Poems to Avoid
By Eric Barstad, N2Arts Correspondent
Tips For Poets
 

nybody can write poems. And not just any poems - good poems. If you are interested in writing good poems, there are a few types that you should watch out for, especially if you want to get published.

The Metronome Poem
This type of poem has a domineering beat and rhyme scheme. These poems sound like a rap song. Rhyme and rhythm should never be forced upon a poem. In fact, most poems today don’t rhyme, and their rhythm often comes from the natural flow of their sentences.

The “Ye Olde Shoppe” Antique Language Poem
These are poems that use archaic language. Just because Shakespeare is considered a good poet doesn’t mean you have to write like him. Poems are better when you use everyday language to write them. Dost thou understand?

The “It’s My Poem & I’ll Cry If I Want To” Poem
All poets indulge in these poems from time to time. This is a poem that spews negative emotion and is typically read like the rant of a person who feels entirely too sorry for him/herself. Did you just get dumped? Are you having one of those days? It’s definitely ok to write about these things, especially if it helps you feel better. But these feelings belong in your journal and not in your poem.

The “Arm Chair Philosopher” Poem
This is a poem that tries to define experience through abstract concepts (e.g., “truth,” “justice") in an attempt to be profound. Poetry doesn’t have to sound “deep.” Poetry is simply about how you witness the world: what you see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. “Love,” “reality,” “soul” - these aren’t the words that make good poems. Instead, try to create similes and metaphors with “tube sock,” “indigo pencil crayon,” “broken soda bottle.” These are words readers will be able to visualize as they read your work.

The “Made-for-TV” Poem
This poem contains overdone emotion and melodrama. It kneels in the rain, stares up at the sky, and pounds its chest, crying, “Why? Why? Why?” Poems shouldn’t overflow with emotion; instead, they should try to evoke emotion from the reader. To paraphrase Margaret Atwood: If you want to show emotion, scream; if you want to evoke emotion, that’s more difficult.

The “Clear As Mud” Poem
This is a poem in which nothing hangs together. What I mean is that it’s so obscure and so all over the place that a reader can’t pull any meaning out of it, no matter how hard he or she tries. You have to remember that poems aren’t just for the poets who write them; they’re for a wider audience. So, if you don’t let the reader in on the poem, she or he won’t care about it and definitely won’t like it.

The Cookie Cutter Poem
This is a poem that is so vague and general in what it says that it can be used in almost every situation. Poems should be about specific details and experiences - how you witness the world, not how someone else does.

In the end, these aren’t hard and fast rules. Use them as a guide. The most important thing is simply to write, especially if you enjoy it.

Eric Barstad is a freelance writer from Gleichen, Alberta, Canada. His first book of poetry, A Gloss on Our Painted Gods, was published in April 2003 by Frontenac House. His home on the Web is www.shadowboxcreative.ca/ebarstad. Eric can be reached by email at eric@shadowboxcreative.ca.