creative writing poem template

Loving. Healing. Touching.

FFP Poetry Forums

Forgot Your Password
Login with Google
Login with Facebook
About Poetry

Teaching Poetry

Templates and examples of structured poem forms, 15 structured poetry forms - templates and examples, examples of templates to use with students of all ages and experience levels. many different structured poetry forms for grades k-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. when students have a structure to follow, writing poems might feel more manageable. it also allows teachers to share various types of poems with their students..

Structured poems are poems that provide a specific format to follow. They are perfect for those who need a little more help forming a poem. They can easily be implemented in classrooms, no matter the age of the students. Even the youngest of students are able to craft their own poems with the guidance of a teacher.

Before assigning these poems to your students, we encourage you to experiment with the forms as well. You might not see yourself as a poet, but teachers who write help their students become writers who are more willing to share their work.

The poems are arranged by suggested age group. Even if you teach older students, you might want to use the more basic structured poems, especially to get your students more comfortable with crafting their own poems.

Structured poems allow individuals to be creative but still have a safety net that provides help along the way.

Unless otherwise indicated, these poems were written by Tynea Lewis.

HELLO, GOODBYE POEM

Write about a particular season by sharing things you will get to experience during a new season and things that will end from the previous season. To brainstorm, list activities from two different seasons before picking the ideas you will use. Grade Recommendation: K-2, 3-5 Template:

Hello (season). Goodbye (season). Hello… Goodbye… Hello… Goodbye… Hello… Goodbye…

Hello, Spring. Goodbye, Winter. Hello blue sky. Goodbye gray clouds. Hello warm weather. Goodbye snowy nights. Hello playing outside. Goodbye sitting by the fireplace.

Write a poem that describes yourself. Grade Recommendation: K-2, 3-5

I am (one descriptor) I love (something you love) I want (something you want) I play (something you play) I see (something you see each day) I am (one descriptor) I am afraid of (something you’re afraid of) I am happy (something that makes you happy) I am nervous (something that makes you nervous) I am excited (something that makes you excited) I am (one descriptor)

I am playful. I love running. I want a soccer ball. I play outside with friends. I see birds from my window. I am a sister. I am afraid of the dark. I am happy when I sleep in. I am nervous around big dogs. I am excited for summer. I am a friend.

ACROSTIC POEM

Write an acrostic about a specific topic (name, season, subject, sport, etc.) by listing the word vertically and starting each line with a word that begins with each specific letter. Grade Recommendation: K-2 (simple prompt like their name), 3-5

Template: (Write your word/phrase vertically)

A C R O S T I C

Snoring Lullaby Every night Enter dreamland Perfect rest

SEASON IN COLOR POEM

Write a poem about a specific season by describing colors, nouns, and actions associated with that season. Grade Recommendation: K-2, 3-5

Template:

(Season) (Color) (Noun) (Action) (Action) (Noun) (Color)

Summer Green Grass Running Swimming Pool Blue

The first line of this poem states the topic. The rest of lines include words that describe it, but they all end in -ing.

Grade Recommendation: K-2, 3-6

(Topic) -ing -ing -ing -ing

Sports Playing Running, Jumping, Throwing.

LISTING POEM

Choose a topic to write about, which becomes the first line of the poem. The rest of the poem includes descriptions of that topic. Each line can be one word or a short phrase.

Grade Recommendation: K-2

(Topic) (Description) (Description) (Description) (Description)

Mom Smart Funny Caring Pretty Loves to cook

Write a poem about how a color is perceived through the five senses.

Grade recommendation: 3-5, 6-8

(color) looks like… It sounds like… The color (color) smells like… It tastes like… (color) feels like...

Example:

Red looks like the embers smoldering in the fire. It sounds like the shrill of an ambulance siren. The color red smells like a fresh cut apple. It tastes like warm cherry pie. Red feels like a fever when you’re sick.

Write a five lined poem that either follows a specific word or syllable count.

Template (word count):

Line 1- noun Line 2- 2 adjectives Line 3- 3 -ing words Line 4- a phrase Line 5- another word for the noun from line 1 (synonym or sums it up)

Example (word count):

Pool Clear, cool Splashing, jumping, swimming Perfect for a hot summer’s day. Fun

Template (Syllable count):

Syllable Count: Line 1-2 syllables Line 2- 4 syllables Line 3- 6 syllables Line 4- 8 syllables Line 5- 2 syllables

A tanka is another form of Japanese poetry that follows a specific syllable count (like a haiku). Grade recommendation: 3-5, 6-8

Line 1- 5 syllables Line 2- 7 syllables Line 3- 5 syllables Line 4- 7 syllables Line 5- 7 syllables

One diamond dewdrop Sparkles in morning sunlight Then, slowly drips down A dandelion's green stem Nourishing its thirsty roots.

(written by Paul Holmes )

Write a poem that uses a string of words to describe one topic or two that are opposing. The end result looks like a diamond. Grade recommendation: 6-8

Line 1: 1 word (subject/noun) Line 2: 2 adjectives that describe line 1 Line 3: 3 -ing words that relate to line 1 Line 4: 4 nouns (first 2 relate to line 1, last 2 relate to line 7--if you're writing about opposite topics) Line 5: 3 -ing words that relate to line 7 Line 6: 2 adjectives that describe line 7 Line 7: 1 word (subject/noun)

Noise Loud, Boisterous Deafening, Earsplitting, Piercing Clamor, Sound ..... Hush, Quiet Soothing, Calming, Consoling Peace, Tranquility Silence

(written by Divine Tan )

A nonet is a poem that has nine lines and follows a specific syllable count for each line. The first one starts with nine syllables. The second line has eight syllables. This progression continues until the last line only has one syllable. Grade recommendation: 6-8, 9-12

Line 1 - 9 syllables Line 2 - 8 syllables Line 3 - 7 syllables Line 4 - 6 syllables Line 5 - 5 syllables Line 6 - 4 syllables Line 7 - 3 syllables Line 8 - 2 syllables Line 9 - 1 syllables

I have never felt like this before. He consumes my thoughts every day. He is completely perfect. The way he looks at me Makes my heart do flips. I know it’s true, I hope so. He wants Me.

