Choose a poem subject with a shape that is visually identifiable. The text of a shape poem can be used to create the outline of a shape or to fill in the body of a shape.
Write the text of the poem. Do not worry about length or line breaks. Keep to the subject you chose.
Open a word-processing program on your computer. Use the formatting tools to create the shape of the poem. Many shape poems can be made using a word-processing program, such as a house, a diamond or a piece of fruit.
Use a graphic-design program on your computer for a more complicated shape like a guitar or an animal. The formatting tools on a graphic-design program give you more options for interesting shapes.
Use a free online shape-poem generator for very simple poems or to design a shape poem to use as a learning tool for children. Go to the shape-poem generator website. Enter your text and shape choice. The generator will create a printable poem for you.