how to write a poetry essay grade 12 pdf

Poetry Explained

How to Write a Poetry Essay (Complete Guide)

Unlock success in poetry essays with our comprehensive guide. Uncover the process to help aid understanding of how best to create a poetry essay.

While many of us read poetry for pleasure, it is undeniable that many poetry readers do so in the knowledge that they will be assessed on the text they are reading, either in an exam, for homework, or for a piece of coursework. This is clearly a daunting task for many, and lots of students don’t even know where to begin. We’re here to help! This guide will take you through all the necessary steps so that you can plan and write great poetry essays every time. If you’re still getting to grips with the different techniques, terms, or some other aspect of poetry, then check out our other available resources at the bottom of this page.

This Guide was Created by Joe Samantaria

Degree in English and Related Literature, and a Masters in Irish Literature

Upon completion of his degrees, Joe is an English tutor and counts W.B. Yeats , Emily Brontë , and Federico Garcia Lorca among his favorite poets. He has helped tutor hundreds of students with poetry and aims to do the same for readers and Poetry + users on Poem Analysis.

How to Write a Poetry Essay

• 1 Before You Start…
• 2 Introductions
• 3 Main Paragraphs
• 4 Conclusions
• 6 Other Resources

Before You Start…

Before we begin, we must address the fact that all poetry essays are different from one another on account of different academic levels, whether or not the essay pertains to one poem or multiple, and the intended length of the essay. That is before we even contend with the countless variations and distinctions between individual poems. Thus, it is impossible to produce a single, one-size-fits-all template for writing great essays on poetry because the criteria for such an essay are not universal. This guide is, therefore, designed to help you go about writing a simple essay on a single poem, which comes to roughly 1000-1200 words in length. We have designed it this way to mirror the requirements of as many students around the world as possible. It is our intention to write another guide on how to write a comparative poetry essay at a later date. Finally, we would like to stress the fact that this guide is exactly that: a guide. It is not a set of restrictive rules but rather a means of helping you get to grips with writing poetry essays. Think of it more like a recipe that, once practiced a few times, can be modified and adapted as you see fit.

The first and most obvious starting point is the poem itself and there are some important things to do at this stage before you even begin contemplating writing your essay. Naturally, these things will depend on the nature of the essay you are required to write.

• Is the poem one you are familiar with?
• Do you know anything about the context of the poem or the poet?
• How much time do you have to complete the essay?
• Do you have access to books or the internet?

These questions matter because they will determine the type, length, and scope of the essay you write. Naturally, an essay written under timed conditions about an unfamiliar poem will look very different from one written about a poem known to you. Likewise, teachers and examiners will expect different things from these essays and will mark them accordingly.

As this article pertains to writing a poverty essay, we’re going to assume you have a grasp of the basics of understanding the poems themselves. There is a plethora of materials available that can help you analyze poetry if you need to, and thousands of analyzed poems are available right here. For the sake of clarity, we advise you to use these tools to help you get to grips with the poem you intend to write about before you ever sit down to actually produce an essay. As we have said, the amount of time spent pondering the poem will depend on the context of the essay. If you are writing a coursework-style question over many weeks, then you should spend hours analyzing the poem and reading extensively about its context. If, however, you are writing an essay in an exam on a poem you have never seen before, you should perhaps take 10-15% of the allotted time analyzing the poem before you start writing.

The Question

Once you have spent enough time analyzing the poem and identifying its key features and themes, you can turn your attention to the question. It is highly unlikely that you will simply be asked to “analyze this poem.” That would be too simple on the one hand and far too broad on the other.

More likely, you will be asked to analyze a particular aspect of the poem, usually pertaining to its message, themes, or meaning. There are numerous ways examiners can express these questions, so we have outlined some common types of questions below.

• Explore the poet’s presentation of…
• How does the poet present…
• Explore the ways the writer portrays their thoughts about…

These are all similar ways of achieving the same result. In each case, the examiner requires that you analyze the devices used by the poet and attempt to tie the effect those devices have to the poet’s broader intentions or meaning.

Some students prefer reading the question before they read the poem, so they can better focus their analytical eye on devices and features that directly relate to the question they are being asked. This approach has its merits, especially for poems that you have not previously seen. However, be wary of focusing too much on a single element of a poem, particularly if it is one you may be asked to write about again in a later exam. It is no good knowing only how a poem links to the theme of revenge if you will later be asked to explore its presentation of time.

Essay plans can help focus students’ attention when they’re under pressure and give them a degree of confidence while they’re writing. In basic terms, a plan needs the following elements:

• An overarching answer to the question (this will form the basis of your introduction)
• A series of specific, identifiable poetic devices ( metaphors , caesura , juxtaposition , etc) you have found in the poem
• Ideas about how these devices link to the poem’s messages or themes.
• Some pieces of relevant context (depending on whether you need it for your type of question)

In terms of layout, we do not want to be too prescriptive. Some students prefer to bullet-point their ideas, and others like to separate them by paragraph. If you use the latter approach, you should aim for:

• 1 Introduction
• 4-5 Main paragraphs
• 1 Conclusion

Finally, the length and detail of your plan should be dictated by the nature of the essay you are doing. If you are under exam conditions, you should not spend too much time writing a plan, as you will need that time for the essay itself. Conversely, if you are not under time pressure, you should take your time to really build out your plan and fill in the details.

Introductions

If you have followed all the steps to this point, you should be ready to start writing your essay. All good essays begin with an introduction, so that is where we shall start.

When it comes to introductions, the clue is in the name: this is the place for you to introduce your ideas and answer the question in broad terms. This means that you don’t need to go into too much detail, as you’ll be doing that in the main body of the essay. That means you don’t need quotes, and you’re unlikely to need to quote anything from the poem yet. One thing to remember is that you should mention both the poet’s name and the poem’s title in your introduction. This might seem unnecessary, but it is a good habit to get into, especially if you are writing an essay in which other questions/poems are available to choose from.

As we mentioned earlier, you are unlikely to get a question that simply asks you to analyze a poem in its entirety, with no specific angle. More likely, you’ll be asked to write an essay about a particular thematic element of the poem. Your introduction should reflect this. However, many students fall into the trap of simply regurgitating the question without offering anything more. For example, a question might ask you to explore a poet’s presentation of love, memory, loss, or conflict . You should avoid the temptation to simply hand these terms back in your introduction without expanding upon them. You will get a chance to see this in action below.

Let’s say we were given the following question:

Explore Patrick Kavanagh’s presentation of loss and memory in Memory of My Father

Taking on board the earlier advice, you should hopefully produce an introduction similar to the one written below.

