How to Write Love Poems

Go where love leads

Love has a multiplicity, complexity and diversity of expression found in love poems.

"How can I write love poems?" an aspiring love poet might ask.

How to write love poems is a question that true love poets don't need to ask. They just write. Many of them prefer not to divulge the 'how to write' aspects of their love poetry, because they would rather write love poetry, than write about it.

Here are some guidelines on how to write love poems.

Focus on the topic of love.

Focusing on the topic of love and only on love is important for a poet who aspires to write love poems.

For example, if a poet chooses to write about his or her love for horses, then it is not appropriate to focus on the beauty of the mountains. The beauty of the mountains might fit into the poem somewhere, but the primary focus should be on the love for horses.

Portray the fragility of love.

Love is a fragile commodity that cannot be bought or sold. Everyone needs love. The fragility of love allows room for tenderness, compassion and mercy which every reader desires to have in his or her life. The moment that a poet opens that doorway, the reader is enticed to read on. It is as if his or her heart finds something that he or she has been wanting, needing or seeking. Thus, portraying the fragility of love in love poetry, becomes an effective mode of expression and communication.

For example, a piece of poetry entitled "Hungry Child" has the potential of awakening love and its future implications, with respect to the reader's love for children, everywhere. The inspired reader may choose to act according to his or her capacity to love and demonstrate that love in terms of compassion, by feeding hungry children.

Manifest the strength of love.

Part of the strength of love has to do with its inherent power. Love is extremely potent in its own way. Trying to find the best way to express that power can challenge to the love poet. Love can be covered over, but it can never be erased. Perhaps that is one of love's secrets and it is what allows love poetry to dimino and stand the test of time. So, when writing love poetry, use imagery that manifests its strengths. The reader will grasp its strengths and cling to them, as he or she clings to life itself, by a lifeline.

For example, consider writing a poem about love and its manifestations from generation to generation. Every person can relate to that, either in terms of its presence or its absence. Love binds the generation and bridges the generational gap. Love is the lifeline, even when it seems to be only a thread.

Awaken love within the reader.

Every reader of poetry has love within himself or herself, though he or she may not realize that reality. What is needed by the reader is an awakening of that love, from deep within his or her heart. The words a love poet writes have the same kind of inherent potential that a smoldering spark has, even while it lies dormant in the ashes of life. Once the flame of love is kindled, the fire will grow. Fanning that flame and fueling the fire is important.

For example, write about the bright side of love, in contrast to its dark side. Which one will rise to the surface? Of course, it will be the one that the love poet depicts as being awakened.

Light rises; darkness falls.
Love wins; hate loses.

Reveal love's vulnerability.

Opening the door of hospitality to strangers with your poem, reveals love's most vulnerable side. It allows room for the dark side of humanity to be at its worst, but the interaction of the black and white allows for the possibility of color in your poetry.

For example, consider the following piece of poetry:

Love says,
"Come to me,"
Man answers,
"No, I am afraid."
He turns his back on love.
"I will always love you."

This piece of poetry invites a total stranger to come. What happens? This could turn into the most perfect love poem ever written. Or, it could result in a total disaster, as love is rejected. Love exposes the critical element of vulnerability in this love poem. Rejection is the hardest thing of all for man to deal with, but is man rejected by love? No, man rejects love's invitation. The color that lives on depends upon the interpretation of the reader.

Let your imagery sparkle.

Love poetry has imagery constituted of mere words. Vibrant, colorful words can be used in a way that transforms the darkness of the blackest night into an amazing scenario, with the power to surpass the most vivid imagination.

For example, if you are writing love poetry that has stars in it, let them the most wonderful, magnificent stars that you can possibly imagine. "Omnipotent Star of Beauty" would be a good title to write on, or "The Epitome of Love".

Following these guidelines will help you, as a love poet, to enhance your love poetry. Go where love leads and celebrate its multiplicity, complexity and diversity of expression. You can succeed as a love poet.

