I could have said, ‘I pulled my knees up to my stomach and cried.’ But, instead I wrote:

I pressed my knees
inward
resting my head on a knobby perch
letting crystals from my eye
sting my arms and chin.

The difference between these two statements is that one stretches its use of language making the phrase different and emotional; meanwhile, one is so typical it is almost a cliché. In writing poetry it is good to push the boundaries of images letting the creative side of your mind make associations and embellishments that bring your poems to a new level of creativity.

It is this uniqueness that makes poetry beautiful and an art. Anyone, that has broken up with their boyfriend or girlfriend can write ‘I cried all night.’ But, this would be an uninteresting use of language. Instead, let’s try embellishing some. ‘Til’ two, I cried a torrent of tears.’ The language here is more descriptive. Now, let’s make some free associations. Think of the word cried. What comes to mind? Tears, loss, bitterness and broken hearts. Bitterness has a correlation to taste that might be useful. Here are some words that I might use tangy, acrid, acidic, and lemon. Now, I will use these words to rewrite the line. ‘At two, the lemon of my eye cried acrid tears.’

Poetry doesn’t only apply to sour emotions. It is important to express positive things as well. Let’s take another phrase, ‘I feel accomplished.’ After some embellishing and some associations, it will be changed to, ‘Satisfaction found a place somewhere in my head.’ There is more descriptive and provides a unique way for you to understand the feeling of accomplishment.

This is a good way to work line by line, however, how can language help you move through the poem as well. Let’s look at the finished poem.

I pressed my knees
inward
resting my head on a knobby perch
letting crystals from my eye
sting my arms and chin.
I was swelling, til’
the ring of a past friend.

Their words found a place in my head.

And I was a tempered satisfaction.

In this, I carried the feeling of the words duplicating the complexity, but no actual words. This gives the poem a feeling of coherence and originality. Be careful about repeating words. It is a good device to create rhythm, however irritates most advance readers and can be not very effective. Let’s take the phrase, ‘I will accomplish. I will be your leader.’ If I write a poem all starting in I’s. This phrase will look trite. Look at the following example of what not to do:

I am strong.
I am complete.
I am free.
I will be smarter.
I will be stronger.
I will accomplish.
I will be your leader.

Here there is a lot of uncreative statements here. Declarations without any justification. Let’s try creating some variety with a story. Do, instead:

If you call to me from a crowd
and I can not hear you.

Then, I will put my ear forward.

It is the effort that will find you.
It will be a sense.

I will accomplish your desire.
I will be your leader.

The parallels in the last two sentences make a strong declaration that has a more vivid story than the first example.

Try this. Try just writing one line, as I have done here. Then, post it below for feed back.

Being able to feel like your writing if solid and imaginative, is a great feeling. I love to writing things that have never been written before. That is part of the reason that I used my own original lines for this hub. I hope that you picked up a process that will lead to some great work. When you feel comfortable, try rewriting something old in this fashion.

Merry writing and a happy new poem!

Cynthia