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Here are a few
ideas that may help you get ready to write. I hope you find them
useful.
-
Don't think about writing a poem. When I am writing,
I don't usually think about writing a poem. I just think about
some special thing that is on my mind, and I figure out what
I have to say about it. For instance, let's say I want to introduce
you to my cat. Here are a few descriptions of her.
Examining the breeze
a
package neatly wrapped with tail
flicks
a whisker
pleased.
Napping
everywhere
stretched
in the sun
as
if the sun were hers.
Awash
in warmth
and
furs.
The
flow of a cat walking
over
the lawn
to
place herself like a soft stone
in
the middle of the paper
I
am working on.
Each of these
simple descriptions is a quick picture in words — sort
of a snapshot. The lines are short and you can hear rhythm in
them, like the rhythm in a song. And I did not always write
whole sentences. When you write this way, your writing looks
like a poem, and it is.
-
Don't worry about grammar. A poem doesn't have to have complete
sentences or paragraphs. Just get your main idea or feeling,
or both, down on paper. Later, as you reread, you can fix what
you think needs fixing.
- Read poetry by different poets. Read it aloud and to yourself.
As you read, see if you can feel the rhythm a poet has used. Can
you tap your foot to the rhythm or drum your fingers to it? Song
lyrics are simple poetry set to music. Try making up a tune to
the words you have written. Does the tune make it sound like a
song?
"Examining the
Breeze" from Near the Window Tree, � 1975.
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