Saturday, May 31, 2008

Poem of the day-17: "A Book" by Emily Dickinson

There is no frigate like book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
of prancing poetry.

This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears the human soul !

Wikipedia article on "EMILY DICKINSON":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Dickenson

"The Poems of Emily Dickinson" (Free eBook) from Asiaing.com. :
http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/dickinson/Dickinson-poems6x9.pdf

Grateful thanks to Asiaing.com and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Poem of the day-16: "My Song" by Tagore

This song of mine will wind its music around you,
my child, like the fond arms of love.

The song of mine will touch your forehead
like a kiss of blessing.

When you are alone it will sit by your side and
whisper in your ear, when you are in the crowd
it will fence you about with aloofness.

My song will be like a pair of wings to your dreams,
it will transport your heart to the verge of the unknown.

It will be like the faithful star overhead
when dark night is over your road.

My song will sit in the pupils of your eyes,
and will carry your sight into the heart of things.

And when my voice is silenced in death,
my song will speak in your living heart.

Wikipedia article on "RABINDRANATH TAGORE":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabindranath_Tagore

Grateful thanks to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

How To-19: "How to Write a Poem About Nature"

How to Write a Poem About Nature

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Nature is beautiful. Nature is wonderful. Nature is awe-inspiring. Here is one way to go about writing a nature inspired poem.

Steps

Take some writing materials (pen/pencil, paper/journal/diary) and venture into nature. It could be somewhere in the woods, on a hill, near a creek, on a mountain, in a park, or maybe even just in your backyard.
Look around you. What do you find that is beautiful? What do you find that is not beautiful?
Close your eyes and listen (if your location permits) to the sounds of nature. Listen to the wind, the birds, the bugs, the grass growing...anything.
Take a deep breath in and sense your surroundings. Can you smell the trees? The water?
Think of some key words that come to mind when you observe your surroundings and write them down.
Concentrate on these words and how your surroundings make you feel. Take some time before writing anything to really feel your surroundings and become one with nature.
When you feel the time is right, start your poem. Remember the key words you wrote down, and what you felt when you looked, listened, and smelled you surroundings. Feel free to take a few moments to stop in the middle of your writing process and reassess your surroundings.
Choose a writing style that you feel comfortable with; whether you are accustomed to rhyming, prose, haikus, sonnets, or limericks, any one of them will work for this subject.
When you start writing, do so without editing or going back. This way, your immediate feelings will be more easily captured in your work.
When you've finished writing your poem, take a few moments to sense your surroundings again. Breathe deeply and just relax in the beauty of nature.
Take a quick look over your poem and make small adjustments until you are satisfied with the result.

Tips

It is easier to write about nature when you are surrounded by it.
Don't try to block any feelings that come to you when you are trying to write. If an unexpected emotion arises, don't suppress it, write about it and let it flow.
Writing poetry is hard and takes practice. If you aren't satisfied with your first effort, don't be discouraged, try again and keep practicing.
Keep a journal in which you write all your poetry. Having all your work in one place will make it easy to refer back to previous works, and looking back may spark new ideas
Wear proper apparel. Sturdy shoes and long pants are best when going on a hike into nature.

Warnings

Nature is not always very nice. If you go into nature, make sure you are familiar with where you're going so you don't get lost or attacked by unfamiliar animals.

Things You'll Need

Something to write on: journal, paper, composition book
Something to write with: pen, pencil, chalk, crayon, charcoal
The desire or motivation to write
Bug spray to ward off angry mosquitoes

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write a Poem About Nature. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to-18: "How to Write a Sonnet"

How to Write a Sonnet

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

So, you may not be the next Shakespeare. But that doesn't mean you can't write a great sonnet. This page will teach you the way to become a respectable sonneteer.

Steps

Choose your style of sonnet. The two most common kinds of sonnet are the Petrarchan (Italian) sonnet and the Shakespearean (English) sonnet. Note that the Petrarchan consists of quatrains (the octave) and a closing sestet in the pattern ABBA ABBA CDE CDE. The letters represent a rhyme (i.e., a's should rhyme with a's and b's should rhyme with b's). The Shakespearean style is two unique quatrains followed by two like and one unlike couplet: ABAB CDCD EF EF GG. However, it can also be quatrains and a couplet. In The Art of Shakespeare's Sonnets, Helen Vendler describes it as Q1, Q2, Q3, and C. The structure is essentially the same, though, with the couplet being the finisher.
Write your lines in iambic pentameter. This is where every other syllable is stressed, so that each line ends with a strong rhyme. There are also ten syllables in each line, five of which have emphasis (pentameter). The ninth line of the sonnet (Shakespearean/Italian style) usually has a turn or a change of tone)
Keep writing! It will probably take you a few drafts to be happy with your sonnet, but don't get discouraged. Keep the trusty thesaurus by your side and you'll be fine.

Tips

Don't feel that it is necessary to stay within the strict patterns of Shakespearean and Petrarchan sonnet styles; poetry is a fluid art form, so feel free to alter the rhyme scheme or shape of a sonnet to suit your vision. For example, "Sonnet 145" was in tetrameter.
Read other poets' sonnets for examples and inspiration. Many poets have written in this style, including Shakespeare, Elizabeth Barret Browning, William Wordsworth, John Milton, P. B. Shelley, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Pablo Neruda, and more.
Try reading every other syllable louder and harder; it makes it much easier to make a sonnet.
If you can't think of something to write about, don't freak. Look around you, see if anything that you are looking at can spark an idea. You can find poetry in anything!

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write a Sonnet. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-23: "How to Write a Fabulous Poem"

How to Write a Fabulous Poem

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

An editor has suggested that this article be merged with: "How to SpecialWrite a Poem" Per the merge policy, if these topics are determined to be similar but distinct, then the articles will remain separate. Please comment on the discussion page. Notice added on 2008-03-21.
Want to know how to write a fabulous poem? Well, you have come to the right place to learn how to write a fabulous poem. Here we will teach you how to write a fabulous poem.

Steps

What do you want to write a poem about? For our example poem, we'll write about a country called Djbouti.
Begin your opening paragraph for your poem. For example: "Off the coast of Africa, Is a country that exports no paprika. No cows, no geese, no flocks of sheep, Djibouti's income is rather cheap."
Continue into your moral of the story, if there is one. If not, just continue on explaining about it. "If you go to Dijibouti, don't expect to find much water. For from there and here, it is much hotter! Don't look for a creek with a river otter, 'cuz you won't find it, not when there's no water!
Something not to do? Keep repeating!! You usuallly shouldn'treuse a word in one stanza. But, if you look at the example above, you will see that I used 'water' twice and it sounded OK. So use your best judgement. And don't keep on going and going with words that rhyme. It's great to rhyme for a little while, but then you need to move on to the next stanza and start a new set of rhyming words. For example: "Do not go to Djibouti, If you're looking for a booty. For if you look up Djbouti, In a very nice big muti, You will find that Djbouti, While looking in a muti, is not a place to go to find your booty.

