At its core, poetry is an art form that distills human experience into its most expressive and impactful form. But what exactly is poetry, and how does one craft it?
Whether you’re a budding poet or simply curious about the craft, understanding the essence of poetry and the methods to write it can open doors to a world of creative expression and profound emotional resonance. This guide will specifically help you understand how to write a poem about yourself, reflecting on your own experiences and identity.
What is Poetry?
Poetry is a literary work in which the expression of feelings and ideas is given intensity by the use of distinctive style and rhythm.
Poems do not have to rhyme, have a given format, utilize specific terminology, or be about a specific topic. However, they must use metaphorical language to convey their ideas artistically. The form of a poem is just as vital as its function, if not more so.
Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful.
What Are The Characteristics of Poetry?
Poetry may express emotions and share ideas, but it is capable of much more. Poets use poetry to convey stories, impart lessons, and transmit hidden messages. When you listen to music with lyrics, you are hearing poetry.
Let’s take a look at the key characteristics of poetry:
Poetry Expresses Emotion
Some people perceive poetry as stuffy, overly abstract, or difficult to comprehend. While some poetry can be like this, the essence of poetry is far from being vague or confusing. It is a lyrical, emotive mode of expression that uses poetic elements to highlight emotions and ideas.
A poem should evoke an emotional response. In essence, poetry is designed to stir feelings in the reader, not by explicitly instructing them on what to feel, but by directly invoking emotion.
Take, for example, this modern poem, which, despite its simplicity, expresses deep 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.
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Poetry Is Rich and Condensed Language
Unlike longer narrative forms like short stories, memoirs, or novels, poetry needs to make an impact concisely and richly.
Therefore, poetry isn’t the medium for lengthy backstories or leisurely scene-setting. In poetry, every single word must be impactful.
Poetry Utilizes Unique Elements
Poetry distinguishes itself from other forms of writing by employing unique structures, tools, and principles. These elements allow poetry to leave a powerful impact on the reader with just a few words.
Most poetry is composed in verse, rather than prose. This means it uses line breaks and rhythm or meter to convey meaning to the reader. Unlike prose, which breaks at the end of the page, verse highlights the significance of language through its line breaks.
Poetry further emphasizes its language through rhyme and meter. It places a heightened focus on the musicality of language, its sounds, rhythms, and the emotions they convey.
These tools, rhyme, meter, and line breaks, are among the essential elements of poetry, which we will explore further.
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What Are The Elements of Poetry?
As we delve into the steps on how to write a poem about yourself, it’s essential to keep these three major elements in mind:
- Rhythm: This encompasses sound, rhyme, and meter.
- Form: The structure and organization of a poem.
- Literary Devices: Techniques that enhance the poem’s depth and meaning.
Rhythm
“Rhythm” refers to the lyrical and sonic attributes of a poem. How does it move and flow? How does it resonate when spoken aloud?
Traditionally, poets have relied on rhyme and meter to create rhythm in their work. Free verse, which does not adhere to any specific length, rhyme scheme, or meter, gained popularity in the West only in the 20th century. While rhyme and meter are not mandatory in modern poetry, they remain integral to certain poetic forms.
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1. Sound
Poetry can evoke specific emotions merely through sound. Words might sound threatening, percussive, smooth, joyful, melancholy, or convey any other emotion within the range of human experience.
Consider this excerpt from Walt Whitman’s “Beat! Beat! Drums!” which uses a variety of percussive, jarring sounds that mirror the beating of drums. Sounds like “b,” “d,” “w,” and “t” mimic drum beats, while “th” and “s” sounds engage the listener on a subtler level. Although this excerpt might not appear “lyrical,” it certainly captures attention, much like the sound of drums echoing through a city.
2. Rhyme
Not knowing the nuances of rhyme would be a crime! “Rhyme” refers to words that share similar sounds, such as sound, hound, browned, pound, found, and around.
Many poets believe their poetry must rhyme, and some poetic forms indeed have intricate rhyme schemes. However, rhyme is not as crucial in modern poetry as it once was. While many traditional forms like sonnets, villanelles, and rimes royal depend on rhyme, contemporary poetry has mostly moved away from rigid rhyme patterns.
3. Meter
Meter pertains to the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry. Some poetic forms require a specific stress pattern, where certain syllables are emphasized, and others are not.
