Writing Lessons & Advice: How to Write Poetry
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
I’ve decided to honor the fourth anniversary of my marriage with some poetry!
I know the what of it was discussed at length a few years ago. So this post is going to follow up with the how to do it. And as I walk through the process, I’ll create a piece to share with my husband! Let’s get into how to write poetry!
Some foundational or refresher ideas
A professor writing for the Poetry Foundation explains most poetry contains these elements:
an arrangement of language that conveys a story, an idea, or an emotion.
an emotional and personal expression, especially about deep topics like loss or love.
a purposeful gathering of literary techniques, like imagery, figurative language, and unique sounds.
The earlier lesson & advice describes poetry as “a blend of art and written or spoken word that evokes strong images, memories, or feelings.” And I also reiterate a good quote from Bridgerton that embodies definitive poetry: it is the art of revealing precious truth with words.
A good starting point, as it is with most writing projects, is with brainstorming, or generating and stimulating your ideas. Brainstorming can take the form of a list, a diagram, fragmented thoughts--or however you’d like to brian-dump. Deciding on a purpose and goals for your poem can help guide your thoughts too. Here is my take on brainstorming for my planned poem in the form of a list. Since celebrating my marriage/anniversary is my muse, this list will be related themes, topics, ideas, and any other things that come to mind.
Wedding
Marriage
Love
Commitment
Vows
Life together
Family
Becoming one
Ups and downs
Our shared experiences
Any or all ideas put down during brainstorming may be used in the transition to drafting.
Any specific style or type of poem you want to create is another thing to consider early on as well, just in case some further drafting or brainstorming is needed to accommodate it. (Side note: the styles are discussed in the previous post and Grammarly has some good information as well.) For instance, if my poem is going to have a rhyme scheme, I may need to think more critically and creatively about the words and lines I use. Whereas a free verse style is more flexible in that respect.
Just about any poetic form will take some work though but try not to feel too daunted by structure or constraints. Try thinking of it as a fun challenge instead! And if you run into something you just cannot make work, take a breather and/or consider a different approach if you can. Also remember that poetry ultimately is not one-size-fits-all. If you don’t have some kind of assignment to follow, you are welcome to embrace whatever expression you are able to manage! What this means in terms of my example is if I can’t make a rhyme scheme or free verse that satisfies me, maybe I’ll try an acrostic or some kind of stylistic mashup of my own design!
Reading and listening to poetry is one more good way to learn the art and find some direction. Doing so will help you see--and hear--poem-writing and elements “in action”. Myriads of outlets are available. Poetry has a whole section of its own in the Dewey Decimal System--the organization method used in most libraries. Live readings, performances, or competitions could be hosted where you are. Your preferred audio streamer could have some poetry tracks, playlists, or podcasts.
More still, organizations like the aforementioned Poetry Foundation or Poets.org exist to promote the art as well. If you don’t have a specific poet or poem title in mind, these sites also have options to search by things like themes, forms, occasions, and more. Or just explore whatever there that interests you whenever you have the chance. You might even opt into their “poem a day” subscriptions so you can acquaint yourself with the genre more regularly and conveniently.
Some love/romance poems I checked out while writing my own were “Loving You Has Taught Me...” by Wendell Berry, “I Wish I Could Remember that First Day” by Christina Rosetti, “Love Song” by Dorothy Parker, and even “The Anniversary” by John Donne.
Finally, do not neglect editing and proofreading before the final presentation! Are all the main elements represented? Check that your word choices are correct and match the tone you want to convey. Look to see that you show more than tell. Make sure spacing, spelling, punctuation and any other things are right. You might even read your poem out loud if elements like rhythm, beat, or sound are important.
To bring things home, poetry is actually tricky to generalize. It can be difficult to define or describe without being...poetic. Like it's a state of mind or being. It's pretty fluid, having evolved through time and across culture. This type of writing is both complex yet simple. At times, intimidating but not unapproachable. And when you do come close enough to it, it can be tamed to your will. However, a consensus agrees that poetry’s heavier emphasis on expression, devices, and techniques are what differentiate it from other kinds of writing and literature. I encourage “painting a mental picture” in various writing lessons but think of poetry as stepping up to the level of painting a mental masterpiece; poetry writing hones in more strongly on the scene and skillfulness of expression. Like with anything else, masterpiece quality poetry takes dedicated work, but don’t forget passion and a little fun too! Finishing this poem has certainly been an enjoyable labor of love for me! Here’s the finished product:
Gray skies and rain on a wedding day bring
Good luck to the sacred matrimony.
God must’ve known we needed that tone
Since our vows were tested right out the gate.
We weathered days of sickness and health, of poverty and wealth.
We have and we held through the good and bad spells.
In each passing day, we’ve come a long way
Learning to be a team and how to achieve our dreams.
It’s been more than any kismet; we’ve worked hard at it.
As we did on our own, we do better together.
Two hearts with one mind, keeping us two of a kind,
Traversing the good and stormy climes.
Four years together through life’s winters, summers, springs, and falls. We’ve seen a lot so far, yet barely seen it all.
We started a journey when we said “I do” and there’s no one I’d rather continue it with than you!
Hope this is more help and encouragement in penning your own poetry!
How do you define poetry? Whose or what kind of poetry do you like to read or write? How do you approach creating your own? If you want to discuss these or other topics you want me to cover in the future, you’re welcome to reach out to me in the comments, web chat, or socials!
Sources/further reading
sources/links to named poems
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