Writing a poem is all about observing the world within you or around you. You can write about anything, from love to the rusty gate at the old farm. As long as you are enjoying it or finding a release of tension through it, you’re on the right track.

Steps

Read and listen to poetry. Whether someone who has never seen a sonnet nor heard haiku can truly be a poet is an open question. It is almost certain, though, that any poet who has been published or who has garnered any following enhanced their skills by reading or listening to good poetry, even if they later scoffed at conventional notions of what was “good.” “Good” poems fall into three categories: those that are recognized as classics, those that seem to be popular, and those that you personally like. Poems typically being short, there is no reason not to explore plenty of both.

Find a spark. A poem may be born as a snippet of verse, maybe just a line or two that seems to come out of nowhere. This is usually called ‘inspiration’, and the remainder of the poem need only be written around it.

At other times you may want to write about a specific thing or idea. If this is the case, do a little planning. Write down all the words and phrases that come to mind when you think of that idea. Allow yourself to put all your ideas into words.

It may sound difficult, but do not be afraid to voice your exact feelings. Emotions are what make poems, and if you lie about your emotions it can be easily sensed in the poem. Write them down as quickly as possible, and when you’re done, go through the list and look for connections or certain items that get your creative juices flowing.

Think about what you want to achieve with your poem. Perhaps you want to write a poem to express your love for your boyfriend or girlfriend; perhaps you want to commemorate a tragic event; or maybe you just want to get an “A” in your poetry class. Think about why you are writing your poem and who your intended audience is, and then proceed in your writing accordingly.

Decide which poetry style suits your subject. There are a great many different poetic styles.. If you see “Winter icicles / plummeting like Enron stock…” perhaps you’ve got a haiku in your head. As a poet, you have a wide variety of set forms to choose from: limericks, sonnets, villanelles … the list goes on and on. You may also choose to abandon form altogether and write your poem in free verse. While the choice may not always be as obvious as the example above, the best form for the poem will usually manifest itself during the writing process.

Try to fit into a particular scene you want to write about. For example, if you want to write about nature, try to visit a park or a small forest nearby. The natural scenery may inspire few lines, even if they’re not perfect.

Listen to your poem. While many people today have been exposed to poetry only in written form, poetry was predominantly an aural art for thousands of years, and the sound of a poem is still important. As you write and edit your poem, read it aloud and listen to how it sounds.

A poem’s internal structure commonly focuses on rhythm, rhyme, or both. Consider classic styles like sonnets and Greek epics for inspiration.

The bulk of English texts seems to be two-syllable words with the first syllable stressed. You can more easily fit rhythmic patterns with second syllables stressed, like iambic pentameter with a one-syllable less-important word such as an article or preposition at the beginning of a line to offset a string of two-syllable words.

This is where poems can become songs. It is easier to find a tune for regular meter, so maybe you want to cut words out or put some in to get the same number of syllables in each line. Memorize it. If you believe it, then maybe someone else will learn it and love it before it is a song.

Write down your thoughts as they come to you. Don’t edit as you write, or do edit as you write – the choice is yours. However, you should try both methods at least a couple times to see what works best for you.

Culled from Wikipedia