Patrick Kavanagh presents loss as an inescapable fact of existence and subverts the readers’ expectations of memory by implying that memories can cause immense pain, even if they feature loved ones. This essay will argue that Memory of My Father depicts loss to be cyclical and thus emphasizes the difficulties that inevitably occur in the early stages of grief.

As you can see, the introduction is fairly condensed and does not attempt to analyze any specific poetic elements. There will be plenty of time for that as the essay progresses. Similarly, the introduction does not simply repeat the words ‘loss’ and ‘memory’ from the question but expands upon them and offers a glimpse of the kind of interpretation that will follow without providing too much unnecessary detail at this early stage.

Main Paragraphs

Now, we come to the main body of the essay, the quality of which will ultimately determine the strength of our essay. This section should comprise of 4-5 paragraphs, and each of these should analyze an aspect of the poem and then link the effect that aspect creates to the poem’s themes or message. They can also draw upon context when relevant if that is a required component of your particular essay.

There are a few things to consider when writing analytical paragraphs and many different templates for doing so, some of which are listed below.

• PEE (Point-Evidence-Explain)
• PEA (Point-Evidence-Analysis)
• PETAL (Point-Evidence-Technique-Analysis-Link)
• IQA (Identify-Quote-Analyze)
• PEEL (Point-Evidence-Explain-Link)

Some of these may be familiar to you, and they all have their merits. As you can see, there are all effective variations of the same thing. Some might use different terms or change the order, but it is possible to write great paragraphs using all of them.

One of the most important aspects of writing these kind of paragraphs is selecting the features you will be identifying and analyzing. A full list of poetic features with explanations can be found here. If you have done your plan correctly, you should have already identified a series of poetic devices and begun to think about how they link to the poem’s themes.

It is important to remember that, when analyzing poetry, everything is fair game! You can analyze the language, structure, shape, and punctuation of the poem. Try not to rely too heavily on any single type of paragraph. For instance, if you have written three paragraphs about linguistic features ( similes , hyperbole , alliteration , etc), then try to write your next one about a structural device ( rhyme scheme , enjambment , meter , etc).

Regardless of what structure you are using, you should remember that multiple interpretations are not only acceptable but actively encouraged. Techniques can create effects that link to the poem’s message or themes in both complementary and entirely contrasting ways. All these possibilities should find their way into your essay. You are not writing a legal argument that must be utterly watertight – you are interpreting a subjective piece of art.

It is important to provide evidence for your points in the form of either a direct quotation or, when appropriate, a reference to specific lines or stanzas . For instance, if you are analyzing a strict rhyme scheme, you do not need to quote every rhyming word. Instead, you can simply name the rhyme scheme as, for example, AABB , and then specify whether or not this rhyme scheme is applied consistently throughout the poem or not. When you are quoting a section from the poem, you should endeavor to embed your quotation within your line so that your paragraph flows and can be read without cause for confusion.

When it comes to context, remember to check whether or not your essay question requires it before you begin writing. If you do need to use it, you must remember that it is used to elevate your analysis of the poem, not replace it. Think of context like condiments or spices. When used appropriately, they can enhance the experience of eating a meal, but you would have every right to complain if a restaurant served you a bowl of ketchup in lieu of an actual meal. Moreover, you should remember to only use the contextual information that helps your interpretation rather than simply writing down facts to prove you have memorized them. Examiners will not be impressed that you know the date a particular poet was born or died unless that information relates to the poem itself.

For the sake of ease, let’s return to our earlier question:

Have a look at the example paragraph below, taking note of the ways in which it interprets the linguistic technique in several different ways.

Kavanagh uses a metaphor when describing how the narrator ’s father had “fallen in love with death” in order to capture the narrator’s conflicted attitudes towards his loss. By conflating the ordinarily juxtaposed states of love and death, Kavanagh implies the narrator’s loss has shattered his previously held understanding of the world and left him confused. Similarly, the metaphor could suggest the narrator feels a degree of jealousy, possibly even self-loathing, because their father embraced death willingly rather than remaining with the living. Ultimately, the metaphor’s innate impossibility speaks to the narrator’s desire to rationalize their loss because the reality, that his father simply died, is too painful for him to bear.

As you can see, the paragraph clearly engages with a poetic device and uses an appropriately embedded quotation. The subsequent interpretations are then varied enough to avoid repeating each other, but all clearly link to the theme of loss that was mentioned in the question. Obviously, this is only one analytical paragraph, but a completed essay should contain 4-5. This would allow the writer to analyze enough different devices and link them to both themes mentioned in the question.

Conclusions

By this stage, you should have written the bulk of your essay in the form of your introduction and 4-5 main analytical paragraphs. If you have done those things properly, then the conclusion should largely take care of itself.

The world’s simplest essay plan sounds something like this:

• Tell them what you’re going to tell them
• Tell them what you’ve told them

This is, naturally, an oversimplification, but it is worth bearing in mind. The conclusion to an essay is not the place to introduce your final, groundbreaking interpretation. Nor is it the place to reveal a hitherto unknown piece of contextual information that shatters any prior critical consensus with regard to the poem you are writing about. If you do either of these things, the examiner will be asking themselves one simple question: why didn’t they write this earlier?

In its most simple form, a conclusion is there, to sum up the points you have made and nothing more.

As with the previous sections, there is a little more to a great conclusion than merely stating the things you have already made. The trick to a great conclusion is to bind those points together to emphasize the essay’s overarching thread or central argument. This is a subtle skill, but mastering it will really help you to finish your essays with a flourish by making your points feel like they are more than the sum of their parts.

Finally, let’s remind ourselves of the hypothetical essay question we’ve been using:

Remember that, just like your introduction, your conclusion should be brief and direct and must not attempt to do more than it needs to.

In conclusion, Kavanagh’s poem utilizes numerous techniques to capture the ways in which loss is both inescapable and a source of enormous pain. Moreover, the poet subverts positive memories by showcasing how they can cause loved ones more pain than comfort in the early stages of grief. Ultimately, the poem demonstrates how malleable memory can be in the face of immense loss due to the way the latter shapes and informs the former.

As you can see, this conclusion is confident and authoritative but does not need to provide evidence to justify this tone because that evidence has already been provided earlier in the essay. You should pay close attention to the manner in which the conclusion links different points together under one banner in order to provide a sense of assuredness.

You should refer to the poet by either using their full name or, more commonly, their surname. After your first usage, you may refer to them as ‘the poet.’ Never refer to the poet using just their first name.

