How to Write Poetry
I like to consider myself a poet—though, I imagine that many likely expected that. Either way, I enjoy writing poetry. Surprisingly, I find myself among few compatriots. In fact, I recently received consultation from my close friend, Jorge, regarding how to write poetry. Well, this event that I considered quotidian seemed to trouble more people than expected. So, for any students like Jorge who are non-poetry inclined but decided to take poetry classes for their distribution, I will lend you the guide to writing poetry.
Generally, you should learn something about whatever subject that you might be studying, but this requirement is especially important for poetry. Not only should you know what kind of poetry you fancy, but you should have handy the name of at least one poet and poem from that style. In this regard, you have examples from which to draw during the class—a role model, so to speak. Once you have this role model, feel more than welcome to borrow from them for inspiration—imagine sampling in hip-hop. Learning to read poetry is just as important as learning to write, so reading a bit about a poet and their poems should not be overlooked.
Now, suppose that your assignment for the weekend is to write one poem about love. Although considered the quintessential style of poetry by many, love poetry that has been mishandled has the tendency to turn trite. So, how you write a love poem? Well, I presume that your professor has outlined some stipulations in the assignment—consider these as guidelines. Although you do not need to fulfill every instruction, those stipulations that you do select should be emphasized especially. In other words, your work must balance between those guidelines and your own ideas. Perhaps, your professor assigns the following stipulations: “must be about love, must be in free verse, must incorporate imagery.”
Now, regarding the theme of love, you have many options—paternal, maternal, fraternal, romantic, platonic, for nature, for places, for foods, for cultures, and anything more than you desire. The key to love poetry is honesty—confessional poetry is a good starting spot. In terms of verse, free verse is broad, but you can easily vacillate between tangents—call it ‘stream of consciousness.’ With imagery as the final stipulation, you might as well complete the assignment blind—the narrator is blind to the harm caused by their love. As an avid denouncer of love poetry, even I could write this poem—even Jorge, an avid denouncer of all poetry—wrote an outstanding poem about a narrator confessing his blindness to harming others with his love for writing poetry. While Jorge has asked that I not share his work, I assure you that this formula will work—trust me.