How to write a love poem!

It's Valentine's day... Time to write your sweetie a love poem!

Here's a quick primer on how:

   1. Carry a pen and paper with you at all times. Jot down the things that remind you of your sweetie and things you're thankful for. These are great thoughts to jump start your poetry writing and will help you think creatively.

   2. Read Poetry; lots of it. Don't underestimate the inspiration you might get from the masters, so start reading poetry. Get started with: Pablo Neruda, e.e. cummings, W.B. Yeats and Anne Sexton.

   3. Get writing. Write a page of prose about your love interest as fast as you can. Write about how your first met, when you first knew you were smitten, and all your other "firsts". Write about how your relationship has changed and grown. Write about special moments that you've shared together or the everyday stuff. This is a no-judgement bit of writing. You're getting the creative juices flowing, so leave your editors eye behind (that will happen later). Write about all the cheesy, lovey, schmoopy-ness in your world. This will help you find the building blocks of your poem.

   4. Pick a thought that shines. Reread your prose and pick out an emotion, memory or idea that really jumps off the page. The best poems often have a theme (growth, surprise, enlightenment) or a focus point. Your job now is to find your focus. Perhaps your poem will be weaving together a few ideas or memories or themes, but your first job is to pick at least one! You can expand from there.

   5. Decide what type of poetry suits your subject. Sonnets are always 14 lines long with a strict rhyme structure. A ballad tells a story (like a folk tail or legend) that often has a repeated refrain. A free verse poem can be rhymed or not and has no set pattern. There are at least 50 different types of poems out there, so you're sure to find one that fits you and your poetry perfectly. And remember, sometimes the best things come in small packages, so don't underestimate the power of a haiku (which has just three lines and 17 syllables).

   6. Be truthful; come from the heart. Love poems can be notoriously sappy. The best way to avoid this is to just speak (and write) from the heart. Poetry is a great medium to say things in way that's different from your normal "I love you." Take advantage of this opportunity by making sure that each line of your poem is a genuine representation of how you feel.

   7. Know what a metaphor is and how to use them. If a novel is "words in the best order", then a poem is "the best words in the best order." Metaphors help you tell a story with depth, strength, imagery and color by comparing one thing to another.  Metaphors are like little jewels that make your poem sparkle with intent rather than writing out a concept word-by-word. (And yes... that was just a metaphor as well.) Get started with metaphors by adding the words "like" or "as" to your writing. Here are a few examples: "Her eyes were like the welcoming waves of the ocean" or "He was as strong as an lion, but as gentle as a lamb." We'll let Shakespeare share with one of the world's most famous metaphors from "As You Like It":

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrance."

   8. Read your poem out loud.

   9. Edit. Even though these lovey-dovey verses are straight from the heart, more likely than not you'll need to swap a few things around. Some people like to edit while they write. Others find that this interrupts the creative process. So... try it both ways and see what works for you. Most importantly, read your poem out-loud to determine how the words work together (or not), and where you want to add additional punctuation to improve the rhythm and flow of the words. Don't be afraid to cut or reorganize words. Take a day away from your poem and come back with fresh eyes. However you do it, just be sure to include editing as part of your poetry writing. You'll end up with a better poem, and you'll find that a lit spit-polishing does wonders to what was previously a ho-hum haiku.

  10. Shout it from the roof tops (and don't send it via e-mail). Poetry is a verbal art; embrace it to the fullest by sharing it with your loved one live and in person. Read it to them. The sound of your poem, the flow and texture of the words, the pauses and cadence of your speech is a key part of your poem's success. So share it out-loud and get ready for your Valentine to be SUPER impressed. I'm pretty sure that you'll be getting some positive reinforcement to write more poetry in short order. ;)

For more "professional" assistance, I'd recommend checking out this class on TeachStreet: Poetry as Daily Practice