how to write poetry

How to ..

well,

I've written much poetry-

THAT SUCKS!

some is so-so,

a few Okeyish pieces.

My best work is a Haiku.

it goes like this:

The Treasure

------+++++++

Yangyang digs for gold,

up the nostril he goes deep,

inspects prize with pride.

So..first thing you do- learn to do Haikus.

they are an endless source of fun.

you can do it on a boat,

you can do it near a goat,

you can write them on a train,

you can write them in Bahrain.

NEVER be ashamed,

to wait for a flight in the airport,

and count syllables with your fingers!

maybe the love of your life,

will be impressed ...

After haikus,

do either short free verse stuff,

or an easy quatrain .

don't do sonnets yet!!

Try to poke fun of things.

a tired politician?

a half-eaten bagle ?

an Incompetent haiku writer?

take your pick,

there is plenty of ridiculous,

to go around.

soon.

without fail,

life will come crashing in.

you'll be depressed or furious.

write about it.

let it out.

if you don't want to focus on 'it',

focus on something else.

if you cleared your mind ,

whatever you choose to focus on,

is most likely going to symbolize stuff...

Go for symbolisms!!!

Do a limerick to cheer yourself up.

The strict meter and verse of the piece,

will occupy your mind.

and you will most likely do a bad job.

Do another Limerick.

Suddenly,

the constrictive nature,

of writing in verse,

seems like freedom itself!

try setting a goal-word in the verse,

one word down a few lines which you, MUST find your way towards.

the rhymes are now built into that.

after you hit that sweet spot ,

find more!!

Alternate.

between free-form and verse.

Experiment.

between diffetent types of structures.

make doodle-poems,

that graphically resemble something.

remember: when you post things, it all

remember: when you post things,

it all gets screwed up.

Try a heroic ballad.

a full story told in verse.

Try a short story with poems,

leading to stuff inside.

There's going to be plenty of:

disappointment ,

dissatisfaction,

distress,

keep the stuff you were unhappy about.

just for laughs.

read other people!

misquote, misquote, misquote!

remember the age-old adge:

'No island is a man,

but thinking makes it so.'

Attempt to describe a dank room,

in great, tedious detail.

Write more haikus.

You're doing it.

eware of the cyborgs,

and other machines of torture,

of the dread-emperor Sh'ackdoth!!!