This is a good question, and the answer entirely depends on the level of study as well as the nature of the examination. If you are writing a timed essay for a school exam, you are unlikely to need any form of referencing. If, however, you are writing an essay as part of coursework or at a higher education institution, you may need to refer to the specific guidelines of that institution.

Again, this will depend on the type of essay you are being asked to write. If you are writing a longer essay or writing at a higher educational level, it can be useful to refer to other poems in the writer’s repertoire to help make comments on an aspect of the poem you are primarily writing about. However, for the kind of essay outlined in this article, you should focus solely on the poem you have been asked to write about.

This is one of the most common concerns students have about writing essays . Ultimately, the quality of an essay is more likely to be determined by the quality of paragraphs than the quantity anyway, so you should focus on making your paragraphs as good as they can be. Beyond this, it is important to remember that the time required to write a paragraph is not fixed. The more you write, the faster they will become. You should trust the process, focus on making each paragraph as good as it can be, and you’ll be amazed at how the timing issue takes care of itself.

Other Resources

We hope you have found this article useful and would love for you to comment or reach out to us if you have any queries about what we’ve written. We’d love to hear your feedback!

In the meantime, we’ve collated a list of resources you might find helpful when setting out to tackle a poetry essay, which you can find below.

• Do poems have to rhyme?
• 10 important elements of poetry
• How to analyze a poem with SMILE
• How to approach unseen poetry
• 18 Different Types of Themes in Poetry

Home » Poetry Explained » How to Write a Poetry Essay (Complete Guide)

About Joe Santamaria

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Santamaria, Joe. "How to Write a Poetry Essay (Complete Guide)". Poem Analysis , https://poemanalysis.com/how-to-write-a-poetry-essay/ . Accessed 28 August 2024.

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How To Write A Poetry Essay

Introduction

Poetry is the art of expressing emotions, ideas and thoughts in a creative way. Writing about poetry may be difficult for some people as it involves not just understanding the text, but also interpreting its implications. The key to writing a successful poetry essay is to explore what the poem means to you and finding out what the main themes and ideas of the poem are. Through this process, you will be able to take a deep dive into the analysis of the poem. In this article, we will provide an overview of how to write an effective poetry essay.

Preparing for Poetry Analysis

Before diving into writing your essay, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the basics of poetry. Firstly, it is important to read through the poem and examine the poem’s structure, meter, and rhyme scheme. These elements often give insight into the mood and themes of the poem. Additionally, it may also be useful to identify the poem’s speaker and its written form. It is only once these components are understood that you can begin to analyze the poem in greater detail. Secondly, it is helpful to examine the choice of words used in the poem. The poet’s use of vocabulary can reveal clues about his feelings and thoughts on the subject. Furthermore, you may also want to focus on particular words that are commonly used in the poem, as their inclusion may be used to convey a specific hidden meaning. For example, if the poem often uses the words ‘free’ and ‘liberty’, then it may be a way to express the theme of freedom.

Including Evidence in Your Essay

In order to effectively analyze a poem, it is important that your essay includes evidence from the poem that reinforce your argument. It is crucial to include specific examples of passages, lines, or words that you feel demonstrate the poem’s underlying themes or messages. Moreover, you may also want to explicitly state the effect these examples have on the meaning of the poem. For instance, the poet’s deliberate use of sad words to communicate grief.

Making Connections

In addition to carefully analysing the poem, it is also important to make meaningful connections between different aspects of the poem. This may involve connecting literary elements, such as images, symbols, and allusions, to a broader theme or idea. These connections can be used to develop your understanding of the poem and illustrate how different elements come together to form a more holistic interpretation.

Invoking Imagery to Interpret the Poem

A great way to interpret the poem is to compare its themes to an image or painting. This way, you can visualize the poem’s message and identify its different facets. If done correctly, this method can provide you with an even deeper understanding of the poem’s true meaning.

Creating Your Thesis Statement

Having read and analyzed the poem, it is time to develop your thesis statement. This is the statement that outlines your analysis and interpretation of the poem. A strong thesis statement should concisely sum up the poem’s main idea and your interpretation of it. It should also steer clear of being too subjective or judgmental.

Proofreading and Editing

After finishing your essay, it is essential to proofread and edit it to refine it further. You may want to read the essay out loud to identify any grammatical errors or inconsistencies. Furthermore, you may also want to review your essay to ensure that your argument is well-articulated and your analysis is accurate.

Arguing Your Viewpoint

For a successful poetry essay, it is important to provide your own subjective viewpoint on the poem. Feel free to use first-person narrative and provide your opinion on a particular element of the poem. This can help to create a sense of connection between the reader and the poem, as well as adding emotional triggers to your essay.

Using the Active Voice

Another key rule to consider when writing a poetry essay is to give preference to the active voice over the passive voice when expressing your ideas. This will enhance the clarity of your essay and make it easier for the reader to understand your analysis. Using the active voice will help to make your argument more convincing, as readers can clearly understand how and why you arrived at a certain conclusion.

Expanding on the Topic

Evaluating the poem’s context.

In order to get the most out of your poetry essay, you should consider researching and evaluating the poem’s context. This includes understanding the poet’s biography, their motivations for writing the poem, and any political or social movements that the poem may have been influenced by. By taking the poem’s context into account, you can gain an even better insight into the work and develop an even more thorough interpretation of the poem.

Exploring Different Perspectives

When writing your essay, it can be helpful to explore different non-academic perspectives that can help give you a more comprehensive understanding of the poem. Engaging with other interpretations and opinions can help you to get an even better idea of what the poem is trying to say. Additionally, it can also provide you with insight into the cultural significance of the poem.

Considering the Poem’s Aesthetic Elements

When analyzing a poem, it is important to consider the poem’s aesthetic elements, such as its sound, rhythm, and meter. These aspects of a poem often convey the poem’s true meaning and can provide deeper insight into the poem’s themes and ideas. Additionally, they can also help you to better identify and convey the poem’s effect on the reader.

Incorporating Relevant Data

To further bolster your argument and make your essay more convincing, you may also want to cite relevant data and sources. This includes any papers or studies on the poem, as well as any quotes from experts on the poem. By including this data, your essay will appear more credible and will be more likely to convince your reader.

Adding Your Own Insights and Analysis

The final step to writing your poetry essay is to include your own insights and analysis. This is important for providing your essay with its unique voice and is essential for providing a unique argument. Using your knowledge of the poem, provide the reader with a summary of your own ideas and opinions on the poem. By doing so, you can make your essay more relatable and engaging to the reader.

Minnie Walters

Minnie Walters is a passionate writer and lover of poetry. She has a deep knowledge and appreciation for the work of famous poets such as William Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and many more. She hopes you will also fall in love with poetry!

