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Writing Your Own Poetry

Writing Your Own Poetry

By Carrie Hull

Current, the 'free verse' style of poetry is the most popular. In the late 19th century, Walt Whitman is credited with originating the form. Before his time, poetry was restricted to certain rhyming schemes and forms.

Formal poetry generally follows a set pattern, in rhyme and meter. We commonly place a letter at the end of the last word in each line. Analyzing these patterns is called scansion.

Using letter to signify the rhymes is a great way to determine the pattern. If line one and two rhyme, an A would be placed beside them. If line three and four rhyme with each other but not one and two, we would place B's beside them. The pattern would be AABB. If line 5 rhymes with either, an A or B would be used. If it does not phyme, we would use a C.

Meter is the number of beats in each line. The beat most commonly used is "Iambic pentameter'. Individual beats consist of a short and strong pulse. Words with this beat are arrest, domain, forsooth, etc. The second syllable is accented.

Enough of the rules already, let's get to the fun stuff. When you tell stories or write letters what do you start with? Something you overheard, witnessed, or read about? The best way to start a poem is to begin with what you're most comfortable with.

What type of poem did you have in mind? A Story? A comment? Or could it be a character study? Go through some examples to help get you started off on the right foot. It is common to get what is called "writer's block". If this happens, take a break, or come back to it the next day. If your out and something comes to you, jot it down.

It may take many weeks or months to get your poem finished. If your having trouble, take a break. When you come back, carry on from the last line in your poem. You will be delighted at what comes out.