How to Teach Poetry to Kids

Anna wanna kondo bondo

Teaching poetry to children is fun. Consider these three factors first, if you are serious about wanting to teach poetry to them, in a way that they learn and have fun, at the same time.

If you relate well to children, teaching poetry to them, can be a wonderful experience for both you and them as most children love poetry. If the children know that you love them, even if they think that they don't like poetry, they will respond to you and to the poetry that you teach them, in a more positive manner. If children know that you love poetry, they will learn to love it, too.

Here are tips on how to teach poetry to children.

Use numbers

Using numbers to teach poetry to children, will help them to learn how to count.

For example, consider the following new piece of poetry and add your own verses. Go up to the number ten.

One little monkey,
Sitting in a tree,
"Where are all the others?"
"See! See! See!"

Use nonsense words

Nonsense words (or non-sense words) don't have to mean anything to children. For some reason they love them, especially when the words have rhythm or rhyme.

For example, a three year old autistic child, after hearing nursery rhymes recited, suddenly burst out with these words. They did not make any sense, even to his Japanese mother. Cutting out figures of four little people from paper and assigning these names to them, delighted him. Children do hear poetry, even if they do not appear to respond to it. He responded to the rhythm and rhyme and created his own non-sense poem.

"Anna
Wanna
Kondo
Bondo"

Use group interaction

Using group interaction helps children to learn poetry and teaches them how to interact together.

For example, do you remember the poem entitled, "Ring Around The Rosie" and the actions that went with it? Try them, just for fun, with a group of children.

"Ring around the rosy;
Pocket full of posy.
Hush-a, hush-a.
All fall down." (Author unknown)

Use music

Singing helps children learn poetry. Sing something to them and they will try to sing it back to you. Or, sing part of a song and let them sing a response. Sing together, whenever you have an opportunity to do so.

For example, sing the song "Happy Birthday", as you celebrate your child's birthday (or your own), with them. Or, write your own little poem and use that melody. Encourage children to do the same thing.

Use pictures

Teaching children poetry with pictures is an excellent way for them to learn. Ask them if they remember a nursery rhyme. Pictures help children to remember words and rhymes, like the names of birds and animals. They can also learn other lessons from poetry associated with pictures.

For example, consider what a picture of an owl and this piece of poetry might mean to them, over the years. 

“The wise old owl sat on an oak.

The more he saw, the less he spoke.
The less he spoke, the more he heard.
Why can't we all be like that bird?”  (Author unknown)

Learning involves listening, too.

Use action

Using action when teaching children poetry, reinforces the fun part of poetry. Children love activity. Using up some of their energy, in conjunction with action poetry, allows them to concentrate on other things.

For example, consider the actions in this old nursery rhyme.

“Itsy, bitsy spider went up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the itsy, bitsy spider went up the spout again.” (Author unknown)

Use stories

Using stories to teach children poetry can be fun, especially when you create one of your own.

Consider this new piece of poetry and the story line in it.

There once was a puppy that would not sup.
The first little child fed him from a cup.
The next little child scolded him, "Bad pup!"
The third child said, "I know just what to do!"
He held him tight and told him "I love you!"
The sweet, little puppy ate it all up.

Use poetry with one-to-one interaction

Some children learn poetry more easily when they are taught on a one-to-one basis. Try using this old nursery rhyme, with the activity indicated in the poem.

“One, two, buckle my shoe;
Three, four; open the door.
Five, six, lay some sticks.
Seven, eight, lay them straight.
Nine, ten; do it again.” (Author unknown)

There are many other ways to teach children poetry, but doing these things will help children to learn poetry and allow them to have fun, at the same time.

How to Write Effective Poetry for Kids

Frog to prince transition

Children love poetry, especially when it shows them how much they are loved. Writing poetry for children of any age can be fun, but writing effective poetry for them can be hard work, especially for a poet, who has never spent time time with children and may not understand how they think or feel.