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Solitude Poem Analysis – Questions and Answers (Grade 12)

Solitude Poem Analysis – Questions and Answers ( Grade 12 ):

Welcome to the “Solitude Poem Analysis – Questions and Answers (Grade 12)” page, where we delve deep into the timeless work of Ella Wheeler Wilcox. This analysis explores the intricacies of the poem “Solitude,” which reflects on the dual nature of human experience—how society responds to joy and sorrow. Inspired by a poignant moment Wilcox witnessed, the poem underscores universal truths about emotional experiences. Through its evocative title and structured form, “Solitude” examines themes of isolation, societal reactions to emotions, and the inevitable loneliness faced during life’s journey. This page will provide a comprehensive analysis, including questions and answers focused on the poem’s imagery, sound devices, form, and thematic elements, offering Grade 12 students a thorough understanding of this powerful literary piece.

SOLITUDE BY ELLE WHEELER WILCOX-

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;

Weep, and you weep alone;

For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,

But has trouble enough of its own.

Sing, and the hills will answer;

Sigh, it is lost on the air;

The echoes bound to a joyful sound,

But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you;

Grieve, and they turn and go;

They want full measure of all your pleasure,

But they do not need your woe.

Be glad, and your friends are many;

Be sad, and you lose them all,

There are none to decline your nectared wine,

But alone you must drink life’s gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded;

Fast, and the world goes by.

Succeed and give, and it helps you live,

But no man can help you die.

There is room in the halls of pleasure

For a large and lordly train,

But one by one we must all file on

Through the narrow aisles of pain.

Solitude Poem Analysis (Grade 12)

The poem “Solitude” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox delves into the human experience of joy and sorrow, highlighting how society reacts differently to these emotions. The use of various literary devices and word choices enhances the depth of its central theme—existential solitude.

The Noun “Gall”

The term “gall,” an archaic synonym for bile, refers to a bitter secretion from the liver. In ancient Greek medical theory, known as “Humorism,” bile was thought to influence emotions, particularly anger and sorrow. In the poem, “life’s gall” symbolizes the inevitable sources of bitterness, anger, and sorrow that everyone encounters. This phrase encapsulates the harsh realities of life , suggesting that these negative experiences are inescapable and universal.

The Word “Fast”

The word “fast” traditionally means to abstain from food, often for religious reasons. In the poem, it signifies a mutual abstention, indicating a disconnect between the individual and the world. This usage subtly implies that as the person withdraws, the world moves on without them , highlighting a sense of mutual separation. Additionally, the word “fast” can imply quickness, suggesting that life continues at a swift pace, leaving behind those who isolate themselves.

The Existential Solitude

One of the poem’s key lines introduces a crucial turning point with the word “but,” which negates the preceding sentiments of communal joy and support. This introduces the idea of inevitable solitude, particularly in facing death. The poem suggests that despite the various outward expressions of joy—laughing, singing, rejoicing—everyone must ultimately confront their mortality alone . This existential solitude is the poem’s central theme, emphasizing that while community and shared experiences are valuable, they cannot shield us from the ultimate solitude of existence.

Sound and Symbolism

Wilcox’s control of sound, particularly through the repetition of “one” and “on,” effectively conveys the relentless, solitary march of life. This technique not only emphasizes the poem’s title, “Solitude,” but also reinforces the central theme that each individual must ultimately face life’s challenges and, eventually, death alone. The sound devices create a rhythmic cadence that mirrors the isolation inherent in the human experience , reminding readers that despite the joy and camaraderie we may share, there are certain aspects of existence that we must confront independently.

Background and Inspiration

The inspiration for Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s poem “Solitude” came from a poignant moment she experienced at a party. Wilcox noticed a woman crying and, later that night, saw her own reflection in a mirror, which reminded her of the woman’s sadness. This moment of reflection prompted Wilcox to contemplate the world’s response to sadness and joy, leading to the creation of this insightful poem.

The title “Solitude” plays a crucial role in setting the tone and theme of the poem. “Solitude” refers to a state of being alone or in a lonely place, away from others. The tone suggested by the title is not immediately clear—it can signify a chosen state of being alone, which might not be inherently negative, or it can imply feelings of isolation and loneliness. This dual connotation sets the stage for the poem’s exploration of how individuals experience joy and sorrow differently in relation to others.

In “Solitude,” the speaker directly addresses the reader, stating universal truths about human experiences of joy and sorrow. The poem opens with the well-known lines, “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; / Weep, and you weep alone,” highlighting the collective nature of joy and the isolating nature of sorrow. The poem speaks to the universal human condition —while people are eager to share in happiness and good times, they often leave others to face their tough times and sadness alone. The first stanza emphasizes the importance of facing one’s own problems rather than seeking happiness through others.

Form and Structure

The poem is structured with three stanzas, each consisting of eight lines, following a strict rhyming pattern throughout. The first two stanzas focus on attitudes, behaviors, and actions , illustrating how positive emotions attract others while negative emotions lead to solitude. The final stanza shifts focus to the end of one’s life, suggesting that ultimately, everyone must face their fate alone. This structure reinforces the poem’s theme by first exploring social reactions to emotions and then concluding with the inevitability of solitary experiences, particularly in facing life’s ultimate challenges.

The Title’s Emphasis on Theme

The single-word title, “Solitude,” underscores the poem’s central theme: the inherent loneliness in the human journey. “Solitude” emphasizes that despite the presence of others, individuals often face their deepest struggles alone. This theme is further highlighted throughout the poem as the speaker discusses how joy is shared and celebrated, but sorrow and hardship are often faced in isolation. The title succinctly captures the essence of the poem, reminding readers of the solitary nature of life’s challenges and the importance of self-reliance.

In summary, “Solitude” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox is a profound reflection on the human condition, exploring how society reacts to emotions and the inevitable isolation individuals experience in facing life’s hardships. The poem’s structure, title, and thematic elements work together to deliver a powerful message about the nature of joy and sorrow, and the ultimate solitude each person faces.

Solitude Poem Questions and Answers (Grade 12)

Question 8.1: provide two examples of juxtaposition in the poem. (2).

• ‘Rejoice’ (line 9) is contrasted with ‘grieve’ (line 10)
• ‘Pleasure’ (line 11) is contrasted with ‘woe’ (line 12)
• ‘Feast’ (line 17) is contrasted with ‘fast’ (line 18)

Explanation: Juxtaposition is a literary technique where two contrasting ideas are placed side by side to highlight their differences. In this poem, Wilcox uses juxtaposition to emphasize the stark contrast between positive and negative behaviors and their social impacts. For example, by contrasting ‘rejoice’ with ‘grieve’ and ‘pleasure’ with ‘woe’, she underscores how joy and positivity attract others, while sorrow and negativity repel them.

