Okay, we get it: you're Dr. Seuss because you realized "rhyme" sounds like "time" and "poet" sounds like "know it." In fact, I'm so sick of hearing those phrases for poetry: they're some of the lamest, most overdone expressions. (There are very few exceptions, but they have to be within the context of the poem.)

For some reason, people think poetry is all about just making final words sound alike, but that's not true. Good poetry and bad poetry have rhyming words... of course, hardly a poem is written without rhyming that doesn't make my head think to read it like a story or an essay. In other words, if it doesn't rhyme, my mind will try to read it a certain way.

I'm not going to give advice on how to write poetry. I feel that's something that's rather difficult to suggest improvements, as heartfelt poetry is usually something personal. Granted, there are ways to help improve poems and poetry styles, but like I said, they're usually something that comes from oneself.

The only advice I can offer is not to rush or force something just to say you write poetry: it's usually something best reserved for a quiet, peaceful place. Think about it: if you write while listening to music, odds are greater you'll end up copying some of what you listen to, as that's mostly rhyming words. If you watch television, those things are likely to infiltrate your poem. Of course, this all depends on your subject matter, such as if you're writing to parodize or honor something or someone in particular.

I occasionally do write poems: some good, some bad-- as seen around here, though those are spur of the moment based on the occasion, so you have to give me some credit. I've also written partial songs; unfortunately, that's as far as they'll probably ever get, and I can't even offer advice on limericks, as I'm terrible at those.

BZP's server we have fought

It doesn't work like it ought.

With a rushed hand, I tried to post,

But now I'm told it's a ghost.

©1984-2007 Toaraga EAM