A sonnet is a 14 line poem that is made up of stanzas of varying lengths and rhyme schemes. Grade recommendation: 9-12

Read more about the sonnet variations and how they are structured.

The days go by, then a month, then a year, and still through the days I see not a change. No matter what happens, you still aren't here, and how you just disappeared is what's strange. No explanation, no warning, just gone. I wish I had just some of your courage to go leave one rainy morning at dawn, to leave one day without any message. How I long for somewhere to be renewed or to just disappear, just not to be, not to see, not to feel, not to hear you, the ghost that you are, which I long to be. But as many days that I want to go, there are more that I want to stay and know.

(written by GA Thompson )

A sestina is a poem that contains six stanzas that each contain six lines and an ending tercet (3 line stanza). It is based on its repetition of the ending words of the lines.

Grade recommendation: 9-12

The numbers indicate the different stanzas that make up the sestina, and the letters stand for the last word of each line.

As the poem continues, the ending words from the lines of the first stanza are repeated at the end of the lines to follow (using the structure indicated below).

1. ABCDEF 2. FAEBDC 3. CFDABE 4. ECBFAD 5. DEACFB 6. BDFECA 7. (envoi) ECA or ACE

Sestina by Elizabeth Bishop (1911-1979)

September rain falls on the house. In the failing light, the old grandmother sits in the kitchen with the child beside the Little Marvel Stove, reading the jokes from the almanac, laughing and talking to hide her tears. She thinks that her equinoctial tears and the rain that beats on the roof of the house were both foretold by the almanac, but only known to a grandmother. The iron kettle sings on the stove. She cuts some bread and says to the child, It's time for tea now; but the child is watching the teakettle's small hard tears dance like mad on the hot black stove, the way the rain must dance on the house. Tidying up, the old grandmother hangs up the clever almanac on its string. Birdlike, the almanac hovers half open above the child, hovers above the old grandmother and her teacup full of dark brown tears. She shivers and says she thinks the house feels chilly, and puts more wood in the stove. It was to be, says the Marvel Stove. I know what I know, says the almanac. With crayons the child draws a rigid house and a winding pathway. Then the child puts in a man with buttons like tears and shows it proudly to the grandmother. But secretly, while the grandmother busies herself about the stove, the little moons fall down like tears from between the pages of the almanac into the flower bed the child has carefully placed in the front of the house. Time to plant tears, says the almanac. The grandmother sings to the marvelous stove and the child draws another inscrutable house.

The basis of a villanelle is created by using two sets of rhyming words and the repetition of two lines. It is made up of five tercets (3 line stanzas) and an ending quatrain (4 line stanza).

A and B stand for the rhyme scheme. All the lines that have an “A” will rhyme with each other, as do all the lines that have a “B.” A1 and A2 are the lines that are repeated throughout the poem.

The rest of the poem is structured around the repeated lines.

A1 B A2 A B A1 A B A2 A B A1 A B A2 A B A1 A2

No one told me about this pain. Everything hurts, even my pride. It's these emotions I am forced to contain. Tears have fallen from my eyes like a steady rain. Nothing can take back those nights I've cried. No one told me about this pain. My feelings I cannot even explain. To you, my heart was open wide. Now it's these emotions I have to contain. I'm at the point where I feel nothing but shame Because I thought you were going to be my guide. If only I was warned about this pain. With you is where I wanted to remain. Now I have to continue on with a long stride, But these emotions I am forced to contain. Please tell me our relationship was not in vain. I hope to not regret having tried. No one told me about this pain. It's these emotions I am forced to contain.

A palindrome is a word, phrase, or poem that reads the same forward or backward.

Template suggestion:

When writing a palindrome, try writing the first and last lines and then working your way toward the middle. This will help you know if the poem is making sense.

Softly gliding Spiraling, twirling, floating Leaves fall Crunching Fall leaves Floating, twirling, spiraling Gliding softly

Add to Collection

ABOUT THE POET:

more by Tynea Lewis

Fav orited 8
Rating 4.32
Poetry Forms, Techniques & Structure
Become A Poet - Writing Poetry
Poems with Analysis of Form and Technique

Poem Templates PDF

Fav orited 10

Poem Templates About Animals And Nature

Fav orited 2

Social Studies Poems Using Mentor Texts

Fav orited 5

How To Teach Poetry To Kids With Games And Fun Poems

Fav orited 1
All stories are moderated before being published.
Check Your Spelling or your story will not be published!
Do NOT submit poems here, instead go to the Submit Poem form .

* Indicates required fields

Not published

Between 50 - 1000 Characters

STOP! Did you spell check your submission? Common Mistakes: the word "i" should be capitalized, "u" is not a word, and "im" is spelled "I'm" or "I am".

Help us stop spam

When You Write

Poetry Writing Templates: Tools To Help You Write Your Best Poems

Are you tired of feeling stuck in your poetry writing? Do you find yourself struggling to come up with new ideas or fresh language? Well, fear not! Poetry writing templates may just be the tool you need to take your writing to the next level.

By utilizing the structure and guidelines provided by these templates, you can experiment with different poetic forms and free verse structures, ultimately creating more dynamic and engaging poems.

Whether you consider yourself a seasoned poet or a beginner, these templates can help you improve your craft and inspire new ideas.

So, let’s dive in and explore how poetry writing templates can help you write your best poems yet!

Key Takeaways

Poetry writing templates provide structure and guidelines for different poetic forms, making it easier to stay focused on your message and create a clear and concise theme.
Traditional poetic forms like Sonnets, Haikus, and Villanelles can help structure your poems and create a more impactful message, but require mastery of meter and rhyme scheme.
Contemporary free verse poetry allows for experimentation with form and structure, characterized by its absence of rhyme and meter.
Experimenting with different forms and styles, personalization techniques, and creative prompts can help expand your poetic repertoire and take your poetry to the next level.

Traditional Poetic Forms

If you want to improve your poetry writing skills, it’s time to explore traditional poetic forms like Sonnets, Haikus, and Villanelles. These templates will help you structure your poems and create a more impactful message.

With Sonnets, you can follow the 14-line structure to express your emotions and tell a story.

