony , criticizing the faults and vices of a specific person, they also narrate their death in a funny way, usually featuring an unexpected visit from death itself.

Though there are no strict rules for writing “calaveras,” here are some guidelines:
1: usually made up of four eight-syllables lines.
2: filled with irony and mockery, expressing discontent towards a specific person.
3: written as an epitaph, rendering a picture describing the life of the “deceased.”
4: often accompanied by a drawing or picture related to death.
5: Calaveras are meant to help you say something to a person that you wouldn’t dare say to their faces; a poetic roast.
7: Now think of a public figure or politician or anyone of whom you may want to make fun.

How to Write Calavera

1. Pick someone—or something—to eulogize.
They should not actually be dead. You can write about a politician or famous person or your best friend or anyone.
2. Introduce the subject of your calavera poem.
 Do a little foreshadowing. Are they behaving badly? Making poor choices? Minding their own business? It’s all up to you.
3. Decide how they meet La Muerte. 
 How will Death come in this literary calavera? Will it be the result of their hobby or occupation? Their personality? Or will they perish as the result of a really bad pun?

You should include those character attributes that defined the person subject of the poem. 

They should remind the reader of the inevitable nature of death with humor, love, sweetness, and affection – or with mockery and irony. 

You should consider words that rhyme with defining traits of the subject of the poem and lead the reader to a fantastic ending. 

Remember Day of the Dead poems may contain irony and mockery but should not be disrespectful or intended as an offense to the recipient of the poem. Unless they are a politician.

And post yours here!