Writing that (Almost) Perfect Poem Using Imagery

Well-written poems contain certain elements with imagery, imagination, and vision at the top of the list. Even knowing the complete list, though, does not mean every poem will have all the elements of image and discourse, rhythm, effective line breaks, figures of speech (also known as poetic devices), word music, and formal structures. In fact a good poem may have one or two as major strengths and perhaps some of the others to supplement and complement the major element or elements.

However, imagery is a major component of any poetry. Through words, our senses experience a vivid, sensuous reaction. We need to use more than visual images, even though they are the most found in writing. Well-written poetry evokes smell, touch, sound, and/or taste. In other words, “show, don’t tell” is a common rule of poetry writing.

One way to develop the ability to create imagery, creating pictures out of words, comes from developing our imaginations. If we can first learn how to “see” in our minds what we want to share, writing that mental image becomes easier. Playing with senses, scenes, moods, questions, concepts, and faces in our minds and with our words frees our imaginations and allows them to fly, to soar. Writing lists of words that go with an idea wanted in a poem gives us starting points and threads to weave into the image. This list should include words dealing with most of the senses, if not all. Using free association (writing words that pop into our minds) helps us to free ourselves from preconceptions, firing up our imagination.

Play with the ideas and words, creating a tapestry of words to tickle the minds and imaginations of readers. One thing we need to do, too, is keep our images concrete, not abstract. Saying something is beautiful doesn’t “show” us how or why it should be considered beautiful. Giving the item color, texture, shape, and other sensory details gives the reader an idea of what beauty is.

Poetry should appear differently on the page or computer screen than paragraphs of prose. We need to use the thoughts and “threads” to prepare our poems.

Once ideas are listed, played with, and arranged artfully, we need to put the fledgling poem aside for a few days. Later we can see the poem with fresh eyes and decide to polish some more or give it a public debut.

Vivian Gilbert Zabel taught writing for twenty-five years, honing her skills as she studied and taught. An author on Writers (http://www.Writing.Com/), her portfolio can be found at http://www.Writing.Com/authors/vzabel Her books, Hidden Lies and Other Stories, Walking the Earth, and The Base Stealers Club, can be found through book stores or Amazon.com.