Haikus, on the other hand, are perfect for capturing a moment in time with just 17 syllables.

Lastly, Villanelles can help you repeat a key message throughout your poem while adding lyrical depth.

You’ll find that sonnets can be a challenging but rewarding form of poetry to master. The sonnet is a 14-line poem that originated in Italy and was popularized by Shakespeare in England.

There are two main types of sonnets: Shakespearean, which follows the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, and Petrarchan, which follows the rhyme scheme ABBA ABBA CDCDCD or CDECDE.

The key to writing a successful sonnet is mastering the meter. Sonnets are typically written in iambic pentameter, which means each line has ten syllables and follows a pattern of unstressed/stressed syllables. However, some poets choose to write sonnets in trochaic tetrameter, which follows a pattern of stressed/unstressed syllables.

Regardless of the meter you choose, writing a sonnet requires skill and practice. But once you’ve mastered this form, you’ll have a powerful tool in your poetic arsenal.

Haikus are the perfect way to capture the essence of a moment in just three short lines, creating vivid and powerful imagery in the reader’s mind.

Nature inspired haikus are particularly powerful as they allow us to connect with the natural world on a deeper level. They can transport us to a serene, peaceful place with just a few words.

Haikus can also be used for emotional expression. They’re a powerful tool to convey complex emotions in a concise and impactful way. Whether it’s joy, sadness, or even anger, haikus can help us express our feelings in a way that’s both beautiful and cathartic.

So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by emotion, try writing a haiku and see how it helps you process those feelings.

Villanelles

Listen closely to the rhythmic repetition of the refrains in villanelles, allowing the words to wrap around you like a warm embrace.

Villanelles are a form of poetry that originated in France and are known for their intricate repetition of lines. It may seem daunting at first, but revisiting villanelles can help you master the form and break tradition by modernizing it.

To start, familiarize yourself with the structure of a villanelle. It consists of 19 lines with a fixed rhyme scheme and two repeating refrains. The first and third lines of the first stanza become the refrain lines, and they alternate as the last line of each subsequent tercet until the final quatrain where they both appear again.

Once you have grasped this, you can start breaking the rules and experimenting with modernizing villanelles. Try using unconventional refrains or changing the rhyme scheme to make it your own.

With some practice and creativity, you can create a fresh and innovative take on this traditional form.

Contemporary Free Verse Structures

If you’re looking for a way to break free from traditional structures, contemporary free verse poetry can be a canvas where your thoughts flow like a river, unencumbered by rhyme and meter. This type of poetry is characterized by its absence of rhyme and meter, which allows the writer to experiment with form and structure.

Contemporary free verse poetry is all about expressing your thoughts and emotions in a way that feels natural to you, without the constraints of a preconceived structure. One popular form of contemporary free verse poetry is blank verse, which is a form of poetry that uses unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter. This structure allows for a natural flow of language and can be used to create a sense of rhythm and musicality in your poetry.

Another popular form of contemporary free verse poetry is concrete poetry, which uses the physical arrangement of the words on the page to create meaning. This type of poetry allows the writer to experiment with the visual aspect of their work, creating a unique and immersive experience for the reader.

So if you’re looking to break free from traditional structures and experiment with new forms of poetry, contemporary free verse structures may be just what you need.

Using Poetry Writing Templates to Improve Your Craft

You’ve been exploring the various contemporary free verse structures and experimenting with different ways to structure your poems.

But have you ever considered using customizable templates to improve your poetry writing? Templates are an excellent tool for streamlining your creative process, providing a structure for your thoughts, and helping you create more polished poems.

Customizable templates allow you to choose the structure that best suits your style and subject matter. You can select the number of stanzas, lines per stanza, and even the rhyme scheme. This gives you a starting point for your poem and helps you avoid the dreaded writer’s block.

Using a template can also help you stay focused on your message, ensuring that your poem has a clear and concise theme. The benefits of structure are numerous, and customizable templates provide an easy and effective way to incorporate it into your poetry writing.

So why not give it a try and see how it can take your poetry to the next level?

Tips for Experimenting with Poetry Writing Templates

Experimenting with customizable structures allows for greater creativity and flexibility in crafting meaningful verses. Creative prompts are a great way to spark inspiration and can be tailored to fit your personal writing style.

By using templates, you can focus on the content of your poem without worrying too much about structure. This will allow you to experiment with different forms and styles that you may not have considered before. Personalization techniques are another way to make a template your own.

Changing the length of lines, syllable count, or even the order of stanzas can completely transform the meaning of a poem. Don’t be afraid to play around with the template until it feels like it truly embodies your voice and message. The beauty of poetry is that there’s no one right way to do it, so don’t be afraid to take risks.

By using customizable structures and personalization techniques, you can push the boundaries of traditional poetry and create something truly unique.

So there you have it, aspiring poets! With the help of poetry writing templates, you can elevate your writing and explore new forms and structures.

From traditional poetic forms to contemporary free verse, there is a template out there to suit every writer’s style and preferences. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different templates and techniques, and remember that writing poetry is all about expressing yourself and your unique voice.

With the right tools and a bit of practice, you can create truly breathtaking and impactful works of art. So go forth and write, and let your imagination run wild.

What Poetry Is

Literary Devices

How to Write a Poem, in 7 Steps

How to write a poem: different approaches and philosophies.

Okay, I Know How to Write a Good Poem. What Next?

It’s important to know what poetry is—and isn’t—before we discuss how to write a poem. The following quote defines poetry nicely:

“Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful.” —Former US Poet Laureate Rita Dove

Poetry Conveys Feeling

People sometimes imagine poetry as stuffy, abstract, and difficult to understand. Some poetry may be this way, but in reality poetry isn’t about being obscure or confusing. Poetry is a lyrical, emotive method of self-expression, using the elements of poetry to highlight feelings and ideas.

A poem should make the reader feel something.

In other words, a poem should make the reader feel something—not by telling them what to feel, but by evoking feeling directly.

Here’s a contemporary poem that, despite its simplicity (or perhaps because of its simplicity), conveys heartfelt emotion.

Poem by Langston Hughes

I loved my friend. He went away from me. There’s nothing more to say. The poem ends, Soft as it began— I loved my friend.

Poetry is Language at its Richest and Most Condensed

Unlike longer prose writing (such as a short story, memoir, or novel), poetry needs to impact the reader in the richest and most condensed way possible. Here’s a famous quote that enforces that distinction:

“Prose: words in their best order; poetry: the best words in the best order.” —Samuel Taylor Coleridge

So poetry isn’t the place to be filling in long backstories or doing leisurely scene-setting. In poetry, every single word carries maximum impact.

Poetry Uses Unique Elements

Poetry is not like other kinds of writing: it has its own unique forms, tools, and principles. Together, these elements of poetry help it to powerfully impact the reader in only a few words.

The elements of poetry help it to powerfully impact the reader in only a few words.

Most poetry is written in verse , rather than prose . This means that it uses line breaks, alongside rhythm or meter, to convey something to the reader. Rather than letting the text break at the end of the page (as prose does), verse emphasizes language through line breaks.

Poetry further accentuates its use of language through rhyme and meter. Poetry has a heightened emphasis on the musicality of language itself: its sounds and rhythms, and the feelings they carry.

These devices—rhyme, meter, and line breaks—are just a few of the essential elements of poetry, which we’ll explore in more depth now.

More About What Poetry Is

Learn more about what poetry is here:

https://writers.com/what-is-poetry

Understanding the Elements of Poetry

As we explore how to write a poem step by step, these three major literary elements of poetry should sit in the back of your mind:

Rhythm (Sound, Rhyme, and Meter)

1. Elements of Poetry: Rhythm

“Rhythm” refers to the lyrical, sonic qualities of the poem. How does the poem move and breathe; how does it feel on the tongue?

Traditionally, poets relied on rhyme and meter to accomplish a rhythmically sound poem. Free verse poems —which are poems that don’t require a specific length, rhyme scheme, or meter—only became popular in the West in the 20th century, so while rhyme and meter aren’t requirements of modern poetry, they are required of certain poetry forms.

Poetry is capable of evoking certain emotions based solely on the sounds it uses. Words can sound sinister, percussive, fluid, cheerful, dour, or any other noise/emotion in the complex tapestry of human feeling.

Take, for example, this excerpt from the poem “Beat! Beat! Drums!” by Walt Whitman:

Red — “b” sounds

Blue — “th” sounds

Green — “w” and “ew” sounds

Purple — “s” sounds

Orange — “d” and “t” sounds

This poem has a lot of percussive, disruptive sounds that reinforce the beating of the drums. The “b,” “d,” “w,” and “t” sounds resemble these drum beats, while the “th” and “s” sounds are sneakier, penetrating a deeper part of the ear. The cacophony of this excerpt might not sound “lyrical,” but it does manage to command your attention, much like drums beating through a city might sound.

To learn more about consonance and assonance, euphony and cacophony, onomatopoeia , and the other uses of sound, take a look at our article “12 Literary Devices in Poetry.”

https://writers.com/literary-devices-in-poetry

It would be a crime if you weren’t primed on the ins and outs of rhymes. “Rhyme” refers to words that have similar pronunciations, like this set of words: sound, hound, browned, pound, found, around.

Many poets assume that their poetry has to rhyme, and it’s true that some poems require a complex rhyme scheme. However, rhyme isn’t nearly as important to poetry as it used to be. Most traditional poetry forms—sonnets, villanelles , rimes royal, etc.—rely on rhyme, but contemporary poetry has largely strayed from the strict rhyme schemes of yesterday.

There are three types of rhymes:

Homophony: Homophones are words that are spelled differently but sound the same, like “tail” and “tale.” Homophones often lead to commonly misspelled words .
Perfect Rhyme: Perfect rhymes are word pairs that are identical in sound except for one minor difference. Examples include “slant and pant,” “great and fate,” and “shower and power.”
Slant Rhyme: Slant rhymes are word pairs that use the same sounds, but their final vowels have different pronunciations. For example, “abut” and “about” are nearly-identical in sound, but are pronounced differently enough that they don’t completely rhyme. This is also known as an oblique rhyme or imperfect rhyme.

Meter refers to the stress patterns of words. Certain poetry forms require that the words in the poem follow a certain stress pattern, meaning some syllables are stressed and others are unstressed.

What is “stressed” and “unstressed”? A stressed syllable is the sound that you emphasize in a word. The bolded syllables in the following words are stressed, and the unbolded syllables are unstressed:

Un• stressed
Plat• i• tud• i•nous
De •act•i• vate
Con• sti •tu• tion•al

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables is important to traditional poetry forms. This chart, copied from our article on form in poetry , summarizes the different stress patterns of poetry.

Meter	Pattern	Example
Iamb	Unstressed–stressed	Ex
Trochee	Stressed–unstressed	ple
Pyrrh	Equally unstressed	Pyrrhic
Spondee	Equally stressed
Dactyl	Stressed–unstressed–unstressed	ener
Anapest	Unstressed–unstressed–stressed	Compre
Amphibrach (rare)	Unstressed–stressed–unstressed	Fla go

2. Elements of Poetry: Form

“Form” refers to the structure of the poem. Is the poem a sonnet , a villanelle, a free verse piece, a slam poem, a contrapuntal, a ghazal , a blackout poem , or something new and experimental?

Form also refers to the line breaks and stanza breaks in a poem. Unlike prose, where the end of the page decides the line breaks, poets have control over when one line ends and a new one begins. The words that begin and end each line will emphasize the sounds, images, and ideas that are important to the poet.

To learn more about rhyme, meter, and poetry forms, read our full article on the topic:

https://writers.com/what-is-form-in-poetry

3. Elements of Poetry: Literary Devices

“Poetry: the best words in the best order.” — Samuel Taylor Coleridge

How does poetry express complex ideas in concise, lyrical language? Literary devices—like metaphor, symbolism , juxtaposition , irony , and hyperbole—help make poetry possible. Learn how to write and master these devices here:

https://writers.com/common-literary-devices

To condense the elements of poetry into an actual poem, we’re going to follow a seven-step approach. However, it’s important to know that every poet’s process is different. While the steps presented here are a logical path to get from idea to finished poem, they’re not the only tried-and-true method of poetry writing. Poets can—and should!—modify these steps and generate their own writing process.

Nonetheless, if you’re new to writing poetry or want to explore a different writing process, try your hand at our approach. Here’s how to write a poem step by step!

1. Devise a Topic

The easiest way to start writing a poem is to begin with a topic.

However, devising a topic is often the hardest part. What should your poem be about? And where can you find ideas?

Here are a few places to search for inspiration:

Other Works of Literature: Poetry doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it’s part of a larger literary tapestry, and can absolutely be influenced by other works. For example, read “The Golden Shovel” by Terrance Hayes , a poem that was inspired by Gwendolyn Brooks’ “We Real Cool.”
Real-World Events: Poetry, especially contemporary poetry, has the power to convey new and transformative ideas about the world. Take the poem “A Cigarette” by Ilya Kaminsky , which finds community in a warzone like the eye of a hurricane.
Your Life: What would poetry be if not a form of memoir? Many contemporary poets have documented their lives in verse. Take Sylvia Plath’s poem “Full Fathom Five” —a daring poem for its time, as few writers so boldly criticized their family as Plath did.
The Everyday and Mundane: Poetry isn’t just about big, earth-shattering events: much can be said about mundane events, too. Take “Ode to Shea Butter” by Angel Nafis , a poem that celebrates the beautiful “everydayness” of moisturizing.
Nature: The Earth has always been a source of inspiration for poets, both today and in antiquity. Take “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver , which finds meaning in nature’s quiet rituals.
Writing Exercises: Prompts and exercises can help spark your creativity, even if the poem you write has nothing to do with the prompt! Here’s 24 writing exercises to get you started.

At this point, you’ve got a topic for your poem. Maybe it’s a topic you’re passionate about, and the words pour from your pen and align themselves into a perfect sonnet! It’s not impossible—most poets have a couple of poems that seemed to write themselves.

However, it’s far more likely you’re searching for the words to talk about this topic. This is where journaling comes in.

Sit in front of a blank piece of paper, with nothing but the topic written on the top. Set a timer for 15-30 minutes and put down all of your thoughts related to the topic. Don’t stop and think for too long, and try not to obsess over finding the right words: what matters here is emotion, the way your subconscious grapples with the topic.

At the end of this journaling session, go back through everything you wrote, and highlight whatever seems important to you: well-written phrases, poignant moments of emotion, even specific words that you want to use in your poem.

Journaling is a low-risk way of exploring your topic without feeling pressured to make it sound poetic. “Sounding poetic” will only leave you with empty language: your journal allows you to speak from the heart. Everything you need for your poem is already inside of you, the journaling process just helps bring it out!

Learn more about keeping a daily journal here:

How to Start Journaling: Practical Advice on How to Journal Daily

3. Think About Form

As one of the elements of poetry, form plays a crucial role in how the poem is both written and read. Have you ever wanted to write a sestina ? How about a contrapuntal, or a double cinquain, or a series of tanka? Your poem can take a multitude of forms, including the beautifully unstructured free verse form; while form can be decided in the editing process, it doesn’t hurt to think about it now.

4. Write the First Line

After a productive journaling session, you’ll be much more acquainted with the state of your heart. You might have a line in your journal that you really want to begin with, or you might want to start fresh and refer back to your journal when you need to! Either way, it’s time to begin.

What should the first line of your poem be? There’s no strict rule here—you don’t have to start your poem with a certain image or literary device. However, here’s a few ways that poets often begin their work:

Set the Scene: Poetry can tell stories just like prose does. Anne Carson does just this in her poem “Lines,” situating the scene in a conversation with the speaker’s mother.
Start at the Conflict : Right away, tell the reader where it hurts most. Margaret Atwood does this in “Ghost Cat,” a poem about aging.
Start With a Contradiction: Juxtaposition and contrast are two powerful tools in the poet’s toolkit. Joan Larkin’s poem “Want” begins and ends with these devices. Carlos Gimenez Smith also begins his poem “Entanglement” with a juxtaposition.
Start With Your Title: Some poets will use the title as their first line, like Ron Padgett’s poem “Ladies and Gentlemen in Outer Space.”

There are many other ways to begin poems, so play around with different literary devices, and when you’re stuck, turn to other poetry for inspiration. You can learn more about starting a poem here:

How to Start a Poem (When You Don’t Know Where to Start)

5. Develop Ideas and Devices

You might not know where your poem is going until you finish writing it. In the meantime, stick to your literary devices. Avoid using too many abstract nouns, develop striking images, use metaphors and similes to strike interesting comparisons, and above all, speak from the heart.

6. Write the Closing Line

Some poems end “full circle,” meaning that the images the poet used in the beginning are reintroduced at the end. Gwendolyn Brooks does this in her poem “my dreams, my work, must wait till after hell.”

Yet, many poets don’t realize what their poems are about until they write the ending line . Poetry is a search for truth, especially the hard truths that aren’t easily explained in casual speech. Your poem, too, might not be finished until it comes across a necessary truth, so write until you strike the heart of what you feel, and the poem will come to its own conclusion.

7. Edit, Edit, Edit!

Do you have a working first draft of your poem? Congratulations! Getting your feelings onto the page is a feat in itself.

Yet, no guide on how to write a poem is complete without a note on editing. If you plan on sharing or publishing your work, or if you simply want to edit your poem to near-perfection, keep these tips in mind.

Adjectives and Adverbs: Use these parts of speech sparingly. Most imagery shouldn’t rely on adjectives and adverbs, because the image should be striking and vivid on its own, without too much help from excess language.
Concrete Line Breaks: Line breaks help emphasize important words, making certain images and themes clearer to the reader. As a general rule, most of your lines should start and end with concrete words—nouns and verbs especially.
Stanza Breaks: Stanzas are like paragraphs to poetry. A stanza can develop a new idea, contrast an existing idea, or signal a transition in the poem’s tone. Make sure each stanza clearly stands for something as a unit of the poem.
Mixed Metaphors: A mixed metaphor is when two metaphors occupy the same idea, making the poem unnecessarily difficult to understand. Here’s an example of a mixed metaphor: “a watched clock never boils.” The meaning can be discerned, but the image remains unclear. Be wary of mixed metaphors—though some poets (like Shakespeare) make them work, they’re tricky and often disruptive.
Abstractions: Above all, avoid using excessively abstract language. It’s fine to use the word “love” 2 or 3 times in a poem, but don’t use it twice in every stanza. Let the imagery in your poem express your feelings and ideas, and only use abstractions as brief connective tissue in otherwise-concrete writing.

Lastly, don’t feel pressured to “do something” with your poem. Not all poems need to be shared and edited. Poetry doesn’t have to be “good,” either—it can simply be a statement of emotions by the poet, for the poet. Publishing is an admirable goal, but also, give yourself permission to write bad poems, unedited poems, abstract poems, and poems with an audience of one. Write for yourself—editing is for the other readers.

Poetry is the oldest literary form, pre-dating prose, theater, and the written word itself. As such, there are many different schools of thought when it comes to writing poetry. You might be wondering how to write a poem through different methods and approaches: here’s four philosophies to get you started.

How to Write a Poem: Poetry as Emotion

If you asked a Romantic Poet “what is poetry?”, they would tell you that poetry is the spontaneous emotion of the soul.

The Romantic Era viewed poetry as an extension of human emotion—a way of perceiving the world through unbridled creativity, centered around the human soul. While many Romantic poets used traditional forms in their poetry, the Romantics weren’t afraid to break from tradition, either.

To write like a Romantic, feel—and feel intensely. The words will follow the emotions, as long as a blank page sits in front of you.

How to Write a Poem: Poetry as Stream of Consciousness

If you asked a Modernist poet, “What is poetry?” they would tell you that poetry is the search for complex truths.

Modernist Poets were keen on the use of poetry as a window into the mind. A common technique of the time was “Stream of Consciousness,” which is unfiltered writing that flows directly from the poet’s inner dialogue. By tapping into one’s subconscious, the poet might uncover deeper truths and emotions they were initially unaware of.

Depending on who you are as a writer, Stream of Consciousness can be tricky to master, but this guide covers the basics of how to write using this technique.

How to Write a Poem: Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a practice of documenting the mind, rather than trying to control or edit what it produces. This practice was popularized by the Beat Poets , who in turn were inspired by Eastern philosophies and Buddhist teachings. If you asked a Beat Poet “what is poetry?”, they would tell you that poetry is the human consciousness, unadulterated.

To learn more about the art of leaving your mind alone , take a look at our guide on Mindfulness, from instructor Marc Olmsted.

https://writers.com/mindful-writing

How to Write a Poem: Poem as Camera Lens

Many contemporary poets use poetry as a camera lens, documenting global events and commenting on both politics and injustice. If you find yourself itching to write poetry about the modern day, press your thumb against the pulse of the world and write what you feel.

Additionally, check out these two essays by Electric Literature on the politics of poetry:

What Can Poetry Do That Politics Can’t?
Why All Poems Are Political (TL;DR: Poetry is an urgent expression of freedom).

Okay, I Know How to Write a Poem. What Next?

Poetry, like all art forms, takes practice and dedication. You might write a poem you enjoy now, and think it’s awfully written 3 years from now; you might also write some of your best work after reading this guide. Poetry is fickle, but the pen lasts forever, so write poems as long as you can!

Once you understand how to write a poem, and after you’ve drafted some pieces that you’re proud of and ready to share, here are some next steps you can take.

Publish in Literary Journals

Want to see your name in print? These literary journals house some of the best poetry being published today.

https://writers.com/best-places-submit-poetry-online

Assemble and Publish a Manuscript

A poem can tell a story. So can a collection of poems. If you’re interested in publishing a poetry book, learn how to compose and format one here:

https://writers.com/poetry-manuscript-format

How to Write a Poem: Join a Writing Community

Writers.com is an online community of writers, and we’d love it if you shared your poetry with us! Join us on Facebook and check out our upcoming poetry courses .

Poetry doesn’t exist in a vacuum, it exists to educate and uplift society. The world is waiting for your voice, so find a group and share your work!

Sean Glatch

39 comments.

super useful! love these articles 💕

Finally found a helpful guide on Poetry’. For many year, I have written and filed numerous inspired pieces from experiences and moment’s of epiphany. Finally, looking forward to convertinb to ‘poetry format’. THANK YOU, KINDLY. 🙏🏾

Indeed, very helpful, consize. I could not say more than thank you.

I’ve never read a better guide on how to write poetry step by step. Not only does it give great tips, but it also provides helpful links! Thank you so much.

Thank you very much, Hamna! I’m so glad this guide was helpful for you.

Best guide so far

hey can you help me with my poems

Very inspirational and marvelous tips

Thank you super tips very helpful.

I have never gone through the steps of writing poetry like this, I will take a closer look at your post.

Beautiful! Thank you! I’m really excited to try journaling as a starter step x

[…] How to Write a Poem, Step-by-Step […]

This is really helpful, thanks so much

Extremely thorough! Nice job.

Thank you so much for sharing your awesome tips for beginner writers!

People must reboot this and bookmark it. Your writing and explanation is detailed to the core. Thanks for helping me understand different poetic elements. While reading, actually, I start thinking about how my husband construct his songs and why other artists lack that organization (or desire to be better). Anyway, this gave me clarity.

I’m starting to use poetry as an outlet for my blogs, but I also have to keep in mind I’m transitioning from a blogger to a poetic sweet kitty potato (ha). It’s a unique transition, but I’m so used to writing a lot, it’s strange to see an open blog post with a lot of lines and few paragraphs.

Anyway, thanks again!

I’m happy this article was so helpful, Eternity! Thanks for commenting, and best of luck with your poetry blog.

Yours in verse, Sean

One of the best articles I read on how to write poems. And it is totally step by step process which is easy to read and understand.

Thanks for the step step explanation in how to write poems it’s a very helpful to me and also for everyone one. THANKYOU

Totally detailed and in a simple language told the best way how to write poems. It is a guide that one should read and follow. It gives the detailed guidance about how to write poems. One of the best articles written on how to write poems.

what a guidance thank you so much now i can write a poem thank you again again and again

The most inspirational and informative article I have ever read in the 21st century.It gives the most relevent,practical, comprehensive and effective insights and guides to aspiring writers.

Thank you so much. This is so useful to me a poetry

[…] Write a short story/poem (Here are some tips) […]

It was very helpful and am willing to try it out for my writing Thanks ❤️

Thank you so much. This is so helpful to me, and am willing to try it out for my writing .

Absolutely constructive, direct, and so useful as I’m striving to develop a recent piece. Thank you!

thank you for your explanation……,love it

Really great. Nothing less.

I can’t thank you enough for this, it touched my heart, this was such an encouraging article and I thank you deeply from my heart, I needed to read this.

great teaching Did not know all that in poetry writing

This was very useful! Thank you for writing this.

After reading a Charles Bukowski poem, “My Cats,” I found you piece here after doing a search on poetry writing format. Your article is wonderful as is your side article on journaling. I want to dig into both and give it another go another after writing poetry when I was at university. Thank you!

Thanks for reading, Vicki! Let us know how we can support your writing journey. 🙂

Thank you for the nice and informative post. This article truly offers a lot more details about this topic.

Very useful information. I’m glad to see you discussed rhyming, too. I was in the perhaps mistaken idea that rhyming is frowned upon in contemporary poems.

Thanks alot this highly needed for a starter like me

Thanks for this Beautiful 🌹 step by step piece. As I dive into learning how to write poems I will probably find them helpful and refer to them later on again when needed. Thanks♥️

How to Write a Poem: In 7 Practical Steps with Examples

Learn how to write a poem through seven easy to follow steps that will guide you through writing completed poem. Ignite a passion for poetry!

This article is a practical guide for writing a poem, and the purpose is to help you write a poem! By completing the seven steps below, you will create the first draft of a simple poem. You can go on to refine your poetry in any way you like. The important thing is that you’ve got a poem under your belt.

At the bottom of the post, I’ll provide more resources on writing poetry. I encourage you to explore different forms and structures and continue writing poetry on your own. Hopefully, writing a poem will spark, in you, a passion for creative writing and language.

Let’s get started with writing a poem in seven simple steps:

Brainstorm & Free-write
Develop a theme
Create an extended metaphor
Add figurative language
Plan your structure
Write your first draft
Read, re-read & edit

Now we’ll go into each step in-depth. And, if your feeling up to it, you can plan and write your poem as we go.

Step 1: Brainstorm and Free-write

Find what you want to write about

Before you begin writing, you need to choose a subject to write about. For our purposes, you’ll want to select a specific topic. Later, you’ll be drawing a comparison between this subject and something else.

When choosing a subject, you’ll want to write about something you feel passionately about. Your topic can be something you love, like a person, place, or thing. A subject can also be something you struggle with . Don’t get bogged down by all the options; pick something. Poets have written about topics like:

And of course… cats

Once you have your subject in mind, you’re going to begin freewriting about that subject. Let’s say you picked your pet iguana as your subject. Get out a sheet of paper or open a word processor. Start writing everything that comes to mind about that subject. You could write about your iguana’s name, the color of their skin, the texture of their scales, how they make you feel, a metaphor that comes to mind. Nothing is off-limits.

Write anything that comes to mind about your subject. Keep writing until you’ve entirely exhausted everything you have to say about the subject. Or, set a timer for several minutes and write until it goes off. Don’t worry about things like spelling, grammar, form, or structure. For now, you want to get all your thoughts down on paper.

ACTION STEPS:

Grab a scratch paper, or open a word processor
Pick a subject- something you’re passionate about
Write everything that comes to mind about your topic without editing or structuring your writing
Make sure this free-writing is uninterrupted
Optional- set a timer and write continuously for 5 or 10 minutes about your subject

Step 2: Develop a Theme

What lesson do you want to teach?

Poetry often has a theme or a message the poet would like to convey to the reader. Developing a theme will give your writing purpose and focus your effort. Look back at your freewriting and see if a theme, or lesson, has developed naturally, one that you can refine.

Maybe, in writing about your iguana, you noticed that you talked about your love for animals and the need to preserve the environment. Or, perhaps you talk about how to care for a reptile pet. Your theme does not need to be groundbreaking. A theme only needs to be a message that you would like to convey.

Now, what is your theme? Finish the following statement:

The lesson I want to teach my readers about (your subject) is ______

Ex. I want to teach my readers that spring days are lovely and best enjoyed with loving companions or family.

Read over the product of your free-writing exercise.
Brainstorm a lesson you would like to teach readers about your subject.
Decide on one thing that is essential for your reader to know about your topic.
Finish the sentence stem above.

Step 3: Create an (extended) Metaphor

Compare your subject to another, unlike thing.

To write this poem, you will compare your subject to something it, seemingly, has nothing in common with. When you directly compare two, unlike things, you’re using a form of figurative language called a metaphor. But, we’re going to take this metaphor and extend it over one or two stanzas- Stanzas are like paragraphs, a block of text in a poem- Doing this will create an extended metaphor.

Using a metaphor will reinforce your theme by making your poem memorable for your reader. Keep that in mind when you’re choosing the thing you’d like to compare your subject to. Suppose your topic is pet iguanas, and your theme is that they make fantastic pets. In that case, you’ll want to compare iguanas to something positive. Maybe you compare them to sunshine or a calm lake. This metaphor does the work or conveying your poem’s central message.

Identify something that is, seemingly, unlike your subject that you’ll use to compare.
On a piece of paper, make two lists or a Venn diagram.
Write down all the ways that you’re subject and the thing you’ll compare it to are alike.
Also, write down all the ways they are unalike.
Try and make both lists as comprehensive as possible.

Step 4: Add more Figurative Language

Make your writing sound poetic.

Figurative language is a blanket term that describes several techniques used to impart meaning through words. Figurative language is usually colorful and evocative. We’ve talked about one form of figurative language already- metaphor and extended metaphor. But, here are a few others you can choose from.

This list is, by no means, a comprehensive one. There are many other forms of figurative language for you to research. I’ll link a resource at the bottom of this page.

Five types of figurative language:

Ex. Frank was as giddy as a schoolgirl to find a twenty-dollar bill in his pocket.
Frank’s car engine whined with exhaustion as he drove up the hill.
Frank was so hungry he could eat an entire horse.
Nearing the age of eighty-five, Frank felt as old as Methuselah.
Frank fretted as he frantically searched his forlorn apartment for a missing Ficus tree.

There are many other types of figurative language, but those are a few common ones. Pick two of the five I’ve listed to include in your poem. Use more if you like, but you only need two for your current poem.

Choose two of the types of figurative language listed above
Brainstorm ways they can fit into a poem
Create example sentences for the two forms of figurative language you chose

Step 5: Plan your Structure

How do you want your poem to sound and look?

If you want to start quickly, then you can choose to write a free-verse poem. Free verse poems are poems that have no rhyme scheme, meter, or structure. In a free verse poem, you’re free to write unrestricted. If you’d like to explore free verse poetry, you can read my article on how to write a prose poem, which is a type of free verse poem.

Step 6: Write Your Poem

Combine your figurative language, extended metaphor, and structure.

Poetry is always unique to the writer. And, when it comes to poetry, the “rules” are flexible. In 1965 a young poet named Aram Saroyan wrote a poem called lighght. It goes like this-

That’s it. Saroyan was paid $750 for his poem. You may or may not believe that’s poetry, but a lot of people accept it as just that. My point is, write the poem that comes to you. I won’t give you a strict set of guidelines to follow when creating your poetry. But, here are a few things to consider that might help guide you:

Compare your subject to something else by creating an extended metaphor
Try to relate a theme or a simple lesson for your reader
Use at least two of the figurative language techniques from above
Create a meter or rhyme scheme (if you’re up to it)
Write at least two stanzas and use a line break

Still, need some help? Here are two well-known poems that are classic examples of an extended metaphor. Read over them, determine what two, unlike things, are being compared, and for what purpose? What theme is the poet trying to convey? What techniques can you steal? (it’s the sincerest form of flattery)

“Hope” is a thing with feathers by Emily Dickenson.

“The Rose that Grew From Concrete” by Tupac Shakur.

Write the first draft of your poem.
Don’t stress. Just get the poem on paper.

Step 7: Read, Re-read, Edit

Read your poem, and edit for clarity and focus .

When you’re finished, read over your poem. Do this out loud to get a feel for the poem’s rhythm. Have a friend or peer read your poem, edit for grammar and spelling. You can also stretch grammar rules, but do it with a purpose.

You can also ask your editor what they think the theme is to determine if you’ve communicated it well enough.

Now you can rewrite your poem. And, remember, all writing is rewriting. This editing process will longer than it did to write your first draft.

Re-read your poem out loud.
Find a trusted friend to read over your poem.
Be open to critique, new ideas, and unique perspectives.
Edit for mistakes or style.

Use this image on your blog, Google classroom, or Canvas page by right-clicking for the embed code. Look for this </> symbol to embed the image on your page.

Continued reading on Poetry

A Poetry Handbook

“With passion, wit, and good common sense, the celebrated poet Mary Oliver tells of the basic ways a poem is built—meter and rhyme, form and diction, sound and sense. She talks of iambs and trochees, couplets and sonnets, and how and why this should matter to anyone writing or reading poetry.”

Masterclass.com- Poetry 101: What is Meter?

Poetry Foundation- You Call That Poetry?!

This post contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links

Published by John

View all posts by John

6 comments on “How to Write a Poem: In 7 Practical Steps with Examples”

Pingback: Haiku Format: How to write a haiku in three steps - The Art of Narrative
Pingback: How to Write a List Poem: A Step by Step Guide - The Art of Narrative
Pingback: How to Write an Acrostic Poem: Tips & Examples - The Art of Narrative
Pingback: List of 10+ how to write a good poem

No problem!

Discover more from The Art of Narrative

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Poetry Pop Poetry Blog

Put a pop of poetry in your day.

How to write a “Where I’m from” Poem (with template)

The poem, Where I’m From by George Ella Lyons is powerful! It is a literary snapshot of the poet’s most memorable images of her childhood. Through her text, she takes the reader on a journey to show them who she was as a child and who she is today. Educators, activists, psychologists, and others have used Ms. Lyons’ poem as a writing exercise for all ages. Let’s have some fun with it!

The Original Poem

Here is the original Where I’m From poem by teacher, poet, and author, George Ella Lyons. You can learn more about Ms. Lyons, her poetry, books, presentations, and a collaborative Where I’m From Project that aims to stamp out hate on her website here: George Ella Lyons .

Here’s my attempt

Now it’s your turn.

You can use the template below if you want a little help writing a Where I’m From poem. This interactive template walks you through the lines of a Where I’m from poem through prompts. Easy-peasy!

Just fill in the form with your words; when finished, the interactive template will put your words into a poem format for you (or you can retype it in the original format as I did). Try to use details and expand on the prompted words with descriptions. Dig deep and really let your reader know where you are from. When you get to the bottom of the template—just click “create.” But don’t worry; you’ll have a chance to make changes if needed (use the back arrow in your web browser, make changes, and click “create” again).

tHANKS FOR POPPING IN

I love comments! Please let me know if you enjoyed this writing exercise. And Follow the blog for a weekly pop of poetry. Next week we will have fun with #pandemicpoetry (haiku), one of my favorite forms.

Sharing is caring. likes are nice 🙂

If you enjoy Poetry Pop, please spread the word and share the love with the like and share buttons below.

Here’s a visual example of the template. You can download the full, interactive template here: I Am From Poem – Freeology

Share the love

Share on Tumblr

13 thoughts on “ How to write a “Where I’m from” Poem (with template) ”

Pingback: Best 12 where i am from poem – aldenlibrary.org
Pingback: Where I’m from… – A front porch view

Wow I just had to do this for my Diverse populations class. Thank you for uploading the template to use as well. I’m thinking about adding mine later to my site.

You’re very welcome! I’m happy you enjoyed it! 🙂

Thank you so much <3

Thanks so much!

just made my poem😅

Just Made my poem and im loving it😅😅😅

Hooray! This is such a powerful form! So happy you were inspired!

Thanks so much! It’s such fun to write this form of poetry 🙂