Question 8.2: Explain how this technique is used effectively to accentuate the poem’s central message. (1)

Answer: A crucial feature of this poem is juxtaposition, as Wilcox uses opposites to illustrate her message that people are attracted to happy, joyful, and generous individuals, and that negative, pessimistic traits repel the company of others.

Explanation: By juxtaposing contrasting emotions and actions, Wilcox effectively highlights the poem’s central theme: the societal preference for positive energy and the isolation that comes with negative emotions. This technique vividly demonstrates how our attitudes and behaviors influence our social interactions and overall life experience.

Question 9: Comment on the musicality of the poem with reference to two examples of sound devices. (3)

• The regular beat established by the rhyme and the stressed syllables of the meter allow the person reciting to pause at telling moments. This adds emphasis to the content and allows for the meaning to be absorbed.
• The assonance used in the internal rhyme, for example, ‘measure’ with ‘pleasure’ (line 11), and ‘decline’ with ‘wine’ (line 15), adds to the musicality of the poem.
• There are also references to actual sounds, such as ‘laugh’ (line 1), ‘weep’ (line 2), ‘sing’ (line 6), and ‘joyful sound’ (line 7), which add to the contrasts. These actions do not only have opposite emotive meanings, but they also sound distinct from one another.

Explanation: The musicality of the poem is enhanced by its regular rhyme scheme and rhythmic meter, creating a pleasant flow and allowing important moments to stand out. Assonance, or the repetition of vowel sounds, further adds to the musical quality, making lines more memorable and engaging. Additionally, references to sounds like ‘laugh’ and ‘weep’ provide an auditory contrast that enriches the poem’s theme of joy versus sorrow.

Question 10: Refer to lines 23 – 24. Explain the meaning and symbolism contained in the concluding lines of the poem. (2)

Answer: ‘But one by one we must all file on/Through the narrow aisles of pain.’

Explanation: These lines use a metaphor comparing one’s journey in life to a difficult walk through a narrow, painful passageway, which only has space for one person. This reinforces the theme of ‘solitude’.

Explanation: The metaphor of filing through narrow aisles of pain symbolizes the individual and often solitary nature of suffering and life’s challenges. It emphasizes that despite the social nature of joy and celebration, pain and hardship are deeply personal experiences that each person must face alone, underscoring the poem’s central theme of solitude.

Question: How does the poem “Solitude” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox use imagery and figures of speech?

The poem “Solitude” employs various figures of speech to create vivid imagery and deepen the meaning of the text. Synecdoche is used in line 1 with the phrase “the world,” implying “many people,” to highlight society’s collective response to happiness and sorrow. Additionally, personification is evident in phrases like “the sad old earth” (line 3), “the hills” (line 5), and “the echoes” (line 7), attributing human-like qualities to elements of nature. This personification suggests that nature itself responds to human emotions. Metaphor is also present in line 16, comparing life’s difficulties to “gall,” a bitter substance, effectively conveying the bitterness of painful experiences such as loss or broken relationships.

Sound Devices

Question: What sound devices contribute to the musicality of the poem “Solitude”?

The poem’s musicality is enhanced by several sound devices. The regular beat established by the rhyme scheme and the stressed syllables of the meter allows for strategic pauses, which emphasize the content and aid in the absorption of the poem’s meaning. Assonance , seen in internal rhymes like “measure” with “pleasure” (line 11) and “decline” with “wine” (line 15), adds to the poem’s musical quality, making it more engaging. Furthermore, references to actual sounds, such as “laugh” (line 1), “weep” (line 2), “sing” (line 6), and “joyful sound” (line 7), create auditory imagery that contrasts different emotional states, enhancing the poem’s thematic depth.

Final Lines: Metaphor and Symbolism

Question: What is the significance of the metaphor in the final lines of the poem (lines 23-24)?

The metaphor in the final lines, “But one by one we must all file on / Through the narrow aisles of pain,” compares life’s journey to a difficult walk through a narrow, painful passageway. This metaphor reinforces the theme of “solitude,” emphasizing that despite shared experiences, each individual ultimately faces their own challenges alone. The narrow path symbolizes the isolating nature of dealing with personal pain and hardship, underscoring the poem’s message about the solitary aspects of human existence.

Question: What style is used in the poem “Solitude,” and how does it contribute to its message?

“Solitude” is written in a style reminiscent of a biblical psalm or a collection of proverbs, presenting observations and advice on human behavior and societal responses. This didactic style provides moral lessons and guidelines for living, making the poem’s message clear and impactful. The structured format and instructive tone lend authority to the poet’s insights, emphasizing the importance of the themes discussed.

Theme & Symbolism

Question: What is the central theme of the poem “Solitude,” and how is it reinforced through symbolism?

The central theme of “Solitude” is the social dynamics of positivity and negativity. The poem suggests that people are naturally drawn to happiness and positivity, while they tend to avoid those who are sorrowful or negative. The title “Solitude” itself symbolizes the isolation that often accompanies personal pain and challenges. The poet reinforces this theme by juxtaposing imagery of joy, which attracts company, with imagery of sadness, which leads to isolation. This use of contrasting symbols highlights the societal preference for positive energy and the consequent solitude faced by those experiencing hardship.

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Sonnet 130 

My Mistresses' Eyes

Recorded Lesson

Essay Example

To learn how to write a poem step-by-step, let’s start where all poets start: the basics.

This article is an in-depth introduction to how to write a poem. We first answer the question, “What is poetry?” We then discuss the literary elements of poetry, and showcase some different approaches to the writing process—including our own seven-step process on how to write a poem step by step.

So, how do you write a poem? Let’s start with what poetry is.

How to Write a Poem: Contents

What Poetry Is

• Literary Devices

How to Write a Poem, in 7 Steps

How to write a poem: different approaches and philosophies.

• Okay, I Know How to Write a Good Poem. What Next?

It’s important to know what poetry is—and isn’t—before we discuss how to write a poem. The following quote defines poetry nicely:

“Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful.” —Former US Poet Laureate Rita Dove

Poetry Conveys Feeling

People sometimes imagine poetry as stuffy, abstract, and difficult to understand. Some poetry may be this way, but in reality poetry isn’t about being obscure or confusing. Poetry is a lyrical, emotive method of self-expression, using the elements of poetry to highlight feelings and ideas.

A poem should make the reader feel something.

In other words, a poem should make the reader feel something—not by telling them what to feel, but by evoking feeling directly.

