Find your Rhythm
Are you a lover of poetry? Reading it can calm you, anger you, make you fall in love. If you've ever desired the talent for writing poetry, I have a few tools that you can try. Everyone has their own style of writing of course, but hopefully some of these points may persuade you to take a closer look at poetry if you've never tried your hand at it. So read through the tools, try out a few, and find your own rhythm in poetry.
1-Theme
Poems must have something to say, otherwise readers may lose interest. It doesn’t necessarily need to be one theme, but that also depends on the length of a poem. When writing, keep your mind honed in on a certain theme or idea and your poem will come out better.
2-Rhythm
Poems should be “felt” as much as read. If it feels stiff it may dissuade readers from continuing. Part of that “feeling” of the poem comes from how you choose to arrange your words and descriptions. If done well, poems are able to evoke a great range of emotions and reactions from the reader.
3-Imagery
I feel that what makes poetry beautiful and enjoyable is when the writer is able to evoke wonderful imagery. Using a unique combination of words and descriptions can create wonderful pictures in the mind that last long beyond the end of the page.
4-Persona
I believe that you must feel that whoever is the speaker of your poem is as significant as what is being said. What I mean is that if I feel that I can relate to the speaker, I find that I have a deeper connection to that poem.
5-Metaphor
Poetry is often a tool by which the writer says one thing but implies something much greater. When ideas are presented through a metaphor, I personally want to delve deeper to find out what the hidden meaning is. Or, just as great art can be interpreted differently, so can poetry. I’ve experienced reading the same poem at different times in my life, only to have come away with a completely different understanding. If this can be achieved I believe the writer has accomplished something great.
6-Rhyme Scheme
Not all poetry needs to rhyme, but it can be a great tool for poets. This can tie into the idea of a poem being “felt” by the reader.
7-Stanza
The way the poem is presented physically can help present an idea or theme. The shape of the poem, the line breaks, use of punctuation or lack thereof can greatly affect a poem.
8-Free Verse
Just as the use of structure and rhyming has its use, free verse can be a great tool for writing poetry. This is when rhyme, use of stanza, line breaks, etc. is mostly, if not fully, disregarded. This generally gives the poem a sense of weightlessness that closely imitates a stream of consciousness. This can be greatly effective depending on what the poet wants to get across.
I hope reviewing these tools for poetry helps you in your own writing. If you have never tried poetry, I suggest you have a go at it. If anything, it can help you vent about a certain thought, feeling, or idea. I’ve personally used it as a therapeutic tool before; generally those ones will never see the light of day, but they have served their purpose. As I said before, everyone has their own style of writing, whether that be with poetry or some other form of writing. So, take a shot at using these tools or find others that fit your style the best. You will eventually find your own rhythm in poetry-your own unique voice that will make others listen.