Tips

If you're writing poems for kids, make them rhyme. If you are writing a poem that doesn't rhyme, make sure it flows well.

Warnings

Don't make your poem too long, and don't make it too short.

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write a Fabulous Poem. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-17: "How to Make Poetry Sound Professional"

How to Make Poetry Sound Professional

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Some people have a passion for poetry, but they never know how to make it sound like a real poet wrote it. Here are some steps on how to make your poetry sound as good as your mind wants it to be.

Steps

Find somewhere quiet and relax for awhile with paper, pencil and a book to write on. Start your poem with imagination. If you can't think of anything, write about whatever you're looking at at that moment, or what you would like to see in your future. Begin with "the", "in" or just simple words that begin talking about a specific subject, and rearrange it as you go.
When you've written a poem you're happy with, get it edited. A trusted teacher or professor, a good friend, or anyone you know who works in writing, editing or publishing can give you useful feedback.
Fix your poem accordingly, and get it re-edited as necessary until you feel it is sufficiently polished.
Get it out there! Submit your poem to a contest, a publisher, a newspaper, or try to get it read at any nearby poetry reading. It gives you bragging rights and you've gotten a taste of true professional writing.

Tips

Don't get mad if it doesn't sound good at first, it takes a little practice to make poetry sound good to you. We are our own worst critics, right?
Talking about the earth or nature is a great subject to choose when it comes to poetry.
Don't get frustrated if it doesn't sound right the first time, keep trying.
Not all poems rhyme, in fact most great poetry doesn't. Don't feel pressured to have a strong rhyme scheme or rhythm, poetry is about expressing yourself the way you want to.

Warnings

Don't change the subject too fast. Make each thought flow smoothly into the next.
Try not to talk on and on to your friends about your writing career if you've only had one or two things published.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make Poetry Sound Professional. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-16: "How to Write an Acrostic Poem"

How to Write an Acrostic Poem

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

When we think of 'poetry', we only think of poetry that rhymes. There are many other forms and styles of poetry and each one different from each other. Acrostic is different, unique, and used for different purposes than either prose or rhyming.

Steps

Get out a pen and piece of paper, or open a word processor on your computer.
Choose a title. It should be one word in length, and not too long. Depending on the number of letters in your title, you'll be creating fewer or additional lines in your poem. For example, if your title is "SINGING", you will have a 7-line poem.
Write the word of your title vertically on the page. You will want to have one letter for each line.
Add the lines of your poem to the acrostic. Your lines will begin with the corresponding letter of that particular line. For example, if you are using "SINGING" as your title, you will write a sentence that has meaning that starts with the "S". The next sentence will start with an I but has to relate to the first sentence. Continue until the end of the word.
Each line has to relate with each other line, and the acrostic letters must also relate to each other.

Tips

Be creative! Acrostic poems don't have to rhyme, but you might try to give it a shot anyway.
If you're having trouble, you might want to start off with a short title, like "BIRD" or "CAR". As you get better, you'll be able to think of more lines to add to your title.

Example Poem
DARLINGby Sondra Crane
Dearer to me than words impart
Always in my thoughts and heart
Right from the very start I knew,
Love would always mean just you.
In every dream I see your face,
No one else can take your place,
Go where I will, you’ll always be,
The only Valentine for me.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write an Acrostic Poem. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-15: "How to Write a Quatrain Poem"

How to Write a Quatrain Poem

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

A quatrain is stanza with four lines and a rhyming scheme. However, there are many variations of rhyming scheme so many people like to write quatrain poems because there is lots of scope to express all your ideas.

Steps

Read examples of quatrains
- A summer day, a winter night,Fluffy Clouds, stars shine bright,Appreciate all, here on earth,Mother Nature, what is she worth?
- Oh the birds are singing,In a nest of broken sticks,Look what they are bringing,It's nutrition for their chicks.
- Shakespeare uses lots of quatrains in his poetry and plays. He mainly writes in sonnets which contain a combination of quatrains and rhyming couplets.
Choose a subject for your poem. More abstract topics such as nature or emotion are easiest to find rhyme for, however you can write about anything. It could even tell a story as your poem can have more than one stanza.
Choose a rhyming scheme. It is best to choose the rhyming scheme before you start writing however you may have to change it later if you can't find anything to fit. Common rhyme schemes for a quatrain are: ABAB, AABB and ABBA. If you have more than one verse you could consider: AABA BBCB CCDC etc. or similar.
Start writing. Use a rhyming dictionary for help if you get stuck on rhymes. Remember you might not always be able to say everything just how you like because you are constricted by a rhyme scheme but you may change from the rhyme scheme you chose to begin with.
Read your stanza aloud to check it flows naturally. At this point you may need to change the amount of syllables in each line or choose different words in order to have the best possible quatrain.
Check spelling and grammar.
Decide if you want more than one stanza and if so, repeat the previous step. Following quatrains often have the same rhyme scheme. Although this is not mandatory it will make you poem sound better generally.

Tips

You will write better poetry as you practice - you won't become a poet with one poem.
Jot down some general ideas that you want to convey. Highlight keywords, find rhymes or think of rhymes related to this idea. The more brainstorming you do beforehand, the easier it will be to write the poem.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write a Quatrain Poem. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to-14: "How to Write Instant Romantic Poetry"

How to Write Instant Romantic Poetry

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Create instant randomized poetry for your loved one with just a few clicks. It's like magnetic poetry and a comedy wrapped with romance...

Steps

Go to the Romantic Poetry Composer site.
Choose if you want a poem your boy or girl friend.
Enter your friend's name in the pop-up box.
Click the "Create Poetry" button.
Your poem will be created instantly.

Tips

Repeat the process and combine the best stanzas.
Make sure your browser is enabled for JavaScript.

Warnings

Don't do this at work, your laughter may get you in trouble...

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

http://gopat.us/mystuff/mycode/dynamic_poetry/RomanticPoetryComposer.html
P.S. I tried to go to this site and it came up unavailable and with a 404 error. Your mileage may vary!

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write Instant Romantic Poetry. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-13: "How to Memorize Lyrics of a Song"

How to Memorize Lyrics of a Song

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

An editor has suggested that this article be merged with: "How to SpecialMemorize a Song" Per the merge policy, if these topics are determined to be similar but distinct, then the articles will remain separate. Please comment on the discussion page. Notice added on 2007-12-16.
Memorizing the lyrics of a song is not an easy task for most people. But with a little time and effort, you will come to know every word of the song. Whether you will be able to sing it is another story.