For example:
- Iamb: An unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one, as in the word “exist.”
- Trochee: A stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one, like “sample.”
- Spondee: Equally stressed syllables, as in “cupcake.”
The arrangement of these syllables gives a poem its rhythm and can be varied to create different effects.
Form
“Form” relates to the structure of the poem. Is it a sonnet, a villanelle, free verse, slam poem, contrapuntal, ghazal, blackout poem, or something innovative and experimental?
Form also includes line breaks and stanza breaks. Unlike prose, where line breaks occur naturally at the end of a page, poets choose where one line ends and another begins, emphasizing specific sounds, images, and concepts.
Literary Devices
How does poetry convey intricate ideas in a succinct, lyrical manner? Literary devices such as metaphor, symbolism, juxtaposition, irony, and hyperbole are key to the craft. Mastering these devices enhances poetry’s depth and impact.
How to Write a Poem About Yourself
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write a poem about yourself:
Step 1: Think about your identity
Begin by taking a moment to think deeply about who you are. Consider your personality traits, experiences, beliefs, and values. Ask yourself questions like: What makes me unique? What are my strengths and weaknesses? What memories stand out in my life? This reflection will provide the foundation for your poem.
2. Choose a theme or focus
Decide on a central theme or aspect of yourself that you want to explore in your poem. It could be your childhood, a defining moment, your dreams, or even an aspect of your personality. Having a focus will give your poem direction and cohesion.
3. Explore Your Topic
Poetry is not only a product of emotions but also of inquiry. Once you’ve selected your theme, spend some time exploring it. Ask yourself questions like:
- What emotions are associated with this theme?
- What experiences do you have related to this topic?
- What imagery, sounds, or ideas come to mind when you think of this topic?
- How can you convey these emotions and ideas in your poem?
Exploring your theme before you start writing helps clarify your thoughts and inspires creativity.
4. Determine Your Poem’s Style and Form
Based on your topic, decide what form and style your poem will take. Would a sonnet suit your subject, or would free verse better express your ideas? Should you use a specific rhyme scheme or meter, or should your poem flow naturally?
Consider the tools that will best convey your poem’s meaning. Some questions to consider include:
- Should your poem rhyme, or is free verse more appropriate?
- Should it have a specific meter or rhythm?
- How long should each line be?
- Should you break your poem into stanzas, or should it be one continuous piece?
- Will you use a particular poetic form, like a sonnet, villanelle, or haiku?
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5. Start Writing
With your topic, inspiration, and form in mind, it’s time to start writing. Don’t worry about getting everything perfect on the first try; let your thoughts flow naturally and refine your poem through revision.
Begin by putting down your ideas and emotions as they come. Allow your creativity to guide you and don’t get bogged down by concerns about perfection. The first draft of a poem is often raw and unpolished, but it’s the foundation upon which you can build.
6. Revise Your Poem
Once you have a draft, set it aside for a while before revising. Distance will give you a fresh perspective. When you revisit your poem, look for areas that can be improved. Consider these aspects during revision:
- Clarity: Ensure that your poem effectively conveys the intended emotions and ideas. Remove any ambiguous or confusing lines that don’t contribute to the overall meaning.
- Imagery: Check if your imagery is vivid and engaging. Strong imagery helps readers visualize and connect with your poem.
- Sound: Pay attention to the rhythm and sound of your poem. Read it aloud to hear how it flows and to identify any awkward or jarring passages.
- Form and Structure: Assess if the form and structure enhance your poem. Make sure the line breaks and stanza divisions contribute to the poem’s overall effect.
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After revising your poem, consider sharing it with others. Feedback can provide valuable insights and help you grow as a poet. Share your poem with friends, family, or writing groups, and be open to constructive criticism.
Additionally, you might want to submit your poem to literary journals or online platforms. This can offer opportunities for publication and exposure.
Now That You Know How to Write a Poem, What’s Next?
With your new knowledge and skills, continue to practice and develop your poetry. Write regularly and explore different forms, styles, and techniques. Attend poetry readings, join writing workshops, and engage with the poetry community to further enhance your craft and know how to write a poem about yourself.
References
- grammarly.com – How to Write a Poem: A Step-by-Step Guide
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