Arrange the lines in your poem according to rhyme. Rhyme refers to the repetition of words that sound like each other. These may be the last words in a line, or they could be located elsewhere, as in an internal rhyme. Decide which lines and how many you want to rhyme. For example, a rhyming couplet is two lines that rhyme on the last words. You can also rhyme every other line, every third line or follow any other pattern of your choosing.
Order the lines according to syllable structure. Syllables refer to the number of beats in a word. For example, the word "sunshine" has two beats, while "smile" has only one. Creating lines with the same number of syllables adds unity but also rigidity to your poem. Consider if you want this effect.
Format the lines in your poem according to meter. Meter refers to the number of stressed and unstressed syllables in a word or phrase. For example, when you say the word "happy" out loud, you emphasize "hap" and rush "py," so the stress is on "hap." Classic poets such as Shakespeare and Milton carefully constructed poems with certain stress patterns. A Shakespearean sonnet, for example, contains five sets of unstressed-stressed syllables in each line.
Divide your lines into stanzas to signify a change in subject. Just as a prose writer uses paragraphs to organize separate ideas, a poet can also separate ideas into stanzas in free-verse poetry. The stanzas can be any length and size.
Construct an image with the lines of your poem, a technique called concrete poetry. A concrete poem depicts an image, such as a tree, with the lines of the poem forming the trunk, branches and leaves. A creative concrete poem could also represent a concept. For example, lines that meander all around the poem could symbolize a light breeze or a feeling of disorientation.