Here’s a contemporary poem that, despite its simplicity (or perhaps because of its simplicity), conveys heartfelt emotion.

Poem by Langston Hughes

I loved my friend. He went away from me. There’s nothing more to say. The poem ends, Soft as it began— I loved my friend.

Poetry is Language at its Richest and Most Condensed

Unlike longer prose writing (such as a short story, memoir, or novel), poetry needs to impact the reader in the richest and most condensed way possible. Here’s a famous quote that enforces that distinction:

“Prose: words in their best order; poetry: the best words in the best order.” —Samuel Taylor Coleridge

So poetry isn’t the place to be filling in long backstories or doing leisurely scene-setting. In poetry, every single word carries maximum impact.

Poetry Uses Unique Elements

Poetry is not like other kinds of writing: it has its own unique forms, tools, and principles. Together, these elements of poetry help it to powerfully impact the reader in only a few words.

The elements of poetry help it to powerfully impact the reader in only a few words.

Most poetry is written in verse , rather than prose . This means that it uses line breaks, alongside rhythm or meter, to convey something to the reader. Rather than letting the text break at the end of the page (as prose does), verse emphasizes language through line breaks.

Poetry further accentuates its use of language through rhyme and meter. Poetry has a heightened emphasis on the musicality of language itself: its sounds and rhythms, and the feelings they carry.

These devices—rhyme, meter, and line breaks—are just a few of the essential elements of poetry, which we’ll explore in more depth now.

More About What Poetry Is

Learn more about what poetry is here:

https://writers.com/what-is-poetry

Understanding the Elements of Poetry

As we explore how to write a poem step by step, these three major literary elements of poetry should sit in the back of your mind:

• Rhythm (Sound, Rhyme, and Meter)

1. Elements of Poetry: Rhythm

“Rhythm” refers to the lyrical, sonic qualities of the poem. How does the poem move and breathe; how does it feel on the tongue?

Traditionally, poets relied on rhyme and meter to accomplish a rhythmically sound poem. Free verse poems —which are poems that don’t require a specific length, rhyme scheme, or meter—only became popular in the West in the 20th century, so while rhyme and meter aren’t requirements of modern poetry, they are required of certain poetry forms.

Poetry is capable of evoking certain emotions based solely on the sounds it uses. Words can sound sinister, percussive, fluid, cheerful, dour, or any other noise/emotion in the complex tapestry of human feeling.

Take, for example, this excerpt from the poem “Beat! Beat! Drums!” by Walt Whitman:

Red — “b” sounds

Blue — “th” sounds

Green — “w” and “ew” sounds

Purple — “s” sounds

Orange — “d” and “t” sounds

This poem has a lot of percussive, disruptive sounds that reinforce the beating of the drums. The “b,” “d,” “w,” and “t” sounds resemble these drum beats, while the “th” and “s” sounds are sneakier, penetrating a deeper part of the ear. The cacophony of this excerpt might not sound “lyrical,” but it does manage to command your attention, much like drums beating through a city might sound.

To learn more about consonance and assonance, euphony and cacophony, onomatopoeia , and the other uses of sound, take a look at our article “12 Literary Devices in Poetry.”

https://writers.com/literary-devices-in-poetry

It would be a crime if you weren’t primed on the ins and outs of rhymes. “Rhyme” refers to words that have similar pronunciations, like this set of words: sound, hound, browned, pound, found, around.

Many poets assume that their poetry has to rhyme, and it’s true that some poems require a complex rhyme scheme. However, rhyme isn’t nearly as important to poetry as it used to be. Most traditional poetry forms—sonnets, villanelles , rimes royal, etc.—rely on rhyme, but contemporary poetry has largely strayed from the strict rhyme schemes of yesterday.

There are three types of rhymes:

• Homophony: Homophones are words that are spelled differently but sound the same, like “tail” and “tale.” Homophones often lead to commonly misspelled words .
• Perfect Rhyme: Perfect rhymes are word pairs that are identical in sound except for one minor difference. Examples include “slant and pant,” “great and fate,” and “shower and power.”
• Slant Rhyme: Slant rhymes are word pairs that use the same sounds, but their final vowels have different pronunciations. For example, “abut” and “about” are nearly-identical in sound, but are pronounced differently enough that they don’t completely rhyme. This is also known as an oblique rhyme or imperfect rhyme.

Meter refers to the stress patterns of words. Certain poetry forms require that the words in the poem follow a certain stress pattern, meaning some syllables are stressed and others are unstressed.

What is “stressed” and “unstressed”? A stressed syllable is the sound that you emphasize in a word. The bolded syllables in the following words are stressed, and the unbolded syllables are unstressed:

• Un• stressed
• Plat• i• tud• i•nous
• De •act•i• vate
• Con• sti •tu• tion•al

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables is important to traditional poetry forms. This chart, copied from our article on form in poetry , summarizes the different stress patterns of poetry.

2. Elements of Poetry: Form

“Form” refers to the structure of the poem. Is the poem a sonnet , a villanelle, a free verse piece, a slam poem, a contrapuntal, a ghazal , a blackout poem , or something new and experimental?

Form also refers to the line breaks and stanza breaks in a poem. Unlike prose, where the end of the page decides the line breaks, poets have control over when one line ends and a new one begins. The words that begin and end each line will emphasize the sounds, images, and ideas that are important to the poet.

To learn more about rhyme, meter, and poetry forms, read our full article on the topic:

https://writers.com/what-is-form-in-poetry

3. Elements of Poetry: Literary Devices

“Poetry: the best words in the best order.” — Samuel Taylor Coleridge

How does poetry express complex ideas in concise, lyrical language? Literary devices—like metaphor, symbolism , juxtaposition , irony , and hyperbole—help make poetry possible. Learn how to write and master these devices here:

https://writers.com/common-literary-devices

To condense the elements of poetry into an actual poem, we’re going to follow a seven-step approach. However, it’s important to know that every poet’s process is different. While the steps presented here are a logical path to get from idea to finished poem, they’re not the only tried-and-true method of poetry writing. Poets can—and should!—modify these steps and generate their own writing process.

Nonetheless, if you’re new to writing poetry or want to explore a different writing process, try your hand at our approach. Here’s how to write a poem step by step!

1. Devise a Topic

The easiest way to start writing a poem is to begin with a topic.

However, devising a topic is often the hardest part. What should your poem be about? And where can you find ideas?

