The Fun and Magic of Writing Poetry!

Hello, young wordsmiths! Are you ready to embark on a poetic journey filled with rhythm, imagery, and the beauty of language? Today we’ll explore poetry’s fascinating world. Whether you’re a budding poet or simply curious about the art of expressing yourself through verse, we’ll explore the power of poetry and discover how it can ignite your imagination and touch hearts. Get ready to unleash your creativity, play with words, and unlock the magic that lies within you. So, grab your pens, open your minds, and let’s venture into the realm of poetic expression together!

Writing poetry is not as hard as you might think it is. Especially if you know a few tips about how to go about writing a poem. Poetry writing challenges you to really think about words and images. Words that you want to use to make the reader think. And the images that you want to create in the reader’s mind.

But where and how do you begin when you don’t know how to write a poem?

Well, you could start out with a clever poem, which is called an acrostic poem. You write a word on a piece of paper—like DOG. Then start each line with one letter in your word. For example, an acrostic poem for “dog” could look like this: Devoted furry buddy / On my bed is sleeping / Greatest of pets.

Once you have had fun with writing acrostic poems, you could then try writing 3-line poems called “haiku.” They are of Japanese origin. The first and final lines have five syllables each, while the second line has seven. Often they describe a concrete object or image, such as this one about a cat: Tired cat sleeps all night. / He needs lots of rest for a / Long day of napping. The very short format requires you to consider your word choices very carefully. But they can create a lot of impact.

Limericks are short, 5-line poems that have a particular rhyme scheme, where the first two lines and the last line rhyme, with a different rhyme sound for the middle two lines: AABBA. For example: A talkative man from Seattle / would spend his days speaking to cattle. / When asked what he said, / one old cow shook her head, / and replied, “Why it’s nothing but prattle! Because of their strong beat and heavy use of rhyming sounds, limericks are a lot of fun for readers to read or recite aloud.

Here are some tips to help you get started writing poetry.

Brainstorming. There are a variety of brainstorming activities you can do to help generate ideas for poems. Try to keep your audience in mind when brainstorming.

Use all your senses when writing. Writers often focus most heavily on sight, but your other senses also provide the type of vivid detail that readers enjoy. Think about taste, smell, hearing, and touch as well.

Write about feelings. Poetry can help readers explore their own feelings and learn about those of others.

Create a “found poem.” Go through a magazine, newspaper, or book and highlight several dozen words you find interesting or appealing. You don’t have to have a particular reason for why you like those words. Once you’ve found between 20-50 words, arrange the words into a poem. You can add in new words where needed.

Take a nature walk. As you explore, note things that interest you, such as the weather or scenery. Write your ideas in a notebook. When you get back home, decide on what notes to use in the poem. The poem can tell a story or just describe a scene or a feeling. Use specific, concrete words to describe what you see and feel.

Be adventurous! You can write about anything you can imagine. Everyday experiences are often excellent subjects for poems. But you could just as easily write a poem about a dragon or a unicorn.

Be patient with yourself. Writing takes a lot of time and practice. You may not like the poems you produce at first, but keep writing. You will get better!

AIME