Steps

Pick the song you want to memorize. Obviously, it cannot be an instrumental song, because it has to have lyrics. It helps if it is a song you like and listen to all the time.
Find the song and the lyrics. By having the song on CD, iPod, or on your computer, you will quickly be able to pick up on the rhythm, which will aid you a lot when you memorize the actual lyrics. However, a sheet with the lyrics of the song is more important because you know exactly what the words are; lyrics can be hard to hear somtimes.
Memorize the song, line by line. Starting from the beginning, memorize the first line. Cover it up and say it out loud. When you are done, check to see if you got it right. If you did, add the next line. If not, try again. Over time, you will be able to keep adding lines until you know the whole song.
Play the song with the music while you sing along and see if you have the words memorized correctly.

Just write down the lyrics on a notebook after listening to it a couple of times,and you should be able to memorize it better
Alternatively, just listen to the song repeatedly.

Tips

It helps a lot to listen to the song whenever possible. Buy the CD that has it, or find it online.
Try singing along with the song while it is playing in the background with your written lyrics. It will help ingrain it in your head.
Try writing out the lyrics yourself by ear before you look them up online or in a lyric booklet. This will make them stick in your head a little better.
It helps if you actually understand what the song is about. Most songs are derived from poems or stories.

Warnings

If the song has words inappropriate for young children, be sure not to sing it around them and do not teach it to them.
There are a lot of lyrics that are quite obscure.
Most conjunctions and prepositions are sung very lightly rather than clearly in a beat. If your are playing "Singing Bee", be sure you sing it clearly to avoid controversy. You're trying to sing the lyrics correctly, not trying to sing in tune or in time, even when it helps.

Things You'll Need

Song
Lyrics of the song written down

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Memorize Lyrics of a Song. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-12: "How to Rhyme"

How to Rhyme

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Everyone wants to write the perfect song or poem. Rhyming can help you achieve this goal. But, using rhyming well can be very difficult. Here are some steps to get you started on your quest to become a master rhymer:

Steps

Figure out a rhyme scheme for your poem or song. You can rhyme words every other line, do pairs of lines, or anything else you want.
Pick out the key words that you are trying to find rhymes for. These are usually words at the ends of lines. Make sure it follows your rhyme scheme.
Change the prefix of that word to every letter in the alphabet. For example, if you needed to find a word that rhymes with, "fog," start at A and go "aog, bog, cog, dog, eog, ... zog," until you reach Z. Write down every word that is real, such as "bog," "cog," and "dog".
Use other multiletter prefixes you know. First letters won't always cut it. For example, "frog" and "clog" are real words that rhyme with bog. Try multisyllablic words like "bullfrog" or "epilogue."
Choose a word that works in your poem. If no word works, consider changing the key word to a synonym of that word. For example, you could substitute "mist" for "fog."

Tips

Remember that poetry and songs are very similar. If you added music to a poem, it would become a song. Likewise, if you took away the tune of a song, you would have a poem.
You can buy a rhyming dictionary at a book store that will greatly aid you with rhyming. Or, check out the website below.
Don't rhyme just for the sake of rhyming - make sure it applies to the theme of the poem.
Try to make your poem or song have meaning. Don't use lines such as, "I'm in love, I'm also wearing a glove." Instead "I'm in love, now I'm flying like a dove," would add greater meaning to the poem.
Pay attention to the number of syllable in each line. You don't want to have lines where one has way more syllables than another.
Ask friends and family for help.
Take a poetry or song writing class.
Try not to stress out if you can't get the words right. Poetry takes time and practice to master.
Try not to make a word that has a rare ending, you will not find a rhyming word.
When going through the alphabet, most letters can be followed with an R or an L to make another word. So if you were looking for a rhyme with cat, you could find bat as well as brat; fat, as well as flat and frat, etc.

Warnings

Don't work on poems and songs for too long. Remember the other things that you like to do.

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Rhyme. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-11: "How to Write a Sestina"

How to Write a Sestina

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

A sestina is a form of poetry that uses a method of repeating words at the end of each line. It has 6 stanzas of 6 lines each, with an envoy (or tercet) of three lines to conclude the poem. While a sestina may seem daunting at first, they can be used to create vivid, powerful poems.

Steps

Become familiar with the structure of a sestina before writing one. You will use 6 repeating words throughout the poem. If you label each word with a letter (e.g. A, B, C, D, E, F), the stanzas will follow this line pattern:
- - Stanza 1: A, B, C, D, E, F
  - Stanza 2: F, A, E, B, D, C
  - Stanza 3: C, F, D, A, B, E
  - Stanza 4: E, C, B, F, A, D
  - Stanza 5: D, E, A, C, F, B
  - Stanza 6: B, D, F, E, C, A
  - Tercet: AB CD EF
  - What this means is that in Stanza 1, the word you labeled “A” will end Line 1. The word labeled “B” will end Line 2; in Stanza 2, the word you labeled “F” will end Line 1, and so on. This pattern continues throughout the poem. In the tercet, there are only 3 lines. Line 1 will contain word “A” somewhere, and it will end with word “B”; you use the same pattern for the other two lines.
  - Example: The first couple of stanzas of a sestina may look like this: Over the world we shall travel (A) And listen to the whales sing (B) Far beneath us in the ocean, (C) Where the water stretches into infinity, (D) And all we can see is the blue (E) Of the sea that is deep. (F)We share our thoughts, those simple and deep (F)With each other as through the marketplace we travel. (A)Far above us is the sky of midnight blue. (E)We hold each other while the mariachis sing, (B)And know that our love reaches infinity. (D)It is greater than even the ocean. (C)
  - The tercet might look like this (the repeating words are italicized): We’ve traveled (A) across the world to hear the whales sing (B)And seen the oceans (C) of every land reach into infinity (D)The blue (E) evening settles over us, and the rest we must take is deep (F).
Look at examples of other people’s sestinas. This will help you get an idea of how they are written and how they can sound.
Choose 6 words. It’s usually a good idea to include at least one verb. There are several ways to do decide what words you want; for example, you could pick 6 random words. However, many times it is helpful to create a word deck:
1. Make a list of 100 (or more) words. Include all kinds: verbs, nouns, adjectives, etc. You can use common words, but is often fun to include more exotic, challenging ones as well (such as places or unusual adjectives).
2. Write them down on index cards or pieces of paper. Put a rubber band around them, or put them somewhere where they’ll stay together and you won’t lose them.
3. You can expand your deck over time to include more and more words. That way you’ll have a large variety to choose from, and your poems will be more diverse.
Label each word with a letter (A, B, C, D, E, or F). Sometimes the order makes a huge difference in how your poem will turn out.
Write the first stanza. You can often get a feel for the poem in the first stanza. Sometimes it might sound very random and strange, but try to keep writing anyway. You can always revise it later.
Continue writing the poem, being sure to follow the line pattern.
Be creative with your line endings. For example, they don’t always have to be complete sentences – the word could flow into the next line.
Edit your poem as you see fit – sometimes it won’t sound quite right or will not make sense.
Practice writing more sestinas. The only way to really get good at them is to write several.

