Arts >> Art >> Other Art

How to Design Concrete Poems

Concrete poems are poems whose texts take the shape of an image chosen by the author. The images around which the poems take shape may be directly related to the subject matter or may be more esoteric in their nature, evoking an intuitive connection to the text. Given their highly visual nature, concrete poems often lose a bit of their potency when read aloud to others.



If you're writing your first concrete poem, try starting out with a small image with which to frame a short poem before moving on to larger or more complex work.

Things You'll Need

  • Pencil
  • Sketch paper
  • Magazine or computer printout image
  • Pen or fine-tipped marker
  • Manual typewriter
  • Eraser
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a subject for your poem, and decide on a subject-related image you'd like to accompany the poem.

    • 2

      If you're drawing your image freehand, draw a light pencil outline of the image on sketch paper. For instance, if you'd like your image to be of a hand, draw the outline of a hand, leaving all interior details out completely.

      If you intend to use an already existing image, cut your chosen image from a magazine or computer printout, and trace a light pencil outline of this image on sketch paper.

      Remember to draw or trace an image that will be the correct size to incorporate your poem.

    • 3

      Write the text of your poem in pencil over the top of or within the image outline, or type the text with a manual typewriter. Given the contours and bends of your image outline, you may not be able to write or type in straight lines, but the reader should be able to differentiate one line from the next.

    • 4

      Write over any pencil text with a pen or fine-tipped marker to make the text more permanent. Allow any pen or marker ink to dry fully before going to the next step.

    • 5

      Erase the pencil outline of your picture very gently so as not to smear the pen or fine-tipped marker or typewriter ink. The text of your poem should now form the contours of the image you chose.

Other Art

Related Categories