How to Write a Poem - Types and Tips

Poetry is a free flow of your emotions, with lyrics that mostly have an internal rhythm, subtle music in the arrangement of words, and inventiveness in the articulation of thoughts. Writing a poem is not so tough because there is no rigid format or guidelines for writing a poem. A poem can be written in any form and about anything. Whether it is the loss of your beloved one, a beautiful farm, the beauty of anything, the joy you feel, etc., you can jot down your thoughts. If you are a creative person, writing poetry can be an easy task, and it can be daunting if you think you are not creative by nature. To give shape to your ideas, we have got you the right approach and guide to writing a poem. Check it out.

Table of Contents

What Is a Poem?

A poem is a literary form which conveys the writer’s emotions about a person, place, animal, bird, thing or idea. If you are thinking about how it is different from other forms of writing, here is the answer to it. A poem has a particular form and structure based on the type of poem you are writing. Poems can be sonnets, odes, elegies, ballads, limericks or even free verse, of which the first five types have a particular structure, whereas free verse does not.

A poem needs no special vocabulary, but you can use figurative language to write a poem. Poems can convey different ideas, stories, emotions, etc. The purpose of a poem can vary from one poet to another. A poem can be short, long, or just a few lines, depending on the poet and the type of message he wants to convey.

Purpose of a Poem

Poetry is a way of expressing emotions, but it also does much more. Poems can tell stories, teach you moral lessons, describe the beauty of something, or communicate a message hidden behind the words. While writing a poem, the goal is to evoke an emotion in the reader and make the poem understandable and enjoyable.

Elements of Poetry

The essential elements of poetry are syntax, sound, rhythm, rhyme, and meter. You can make use of language devices such as figures of speech, imagery, allegory, etc. Now, let us look at each element to clearly understand what they are and how they are to be implemented when writing a poem.

Syntax

Syntax refers to the order in which words are arranged in a poem to create an effect. The syntax of a poem will decide how the thoughts are perceived by the reader.

Sound

For some people, poetry sounds better when heard, and to some people, it sounds better when read. Poets frequently use sound to accentuate crucial phrases or images, whether to be attractive, disturbing or just to highlight particular ideas through words. Sound is totally dependent on the syntax of the poem and is better facilitated with the use of poetic devices like alliteration, assonance and consonance.

Rhythm

A recurrence of specific sounds in a specific pattern is what promotes rhythm in a poem. This element makes the poem sound better and keeps the flow of the poem.

Rhyme

In a poem, rhyme and rhythm go hand in hand. Both add to the musicality of the poem and make it soothing for the readers. It is the use of similar-sounding syllables/words, typically at the end of each verse or alternate verse. It is up to the poet to use it in a way they find most suitable.

Meter

The meter of a poem refers to the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables in a particular pattern. Examples of meter would be iambic, dactylic, trochaic and so on. Based on the length of these, they are further classified into monometer, dimeter, trimeter, tetrameter, pentameter and so on.

Literary Devices

Literary devices are generally used in poems and prose. Some of them are:

  • Personification
  • Metaphor
  • Simile
  • Hyperbole
  • Imagery
  • Juxtaposition
  • Onomatopoeia
  • Alliteration
  • Assonance
  • Consonance

How to Write a Poem?

To write a good poem, you can follow the below-mentioned steps.

Reading a Lot of Poems

Before you can write a poem, read different types of poems to figure out what type of poem you want to write.  Do a line-by-line analysis of the poem to better understand the poem. Once you are done with it, allow the words to flow casually into your mind.

Deciding on the Topic

Whether you are assigned to write about any topic or you are choosing your own topic, it is crucial that you decide on your title. Anything can kindle your thoughts, so look around for inspiration if you do not know for sure what to write about. Reading different poems can also be a great help. Topics can be current events, people in your life, nature, struggles of people in society, etc. Make a note of all the things that you notice and that drive you to choose this topic. The very first step is to start with freewriting. You can just note down the points and then let them coalesce in your mind into a natural form and structure that suits a poem.

Explicating the Format of the Poem

The poem does not need to follow any specific or predetermined format. You need to decide if it should be a sonnet or a limerick or an elegy, etc., which will help you constrain your writing and force you to present your thoughts in a more creative way.

Finding the Right Words, Rhyme, and Rhythm

After you have decided on your format and topic, you can now work on finding relevant words that can suit the format of the poem. Find words that can rhyme with other words.

Writing the Poem

While writing, you can also refer to other poems but keep in mind that they are not plagiarised. The first attempt might not be the perfect one; try to focus on delivering the message. Even if your lines do not rhyme, focus on writing what is in your mind. Do not try to force different words to fit into the format or the rhythm of your poetry. You can always edit the poem after the initial drafts.

Proofreading and Editing

After the final draft is ready, you can edit and proofread your poem. There are chances that you might have overlooked minor spelling errors, typo errors, etc. So, before you submit your final poem, check the poem thoroughly and make the necessary corrections. You can read your poem aloud to check on the rhyme and rhythm of the poem as well.

Adding Extra Value to Your Poem

Breaking the norms and rules is common in poems which makes them different from other writing forms. Making mistakes, on the other hand, is not the same as breaking the rules. Misspelt words and faulty punctuation in your poetry can draw the attention of the readers away from the message you are trying to convey. So, make sure you use only the necessary punctuation. Play with words and use them creatively to make your poem witty and thought-provoking.

Frequently Asked Questions on Poem

Q1

What are the elements of a poem?

The elements of a poem are sound, rhyme, rhythm, syntax and meter.

Q2

What is the format of a poem?

There is no specific format for writing a poem. It can be a free form of writing.

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