Tips

Use diverse, vibrant words in your sestina for better poetry. Even though it may be more challenging, in the end it’s a lot more fun and sounds great. You can use a few common words, but also use unusual ones – that way your poem will be exciting and dynamic.
Try combining words that don’t normally go together. For example, you could use these six words: Sing, travel, ocean, blue, infinity, deep. While they may seem unrelated and difficult to use, the diversity allows for greater creativity and expression.
Try including colors in your words. Having at least one color can give your poem a lot of flavor and atmosphere – it will give readers a visual impression that makes the sestina more interesting.
The most important part of a sestina is the line pattern. If you don't follow it, it's not a sestina!
Sestinas aren't designed as rhyming poetry, because the rhythm and pattern makes it difficult to keep a rhyme going. You can try to rhyme if you want, but focusing more on imagery might make a better sestina.

Things You'll Need

Word deck (optional)
Paper or digital word processor
Pen or pencil

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write a Sestina. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-10: "How to Write a Cinquain Poem"

How to Write a Cinquain Poem

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

A cinquain is a five line stanza poem with two syllables in the first line, four in the second, six in the third, eight in the fourth, and two in the fifth. It can vary anywhere from love poems to stories. Cinquains can be about anything that your heart desires.

Steps

Decide what the main theme of your poem is going to be. For this article, the example is "My Beautiful Lakehouse."
Come up with your first line. This will consist of two syllables and a subject or noun. For example, the first line of my cinquain poem will be, "Lakehouse".
Come up with your second line. It should consist of four syllables with the words as adjectives. The second line of the example is: "Charming escape."
Think of your third line. This must consist of six syllables with the words as verbs. The third line of the example is: "Soothing, steady, mending."
Prepare the fourth line. This should have eight syllables with the words as a feeling or complete sentence. The fourth line of the example is: "Tranquil days and beautiful sunsets."
Come up with your fifth and final line to complete your poem. It should consist of two syllables. The example's fifth line is: "Lakehouse". You don't always have to repeat the first line, but it should sum up your poem.
Take a look at your poem, making any revisions or changes needed. The poem created by way of example in this article is:
- Lakehouse
- Charming escape
- Soothing, steady, mending
- Tranquil days and beautiful sunsets.
- Lakehouse

Tips

Cinquain poems have different rhythms and don't always have to rhyme, but you can add rhyming to create a more noticeable "beat" in your poem.
Be creative! If you have a pet, write about it. If you have a family member you feel especially close to, write a cinquain about them. There is no limit to what you can write about.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write a Cinquain Poem. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-9: "How to Write Limericks"

How to Write Limericks

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Limericks are 5 lined poems that make you laugh. The Book of Nonsense was the first book of limericks. Easy enough? Get set, ready, write!

Steps

Brainstorm on a topic or theme you want to write. Whether it's love, friendship, hatred or even cupcakes, you'll do well if you understand and like the topic.
Think of two different words that have a lot of other 'rhymes'. "Cat" is one example, "ball" is another.
1. The first two lines have to rhyme. Take up one of your words and write the lines. It has to have an 'introduction' feel. Also, it would be best if they had a beat.
2. The next two lines should rhyme with a different word. These should be shorter than line number 1 and 2.
# The last line should be funny or the 'punch line'. The last words should rhyme with the word of the 1 and 2 lines.
Read it and laugh!

Tips

We usually start the 1st line with 'There once was a ___ from _____" This is easier.
Love poems are harder to write. Limericks are jokes, not love poems.
Choose animals, plants, or people as topics for starters. Don't begin with something too abstract.
Read some of Edward Lear's limericks and nonsense poems.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write Limericks. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-8: "How to Write an Emo Poem"

How to Write an Emo Poem

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Emo poems are like Emo music, but they're less tuneful and most people can write them.

Steps

Pick a topic (see tips).
Create a distinct title using one of the adjoining words that are in brackets next to the word you chose.
Don't worry about rhyming; it doesn't have to rhyme, it just has to flow, like music.
Start with writing a hook. It will be shorter than the main parts of your poem. Here is an example:
- So I lie in the darkness, words buzzin' in my head, buzzin' in my head, thoughts of emptiness and death, buzzin' in my head, buzzin' in my head, I draw my final breath and now...

every hook should be a little diferent, maybe a different ending

Write some verses that are at least two lines longer than the chorus.
Piece it together. It should be set up so that you have two verses before every hook. Make sure you start on a double verse and end on a double chorus, and you have a chorus between each verse.
Think of a loss (girlfriend,family member,or something important to you). Then just write how you would love to want it back. Show your emotions in the poem, and use words that reflect this.

HOW TO WRITE AN EMO POEM: ABRIDGED VERSION.

For those who want to write a real, emo poem but just can't seem to find the
time.
1. Pick a title.
Generally a few key words should be emphasized. For example, chronology seems to be important to emo people; days of the week, months of the year, and seasons are excellent choices for emo titles. It is also useful to use verbs in the present progressive tense, excluding any subject-specific words. Some excellent examples are:

Killing Tuesday
Spooning October
Sordid Autumn Winds

Some poor choices for the title are:

Jumped Summer (verb is in past tense)
Are Enjoying April (verb does not exclude subject-specific words, and besides, you're writing an emo poem. You don't want people to know you enjoyed anything.)
Next Friday (you might get confused with the movie starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, leading to the risk of being considered not emo)

2. Write some stuff.
It doesn't really matter what you write about, so long as it comes from your heart. You can write about anything in your poems and don't need to single it out from other poems. Here are some suggestions you could write about.

How your home, school, and love life are doing.
Write about your favorite bands, artist, etc.
Or take another poem and look for insperation from there.

3. Get it published or at least try to get it published.

Tips

Death (hell, float, murder, loss)
Loneliness (darkness, vast, corner, swallow)
Emo (corner, scream, unholiness, you could use a line from an emo song, cutting or any self-injury[only in the poem - don't cut yourself]).
Dark love (lips, dance, poison kisses,)
Note: When using a line from an emo song, be sure to change it around a bit. Mix up the words or add in some of your own so that it doesn't sound like the band that created that line.
Writing poetry is an excellent way to release anger and frustration.
Put your heart into the poem; its seriously helps.
Dont think that your words mean nothing. Poetry is one way people see how you feel!