Think back to your own childhood experience with poetry.

What did you consider to be effective poetry?

The word effective, used in this context, refers to that which brings about or results in something desired as a goal, that has been decided upon ahead of time. It is decisive in nature, as the decision about its true purpose has been made.

For example, a poet wants to use his or her poetry to help children learn about life.

Explore some of the important elements to consider, in regard to writing effective poetry for children, with this goal in mind.

Fact

Fact offers a vast amount of heart and head knowledge that can be incorporated into children's poetry.

For example, teaching children about space ships and outer space with poetry, can be a wonderful experience for them and lead them into a realm of new, head knowledge they might not encounter, otherwise. 

Try writing a poem called, "Flying Space Ships," based upon scientific facts alone. Or, write a poem that requires heart knowledge, by focusing on the love of other children. Start with a title like "My Best Friend in the Whole World".

Fantasy

Taking the facts about spaceships into the realm of fantasy in children's poetry, can help them to realize that there is a difference between fact and fantasy. Fantasy is a play world, where the world of outer space discovery is a reality, in our era. Children need to know the difference between the two realms.

For example, begin a new series of poems that begin with the line, "When I was in the space station," and see where it leads you in the world of children's fantasy poetry. Children love to create their own fantasies and you may still be a child, at heart.

Fiction

Entering the realm of fictional poetry for children, discloses another world of discovery for them. Fiction allows the telling of a story, in the form of children's poetry.

For example, develop new, fictional characters you can put into a new children's poem, like "Space Monkey" and "Anti Gravity". See where that leads.

Folklore

Folklore builds upon traditions, beliefs and values passed down from one generation to the next, over the centuries. Putting folklore into poetry brings another literary dimension into reality. Children need to learn this, in order to understand other people around them.

For example, do some research on "The Very First Santa Claus" and write a cultural poem for children based upon your research into different Christmas traditions, around the world.

Frog to prince transition

Children's poetry, in the magical realm of miraculous discovery, opens a world of delight for them. Children love the unexpected, magical events that happen in this kind of poetry. They do not necessarily want an analysis of it. Instead, they accept the transition and enjoy its elements of wonder and surprise.

For example, find something in your everyday world that children can relate to, with respect to a miraculous transition that happened in your own life. Start with a title like "Freckle Face, The Frog". Frogs can be loved, even before they change to princes. A child with red hair and freckles can learn that he or she is loved, in a magical way. Remember that children are trying to figure out how to grow up successfully.

Fun

Probably one of the most important elements in children's poetry is fun. Regardless of the age of a child, if poetry is fun to read, rather than hard work, it becomes enjoyable to them. The rhythm and rhyme leads them into its musicality. A child learns as he or she sings.

For example, try writing a new children's song starting or ending with the last line, "And I knew it all the time!"

Taking all of these aspects into consideration will lead towards writing more effective children's poetry.

Remember that while the hearts and minds of children can be receptive to your creativity, they are tender and vulnerable. The most effective element in children's poetry is love. When a child knows he or she is loved, then one can suggest that the poet has written effective poetry for children.

What Makes a Good Love Teen Poem?

At least a million things could make a good teen love poem

If you were to ask a teenager, "What makes a good teen love poem?" the teenager might look at you, from his or her own unique perspective and tell you that there are at least a million things, that you could not possibly relate to, because you are not a teenager.

"You'd never understand," he or she might say, with a sheepish grin and then, quickly walk away.

In actual fact, there is a certain amount of truth in that statement, but in reality, you were a teenager at one time too, so you can figure out what makes a good, teen love poem, because you have been there and done that. Maybe you still are a teen, at heart.

A good teen love poem could contain some of the following elements.

