Why write poetry?
Poetry lets you express emotions, paint vivid images and explore language in unique ways. It’s a powerful way to connect with readers on a deep level. Poetry can be less than ten lines yet stay with readers for tens of years.
Examples:
- Using metaphor to reveal hidden meanings
- Playing with rhythm and sound for musicality
- Exploring personal or universal themes
Tips:
- Read a wide range of poetry to find your voice
- Experiment with different forms and styles
- Write regularly to develop your craft
Further reading: The Poet’s Companion by Kim Addonizio and Dorianne Laux
How can I find inspiration for poems?
Inspiration can come from everyday moments, emotions, nature or memories. Keep an open mind and observe the world around you. Inspiration could come from something so simple as the sound of rain on your window.
Examples:
- Writing about a strong feeling like love or loss
- Describing a striking image or scene
- Reflecting on personal experiences
Tips:
- Carry a notebook to capture ideas when they come to you
- Use poetry writing prompts or challenges
- Allow yourself to write badly before then polishing the piece
Further reading: A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver
What are the key elements of a good poem?
Good poems often have strong imagery, clear emotions and carefully chosen words. They create a mood or moment.
Examples:
- Vivid sensory details
- Effective use of similes and metaphors
- Balanced rhythm and pacing
Tips:
- Show rather than tell your emotions
- Read your poem aloud to hear its flow
- Edit ruthlessly to sharpen language
Further reading: On Poetry by Glyn Maxwell
How do I choose the right form for my poem?
Forms like sonnets, haikus or free verse each bring different challenges and possibilities. Experiment to see what fits your voice and subject.
Examples:
- Traditional forms with set rhyme and metre
- Free verse with flexible structure
- Experimental forms breaking conventions
Tips:
- Study forms used by poets you admire
- Don’t be afraid to bend rules for effect
- Use form to enhance meaning or emotion
Further reading: The Making of a Poem by Mark Strand and Eavan Boland
How can I use sound and rhythm effectively?
Sound devices like alliteration, rhyme and repetition add musicality and emphasis. Rhythm guides the poem’s pace and feeling.
Examples:
- Repeating key sounds or words for effect
- Using rhyme schemes to create pattern
- Varying line length to control tempo
Tips:
- Read poems aloud to notice sound and rhythm
- Experiment with different techniques
- Match sound patterns to your poem’s mood
Further reading: Sound and Sense by Laurence Perrine
How do I handle editing and revising poetry?
Revision is where poems often find their true shape. Focus on clarity, impact and removing unnecessary words.
Examples:
- Tightening imagery and word choice
- Removing clichés and redundancies
- Checking for consistent tone and voice
Tips:
- Step away from a poem before revising
- Get feedback from other poets or readers
- Don’t be afraid to make big changes
Example poetry writing
This piece explores how poetry can express the same story and emotional arc through different lengths. The theme focuses on a little bear lost in a rainstorm, overwhelmed by fear and loneliness.
I’ve written two versions of the poem:
- A short poem that shows the essence of the story in just a few lines
- A long poem that unfolds more gradually, allowing space for atmosphere and character emotion
Short Poem:
A little bear in stormy night,
Soaked and shivering, lost in fright.
A gentle paw, an umbrella wide,
He came and walked right by her side.
Though thunder rolled and skies were wild,
She smiled again, the storm grew mild.
Long Poem:
The rain had come without a sound,
And drenched the forest all around.
A little bear, with fur all wet,
Stumbled through the cold regret.
Her tiny paws, unsure, alone,
The trees were strange, the path unknown.
The thunder cracked, the branches swayed,
She curled beneath a root and prayed.
Her heart beat loud, her breath was tight,
The storm had swallowed up the light.
No stars to guide, no voice to hear,
Just wind that howled and whispered fear.
Then softly, gently, through the storm,
A shape approached, so kind, so warm.
An umbrella, red and round,
Like sunshine fallen to the ground.
A larger bear, with steady eyes,
Held out his paw beneath the skies.
He said no words, he simply stayed,
And all the fear began to fade.
She reached for him, her paw in his,
And felt a kind of quiet bliss.
The storm still roared, the sky still cried,
But now she had someone beside.
They walked through puddles, shadows deep,
He hummed a tune that lulled her sleep.
And when the lightning lit the air,
She saw a face that deeply cared.
The rain became a lullaby,
With him, she never questioned why.
She once was lost, and now she knew,
That even storms can lead to true.
And in his smile, her world began,
Not with fear, but love’s warm hand.
Further reading: The Triggering Town by Richard Hugo