Writing poetry: going from cheezy to poetic

There is, of course, all types of poetry. The key is to use the right voice and form for what you’re trying to express.

Now, a lot of people use poetry just as an outlet, a way to get their feeling across; it’s never that good, but people can relate to it and most people don’t notice that it’s not in good form, nor do they care. I call that cheesy poetry regardless of the fact that serious emotions may be involved.

It’s easy to change cheesy poetry around to make it more “poetic” by utilizing the endless possibilities and boxless capabilities that poetry form offers writers. Here are some things to take into consideration:

• You don’t have to use full or complete sentences.  In fact most times you don’t want to.  Allow your words, instead, to inseminate the senses. 
• Show, don’t tell.  And while you’re at it, take away some of those extra words that make a sentence but cut up a poem. 
• Focus on pieces of a picture that make up not only their own image, but combine to bring a larger one to life.  Become a bit more right brained.  Instead of saying “I’m not going to be the washed up crustacean specimen the children examine at the aquarium” say something more along the lines of: 

never will I be
washed up
a decaying crustacean
an examined specimen
your aquarium side show

• By all means read your poetry out loud.  This is the only way to know if the flow is right, the line lengths work,
• Ixnay your thoughts of correct punctuation and capitalization. Not all poems need to start with a capital at the beginning of each line.  Nor do full thoughts need to end in a period.  In fact too much correctness adds to the dysfunctionality of cheesy poetry.
• Speaking metaphorically is a good thing.  Just make sure you’re not being cliché and that your metaphors draw up relative images.

For some wonderful examples of poetry, please visit The Poetry Locksmith and Poetry Unlocked.

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Comments

[pgrundy]

This is helpful, thank you! I never seem to write poetry unless I'm miserable. I've had a couple of poems published...but they were miserable poems. Lol! Seriously, I should start writing a poem a day longhand, just to stay limber. Kudos on running a poetry contest by the way. This site is SMOKIN' lately!

[Eye On Life Team]

You're so welcome Pam. Thanks for the read. Poetry is great therapy when you're miserable, isn't it? You really ought to start writing them again. Very good workout.
Kudos to Tom for getting right in there and not missing a beat. The chances of winning are quite good. It's our first one. Just wait till word gets out. Personally I'd want the second place prize. Too bad I can't enter, lol.
And yeah, the site has been totally rockin'. One of the best things I ever did. Just goes to show sometimes you just gotta get out there and do it. No one's going to come nocking on your door or taking you by the hand. Live your dream I say. Thanks so much for being here with me, Pam. This magazine couldn't be what it is without you guys.

~Michelle.