Warnings

If you claim yourself Emo just remember to stay true to the music that you listen to it and support it as much as possible.
Don't think that just because you wrote an "Emo" poem makes you Emo, because that makes you the worst kinda person, a poseur.
Make sure that the grammar and spellings are correct.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write an Emo Poem. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-7: "How to Write Serious Gothic Poetry"

How to Write Serious Gothic Poetry

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Do you live in a world of darkness? Always finding yourself standing in the middle of a crowded room screaming, but no one hears you? Does your pain seem endless? Gothic poetry will work for you...

Steps

Start with a topic. This expansive genre encompasses a huge range of topics. A Gothic poem can be about anything. It's just a dark twist. Stereotypically, gothic poetry is usually about only pain and death. This isn't always true. So don't let yourself be fooled by stereotypes.
Think of a title. The title is one of the most important parts of gothic poetry. It helps the reader gather the emotion of the poem before they read it, and to understand the poem while reading it. A good title will catch the person's eye. Just make sure you can keep their attention afterwards. It's a good idea to keep the title short, either words or syllables.
With the hard part out of the way, outline the poem. Anything goes in this step, as you'll soon revise it. A short example: "my twisted soul can no longer fly/darkness rips at my blinding eyes"
Capitalization isn't a big part of gothic poetry. Some poems actually come across stronger when words aren't capitalized except for the names of people, gods and goddesses.
Punctuation is important. Another stereotype is that punctuation is absent from gothic poetry. But that's not true. Any poem, no matter the genre, would do well with punctuation.
Because gothic poetry is dark and mysterious, it means there can't be a hint of hope and happiness and the like. Be afraid to make references to such. Work with this fear. This is another stereotype that many tend to believe. Because you write gothic poetry means you don't have some kind of happy moments, or else you barely feel them.
Most people like rhyme. If you wish to rhyme then great! Don't TRY to make your poem rhyme though. The rhyming should always come by itself. Trying to rhyme is forcing it to rhyme, and the poem won't flow and it'll be... well not a good poem. If you want it to rhyme but have to force rhymes, then do so, but revise revise revise!
Gothic poetry tends to be free verse. Do what you wish with the design of the poem. But make sure it's comfortable to you and you can work with it.
Don't take yourself seriously, no matter how serious you want to be. If you write poetry that includes anything similar to "incarnadine," "blood," "torture," or any "gothic" words, you will be laughed at. Gothic is a style of architecture and a race of Northern European people.

Tips

Gothic poetry is not always dark, no matter what they say!
Reference Persephone (who was kidnapped by Hades and forced to live the winter of every year in the underworld), Orpheus (a poet who tried to rescue his wife from Hades), eEurydice (the wife of Orpheus), Tantalus (doomed to forever sit in pool of water with grapes hanging overhead but not be able to touch them), the Cimmerii (people who lived in eternal darkness), or other ancient Greek/Roman tragic stories are good for Epic Poetry.
The Dictionary and Thesaurus are your best friends.
Blood and Black aren't strong words because of their overuse in today's society; if you want something stronger, then refer to the thesaurus. Adding darkly, disturbed, literate, and twisted synonyms such as these for black: ebon, ebony, onyx, sable, dark, or pitch-dark. For blood you could use words such as vitae and gore; for red crismon, russet, carmine, bloodshot, cherry,blush, brick, cardinal, and scarlet.
Other synonyms, if you are writing something about death, you may use:
Massacre-- blood bath, bloodshed, blood letting, butchery, carnage, pogrom (always a jerker), or slaughter.
Similar to this is bloody-minded: murderous, bloodthirsty, bloody, cutthroat, homicidal, sanguinary, sanguineous, and slaughterous.
If you choose to add something from a foreign language, especially Latin, make sure you know what it means and that you'll remember it.
Never throw out any of your poems. They're your keepsake. Your soul. Your future.
Numbers are stronger if written out.
Use intricate and dark words like: morbid, meloncholy, phantasmagoric, macabre, torment, eternal, decrepit, futile, deliberate, and delapidated. Try flipping through a dictionary and looking at random words, you'll most likely find some you like.If you don't know some of the words above,look them up. They are used alot as descriptions of society in gothic literature

Warnings

Do not give in to stereotypes!
If your parents aren't comfortable with the Gothic subculture or any of it's counterparts, make it scarce. Do not flash it in their presence. It isn't cowardly, it's self-preservation.
Also, if they despise the "darkness" of your poetry, protect it! Parents are notrious for throwing away "trash." Chances are, that's what they think of your poetry. Suggestion: At school, carry it with you in your bookbag. All other times, keep it somewhere inconspicuous.
Don't take criticism personally unless it goes against your beliefs.

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

DarkPoetry

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write Serious Gothic Poetry. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-6: "How to Write a Love Poem"

How to Write a Love Poem

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

For the cash-strapped, or romantically inclined, writing a sincere, well thought out love poem may be just the ticket to your loved one's heart. It is easy to express your true feelings and thoughts in free-verse or rhyme. You don't need to be a Shelley or Browning to write a great poem. All it takes is sincerity, effort, a loving feeling and something to write with.

Steps

Write a page of standard prose, as fast as you can, about how you felt the first time you saw your loved one, how you felt the first time you knew you were in love, and how you feel right now about being together. These three moments in time will create the structure of your poem.
Replace any weak verbs with stronger verbs and any pronouns with proper nouns. Words depicting the 5 senses work well for love poems.
Reread your passage and pick a metaphor to tie the three moments together. Choosing a metaphor is the most fun part so be wild with it. An opening flower is a tried and true metaphor for love, but a cloud that looks like a heart might work even better.
Rewrite your passage using the metaphor to describe the three moments.
Read your page aloud, change things that sounds "off" to you. Make notes where you feel there's a pause in the flow.
Write the poem, putting a line breaks where you made the notes.
Whether you type or write the poem consider framing your poem. Your loved one may want to keep the poem as a memento!
Read the poem aloud to the person you love, or present it as a gift to them.

