Poetry Panic

[Kylpault]

Okay people, I need some help. My school for English is having a mandatory poetry contest, and I need to write a poem for entry. The problem is that I don't get poetry. At all. As in in a similar contest I wrote an extremely generic poem in about fifteen minutes without really trying and I got a special feature above all the people who actually tried. WTF?

This time I want to try and be prepared. I need to submit a work completely my own, so I'm not really asking anyone to write something for me. I just need help figuring out what makes a poem good and what makes a poem bad, as well as the basics on how to write one. I've tried reviewing poetry in the past on this site but I mostly stick to those that sound like song lyrics, stuff that has beat, for I can understand music at least. But when a poem doesn't even rhyme or have format and just seems to break rules of grammar? Mind f*ck.

Anyone, help? Please?

[Little-Kinky]

I only have three things for you.

One: I've never written a poem that i didn't want to write. That is, i can't just sit down after being told to write a poem, and make a masterpiece. I need to want to make something meaningful.

Two: there's an expression that poetry is sitting down at a typewriter and bleeding. That's true for me: it's all emotion driven. For example, i sit down with a pad and pen, or my computer, and play music. Mostly rap that covers horrible topics: racism, equality, gay marriage, politics, education, blah, blah. I listen to the dame thing until it just gets to me- i feel the words burning into me heart, and i get angry enough to write a story about it in the form of stanzas in a poem. Even without music, just sit and pick a topic, any topic, and don't stop thinking about it and surrounding yourself with it until words flow.

Three: if you will be reading the poem, it's all about presentation. Where to put emphasis on words, what tone it will be read in, if it's a fast or a slow poem, if it's a happy reflective poem or an angry accusing poem- it all needs to be shown in the way you read it. Once you've made the poem, go back and italicize words, underline sentences, and just read it over and over until you really hear the mood and message you want that will draw people into your poem.

Hope this helps!

[Kylpault]

At 11/26/13 10:01 AM, Little-Kinky wrote: I only have three things for you.

One: I've never written a poem that i didn't want to write. That is, i can't just sit down after being told to write a poem, and make a masterpiece. I need to want to make something meaningful.

Two: there's an expression that poetry is sitting down at a typewriter and bleeding. That's true for me: it's all emotion driven. For example, i sit down with a pad and pen, or my computer, and play music. Mostly rap that covers horrible topics: racism, equality, gay marriage, politics, education, blah, blah. I listen to the dame thing until it just gets to me- i feel the words burning into me heart, and i get angry enough to write a story about it in the form of stanzas in a poem. Even without music, just sit and pick a topic, any topic, and don't stop thinking about it and surrounding yourself with it until words flow.

Three: if you will be reading the poem, it's all about presentation. Where to put emphasis on words, what tone it will be read in, if it's a fast or a slow poem, if it's a happy reflective poem or an angry accusing poem- it all needs to be shown in the way you read it. Once you've made the poem, go back and italicize words, underline sentences, and just read it over and over until you really hear the mood and message you want that will draw people into your poem.

Hope this helps!

It sure does help! I don't want to do something political in school but there are a few things I feel very strongly about that I could encourage emotions over. It really helps getting myself motivated to write a poem. And I will be reading it aloud. I kinda want to do a fast, angry poem with a bit of rhythm to it. (my favorite poem of all time has to be Poe's The Bells simply for how it sounds and not really on what it means, but off topic)

I still have a good amount of time left to get the poem in. It isn't due until December 11th and we are covering a bit in English about poetry so I'll probably wait a bit and gather as much advice as possible before committing on a subject. I have a lot of things in life I'm angry about, though there is one on the top of my mind that I'll probably use from just your advice.

Thanks again.

[Kofra]

A hint: if you think you shouldn't write something, because of the controverse content, write it down.

[Unfairy]

I can second the notion of writing with emotion. I have to listen to music when I write. If I want a specific tone, I just put the song that spoke to me on repeat and write. I don't try to match it to the music at all, I just use it for mood which helps the right words come to me.

Also time spent on the writing is no real indication of the effect it will have or its quality. Some of my best poems I wrote lickety-split at work or in class.

Some good beginner tips are:
-Avoid abstract ideas unless they're necessary. In other words, use imagery, imagery, imagery. People tend to relate better to a poem that they can picture in their heads. There are five senses, use them.
-Absolutely avoid clichés and common phrases. If you come up with a line and it's comprised of ideas you'd heard before, you're really risking your originality and people tend to respond poorly.
-Make as many people read as possible before you submit it, but ignore all ideas and suggestions that don't feel right. The audience is rarely right, but it's the reaction you're looking for. This is art and it's your art, not your audience's. You'll find that you're not the only person who doesn't get poetry... Most people don't.
-Shock value helps, but don't be outright vulgar. You don't want to offend for no reason.
-Haters will always hate.
-Ignore these tips if it fits, art is art is art. It has to please you before it can please someone else in my opinion. In other words, these are more what you'd call guidelines than rules. Welcome aboard the Black Pearl.
-???
-Profit!