Here are a few places to search for inspiration:

• Other Works of Literature: Poetry doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it’s part of a larger literary tapestry, and can absolutely be influenced by other works. For example, read “The Golden Shovel” by Terrance Hayes , a poem that was inspired by Gwendolyn Brooks’ “We Real Cool.”
• Real-World Events: Poetry, especially contemporary poetry, has the power to convey new and transformative ideas about the world. Take the poem “A Cigarette” by Ilya Kaminsky , which finds community in a warzone like the eye of a hurricane.
• Your Life: What would poetry be if not a form of memoir? Many contemporary poets have documented their lives in verse. Take Sylvia Plath’s poem “Full Fathom Five” —a daring poem for its time, as few writers so boldly criticized their family as Plath did.
• The Everyday and Mundane: Poetry isn’t just about big, earth-shattering events: much can be said about mundane events, too. Take “Ode to Shea Butter” by Angel Nafis , a poem that celebrates the beautiful “everydayness” of moisturizing.
• Nature: The Earth has always been a source of inspiration for poets, both today and in antiquity. Take “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver , which finds meaning in nature’s quiet rituals.
• Writing Exercises: Prompts and exercises can help spark your creativity, even if the poem you write has nothing to do with the prompt! Here’s 24 writing exercises to get you started.

At this point, you’ve got a topic for your poem. Maybe it’s a topic you’re passionate about, and the words pour from your pen and align themselves into a perfect sonnet! It’s not impossible—most poets have a couple of poems that seemed to write themselves.

However, it’s far more likely you’re searching for the words to talk about this topic. This is where journaling comes in.

Sit in front of a blank piece of paper, with nothing but the topic written on the top. Set a timer for 15-30 minutes and put down all of your thoughts related to the topic. Don’t stop and think for too long, and try not to obsess over finding the right words: what matters here is emotion, the way your subconscious grapples with the topic.

At the end of this journaling session, go back through everything you wrote, and highlight whatever seems important to you: well-written phrases, poignant moments of emotion, even specific words that you want to use in your poem.

Journaling is a low-risk way of exploring your topic without feeling pressured to make it sound poetic. “Sounding poetic” will only leave you with empty language: your journal allows you to speak from the heart. Everything you need for your poem is already inside of you, the journaling process just helps bring it out!

Learn more about keeping a daily journal here:

How to Start Journaling: Practical Advice on How to Journal Daily

3. Think About Form

As one of the elements of poetry, form plays a crucial role in how the poem is both written and read. Have you ever wanted to write a sestina ? How about a contrapuntal, or a double cinquain, or a series of tanka? Your poem can take a multitude of forms, including the beautifully unstructured free verse form; while form can be decided in the editing process, it doesn’t hurt to think about it now.

4. Write the First Line

After a productive journaling session, you’ll be much more acquainted with the state of your heart. You might have a line in your journal that you really want to begin with, or you might want to start fresh and refer back to your journal when you need to! Either way, it’s time to begin.

What should the first line of your poem be? There’s no strict rule here—you don’t have to start your poem with a certain image or literary device. However, here’s a few ways that poets often begin their work:

• Set the Scene: Poetry can tell stories just like prose does. Anne Carson does just this in her poem “Lines,” situating the scene in a conversation with the speaker’s mother.
• Start at the Conflict : Right away, tell the reader where it hurts most. Margaret Atwood does this in “Ghost Cat,” a poem about aging.
• Start With a Contradiction: Juxtaposition and contrast are two powerful tools in the poet’s toolkit. Joan Larkin’s poem “Want” begins and ends with these devices. Carlos Gimenez Smith also begins his poem “Entanglement” with a juxtaposition.
• Start With Your Title: Some poets will use the title as their first line, like Ron Padgett’s poem “Ladies and Gentlemen in Outer Space.”

There are many other ways to begin poems, so play around with different literary devices, and when you’re stuck, turn to other poetry for inspiration. You can learn more about starting a poem here: 

How to Start a Poem (When You Don’t Know Where to Start)

5. Develop Ideas and Devices

You might not know where your poem is going until you finish writing it. In the meantime, stick to your literary devices. Avoid using too many abstract nouns, develop striking images, use metaphors and similes to strike interesting comparisons, and above all, speak from the heart.

6. Write the Closing Line

Some poems end “full circle,” meaning that the images the poet used in the beginning are reintroduced at the end. Gwendolyn Brooks does this in her poem “my dreams, my work, must wait till after hell.”

Yet, many poets don’t realize what their poems are about until they write the ending line . Poetry is a search for truth, especially the hard truths that aren’t easily explained in casual speech. Your poem, too, might not be finished until it comes across a necessary truth, so write until you strike the heart of what you feel, and the poem will come to its own conclusion.

7. Edit, Edit, Edit!

Do you have a working first draft of your poem? Congratulations! Getting your feelings onto the page is a feat in itself.

Yet, no guide on how to write a poem is complete without a note on editing. If you plan on sharing or publishing your work, or if you simply want to edit your poem to near-perfection, keep these tips in mind.

• Adjectives and Adverbs: Use these parts of speech sparingly. Most imagery shouldn’t rely on adjectives and adverbs, because the image should be striking and vivid on its own, without too much help from excess language.
• Concrete Line Breaks: Line breaks help emphasize important words, making certain images and themes clearer to the reader. As a general rule, most of your lines should start and end with concrete words—nouns and verbs especially.
• Stanza Breaks: Stanzas are like paragraphs to poetry. A stanza can develop a new idea, contrast an existing idea, or signal a transition in the poem’s tone. Make sure each stanza clearly stands for something as a unit of the poem.
• Mixed Metaphors: A mixed metaphor is when two metaphors occupy the same idea, making the poem unnecessarily difficult to understand. Here’s an example of a mixed metaphor: “a watched clock never boils.” The meaning can be discerned, but the image remains unclear. Be wary of mixed metaphors—though some poets (like Shakespeare) make them work, they’re tricky and often disruptive.
• Abstractions: Above all, avoid using excessively abstract language. It’s fine to use the word “love” 2 or 3 times in a poem, but don’t use it twice in every stanza. Let the imagery in your poem express your feelings and ideas, and only use abstractions as brief connective tissue in otherwise-concrete writing.

Lastly, don’t feel pressured to “do something” with your poem. Not all poems need to be shared and edited. Poetry doesn’t have to be “good,” either—it can simply be a statement of emotions by the poet, for the poet. Publishing is an admirable goal, but also, give yourself permission to write bad poems, unedited poems, abstract poems, and poems with an audience of one. Write for yourself—editing is for the other readers.

Poetry is the oldest literary form, pre-dating prose, theater, and the written word itself. As such, there are many different schools of thought when it comes to writing poetry. You might be wondering how to write a poem through different methods and approaches: here’s four philosophies to get you started.