Tips

Who knows—you may just write the "Greatest Poem Ever". Just remember your poem is for the one you love. So make it personal and sensual.
Think about your 'love', how you feel when you are together or apart, what you miss most when you're apart, how you feel when you reunite. Write your thoughts and feelings. Poetry comes from your heart—your thoughts will create a love poem based on your feelings.
There's no need to be intimidated by rhyme schemes. Remember, poetry doesn't have to rhyme. Former Poets Laureate Robert Pinsky and Louise Gluck and current Poet Laureate Ted Kooser all write poetry that does not rhyme.
The best writing advice is simple: omit needless words. One strong verb steamrolls any three weak ones.
Poetry and almost all artful prose is about how the words reveal your feelings. Read your writings aloud to yourself to feel what your words are saying. If they stir emotion in you, they will for the person you love.
Make it personal. If your love is named Kim or Vern try to use it. Don't use cliches', find something unique or special in your relationship and write about that. Your poem should be a reflection of the love you both share.
One useful tip for any kind of poem is to "write it twice: first with the heart, then with your brain". Express your feelings without sounding corny.
Read poems for ideas but "Do not copy them" it will get you nothing, and your loved one may find out.
It's FINE to quote an existing poem. Just include the original author's name and say something like, "I thought of you when I read this."
Some people are more poetic than others when it comes to expressing emotions, don't give yourself a report card, your poem doesn't need to be perfect just yours. A short, simple, romantic phrase or rhyme from your heart can be put in with a small gift to give your loved one. E.G. "I hope this gift will let you see ...how much, my love, you mean to me...
A poem that can be written in prose isn't a poem, so don't follow the method of writing a huge block of prose, cleaning it up, and then cutting it arbitrarily into lines. Learn to write real poetry in meter--that will show your lover real dedication and effort.
Recognize that this is only ONE way of writing a poem. Google "love poem" for a million others. The issue here is not how good a poem it is, it's how much emotion it evokes in your partner. You don't have to stick to the night you met. Try other powerful moments, for example the evening you two walked together just before the birth of your first child, the time you two got caught in the rain, clutching his/her hand on the roller coaster, etc. etc.
If you want to rhyme, there are great rhyming dictionaries on the internet. Try to stay away from one syllable words and try making every other line rhyme.
Golden Rule: If you are sincere, your partner will LOVE it. Guaranteed.

Warnings

Do not talk about raw sex in your poem.
You don't have to ignore sex either. Look at the work of e e cummings for example. Sex is a part of many romantic relationships and is as raw or refined as the partners themselves, e.g. Jose Nunez "Bilingual"

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write a Love Poem. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-5: "How to Be a Poet"

How to Be a Poet

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

There are several inspirational and talented writers in this world. Some have the patience and skills to write a novel. For others, they like a shortcut. To write a poem with beautiful verse and few words is great for those with little patience and know how to turn images into beautiful verse. Below are instructions for finding your inner poet.

Steps

Decide what kind of poem you would like to write. In the external links you will find a link that will provide you with suggested types of poems and descriptions of each.
Find a source of inspiration. Some common ones are: outdoors, life, love, people, etc. This will help you with your topic and title.
Begin with your title. This will help the rest of your poem flow more freely in your thoughts.
Come up with one word or topic (from your source of inspiration) and write down a list of words that are associated with that topic. Example: Love: Red roses, white doves, love letters/poems, light, hope, romance, family/friends, etc. (You can get ideas from romeo and juliet if this is what you wish to write about.)
Use a thesaurus. Poetry is about using as few words as possible, but using "beautiful" words to describe what you are writing about.
Start writing! You have officially become a "poet!"

Tips

There are several types of poems to write, but these are mainly guidelines for how to write a poem if you have little or no experience. If you are a true poet and can come up with beautiful words and ideas on your own, write some freestyle poetry.
Writing poetry is a emotional and psychological system. So try to pull from past experiences(so your readers can sincerely relate to your writing. When writing, think of the mood, smell, location, and feelings. I wish you all luck!

Warnings

If you decide to get your poem published, be sure that the topic and/or idea of the poem isn't too offensive or controversial. You need to express yourself freely, but still write for the purpose of inspiring others.

Things You'll Need

Pen/pencil
Paper
Inspiration
Imagination
Beautiful words

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Be a Poet. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-4: "How to Master the Basics of Poetry"

How to Master the Basics of Poetry

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Did your teacher just ask you to write a poem for class? Just feel like writing one? What do you do? If you've never written a poem before, here's how to get good--Fast!

Steps

Know what style of poem you want to write. There's many to choose from. For ideas, you may search the Internet by "types of poetry". The following steps can guide you in writing rhyming poetry. Rhyming poetry is an old style you may be familiar with from school textbooks. Modern poetry does not rhyme at the ends of lines; it may have internal rhymes or none at all.
Know your rhyme schemes. A rhyme scheme is how your words will rhyme and flow. Some include:
1. ABAB
2. AABB
3. AABBC
4. ABABCDCD
5. ABABCDCD
Think of what you want your poem to be about. Try to make it about something that interests you. (it'll be easier!)
Sit in a quiet place and let it come. Don't expect a poem to just spill out, though. Writing good poems takes time.

Tips

Try going through your day a little slower to see if something inspires you.
It may help to read some good poetry by famous authors. It's okay to model your poetry after someone else's just don't copy it.
Not all poems have to rhyme. A poem, really, is just words that "flow" and sound good together.

Warnings

Do not try to give your poem perfect grammar. This may seem impossible. It is okay to put in a "'till" or a "'cause".
Remember poems take time, so don't get frustrated.

Things You'll Need

An inspiration
Paper--(Don't waste it!)
Pen/Pencil
Quiet place
Possibly some good poetry books

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

[www.google.com]
YAHHO.COM
JONASBROTHERS.COM
http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Master the Basics of Poetry. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-3: "How to Write a Haiku Poem"

How to Write a Haiku Poem

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

A haiku is an unrhyming verse form, conveying a complete image or feeling in three lines of syllables, and are usually about nature or natural things. Here's how to create a descriptive, engaging haiku.

