| How to write a poem
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How to write a poem
Writing poetry is quite a daunting task. It sounds easy at the outset, but when one gets down to it, it becomes more and more complicated. Some of us can go ahead and create a magical flow with words quite easily, while it is a long-winded and onerous task for others. If you think how to write a poem, it is needless to say, when one contemplates writing poetry, one must be up to the challenge.
There are several things that one must consider while wondering how to write poetry. Here is a list of things to think about that, hopefully, will make the process easier for you.
The Subject:
Commonly known as the ‘Theme’ of the poem, this is the important starting point and central point of your work. What is the poem all about? What are you trying to get across to the world at large, via your poem? Is it a story, an experience, a description of events, or a description of a place?
An interesting way to take the jump from this point is writing down the words, phrases or sentences that come to your mind when you are thinking about how to write a poem and the subject or the theme of your poem. Don’t worry if nothing sounds or feels right, just write it down for now.
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. 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 think how to write a poem and 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- know this much and you master on how to write a poem
How to write a poem >
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