Love from a teenager's perspective

Teen years represent a time that can be wonderful and exciting for some teenagers. For others, these years are not as easy. Teenagers are trying to figure out how to grow up and growing up is hard to do. Teenage love can be confusing. Teenage girls tend to adjust easier than teenage boys, because they mature earlier. They seem to understand teen love better than most boys, whose hormones can run rampant, at times.

How does one bring this into a teen love poem?

Love from a teen perspective, can be all the way from tender puppy love to complete infatuation, with a more serious bent towards marriage. Love or the lack thereof, is something that teens can relate to, so a good teen love poem should include love, with all of its potential for the expression of joy and sorrow.

Many teens feel they are not loved, for many different reasons, so resolving some of their conflicts through poetry, could prove to be beneficial. What every teen needs is to know that he or she is loved. 

For example, "Just know that you are loved!" would be an excellent line, to include in a love poem for teens.

A realistic topic that pertains to teens

Many teenagers feel that things going on around them, do not pertain to their world. Other teenagers are concerned about what is happening to others and major world issues. The vast majority are concerned about their future.

With respect to love poetry, introducing topics that teens can relate to, will help them to understand and to deal with their continually changing world. Remember that the question of how to cope with change is something that needs to be learned and it can be expressed in teen love poetry.

For example, a piece of love poetry entitled "Love the World of Tomorrow" might be something that teenagers can relate to realistically, because it includes them too.

A set of values that makes sense to them

Adult values do not always make sense to teenagers. Teens are confronted with values that appear to be in total opposition to ideal values they have been taught. As a result, many teens feel disillusioned. For example, they might find one set of values taught at school and another set of conflicting values, practiced in their homes or in businesses, where they find employment.

Introducing values that make sense to them, through love poetry written just for them, will help them to understand some of the conflicts that they are facing, in the world of today.

For example, it is difficult for a teenager to comprehend how two adults can have conflicting values and love one another. The last line in a love poem might state, "World's apart, but love still reigns."

Current teenage thoughts, ideas, trends and language

It is not always possible for adults to stay in touch with current thoughts, ideas, trends and language of teenagers. Sometimes that appears impossible. All of these can change overnight.

Spending time with teenagers can help a poet to learn their language. Incorporating this aspect of their world into love poetry written specifically for them, will help them to relate to others.

For example, imagine the reality of teens sharing their love via voice mail. Work that into a piece of love poetry for teens.

Playful, thoughtful, exciting, intriguing, fun and funky 'stuff' for teens

In many ways, teenagers are children, who are just bigger and older, but inwardly, they still have the desire for stuff that is playful, thoughtful, exciting, intriguing and most of all fun and funky, for them. Incorporating some of that into love poetry, reveals the reality to them, that at heart, you are still a child at heart, too.

Try writing a piece of love poetry, for a teenage girl or boy, that has a repeating line that says, "Love that stuff!" 

Mix and match wildly coordinating words 

If you look at how teenagers dress, you will find the whole gamut of the wild and the wonderful, mixed and matched in a wildly coordinating way, that may or may not make a whole lot of sense to adults. It might not make sense to them either, but everyone else is doing it, so why not.

Doing the same thing with words in poetry or in poetic imagery, can help them to see that wild and wonderful is all right and so are they.

Action packed musicality, rhythm and rhyme

Looking at teenagers everywhere, one sees a whole collection of teens who are on the go, full of movement and activity, swinging with the rhythms of the musicality of the day. Action packed musicality, is essential in a good teen love poem.

Love sings; so do teenagers. Remember that teenagers have high energy levels and need to have that reflected in their love poetry.

There are at least a million things that can be incorporated into teen love poetry, but a love poem focusing on these things, will likely be considered a good love poem, by a teenager.

A Look at the Best Love Poems Ever Written

Love has a complexity, multiplicity and diversity of expression

A look at the best love poems ever written triggers the question, "What does love poetry signify for the contemporary era? To this question, one might only respond, "Love has a complexity, multiplicity and diversity of expression."

At best, each and every love poet throughout the entire course of history, has been given only a fragment of love's expression, to share in the form of poetry.

