by Gordon Hamilton

Created on: August 03, 2009

How to write poetry for others is a task which can often be daunting. We can never fully know another person's tastes or requirements and there will therefore always be that risk of getting some detail wrong in either the content or nature of the poem. All we can do is find out as much as possible about the person for whom the poetry is to be written and try to structure the work accordingly.

When one is to write poetry for another person, the nature of the poem will be instrumental in establishing the method which should be followed. The poem could be a love poem for an admirer, it could be a light-hearted poem for someone's special birthday or anniversary, or it could be a poem in memory of someone who has passed away or a monumental event which took place or will be taking place in someone's life. It is essential that the purpose of the poem in this respect be considered before the poem itself can be written.

If the poem is to be written for someone at their request or at least with their knowledge, it is of course possible to ask them very specifically how they would like it structured. Enquiries should be made as to whether they perhaps wish it to be humorous, whether it is important that the poem rhyme, what length it should be. These factors are all vital to the success of the task at hand and consequently ones which should be established as best as is possible from the outset.

Where the poem is to be written for someone without their knowledge, as perhaps a surprise to be read out at a celebration party, determining these factors is not quite so straightforward. There may be the option of asking someone closer to the person than the writer themselves for advice but it is likely that the writer will have to make these determinations personally. The nature of the occasion should be considered, the mood of the occasion, the personality of the person for whom the poem is intended. If the writer knows the person well enough, this should be a readily accomplishable task.

If the poem is perhaps a love poem which is to be written for someone whom the writer admires, they will of course have to take other considerations in to account. They should think about how they feel about the person, what it is about the person that makes them feel that way and how they wish to put their message across. Poetry can be an extremely effective method of making romantic overtures if written well and therefore a lot of time may be required to be spent in getting the work finished just right.

Only when the various determinations looked at above have been made should the writer consider all the information at hand and begin the actual writing of the poem. If they have done their groundwork effectively, the process should thereafter depend only upon their own artistic talent and abilities to be a success.

Learn more about this author, Gordon Hamilton.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.