Learning to Write Poetry
Learning to write poetry is a worthy undertaking. There are rules and techniques to be followed but many of us fear that if we study, our creative juices may dry up and we will have nothing to write about. At least that’s my excuse but maybe we should learn the rules of poetry writing and see what happens. I have been studying (somewhat) and this is what I am in the process of learning.
Many poets complain that they don’t want to be held back by technical considerations in writing poetry. Why do we who write poetry feel this way? We seem to think its an infringement on our creativity to follow any rules. Some of it comes from poets like Dylan Thomas in “Fern Hill” and Allen Ginsburg in “How” They wrote their poems as if they were talking to us. It sounds as if they wrote these poems straight off the tops of their head. But, of course, that isn’t true. These poets were so skillful that we can’t detect the craft of their technique.
What are the techniques of poetry writing? Ezra Pound divided them into three categories. (sight), (sound), and (voice).
Image via Wikipedia
Sight
Image is the heart and soul of poetry. It is the most basic of all communication. Our earliest memories are in pictures. We think in pictures. Our ancestors of thousands of years ago made images of stone. The cavemen drew pictures on the walls of caves. Pictures tell a story. Pictures are an important aspect of poetry. Following are the picture aspects of poetry.
image-a simple picture
metaphor-a comparison
simile-an indirect comparison, such as “like” or “as”
figure-an image and an idea
conceit-extended
Sound
Sound and rhythm has its source in the beat of our own heart. If we are excited it may skip and jump at a frantic pace. There are the sound of drumbeats and marching feet in parades, the sounds of children playing, the sound of wind tossed trees, the splash of water in the creek.
Following are poetic devices for sound.
assonance-rhyme of vowel sounds
alliteration-repetition of consonants
rhyme-one word echoing the sound of another
metrics-a simple notation system of rhythm.
Image via Wikipedia
Voice
Voice is the unmistakable voice of the poet. You would never mistake “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall” as anyone other than Robert Frost. Following are the poetic devices for voice.
denotation- the literal meaning of a word
connotation-an indirect meaning of a word.
personification-presenting the object in a humane fashion
diction-choice of words
syntax-the arrangement and structure of words
rhetoric-an adornment of speech to impress
persona-an assumed voice, pretending to be other than what he is
The only way for any real learning and progress is endless writing and rewriting. Master all the poetic devices until they become familiar as a second skin. Go to your library and check out books explaining the devices of poetry writing. Check out poetry books by Robert Frost, Dorothy Parker, Walt Whitman, John Keats, and other great poets. And continue to enjoy and write poetry.There is nothing like it for expressing our feelings. Continue to enjoy writing your poetry even if you never pick up a book to study.
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May 10th, 2010 at 4:50 am
Thanks for these lessons, have almost forgotten about them.
May 10th, 2010 at 5:44 am
Yup, I love to write poems a long time ago but lack the passion now. It’s not easy, really. It’s not just about expressing feelings or angst. There are techniques that we need to adhere to.
May 10th, 2010 at 7:34 am
I tried writing some, but feel there is no spontaneity. With your lesson I must try again
May 10th, 2010 at 7:39 am
I fancy myself as a “free-flow” type of poet, but I do take time to choose the right words. I also consider imagery and meter (somewhat), as well as connotative language. Good info here, Ruby!
May 10th, 2010 at 7:50 am
It is nice info, but I myself am an avid Poet and I believe poetry is art and should have no boundaries. I guess some believe that has to be a style or format to it , and i guess it makes it easier for some. Good info though.
May 10th, 2010 at 10:26 am
a very well presented entry
May 10th, 2010 at 10:44 am
Wonderful lesson! Poetry should be a glimpes into the soul of the poet. But to project that vision of ones soul, the poet needs to know how to utilize the techniques you have listed to take the reader on the journey. Excellent post Ruby.
May 10th, 2010 at 10:51 am
You are right Ruby, another great post.
May 10th, 2010 at 11:53 am
Well-done.
May 10th, 2010 at 11:56 am
Good tips and advice. I find poetry very hard to write but I try my hand at it once in a while.
May 10th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Ruby another winner. Thanks for sharing. Poetry is difficult and takes time definitely. I just wrote one recently, “Poet, Hush!” if anyone is interested. I have others to.
Thanks Ruby for the tips will study them.
May 10th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
Wonderful share Ruby!
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
May 10th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
i write as the words come to mind. then i might revise.
but for me free flow is the go
enjoyable reading
May 10th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Very informative aritcle.
May 10th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
Thank you for this article
May 10th, 2010 at 11:55 pm
Thanks, I really need this article.
May 11th, 2010 at 6:08 am
Really great reading Ruby. I have no training on poems at all, I love to read how others do it and have had a few goes myself. I am not sure if I do it right but there is something satisfying about the end result!
May 11th, 2010 at 6:30 am
Very enlightening. I had no idea there was so much to think about when writing poetry. I usually just write. A good piece.
Christine
May 11th, 2010 at 7:11 am
Excellent article!
May 11th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Maybe if I learn to utilize what you have written I will become a better poet.