Here are some facts to take into consideration.

No single love poet can ever claim the exclusive title of love poet.
No single love poet can claim to have ever written the best love poem in the world.
No single love poet has ever written love poetry, that contains all there is to know about love.

This is all good, but where exactly does this leave the contemporary love poet?

The contemporary love poet is in the best position of all poets.

"Why is that?"

The horizon for future love poetry has not been closed. There is still room for further expression of love, in the form of love poetry.

Look briefly at some of the characteristics of the best love poems ever written.

The best love poems ever written express love in a way that reveals the reality that love, as a topic for poetry, has actually diminoed. In other words, it has stood the test of time, even while poetry written on other diverse topics, has fallen by the wayside, like dominoes that lean upon one another. When the first one falls, the rest all follow suit. A dimino, on the other hand, comes into existence from what appears to be non-existence. Love poetry, as a dimino, stands alone.

The best love poems ever written reveal love in its complexity, multiplicity and diversity of expression.

In other words, there are two identical love poems. Historically, each one that has survived the test of time, has stood, based upon its own merit. It is totally unique, in itself. Perhaps in some way, each poem acts as a stepping stone, for the next one.

The best love poems ever written show the true reality of love, as they do not depict pseudo-love or false love. They depict the true nature of love and may expose pseudo-love, in some way.

The best love poems ever written show a degree of revelation that some consider divine. Others attempt to negate its divinity. Love allows itself to be revealed in love poetry.

The best love poems ever written magnify love, rather than the love poet. In fact, some of the best love poems ever written, have unknown authorship.

The best love poems ever written show the reality love that lives on. It may be temporarily smothered or covered over, in some way, but it cannot die. Life is a part of the nature of love, just as love is a part of the nature of life.

What this suggests for contemporary love poets or for any future love poets, is the reality that love poetry does serve a purpose. Love poetry is written to magnify love. It has a future. Those who aspire to write love poetry will probably succeed in their quest, as long as their love poetry magnifies love.

Perhaps someday, someone will write the best love poem. Maybe it will be you? You may not be remembered, while your poetry passes through the generations of time.

The scope of love is so huge, that no love poet can ever hope to contain it all within one poem. What the contemporary love poet can do is to capture, in his or her love poetry, that fragment which has been allotted to him or her. It should be preserved and added to the greater picture of love, as a whole.

Why are So Many Poets Interested in Free Verse Poetry?

Infinity versus the symbol of infinity

In a world of change, where it appears that nothing is free, there is still free verse poetry.

"Why is that so?" 

"Why are so many poets interested in free verse poetry?"

If you ask a poet those questions, that poet may suggest a number of reasons why poets choose free verse poetry, as opposed to structured verse poetry.

These may include the following:

Free verse poetry has no obvious structural constraints with respect to meter, rhyme and rhythm.

Free verse poetry allows fuller freedom of expression for the poet.

Rhyming words can be time dated and quickly become obsolete.

Free verse poetry is fun to write, as it allows more poetic creativity.

Conceptual expression expands indefinitely, in free verse poetry.

Poetic horizons are limitless in free verse poetry.

One might also ask whether infinity can be constrained in a symbol used to depict infinity. 

The answer to that question would have to be, "No, of course infinity cannot be contained by putting it into the symbol of infinity."

Free verse poetry has an element of infinity to it, as opposed to structured verse poetry, which is more like the sign for infinity, rather than infinity itself, which never has any kind of constraints. In other words, if structured verse poetry is the symbol for infinity, free verse poetry is the concept of infinity depicted by the symbol. 

Conceptual awareness increases, as the free verse poetry is expanded upon, in poetic form.

Perhaps in some mysterious way, there is some unknown element in free verse poetry that we don't comprehend fully, even though we enjoy it. Maybe the only time that we recognize it, is when it is realized in our own freedom?

