by Angela S. Young

Created on: August 17, 2009   Last Updated: November 04, 2010

The gift of poetry:

When writing poetry for oneself, it doesn't matter if it turns out as a masterpiece. It's beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the writer, or it is a poem that meets some need. When writing poetry for another, however, the writer wants to please the person receiving the poem. In this case, factors one may let go in writing for oneself must come into play. Whether writing poetry for a publisher or a faithful friend, here are some steps that will help you in your journey.

1.  What is the poem's purpose?

 Ask yourself the purpose of the poem. If for a publisher, what guidelines have they given? If for a friend or family member, what occasion does it commemorate? Is its purpose to cheer someone up, to honor, or to celebrate? Knowing the purpose of your poem helps you get started in the right direction.

2.  Who will read the poem?

Is the poem personal for one person, or will others also read it? Will it gain exposure in a highbrow event or a fun one? Does the person have a sense of humor or do they prefer the serious? Mushy and romantic or more stoic? Knowing your audience or the recipient of your poem allows you to craft specifically for that person or event.

3.  What do you want the poem to say?

A poem can sometimes take on a life of its own as the writer seeks to keep to a certain meter or make lines rhyme. A writer can easily get off track if she doesn't have a clear idea of what she wants the poem to communicate to the reader. Sometimes it helps to incorporate what you want to say in a nutshell into the title of the piece. Other times, you may want to decide a title after you have worked on the poem. Either way, know what you want to say or accomplish by the poem/poetry you create.

4.  What do you NOT want to say?

Equally important, it helps to look for things in your poetry you did not mean to say. Whether it involves a typo or awkward wording, the writer occasionally finds he's said something he didn't mean to say. It's always good to have this in mind and to check over finished poetry for these type of issues. One example might be humor that is too subtle for others to get. In these cases, it's best to take the humor out or rewrite it so that it doesn't fall flat.  Sometimes the placement of punctiation can change the meaning of a sentence, so this is another issue to check carefully.

5.  Let it go.

Often, when writing poetry for someone, the receiver appreciates the effort and has little concern with the meter, rhyme and other factors that go into the creating of poetry. We've all seen people gush over a poem that we thought was awful. These people do not make insincere statements to cover their horror, they genuinely appreciate the poem. So make your poem the best you can and then let it go. Perfectionism, a problem for many writers, can keep you from ever allowing others to see the poetry you wrote for them.

Writing poetry for others is a great way to give a very personal message. Whether a thank you or an "over the hill" message, the personal effort makes a great gift, truly appreciated by those blessed enough to receive it.

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