May 11th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
I would like to study poetry and I will when I have some time.
May 12th, 2010 at 9:11 am
interesting post. I am self taught, never studied at school, college etc. What I write is what I write. I wont change the way I do it but I will step back when looking at my pieces & think can i do better, having taken your points into account. Cheers Pete
May 12th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Thanks for the brush up on this topic. I took a course in creative writing which extensively touched on poetry but that was about 4 years ago. I still stick to free verse, and these tips are useful.
May 12th, 2010 at 10:28 am
I’m just starting poetry. I will keep this in mind as I write.
May 12th, 2010 at 11:20 am
I think it comes naturally to the real poetic greats! its for the rest of us to study and master them..:)
May 12th, 2010 at 11:42 am
To me writing poetry came naturally but admits another fellow Triond writer taught me what I didn’t know.Story telling and articles was harder but am getting better with each piece I write.
But is interested in a few of the names you stated since I’m a fan of Robert Frost.Would love to take a creative writing class and may someday if given the chance.Great article and well worth reading.
May 12th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
- Good Work -
May 12th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Nice, but I seem to like my poetry a bit better…
http://authspot.com/poetry/all-about-language-poem/
May 12th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
I believe the poetry genre is the best way to express ones self. Positively written article for inspiration. Thanks
May 12th, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Very interesting, Ruby, I usually write what I feel. Great post.
May 12th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Your writing here – at least portions of it – sounded like poetry for me. You are a great teacher. I have a great mind block that I can’t write poetry. I know nothing about any of the techniques. But when I read some of the poetry presented here, I know the good ones from the bad. Some merely write sentences from which they take out a few words, stack it on different lines and call it poetry/haiku or whatever it is. I don’t know where to look for rules for haiku.
May 12th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
I write alot but am afraid that i have no structure in my writing. I have only posted two pieces was wondering if anyone could help me out and give suggestions?
May 13th, 2010 at 12:54 am
nice post, thank you
May 13th, 2010 at 4:43 am
Interesting article.
May 13th, 2010 at 6:00 am
Nice lesson. Also-you earn money by commenting?
May 13th, 2010 at 9:58 am
Wow. Excellent article. Well written and formatted. Lost of useful material and information. Thank you for this article it is defiantly going to be one that return to over and over again.
May 13th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
I think it’s an inborn talent and no one can learn writing poetry. No matter how much you read or write, this thing you won’t be able to achieve unless you have soething in you. Buy and read greta poetry books to enhance your intellectuality and intelligence plus knowledge. Enjoy it. Forget lto learn ‘how to write a poem’! Wow that’s silly.
May 14th, 2010 at 4:27 am
thou hath read thy article, enjoyed to the core.
thy tips shall try to make thy audience awe.
thou hath lost thy passion a while back,
i finally found my knack.
a test to thee to help in thy quest,
to welcome thee to my nest,
or perhaps thou might fail the test?
May 14th, 2010 at 6:43 am
nice share…writing is actually puring out what is inside you… anyone can write
May 14th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
These are really good standards for poetry. But , for me, it has always not worked. I have always believed that poetry is art. Art has no boundaries and no rules, it is expression. These are good guidelines, but I feel by going outside of them at times, I am able to pull out very good pieces of my own art. This, by no means indicates that these methods do not work, and your article was very well written and pretty interesting to boot.
May 14th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Great article, and you’ve received some very interesting comments. I think it’s useful to think about your potential reader if you write poetry. Some of the poetry I’ve read is great, some of it so so, but all of it is written and shared on Triond. Those who don’t edit your work can stand out as the ones who don’t quite make it from OK to excellent.
I would advise anyone who is interested in poetry to check out some of the many contemporary poetry collections published these days. And poetry readings can show you new ways of getting your words out into a larger audience. Poetry is everywhere, if you care to look for it!
May 14th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
I meant to say some of the poetry I’ve read HERE. I’ve read & heard lots of poetry from all of the place!
May 14th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
I hope this article helps me more with my writing. I sometimes know WHAT I am going to write, then I get a piece of paper, && then it disappears.
May 15th, 2010 at 12:19 am
Thanks a lot your article will help me a lot. I love writing poem. I had wrote poems in English but it seems it is not that good but I still write and edit them whenever I have time. Making poems is fun. Thanks again and God bless…. ♥
May 15th, 2010 at 4:42 am
Very useful ;]
May 15th, 2010 at 6:54 am
Nice article. Good job, you are a very good writer!
May 15th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Great article. It has been ages since I wrote poetry. Must get into it.
May 16th, 2010 at 9:35 am
A very interesting and fascinating article.
May 16th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
I enjoyed the informative article and marvel at the range of your
curiosity. Many poems fail to deliver their message in their
elitist language so if very few translate it, why bother. In every forms of popular literature we expect the message to be delivered with clarity. Poetry has frustrated more readers than
any other form of communication. Based on numbers of people
who have benefitted from it I’m inclined to think that ambiguous
poetry only reaches some eggheads and God forgive me if I’m wrong….is a waste of good time. LOL
May 16th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
Poetry is so wide ranged . Tx for the info.