by Linda Ann Nickerson

Created on: August 02, 2009

Personalized Poetry Pointers

Greeting cards for special occasions can be somewhat impersonal and quite costly. A milestone birthday, landmark anniversary or key achievement (such as a graduation, employment promotion, retirement or other important events) may warrant something considerably more memorable.

Why not create your own cards for the most important people in your life? Craft your own private poem for the special celebrant. You might even write your original verse in calligraphic style, or print it on pretty paper for framing.

How do you go about writing original and customized poetry for other people? Follow these five basic poetic guidelines, as you begin your wonderful wordsmithing.

Opt for an Occasion.

The most memorable personal poems generally appear on important occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, Valentine's Day, marriage proposals or other milestones.

Is a loved one turning 40, 50 or even 65 years old? What a wonderful opportunity to write an original poem for, and about, the special birthday boy or girl.

Will a friend or family member retire from a professional career soon? How about creating a few lines of verse to highlight the fine achievements, or even foibles, of the renowned retiree.

On such occasions, a personalized poem can be a significantly meaningful gift, which the recipient may treasure far longer than a store-bought trinket.

Try for a Tone.

Every well-written poem contains its own basic tone. If you are writing a poem for someone special, you will want to begin by determining the tone of your poem. Will your poem be serious or humorous? Will you be respectful or satirical?

Include Individual Information.

Of course, an original personalized poem must contain key details that characterize the recipient. What intriguing details or humorous incidents will you include, as you write your customized poem?

Several writing and publishing services offer personalized poems, particularly through display advertising and online listings. Even these unknown sources generally require a certain amount of information about the subjects of their poems.

Mind Matters of Meter.

Personalized poetry may take nearly unlimited forms. Before you pick up your poetic pen (or begin tapping out lines of verse on a keyboard), you will want to choose what sort of poem you will write.

Will you compose a simple haiku, a lighthearted limerick, a serious sonnet, an honorable ode, a delightful diamante, a couple of rhymed couplets or even a meandering series of free verse lines?

To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme?

Rhymed poems have traditionally been favorites for read-aloud original poems, such as one might create for presenting at a party for a special occasion. Of course, rhyming is not required, as you write a personalized poem for someone special.

If you do opt for rhyming, you will have to take heed. Rhymed poems can become trite, or even tacky, if the rhyming is too forced. The lines should flow freely. Read your rhymed poem aloud to yourself, even if you plan to present it to its personal recipient in printed form.

Amateur Artfulness on Display

Sometimes the most fun party poems are crafted by non-writers. Even broken rhymes and altered words can add to the humor and surprise of an original poem for someone special.

Try to avoid the old stand-bys (such as: "Roses are red. Violets are blue.")

On the other hand, twisting a familiar song or verse to fit the individual occasion may make a most merry poem.

Of course, the most important issue is this: If it's the thought that counts, in gift giving, then original poetry may be the most thoughtful gift of all.

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