Steps

Understand the traditional haiku format. Haiku in Japanese (an unstressed language) are written consecutively, with 17 syllables -- the first line contains five syllables, the second has seven, and the last has five. In English (a stressed language), the sentiment can be expressed with a short line, a long line, and another short -- line. However, some recent English haiku writers have written two-line haiku.
Choose a general topic. Haiku usually focus on imagery from nature. Haiku do not tell linear stories and typically do not directly convey human experiences; they convey a deeply felt moment -- usually a scene from nature -- which is then simply expressed, without embellishment, that reflects a deeper human experience, such as simplicity or loneliness.
Choose a season. Since virtually all haiku focus on nature, the season is important for coming up with the imagery. With so few words in the poem, simple phrases like "cherry blossoms" or "falling leaves" can create lush scenes, while reflecting the tone of the verse. In Japanese, the "kigo" or season word was generally understood; "autumn breeze" might be known to express loneliness and the coming of the dark winter season.
- Winter usually connotes burden, cold, sadness, hunger, tranquility or peace. Winter can be invoked with words like "snow," "ice," "dead tree," "leafless," etc.
- Summer conjures feelings of warmth, vibrancy, love, anger, temptation and many others. General summer phrases include allusions to the sky, beaches, heat, lust and any form of romance.
- Autumn encompasses a very wide range of ideas: decay, belief in the supernatural, jealousy, saying good-bye, loss, regret and mystery to name a few. Falling leaves, shadows and autumn colors are the most common implementations.
- Spring, like summer, can incorporate love, but it is usually more a sense of infatuation than lust. Also common are themes such as innocence, youth, passion and fickleness. Anything with blossoms, new plants, silk, warm rains can imply spring. For more information on seasons, go to the link listed below.Seasons don't have to be the ones listed. Holidays can be seasons of their own. There's a big difference between winter and Christmas, after all.
Add a contrast. Reading most haiku, you'll notice they either present one idea for the first two lines and then switch quite abruptly to something else or do the same with the first line and last two, although this is not as common. Contrasts can be the hardest part. The haiku poet wants a perfect catalyst to spark the right emotional note. It doesn't have to be extremely severe; it can be anything from one color to another. In English, the contrast is often emphasized by punctuation between the two lines, although this is not necessary.

Tips

To get inspiration and begin to understand the subtlety of emotion within images from nature, read the ancient works of famous haiku poets. When reading translations of Issa or Basho, you might find the translator chose to preserve the meaning, but not the meter. Much of Issa's work is in the form abstract//abstract//concrete for the three lines, although in the original Japanese this was not so.
Write what you see, not what you feel. Haiku are ultimately about abstracts and emotions expressed through concrete images. When reading haiku, don't read as other poems. Haiku are written to capture a feeling and image. Keep an open mind when reading haiku and try to feel what the writer was trying to get across. The more you read haiku, the easier they are to understand.
Some are of the opinion that in English, Haiku should be limited to a 3/5/3 format to preserve the broken nature. Japanese words tend to be longer than English words, which is why translated Haiku tends to sound less complete than 5/7/5 poems written originally in English. You might try the shorter format to see how you like it.
Remember written Japanese is a visual language; it uses ideograms to represent ideas visually rather than characters to represent ideas audibly. In different combinations, Japanese characters (mostly based on Chinese characters) are pronounced differently, e.g., the character "sora" (empty of vanity) can be pronounced "kara" if combined with other characters to form a more complex idea. Thus haiku is really a Japanese-specific form of poetry. Simply copying the syllable pattern in a sound-based language like English is an interesting adaptation, but not haiku in the original sense. It may be better to consider such poems "haiku-inspired".
There are some who say that haiku can just be a short fragment (no more than three words) followed by a phrase.
early evening
small flat stones
line the shore.
The haiku doesn't have to be serious, it can be funny, although traditionalists might call it a 'senryu' rather than a 'haiku.' For example: 'I like Cottage Cheese, Cottage Cheese is my favorite, Yummy Cottage Cheese'.
There are haiku with humour [1], and there are also humourous haikulike poems called senyru [2]

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

History and examples of haiku
Articles on how to write haiku
Wikipedia's take on haiku, with examples and modern artists
adofinde Hundreds of examples categorized by season and theme.
With Words simple overview of haiku

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write a Haiku Poem. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-2: "How to Publish a Poem"

How to Publish a Poem

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Do you want your poem published? If so, here are some steps to help.

Steps

Look on the Internet for websites and mailing addresses of publications seeking poetry.
Find a good webpage listing many poetry publishers that accept email submissions.
Try a specialized journal for a specific style of poetry. Finding the right match for you will help you get published. Remember, most editors are swamped with submissions, so if you give them what they're looking for, you'll have the advantage over everyone else.
Look to newspapers, magazines, civic organizations and national contest organizations often list poetry writing contests with various awards for best submissions.
Placing your work with these sources will gain you a valuable recognition.
Peruse the publications your work might be considered by to get a good idea of what sorts of poems might be welcomed. Know your market!
Write a poem and send it in. Stop procrastinating!
If you get confirmation that they have published it, you've just begun the long journey to success. Repeat the process!
If you get rejected, don't lose heart. It happens. Just keep trying.

Tips

Keep a record of potential markets in Excel or some other database management program on your computer.
Track expenses, such as postage and printing costs. If you get published and earn money for your work, those expenses may be tax deductible.
You may also choose to post poems yourself on poetry blogs s Blogs allow you to instantaneously post your material, have readers comment on your work and have your work searchable by search engines.

Warnings

Some publishers may offer constructive criticism of your work, even if they don't buy or print your poem. Carefully consider their advice and respond with courtesy.
Be aware of and avoid scam publishers, who claim that they are well-respected and will use your work to make money for themselves, usually from you.
Consider whether or not you are willing to pay "reading fees" from publishers who may or may not publish your work. This is more often than not a scam.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Publish a Poem. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-1: "How to Write a Poem"

How to Write a Poem

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Writing a poem is all about observing the world within you or around you. You can write about anything from love to the rusty gate at the old farm. As long as you are enjoying it or finding it releases something from inside you, you're on the right track.

