Arts >> Art >> Other Art

Poetic Devices: How to Write a Poem

Poetry is the earliest form of literary expression, but it was an established genre long before creative writing began. Oral tradition used poems to pass down history and culture for centuries. Through the years, poems have preserved legendary figures, great events in history, and descriptions of places and times gone by. Poetry is a way to communicate emotions, ideals and belief systems. It is also an excellent method of self-expression and self-exploration. Poems do not require rhyming or iambic pentameter; in fact, anyone can write a poem with just a little practice using various poetic devices.

Things You'll Need

  • Pen or pencil
  • Paper or word processor
  • Knowledge of poetic devices
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Familiarize yourself with poetic devices beyond rhythm and rhyme. These include:

      Other sound devices such as alliteration, assonance and repetition. Alliteration is the use of words that begin with the same consonant sound; assonance is the use of words that contain the same vowel sounds; and repetition is, of course, repeating words and phrases for effect.
      Edgar Allan Poe's poem, "The Raven", contains examples of these three devices:

      Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
      Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
      While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping
      As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
      "'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door -
      Only this, and nothing more."

      Imagery--words and phrases that evoke all five senses. These include specific and concrete nouns as well as adjectives; in fact, a specific noun is much better than a general noun modified by adjectives:
      BAD: large gray waterfowl
      GOOD: Great Blue Heron

      Powerful verbs also create vivid imagery. Replace the verb "run" with more precise verbs like sprint, lope, gallop, amble, race, scamper.

      Figurative language, which includes similes, metaphors and personification. Instead of writing, "Birds were singing sweetly in the trees," write "The mockingbirds sounded like a choir on Sunday morning" (simile), or "A cardinal performed a solo" (personification).

    • 2
      Reading poetry is a good way to become familiar with poetic devices.

      Decide on a purpose or theme for your poem. This might be creative writing, self-exploration, the expression of love for a person or place, or a cause such as environmentalism.

    • 3
      Global warming is a good topic for poetry because of the passion it evokes.

      Choose a topic that is suitable for your purpose.

    • 4
      Nature provides inspiration for creative writing.

      Do a prewriting activity. Make lists of specific and concrete nouns and precise verbs that pertain to the topic and fit into the theme. For example, if the purpose is self-exploration and the topic is "what I love about summer", your list might look like this:
      Great Blue Herons fishing in the lagoon
      Licking up blue popsicle drips
      Seining in Pimlico Sound
      Comet showers
      Monarch butterflies
      Sunsets

    • 5
      Scarlet streaks of sunset

      Expand on the items in your list using different poetic devices. Use alliteration by turning "Sunsets" into "Scarlet streaks of sunset against the inlet sky." Elaborate on "comet showers" with personification. Call it "a handful of stars tossed into the night".

    • 6
      With a little practice, anyone can become a poet.

      Look for patterns or prevailing sentiments in your writing. Whatever emerges from your prewriting activity, let it guide the poem's final form. Reading your work out loud is an excellent way to decide how the wording should be arranged or which words do not belong. Your poem is finished when it sounds right to you.

+:
+:

Other Art

Related Categories