Have you ever read the lyrics of a Simon and Garfunkle song? Pure poetry. Want to write poems like that? Start copying them. Let me explain.
The Myth Of Creativity
Creativity is somewhat of a myth. It isn't that it doesn't exist, but people's ideas about it are mis-informed. Many believe that to be creative is to come up with something completely new. There isn't an artist or inventor out there who has done this.
Somebody had to write the first four-line verse or haiku poem, right? Now is everyone that uses these forms an uncreative copy-cat? No, of course not. We must copy forms, general ideas and techniques, so why not do it more systematically?
Poem Writing Tricks
Copy a poem you like, and then play with the elements. Part of the beauty of a poem is in the structure and the rhythm. Why not insert your own words into that, to see what happens?
Here is the last part of a poem titled "Gratitude." It started by painting a picture of the mountains,and then;
Words fail, as they should...
So there is nothing to say
There is nothing to say
There is nothing
Is nothing
Nothing...
But gratitude
Now, if you take the general "gimmick" of the diminishing lines, you could insert all sorts of thoughts. An example:
Pain returns, as it must...
And to where can I turn for relief?
To where can I turn?
Where can I?
Where?
But to life
Shameless? No more so than the second time somebody wrote a four-line verse. New words have created a new poem. In the context of a longer poem, this copying of form in one verse might not even be noticed.
What is creativity if you don't create something? Use whatever tricks and techniques you need to start creating poetry.
Steve Gillman has been playing with poetry for thirty years. He and his wife Ana created the game "Deal-A-Poem," which can be accessed for free at: http://www.dealapoem.com
Happy, Sad, Mad and Glad, Moved in down the streetCautious... Read More
Time goes by to quickly to hold your feelings inside... Read More
In the Mountains of Haiti(In the City)-July is a hot... Read More
Writing innovative poetry, the kind of poetry that reputable literary... Read More
I wish we had met 20 years ago... A different... Read More
What Hides behind the Minute?What hides behind the minute? It... Read More
1) End PoemWherever you are today- Is where you were... Read More
In the quiet of the arctic night- In its deep... Read More
You can show your poem to your mom, your spouse,... Read More
"Beautiful Dreamer" was written by Stephen Foster just before his... Read More
"Song of the Great Zimbabwe"Across the African, winter's skyIn the... Read More
Ironically, the passion that can neutralize the repulsion for difficulties... Read More
I never thought I would have to say GOODBYE to... Read More
Azra, Azra, Wake up Azra. Wake up Azra, It is... Read More
Most of my poems are written late at night, often,... Read More
So many looked to you for inspiration,Unlikely hero for the... Read More
[Episode Five]Arizona Blue-GunfighterThe Wolves Nest-in the North[Episode Five]Northern Minnesota Area?Winter... Read More
The Incubus' Flash-lightHe looked inside my head And found a... Read More
The Goat and the Ropewhere there were devils I saw... Read More
Once upon a midnight dreary, coffee cold and vision... Read More
Little girl from HuancayoDo you really, really know? Just how... Read More
During interviews and general conversations with the public,one of the... Read More
Footprints to Mantaro Valley (English version)In what retreat art hid?-Where... Read More
In this modern age of technology, busy lifestyles, and obsession... Read More
1) Doņa Leonor's Revenge [1627 AD]Rafael Ortiz's fate Was... Read More
JOINEDHeart beat of man pounding - yet unheard joined... Read More
Like a cat I slumber, blissfully unencumbered, Through eighty per... Read More
As I picked up some of the polished gemstones in... Read More
Do you ever stare at the paper, waiting for poetic... Read More
Frog SummerSummer grows hot, for the New-blooded frogs; The bugs... Read More
English Version1) Grendel's DivorceYou must know that I do not... Read More
Iquitos & the Amazon Part OneIt was December 2, l959,... Read More
Tale of the Brick Maker, Of San Jerķnimo, Peru... Read More
Ironically, the passion that can neutralize the repulsion for difficulties... Read More
1) Doņa Leonor's Revenge [1627 AD]Rafael Ortiz's fate Was... Read More
No one should have to beg or crawl before humanity.... Read More
Do you ever stare at the paper, waiting for poetic... Read More
Have you ever sat there staring at the paper, ready... Read More
So many looked to you for inspiration,Unlikely hero for the... Read More
Since Mohamed Ali?then Cassius Clay?announced that he had written "The... Read More
You speak simple, completley understandable justifications I respect them, respect... Read More
Writing innovative poetry, the kind of poetry that reputable literary... Read More
Here are three more poems by the author, Dennis Siluk,... Read More
The light of all eternity shines with me now /... Read More
In the midst of darkness, there is light. In... Read More
Our home was warm in the shade of the trees... Read More
Writing Poetry for TomorrowWhat does a man need to be... Read More
Advance: in Mr. Siluk's poetry one finds symbolist values, sensuous... Read More
It was not me as I am now. It was... Read More
Mother's Day Poetry,I'm Sorry Mom!I'm sorry for the troubles ... Read More
As I picked up some of the polished gemstones in... Read More
Rhymes of an Ordnance Man [Vietnam War: 1971]An eleven part... Read More
(The city by the bay of Northern California, near which... Read More
How I wonder what he's doing as I sit alone... Read More
A Poem - By Lorraine KemberIt was a day like... Read More
War bombs may explode demolishing man and land. Hurricanes may... Read More
I wish we had met 20 years ago... A different... Read More
I cannot bear to think of when you will be... Read More
Part OneI tell you a legend of long ago Of... Read More
You are to me my lifeline my security. That scares... Read More
Like a cat I slumber, blissfully unencumbered, Through eighty per... Read More
Part oneI see them in the skies I hear them... Read More
McLean, VA - "The Healing Conscious" tells the story of... Read More
Note: written 4-15-05, while driving through the Andes of Peru,... Read More
Hammers. Timbers. Iron. Steel.They're laying down a mighty keel.As ant-like... Read More
You've been writing poetry since that first assignment in your... Read More
Poetry |