Maybe there are times when free verse poetry precedes structured verse poetry and vice versa?

It would appear that a poet does not always know exactly what format poetry his or her poetry will appear in, when he or she is inspired to write. It may come forth unstructured, structured or a combination of the two. The task of the poet is merely to pen the poetry on paper or to put it into some format where it can be retained. Unfortunately, that is not always done and the poetry disappears in the wind.

The writing of free verse poetry is a mysterious, literary phenomenon, in many ways. It comes into being, at the most unexpected times and for some unknown reason.

Some might suggest that being able to write free verse poetry is purely a gift, that has been given to but a few. Others might argue that anyone can write free verse poetry. Perhaps there are both kinds of free verse poetry?

Not every poet can write free verse poetry or structured verse poetry, either.

Many people with literary backgrounds never write any kind of poetry, either free verse poetry or structured verse poetry. If they do write free verse poetry, it may be masked in other writings, as they do not put it into a recognizable structure for poetry. It may be incorporated into their prosaic works instead.

Why are so many poets interested in free verse poetry?

Maybe the bottom line is the reality that human beings are curious about the phenomena of life itself. 

We all seek love, too. Love is found in free verse poetry and in structured verse poetry. It is love that satisfies the quest of the human mind and soul. Maybe that is one of the reasons why we still have free verse poetry. Somehow, it meets a need.

Maybe we will never have a better answer than that.

Religious Poetry and Its Place in the Modern Poetry Canon

When love is the primary focus, religious poetry is significant

When love is the primary focus of religious poetry, then religious poetry is significant, in the modern day, poetry canon. If religion is the primary focus that may not be true.

In order to expand upon this further, examine the meaning of the word canon.

The word canon, derived from the Greek word kanon, dates back to before the twelfth century and pertains to rule, model or standard. With respect to the usage of the word canon, when referring to modern day poetry, it is used in reference to the authentic works of one writer in particular. It can also be used in the context of a specified group or a body of works. There is a criterion that involves a degree of judgment. A body of principles that meets standards or norms, has to be taken into consideration also. (1)

There are those who argue that religious poetry has no place in the modern day poetry canon, while others would insist that religious poetry is of primary significance.

Why is there such a polarity of thought? 

Is it possible for humankind to delegate a place for any specific kind of poetry, in the canon of modern day poetry? 

There will always be those who attempt to do so. The problem dwells in the reality that man's best attempt to place anything under a man made rule, always falls short. No human being can declare or enforce a rule, that states there should not be any religious poetry in the modern day poetry canon. There might be a few people who try to create that kind of legislation, but there will always be others who will never accept it.

One of the primary arguments against religious poetry has to do with the possibility of offending other cultures from different religions or religious belief systems. We live in a world where there are many possible religions, but in reality, each culture has some concept of the divine and a religious belief, of some kind. This is true in northern, southern, eastern and western cultures.

While there are many different religious systems and practices, each culture has someone or something, that is considered worthy of worship. This becomes the focus of that particular culture. Whoever or whatever is deemed worthy of worship becomes loved, so love surfaces in every culture, all around the world. It may have many different manifestations. There is a complexity, multiplicity and diversity of expression, with respect to the word love.

This changes the focus of religion to some extent, because it is love that is central in each situation, not religion. While cultural poetry focuses on whatever the culture advocates as its primary love, the word religion may not be recognized, as having any value or merit.

Not many cultures would suggest they love religion, but every culture has some concept of love. People love other people, nature, the elements or even their deities. Love is an orthodox global concept.

When love is the focus of the religious poetry, then religious poetry plays a significant role in the modern day poetry canon, all around the world. Where religion is the primary focus of religious poetry, that may not hold true, even though it may mean the same thing.

Christianity focuses on the love of God and one another, even as "God is love."

What more is there to be said? In the modern day poetry canon, religious poetry that focuses on love is significant and always will be.

(1) Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Inc., Springfield, MA, 1983