How to Write a Poem: Poetry as Emotion

If you asked a Romantic Poet “what is poetry?”, they would tell you that poetry is the spontaneous emotion of the soul.

The Romantic Era viewed poetry as an extension of human emotion—a way of perceiving the world through unbridled creativity, centered around the human soul. While many Romantic poets used traditional forms in their poetry, the Romantics weren’t afraid to break from tradition, either.

To write like a Romantic, feel—and feel intensely. The words will follow the emotions, as long as a blank page sits in front of you.

How to Write a Poem: Poetry as Stream of Consciousness

If you asked a Modernist poet, “What is poetry?” they would tell you that poetry is the search for complex truths.

Modernist Poets were keen on the use of poetry as a window into the mind. A common technique of the time was “Stream of Consciousness,” which is unfiltered writing that flows directly from the poet’s inner dialogue. By tapping into one’s subconscious, the poet might uncover deeper truths and emotions they were initially unaware of.

Depending on who you are as a writer, Stream of Consciousness can be tricky to master, but this guide covers the basics of how to write using this technique.

How to Write a Poem: Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a practice of documenting the mind, rather than trying to control or edit what it produces. This practice was popularized by the Beat Poets , who in turn were inspired by Eastern philosophies and Buddhist teachings. If you asked a Beat Poet “what is poetry?”, they would tell you that poetry is the human consciousness, unadulterated.

To learn more about the art of leaving your mind alone , take a look at our guide on Mindfulness, from instructor Marc Olmsted.

https://writers.com/mindful-writing

How to Write a Poem: Poem as Camera Lens

Many contemporary poets use poetry as a camera lens, documenting global events and commenting on both politics and injustice. If you find yourself itching to write poetry about the modern day, press your thumb against the pulse of the world and write what you feel.

Additionally, check out these two essays by Electric Literature on the politics of poetry:

• What Can Poetry Do That Politics Can’t?
• Why All Poems Are Political (TL;DR: Poetry is an urgent expression of freedom).

Okay, I Know How to Write a Poem. What Next?

Poetry, like all art forms, takes practice and dedication. You might write a poem you enjoy now, and think it’s awfully written 3 years from now; you might also write some of your best work after reading this guide. Poetry is fickle, but the pen lasts forever, so write poems as long as you can!

Once you understand how to write a poem, and after you’ve drafted some pieces that you’re proud of and ready to share, here are some next steps you can take.

Publish in Literary Journals

Want to see your name in print? These literary journals house some of the best poetry being published today.

https://writers.com/best-places-submit-poetry-online

Assemble and Publish a Manuscript

A poem can tell a story. So can a collection of poems. If you’re interested in publishing a poetry book, learn how to compose and format one here:

https://writers.com/poetry-manuscript-format

How to Write a Poem: Join a Writing Community

Writers.com is an online community of writers, and we’d love it if you shared your poetry with us! Join us on Facebook and check out our upcoming poetry courses .

Poetry doesn’t exist in a vacuum, it exists to educate and uplift society. The world is waiting for your voice, so find a group and share your work!

Sean Glatch

38 comments.

super useful! love these articles 💕

Finally found a helpful guide on Poetry’. For many year, I have written and filed numerous inspired pieces from experiences and moment’s of epiphany. Finally, looking forward to convertinb to ‘poetry format’. THANK YOU, KINDLY. 🙏🏾

Indeed, very helpful, consize. I could not say more than thank you.

I’ve never read a better guide on how to write poetry step by step. Not only does it give great tips, but it also provides helpful links! Thank you so much.

Thank you very much, Hamna! I’m so glad this guide was helpful for you.

Best guide so far

Very inspirational and marvelous tips

Thank you super tips very helpful.

I have never gone through the steps of writing poetry like this, I will take a closer look at your post.

Beautiful! Thank you! I’m really excited to try journaling as a starter step x

[…] How to Write a Poem, Step-by-Step […]

This is really helpful, thanks so much

Extremely thorough! Nice job.

Thank you so much for sharing your awesome tips for beginner writers!

People must reboot this and bookmark it. Your writing and explanation is detailed to the core. Thanks for helping me understand different poetic elements. While reading, actually, I start thinking about how my husband construct his songs and why other artists lack that organization (or desire to be better). Anyway, this gave me clarity.

I’m starting to use poetry as an outlet for my blogs, but I also have to keep in mind I’m transitioning from a blogger to a poetic sweet kitty potato (ha). It’s a unique transition, but I’m so used to writing a lot, it’s strange to see an open blog post with a lot of lines and few paragraphs.

Anyway, thanks again!

I’m happy this article was so helpful, Eternity! Thanks for commenting, and best of luck with your poetry blog.

Yours in verse, Sean

One of the best articles I read on how to write poems. And it is totally step by step process which is easy to read and understand.

Thanks for the step step explanation in how to write poems it’s a very helpful to me and also for everyone one. THANKYOU

Totally detailed and in a simple language told the best way how to write poems. It is a guide that one should read and follow. It gives the detailed guidance about how to write poems. One of the best articles written on how to write poems.

what a guidance thank you so much now i can write a poem thank you again again and again

The most inspirational and informative article I have ever read in the 21st century.It gives the most relevent,practical, comprehensive and effective insights and guides to aspiring writers.

Thank you so much. This is so useful to me a poetry

[…] Write a short story/poem (Here are some tips) […]

It was very helpful and am willing to try it out for my writing Thanks ❤️

Thank you so much. This is so helpful to me, and am willing to try it out for my writing .

Absolutely constructive, direct, and so useful as I’m striving to develop a recent piece. Thank you!

thank you for your explanation……,love it

Really great. Nothing less.

I can’t thank you enough for this, it touched my heart, this was such an encouraging article and I thank you deeply from my heart, I needed to read this.

great teaching Did not know all that in poetry writing

This was very useful! Thank you for writing this.

After reading a Charles Bukowski poem, “My Cats,” I found you piece here after doing a search on poetry writing format. Your article is wonderful as is your side article on journaling. I want to dig into both and give it another go another after writing poetry when I was at university. Thank you!

Thanks for reading, Vicki! Let us know how we can support your writing journey. 🙂

Thank you for the nice and informative post. This article truly offers a lot more details about this topic.

Very useful information. I’m glad to see you discussed rhyming, too. I was in the perhaps mistaken idea that rhyming is frowned upon in contemporary poems.

Thanks alot this highly needed for a starter like me

Thanks for this Beautiful 🌹 step by step piece. As I dive into learning how to write poems I will probably find them helpful and refer to them later on again when needed. Thanks♥️

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