Steps

Read and listen to poetry. Whether someone who has never seen a sonnet nor heard haiku can truly be a poet is an open question. It is almost certain, though, that any poet who has been published or who has garnered any following enhanced their skills by reading or listening to good poetry, even if they later scoffed at conventional notions of what was "good." "Good" poems fall into three categories: those that are recognized as classics, those that seem to be popular, and those that you personally like. Poems typically being short, there is no reason not to explore plenty of both.
Find a spark. A poem may be born as a snippet of verse, maybe just a line or two that seems to come out of nowhere. That's what's usually called inspiration, and once you have that beginning you simply need to flesh it out, to build the rest of the poem around it.At other times you may want to write about a specific thing or idea. If this is the case, do a little planning. Write down all the words and phrases that come to mind when you think of that idea. Allow yourself to put all your ideas into words.It may sound difficult, but do not be afraid to voice your exact feelings. Emotions are what make poems, and if you lie about your emotions it can be easily sensed in the poem. Write them down as quickly as possible, and when you're done, go through the list and look for connections or certain items that get your creative juices flowing.
Think about what you want to achieve with your poem. Perhaps you want to write a poem to express your love for your boyfriend or girlfriend; perhaps you want to commemorate a tragic event; or maybe you just want to get an "A" in your poetry class. Think about why you are writing your poem and who your intended audience is, and then proceed in your writing accordingly.
Decide what poetry style suits your subject. There are a great many different poetic styles. [1]. If you see "Winter icicles / plummeting like Enron stock..." perhaps you've got a haiku in your head. As a poet, you have a wide variety of set forms to choose from: limericks, sonnets, villanelles ... the list goes on and on. You may also choose to abandon form altogether and write your poem in free verse. While the choice may not always be as obvious as the example above, the best form for the poem will usually manifest itself during your writing.
Listen to your poem. While many people today have been exposed to poetry only in written form, poetry was predominantly an aural art for thousands of years, and the sound of a poem is still important. As you write and edit your poem, read it aloud and listen to how it sounds.
Write down your thoughts as they come to you. Don't edit as you write, or do edit as you write - the choice is yours. However, you should try both methods at least a couple times to see what works best for you.
Choose the right words. It's been said that if a novel is "words in the best order," then a poem is "the best words in the best order." Think of the words you use as building blocks of different sizes and shapes. Some words will fit together perfectly, and some won't. You want to keep working at your poem until you have built a strong structure of words. Use only those words that are necessary, those that enhance the meaning of the poem. Choose your words carefully. The differences between similar sounding words or synonyms can lead to interesting word play.
Use concrete imagery and vivid descriptions.
- Love, hate, happiness: these are all abstract concepts. Many, maybe all, poems are, deep down, about emotions and other abstractions, but it's hard to build a strong poem using only abstractions - it's just not interesting. The key, then, is to replace or enhance abstractions with concrete images, things that you can appreciate with your senses: a rose, a shark, or a crackling fire, for example. The concept of the objective correlative may be useful. An objective correlative is an object, several objects, or a series of events (all concrete things) that evoke the emotion or idea of the poem.
- Really powerful poetry not only uses concrete images; it also describes them vividly. Show your readers and listeners what you're talking about--help them to experience the imagery of the poem. Put in some "sensory" handles. These are words that describe the things that you hear, see, taste, touch, and smell, so that the reader can identify with their own experience. Give some examples rather than purely mental/intellectual descriptions. For example: "He made a loud sound" versus "He made a loud sound like a hippo eating 100 stale pecan pies with metal teeth".
Use poetic devices to enhance your poem's beauty and meaning. The most well known poetic device is rhyme. Rhyme can add suspense to your lines, enhance your meaning, or make the poem more cohesive. It can also make it prettier. Don't overuse rhyme. It's a crime. In fact you don't have to use rhyme at all. Other poetic devices include meter, metaphor, assonance, alliteration, and repetition. If you don't know what these are, you may want to look in a poetry book or search the internet. Poetic devices can make a poem or, if they bring too much attention to themselves, they can ruin it.
Save your most powerful message or insight for the end of your poem. The last line is to a poem what a punch line is to a joke--something that evokes an emotional response. Give the reader something to think about, something to dwell on after reading your poem. Resist the urge to explain it; let the reader become engaged with the poem in developing an understanding of your experience or message.
Edit your poem. When the basic poem is written, set it aside for awhile and then read the poem out loud to yourself. Go through it and balance the choice of words with the rhythm. Take out unnecessary words and replace imagery that isn't working. Some people edit a poem all at once, while others come back to it again and again over time. Don't be afraid to rewrite if some part of the poem is not working. Sometimes you just can't fix something that essentially doesn't work.
Get opinions. It can be hard to critique your own work, so after you've done an initial edit, try to get some friends or a poetry group (there are plenty online) to look at your poem for you. You may not like all their suggestions, and you don't have to take any of them, but you might find some insight that will make your poem better. Feedback is good. Pass your poem around, and ask your friends to critique your work. Tell them to be honest, even if it's painful. Filter their responses or ignore them altogether and edit as you see fit.

Tips

Do you find that you never feel inspired when you sit down to write a poem? It's a common problem, and you can solve it by carrying a notebook with you everywhere in which you can jot down poem ideas as they come to you. Then, when you're ready to write, just get out the notebook and find an idea that catches your fancy.
You might want to listen to soothing music or look at pictures to calm and inspire you.
Don't forget that surprise makes art (writing) extra special. If you're going to drag out the tired old rose metaphor in a love poem, put your own twist on it.
Don't give up. You'll probably find that your poems become better and easier to write as you write more of them.
Poems can make a great gift.
Keep all of your poetry in a book whether you like it or not. In the future, you might be able to salvage some of the throwaways or publish your best work.

Warnings

Avoid cliches or overused images. "The world is your oyster," is neither a brilliant nor an original observation.
If you are writing a poem to be sent to a newspaper or a family-friendly magazine, choose your words and topic with care. You don't want the paper to censor your original work or reject it because of profanity.
Avoid sharing your work with people who do not appreciate poetry. This is a mistake that can discourage you from being a poet. It is often difficult to explain that you are just trying your hand at something new. The best thing to do is ask someone you know who will support you (who also happens to appreciate the art of the written word) to kindly critique you.
To guard against plagiarism, do what you can to reinforce your copyrights to your work. One way to do this is to make a copy of your work, seal it into an envelope, place a stamp on it, and mail it back to yourself. When you receive it in the mail, don't open it. The un-opened envelope can provide additional evidence that you are the copyright holder should it ever be in question, although it is not guaranteed to prove it in court.
If you have too much imagery, it can actually hurt your poem. "Explosively radiating sunshine slammed through my window" is just over the top.
If you want others to read your poetry, ask yourself "If somebody else showed me this, would I like it?" If the answer is "no," edit the poem some more.
If you're simply brimming with ideas and inspiration, don't try to fit it all into one poem. You'll have the chance to write more in the future.

Sources and Citations

McGraw Hill Glossary of poetic terms
List of Poet Laureates - http://poetry.about.com/od/poets/l/bllaureates.htm
One Poet Laureate's attempt to introduce modern poetry in to schools - http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/

↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Poetic_form

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write a Poem. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Google Poem Search

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Friday, May 30, 2008

Steps

Tips

Warnings

Things You'll Need

Related wikiHows

Steps

Tips

Related wikiHows

Steps

Tips

Warnings

Steps

Tips

Warnings

Related wikiHows

Steps

Tips

Related wikiHows

Steps

Tips

Related wikiHows

Steps

Tips

Warnings

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Steps

Tips

Warnings

Things You'll Need

Related wikiHows

Steps

Tips

Warnings

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Steps

Tips

Things You'll Need

Related wikiHows

Steps

Tips

Related wikiHows

Steps

Tips

Related wikiHows

Steps

HOW TO WRITE AN EMO POEM: ABRIDGED VERSION.

Tips

Warnings

Related wikiHows

Steps

Tips

Warnings

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Steps

Tips

Warnings

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Steps

Tips

Warnings

Things You'll Need

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Steps

Tips

Warnings

Things You'll Need

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Steps

Tips

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations