Tutorial: How to Write a Poem?

Welcome! Soon to be POET. This is my attempt to guide you to make your first POEM but let me tell you that I am not a Literature expert nor am I an established writer although in my own rights I can say that I know a bit or enough about poetry.

What I'm about to share is the simplest way or technique in making/writing a poem (Not necessarily mean a poem with all those meters or of those with stressed words and others such parameters) that I am using in coming up with prose, verses or poems that you can read on this POEMS on LIFE, POEMS on LOVE. And to any Poetry experts that may come across and see this tutorial, leniency I seek.

OK then, let's start.

What do you want to write about? I guess most poets started with love as their main theme like me 19 years ago. I have a crush on someone at school but I'm too afraid to ask her to come with me on a date so I made a poem instead then rest is history. But this is not about me..It's about you.

So I would assume that you like to write about how you feel for someone special. School is a common place where young hearts meet. You can start by telling how or when did you first saw that someone. it can go something like this.

I am running late for class
desperately on a rush

This can be your opening 2 lines which is called couplet.. A cause and effect declaration of some sort.

Running on the corridor
I bumped into this pretty girl

another couplet, put them together you'll have a stanza

I am running late for class
desperately on a rush
Running on the corridor
I bumped into this pretty girl

Now you have somewhat made a point of where this is leading. Think of things that can best describe her besides pretty or beautiful, use metaphors. Compare her with flowers but that is over-used, think of something else. Just make another couplet and another to describe her more.

How about?

Her smell is that of spring
almost made me sing

Tell about her reaction, it's just like telling a story in a special way,

She looked at my face
smiled, somewhat amazed

We have 2 stanzas and the reader at this stage knows what the story is about.

I am running late for class
desperately on a rush
Running on the corridor
I bumped into this pretty girl

Her smell is that of spring
almost made me sing
She looked at my face
smiled, somewhat amazed

Let's continue:

I uttered, I am sorry
She replied, don't worry

You can go on with your story just continue the process but at this point you must know how to end it. The next couplet should be a prelude to your final stanza to make a good ending. Four stanzas is an ideal size but if you think it may not be enough, you can go the distance.

Going back:

She left me with a nod
see you later, she said

Now we have 3 stanzas, one more and we're good.

I am running late for class
desperately on a rush
Running on the corridor
I bumped into this pretty girl

Her smell is that of spring
almost made me sing
She looked at my face
smiled, somewhat amazed

I uttered, I am sorry
She replied, don't worry
She left me with a nod
see you later, she said

Still stunned, I just stared
If I could have just waved
The bell rang, I lost her
I should have done better

This poem rhymes as it is more fun to read Rhyming Poems but there is what they call Free Verse.

You can try now and create your own masterpiece. You can post your questions as comments below.