What are the characteristics of good poetry? - Writers Forum

A. Night · 06-27-2005, 08:02 PM

Well um...I have not the slightest clue how to write a good poem and my question I guess is what in your opinion makes a poem memorable to you and if there has to be any specific criteria or rules that must be followed.

103_smalls · 06-27-2005, 08:22 PM

the only rule to writing a really good anything at all, especially poetry, because poetry is basically the writer's heart and soul, is that you enjoy writing the poem, you enjoy reading the poem, and that it means something to you.

There are no rules that you HAVE to follow. Generally, it should flow well, and as you write more and more poems, you'll get better at making that happen... when I first started writing poetry, I couldn't make anything flow at all, but it comes natural to me now after a lot of practice. And if you write something that you don't like, don't get discouraged.. and especially don't get discouraged if other's don't enjoy it, poetry is something that writer's use to express themselves, and as long as you're doing that, you're doing poetry right.

Welcome to WF by the way!

mammamaia · 06-28-2005, 08:45 AM

to me, a good poem will make its meaning accessible to the readers, not be so obtuse that they're left going, 'huh?'...

and it should be crafted with care, not just a stream of consciousness mess arranged to 'look like' a poem...

'poetry' is an art... and, as with all the arts, needs to be learned and practiced, before it can be mastered...

it's the most refined of all the written arts and, contrary to what many seem to think, cannot be done well by just anybody...

that said, anyone can write what they consider to be a poem... and many do!... to me, however, and to most of the literary world, that does not make everybody who does, a 'poet'...

a 'poet' is the rare one who has mastered the art and practices it with great care and noticeable skill...

that doesn't mean 'hobbyists' shouldn't try their hand at it, or not pour out their hearts and souls in whatever they think is 'poetic' form... like painting, 'amateurs' can enjoy practicing the art as much as the 'pros' do, and many who see/read the results enjoy them, as well...

fyi, some of the work 'amateur poets' send me for help, end up being as good as anything by any of the established 'poets'... so, there's room for all in this art...

love and hugs, maia

shadowseer · 06-28-2005, 10:15 AM

have you ever seen the Dead Poets Society?

There are two meters, blah,blah,blah, everybody rips pages out their books and jumps on desk.

You'll get it if you watch the movie.

barefootwriter · 06-30-2005, 10:04 PM

Good poetry. . . let me think. .

I'm assuming you want to write literary poetry, and not poetry just for your own satisfaction.

In that case, there is such a thing as good poetry and there are such things as rules you should generally follow, especially when starting out. You must learn the rules before you've earned the skill and right to break them.

First and foremost, remember that, because it's a short form, every word counts. A corollary to this rule is that you must avoid cliches as much as possible (unless you're playing with the cliches themselves, but that's for later in your poetry career).

Read good poets. A lot of it comes by osmosis. Let their rhythm and sound devices get into your bones. Watch how they do things.

Some people rhyme, some don't. I think rhyme is tough to do without being sing-songy or forcing odd diction, so I avoid it.

If you're serious about getting good, the Academy of American Poets (www.poets.org) has forums where you may post poems for critique. For the most part, people critique fairly and honestly -- if it's not good, they will tell you so, and most of the regulars will do so fairly gently. Read a bit, get a feel for whose poetry you like and whose opinion you respect, and go from there.

Bad Craziness · 07-03-2005, 06:59 AM

I'd advise you to read some of the best poets and as many critical close readings you can find for their poems. Doing this will help you understand how the poet has crafted their poem and the various meanings that can be extracted from it by the reader.

Personally, I like Auden, I believe he is probably one of the most skilled poets of all time.

Then again, if it's just for yourself then do whatever you want, no one but you is going to read it anyway.